The Weekly Driver
Reliability
BMW

3 Series

Compact Sedan
4 Generations
24 Engines
9,451 Total Complaints
Generations by reliability score
1 above the class average3 below average

Generation Timeline

2000-2006 E46
8 engines
4,309 complaints 167 fire reports 5 deaths reported
4.5/10
→
2006-2011 E90
6 engines
3,452 complaints 194 fire reports 1 death reported
4.7/10
→
2012-2018 F30
6 engines
1,448 complaints 50 fire reports
5.8/10
→
2019-2025 G20
4 engines
242 complaints 11 fire reports
7.8/10
→

Inspecting a used BMW 3 Series? Open the inspection checklist and pick the model year.

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