With over 20 million models offered since its debut 5 a long time in the past, the three Sequence is BMW’s most profitable mannequin, persistently setting the benchmark for sports activities sedans with its flawless mixture of efficiency, consolation, luxurious, and expertise. Nevertheless, not everybody can afford the $50,000 price ticket of a brand new 3er, and plenty of patrons are likely to look to the secondary marketplace for a greater deal.
In any case, used 3 Sequence fashions can be found on Edmunds and CarGurus for as little as $2,000. To place that in perspective, essentially the most inexpensive new automotive in the USA, the Nissan Versa, has an MSRP of $18,330. However then, is a used 3 Sequence a very good buy? The reply is commonly sure, however with a couple of crucial exceptions. A
Primarily based on proprietor studies, BMW service bulletins and our personal experiences, on this article, we now have listed the variants to keep away from.
E90 335i (N54/N55)
At its launch, the E90 335i delivered sports activities car-level efficiency. Certainly, its N54 twin-turbo engine produced 302 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, enabling a 0-60 mph time of 5.8 seconds. Naturally, the N54 engine gained loads of accolades, together with the Worldwide Engine of the Yr title and the Ward’s 10 Greatest Engines award (3 times).
Nevertheless, as BMW’s first trendy mass-produced turbo-petrol engine, the N54 had a number of notable points, together with high-pressure gasoline pump (HPFP) failure. This challenge was so widespread that it led to a class-action lawsuit in opposition to the corporate. Furthermore, the N54’s successor, the N55, additionally had issues, albeit BMW did ultimately get them underneath management.
E36 3 Sequence
The E36 by no means achieved the identical form of reputation because the E30 or E46, and for good motive. BMW’s cost-cutting on the third-generation 3 Sequence was evident in its poor-quality interiors and cooling system issues. It was nonetheless a mechanical and design improve over the E30 and earned rave evaluations from publications like Autocar, Automotive and Driver, and Highway & Observe.
It’s additionally truthful to say that the majority homeowners love their E36 3 Sequence, particularly you probably have a particular one just like the E36 M3-R, which was a homologation particular for the Australian market and had a restricted run of simply 15 models (making it a profitable collector automotive).
F30 3 Sequence
We all know that the F30 was a important industrial success, with 2.6 million deliveries and awards like What Automotive? Govt Automotive of the Yr, the Golden Steering Wheel from Auto Bild, and Car Journal’s All-Star. Nevertheless, the sixth-generation 3er was fairly controversial amongst lovers, as its elevated give attention to luxurious, expertise, and luxury was seen as a dilution of BMW’s efficiency DNA. Plus, the 2012-2015 320i and 328i fashions with the N20 engines have been vulnerable to sturdiness issues (timing chain points, oil leaks and turbo longevity).
Frankly, as an alternative of the F30, it’s possible a greater worth proposition to pay the premium for a used G20.
Conclusion
Typically talking, BMW is well-regarded for its high quality and dependability. Working example: in J.D. Energy’s 2025 Automobile Dependability Research (VDS), the Munich-based automaker acquired an above-average score (189 issues per 100 automobiles) and completed forward of Tesla (209 PP100 automobiles), Mercedes-Benz (243 PP100 automobiles) and Audi (273 PP100 automobiles).
Nonetheless, proudly owning a BMW outdoors of its guarantee interval could be expensive and irritating. The aforementioned E36, E90, and F30 fashions are sometimes finest prevented. As but, it’s essential to keep in mind that even different 3 Sequence fashions/generations could cause important complications and bills if their upkeep has been uncared for.
