How Long Do BMW 3 Series Last

By Max Anthony •  Updated: 11/21/21 •  15 min read

BMW 3 is the best compact car model of BMW which has become one of the most famous cars in the world. It was launched in 1975 and survives until now. Although BMW 3 is known for its performance and style, many people forget that it also offers great reliability. This article will try to clear all your doubts about how long BMW 3 lasts so that you can make an informed decision about buying this vehicle.

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How Many Miles Can You Expect from a BMW 3?

You can expect up to 200,000 miles from BMW 3 and it is equal to 13 years of usage. The car will give you the best longevity and durability. You can expect more than 300,000 miles if you can maintain your car properly. It should be noted that maintenance is the key for a car’s life span.

Tips to Prolong the Life of Your BMW 3

One of the main factors that will determine how long your BMW 3 Series will last is the way you drive it. It is best if you drive safely and carefully so that nothing bad happens to your car. If anything bad happens, then take your car to a mechanic immediately so that he can fix it properly. The longer your BMW 3 Series lasts, the more money you will save on repairs and maintenance costs. For example, if you only take care of your BMW 3 Series when there are no problems with it, then when something goes wrong with it later on in life, then repairing or replacing parts could cost much more than if you had taken care of it when it was in good condition.

You can keep your BMW 3 Series running longer by taking care of and maintaining it properly. Take note that this means making sure that everything on the vehicle is working properly before leaving for a trip or while traveling. One way you can make sure that everything is working correctly is by having an inspection done on the vehicle before every long trip (or every time there are changes to be made). If something is not working correctly during a trip, then problems will start occurring after the trip.

Another way you can make sure that everything is working correctly is by having your car inspected every year. This will allow you to find out any problems that may have occurred during the year, which will help you know if there are any issues that need to be fixed or if your vehicle is in good condition. When your BMW 3 Series lasts for a long time, then you will save money on repairs and maintenance costs.

The weather is the main factor that affects the life of your car. You should consider where you live, like hot weather, cold weather, near the mountain, near the coastal areas, or near the forest. These areas can affect the life of your car. If you live in such an area, then you should get better maintenance based on the conditions. Somehow, there are several specific maintenance for a specific environment.

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Does BMW 3 Rust Easily?

Rust is not a major issue of BMW 3. Even rust is not an issue that is often faced by this car. But still rust can occur in some cars due to age and location of residence. However, you still expect rust when you are using it for up to 10 years. Nevertheless, you still need to be concerned about this issue. There are several tips to prevent rust from happening.

You need to wash your car frequently. Rust can easily occur if your car is not washed frequently. Avoid using harsh chemicals on your car. Chemicals can cause rust to form on the surface of the metal parts of your car. Harsh weather conditions and humidity are also two factors that can cause rust in your BMW 3 Series. If you live in a place where there is lots of moisture or harsh weather conditions, then your car may rust easily due to these elements. If you live in such weather, you can store your car in a better place.

You can apply a rust proofing liquid on your car annually or when it is needed. This liquid will protect your car from rust. You can apply this liquid on the bottom of your car and other places where rust is common. If you do not know how to apply it, you can go to the nearest car workshop and ask them to apply it.

What is High Mileage for a BMW 3?

High mileage is the number of miles that you have driven on your car. It is usually written on the odometer of your car. You can use the odometer to check how many miles you have driven on your car. You can use this information to decide whether or not you want to buy a new car.

For BMW 3, you can consider 150,000 miles as the high mileage for BMW 3. You can use this number when you want to buy a high mileage BMW 3. However, these miles are just a number. High mileage does not mean the vehicle has lots of problems. The quality of the vehicle depends on how the car was maintained. If the car was maintained well, it does not matter how high the mileage is.

If you still want to buy a high mileage BMW 3, you need to consider several things. You need to make sure that the engines, tires, brakes, transmission, suspension, etc. are still in good conditions. The car should be maintained properly. You can ask the maintenance card to check what kind of maintenance has been done for the car. You have to remember that maintenance is important to keep the quality of the vehicle.

How Long Do BMW 3 Last Compared to Similar Car Models?

BMW 3 vs. Audi A4

  1. According to the 2021 JD Power Consumer Rating for quality and reliability, BMW 3 has a 79 out of 100 score compared to Audi A4, only 74 out of 100.
  2. According to the 2021 JD Power Dependability Compact Premium Car Awards (vehicle reliability during the first three years of ownership), BMW 3 occupied position 4 out of 14 cars and Audi A4 was 3 out of 14.
  3. According to RepairPal for reliability and safety rating, BMW 3 got 3 out of 5 and Audi A4 is 3.5 out of 5.
  4. BMW 3 and Audi A4 got a 12 years corrosion warranty.
  5. BMW 3 got a 3 years basic warranty and Audi A4 got a 4 years basic warranty.

BMW 3 vs. Volvo S60

  1. According to the 2021 JD Power Consumer Rating for quality and reliability, BMW 3 has a 79 out of 100 score compared to Volvo S60, only 78 out of 100.
  2. According to the 2021 JD Power Dependability Compact Premium Car Awards (vehicle reliability during the first three years of ownership), BMW 3 occupied position 4 out of 14 cars and Volvo S60 was 7 out of 14.
  3. According to RepairPal for reliability and safety rating, BMW 3 got 3 out of 5 and Volvo S60 is 3.5 out of 5.
  4. BMW 3 and Volvo S60 got a 12 years corrosion warranty.
  5. BMW 3 got a 3 years basic warranty and Volvo S60 got a 4 years basic warranty.

BMW 3 vs. Lexus ES

  1. According to the 2021 JD Power Consumer Rating for quality and reliability, BMW 3 has a 79 out of 100 score compared to Lexus ES, only 84 out of 100.
  2. According to the 2021 JD Power Dependability Compact Premium Car Awards (vehicle reliability during the first three years of ownership), BMW 3 occupied position 4 out of 14 cars and Lexus ES was 1 out of 14.
  3. According to RepairPal for reliability and safety rating, BMW 3 got 3 out of 5 and Lexus ES is 4 out of 5.
  4. BMW 3 got a 12 years corrosion warranty and Lexus ES got a 6 years corrosion warranty.
  5. BMW 3 got a 3 years basic warranty and Lexus ES got a 4 years basic warranty.

How Reliable Is a BMW 3?

If you look at JD Power Consumer Rating for quality and reliability or JD Power Dependability Midsize SUV Awards, BMW 3 still gets a better position. Even though the RepairPal score for reliability and safety rating is not really high, it is almost on par with its competitors. Besides, the manufacturer provides the customer a 12 years corrosion warranty and a 3 years basic warranty. It can be said that the BMW 3 is a reliable car in its category.

The Best and Worst Years for BMW 3

The worst year for BMW 3 is 2007 because of electric water pump failure. However, the best year of BMW is 1997 to 2006 because it has compact chassis and aerodynamic upgrades

BMW 3 Recalls

There is no clear data for BMW 3 recalls.

BMW 3 Model Year List

  1. 1975 – BMW 3 E21
  2. 1982 – BMW 3 E30
  3. 1990 – BMW 3 E36
  4. 1997 – BMW 3 E46
  5. 2004 – BMW 3 E90
  6. 2011 – BMW 3 F30
  7. 2018 – BMW 3 G20

Are BMW 3 Expensive to Maintain?

$1,700 is the average annual maintenance cost for BMW 3. It is around $142 per month. You can expect a lower price, if you maintain your car properly and have good driving habits. However, you need to prepare more than that if your car was damaged.

How Long Do BMW 3 Brakes Last?

The BMW 3 brakes last around 25,000 to 70,000 miles. However, this number depends on your driving habits and how you maintained your car. The price to change this part is based on brake per axle and type of brake pads desired.

Over time, the brakes will get noisy and you will notice that they feel stiffer than usual. You can make sure that your brakes are working properly by checking the fluid level in the reservoir. However, if you notice that the brake pedal is spongy or very soft, then it is best to change them. If you do not want to do this yourself, then you can call a BMW dealer for this service. Always clean your brake pads after every few miles of driving. Keep the dust off of the brakes so that they do not clog up with dirt and debris which can cause them to fail faster.

Therefore, check your car’s brake fluid level at least once a month and top it up as needed. It will keep brakes from overheating and provide a smooth ride when you are driving. If the fluid level is low, then you should immediately add more brake fluid to it to avoid damage to the brakes.

There are several signs when you need to change your brakes such as a burning odor when you are driving, screeching sound when braking, and grinding noise when the brakes are applied.

How Long Do BMW 3 Tires Last?

The BMW 3 tires last around 25,000 to 30,000 miles. However, there are several factors that affect your tires lifespan such as type of tire, drivetrain, terrain, driving habits, road conditions, and treadwear. Therefore, this number is just an estimation on how long your tires last. If you want to change your tires,the price will be based on the tires type and brand.

You have to know how to care and maintain your tires. First, it is necessary to check the tire pressure. If you have not checked your tire pressure recently, then you should do it every month or every other month. You can check the tire pressure by using a tire gauge. The recommended range for this type of vehicle is between 35 to 40 psi. If you are running lower than this range, then you can expect some problems such as uneven driving, premature wear and damage on the tires sidewalls and/or inner tubes.

So, keep in mind that checking your tire pressure regularly will help you to save money on car repairs or car maintenance fees as well as it will help to avoid unexpected breakdowns and low fuel mileage due to under-inflated tires. Moreover, if your vehicle has manual transmission and all of the four wheels of your vehicle are driven frequently by the same person or driver, then we recommend you to check your air pressure at least once a week so that it will be able to compensate for the difference in driving style between each individual driver.

There are several common signs when you need to change your tires such as your tires have bubbles or cracks, tire sidewall is punctured, your tire sidewall is punctured, and your tires tread is low.

How Long Do BMW 3 Transmissions Last?

The BMW 3 transmissions last around 200,000 miles. This number is just an estimation and depends on how you maintained your car. There are several things you need to service when it comes to transmission such as transmission filter, transmission fluid, and transmission flush.

You have to check and replace the transmission filter. The transmission filter can clog up over time and it will not be able to give you a smooth ride. It is important to check the transmission fluid and replace it if it is not a new one. You also need to check the transmission fluid level every month. There are several ways to check transmission fluid level such as dipstick, electronic dash gauge, and automatic transmission fluid level indicator. The last thing you need to do is clean up the car before going for a long drive. You need to use a wet vac and clean up all the dirt from the transmission, which can clog up the transmission over time.

The best way to know if your transmission is about to fail and need a change is by listening to the noises coming from it. If you hear a clunk or noise that is different from the one that came before, then you need to check it as soon as possible. If you are getting any error message, then the transmission needs to be replaced right away.

How Long Do BMW 3 Batteries Last?

The BMW 3 batteries usually last around 2 to 5 years of usage. However, you need to look at your driving habits, weather, how you store your car, your type of battery, and how well you maintained it. Therefore, the number is just an estimation time of how long your battery will last. You should regularly check your car battery voltage at the dealer. If your car battery is operating at low level, you need to change it immediately. The higher the Amp Hour rating, the more money you need to prepare to buy the battery.

You need to close the car hood when you are not using the car. It is very important to not leave the car in direct sunlight or under hot sun. You need to remove your battery every 6 months and clean it up with the proper chemicals to keep it in good condition. Cleaning is very important because there are many contaminants that can accumulate on your battery that may cause damage over time. If you leave it too long, it can affect your charging system, starter motor, and ignition switch of your car. If you want to prevent battery corrosion, you need to regularly check your battery voltage at the dealer.

You have to close everything off on your car when you are not using it. If you don’t, the battery could overheat and can cause permanent damage to the battery. You need to close the door correctly, turn off the lights, and do not leave the radio too long without your engine running. You need to make sure everything is turned off and does not operate. If you do not take care well, the main problem will be a dead battery.

There are several signs you can see to know whether or not your batteries have a problem such as the battery fluid level is low, battery fluid leaks, battery corrosion, the battery engine light always on, and delayed engine crank.

How Long Do BMW 3 Spark Plugs Last?

The BMW 3 Spark Plugs usually last up to 80,000 miles. You can expect a longer time, if you have maintained your car very well. The price of spark plugs varies based on your car type and its type. The maintained spark plugs will give you smooth acceleration and less emission to your car.

You have to keep your spark plugs in good condition. You can maintain them by replacing them when they are getting old. The spark plugs are the only things that keep your car running. If you take care of your spark plugs, you will have a long life.The spark plugs can be cleaned using wire brush or paper towels. You have to do this every now and then because the dirt will start accumulating in your spark plug. Cleaning the spark plug is very important because it will keep your car working efficiently and without any problem.

Make sure that you keep your spark plugs clean and replace them as soon as they get contaminated. This will keep the internal electrode from oxidizing. The number of contaminated spark plugs will increase if you do not replace them as soon as they get contaminated. Never store the old spark plugs for a long time, before replacing them with new ones.

There are several signs when you need to change your car spark plugs such as poor acceleration, high fuel consumption, rough idling, and engine misfire.

How Much is Insurance for a BMW 3?

The annual average cost of BMW 3 insurance is around $1,100 – $1,700. It is around $92 to $142 per month. The price could be higher if your insurance covers many things. The price depends on your BMW 3 type, production time, insurance company, and insurance coverage program. Make sure you choose the right insurance based on your car’s condition and your financial situation.

 

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Max Anthony

Max is a gizmo-savvy guy, who has a tendency to get pulled into the nitty gritty details of technology and cars. He attended UT Austin, where he studied Information Science. He’s married and has three kids, one dog and a GMC truck and a Porsche 911. With a large family, he still finds time to share tips and tricks on cars, trucks and more.

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