Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
Enter a registration number to see MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and more for any BMW 3 Series.
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With 472,420 currently licensed in the UK, the BMW 3 Series is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the 3 Series 5 stars in 2019, with 97% adult occupant and 87% child protection scores.
It has a 78.5% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, oil leaks.
Annual running costs are estimated at £3,772 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £314/month or 51p/mile.
Theft risk is rated moderate at 10.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2019
MOT Pass Rate
78.5%
380,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£314
est. annual total
New From
£41,945
Euro NCAP tested the 3 Series in 2019 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
97%
Child Occupant
87%
Pedestrian
87%
Safety Assist
76%
There are 121 known DVSA recalls affecting the BMW 3 Series. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2026/054
The Safety Recall relates to the engine starter motor. The fault relates to the RSW22 starter RWT (reinforced water tightness). It was found that with RWT starters an increased abrasion of the magnetic contact can cause the growth of deposits at the lowest point of the relay interior. This in turn may increase the relay contact resistance resulting in false starts or even causing short circuits and possibly a thermal reaction. In case of a short circuit the possibility of a thermal event cannot be excluded. This may happen while attempting to start the vehicle or while driving due to vibrations causing a short circuit due to moving deposits.
Build dates: 2020-09-18 to 2024-02-01
R/2026/054
The Safety Recall relates to the engine starter motor. The fault relates to the RSW22 starter RWT (reinforced water tightness). It was found that with RWT starters an increased abrasion of the magnetic contact can cause the growth of deposits at the lowest point of the relay interior. This in turn may increase the relay contact resistance resulting in false starts or even causing short circuits and possibly a thermal reaction. In case of a short circuit the possibility of a thermal event cannot be excluded. This may happen while attempting to start the vehicle or while driving due to vibrations causing a short circuit due to moving deposits.
Build dates: 2020-09-18 to 2022-09-30
R/2025/327
Affected vehicles may be fitted with a drivers airbag which may deploy with too much explosive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released into the cabin. It has the potential to fatally or seriously injure vehicle occupants.
Build dates: 2006-11-17 to 2011-12-15
R/2025/327
Affected vehicles may be fitted with a drivers airbag which may deploy with too much explosive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released into the cabin. It has the potential to fatally or seriously injure vehicle occupants.
Build dates: 2006-01-02 to 2011-10-28
R/2025/327
Affected vehicles may be fitted with a drivers airbag which may deploy with too much explosive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released into the cabin. It has the potential to fatally or seriously injure vehicle occupants.
Build dates: 2006-01-02 to 2012-05-29
+ 116 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 380,000 MOT tests, the 3 Series has a first-time pass rate of 78.5% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The 3 Series is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old BMW 3 Series are estimated at around £3,772 per year, or £314 per month.
Fuel
£1,153
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,694
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The 3 Series achieves a combined fuel economy of around 49.6 mpg (35.8 mpg urban, 62.8 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 SERIES E46 | DIESEL | 49.6 mpg | 2.0L |
| 3 SERIES E46 | PETROL | 38.2 mpg | 2.0L |
| 3 SERIES E46 | PETROL | 31.7 mpg | 2.2L |
| 3 SERIES E46 | PETROL | 31.4 mpg | 2.5L |
| 3 SERIES E46 | PETROL | 31 mpg | 3.0L |
| 3 SERIES E46 | DIESEL | 42.8 mpg | 3.0L |
| 3 SERIES E46 | PETROL | 21.1 mpg | 3.2L |
| 3 SERIES E90/E91 | PETROL | 38.7 mpg | 2.0L |
Starting from £41,945 new, a BMW 3 Series typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £31,450 | −£10,495 |
| 2 years | 64% | £26,750 | −£15,195 |
| 3 years | 56% | £23,550 | −£18,395 |
| 4 years | 50% | £21,200 | −£20,745 |
| 5 years | 46% | £19,500 | −£22,445 |
| 6 years | 43% | £18,100 | −£23,845 |
| 7 years | 41% | £17,050 | −£24,895 |
| 8 years | 39% | £16,200 | −£25,745 |
| 9 years | 37% | £15,350 | −£26,595 |
| 10 years | 35% | £14,600 | −£27,345 |
The 3 Series has a theft rate of 10.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated moderate compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.
There are currently 472,420 licensed and 120,641 SORN 3 Seriess in the UK (593,061 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The 3 Series has a 78.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 380,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the 3 Series 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2019. It scored 97% for adult occupant protection, 87% for child occupant protection, 87% for vulnerable road users, and 76% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old 3 Series are estimated at around £3,772 per year (£314/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 121 known safety recalls affecting the 3 Series. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The 3 Series has a theft rate of 10.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated moderate compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.
A new 3 Series starts from around £41,945. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
Free & instant — no signup required
Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
✓ Free ✓ No spam ✓ Unsubscribe any time
Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
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