Saloon · 2012–2018

BMW3 Series

F30 3 Series owns the company-car and used-exec market. 320d is everywhere; M Sport is the trim people want; M3 is a different budget entirely.

Best for: Motorway miles with a premium cabin.

Power: 190 hp
Economy: 50–60 mpg
Fuel: Diesel
Boot: 480 litres
0–60: 8.5–12.5 sec 0–60 mph
Torque: 170–250 Nm

Variants & trims

GTI / ST / R-Line / AMG Line are not the same thing — match the boot badge and V5C engine code.

12 listed

Variant	Engine	Power	Economy	Road tax
316d / 318d Economy diesels. Chain history on early N47. 2.0 diesel · 55–65 mpg	2.0 diesel	116–150 hp	55–65 mpg	~£195*
320d / 320d xDrive UK company-car classic. 2.0 diesel · 50–60 mpg	2.0 diesel	163–190 hp	50–60 mpg	~£195*
330d / 330d xDrive Six-pot diesel pull. 3.0 diesel · 45–55 mpg	3.0 diesel	258 hp	45–55 mpg	~£195*
320i / 330i Petrol alternatives. 2.0 petrol · 38–48 mpg	2.0 petrol	184–252 hp	38–48 mpg	~£195*
330e PHEV Charge it or treat as a heavy 320i. 2.0 PHEV · Variable	2.0 PHEV	252–292 hp	Variable	~£195*
SE / Sport Comfort vs sharper chassis packs. Various · 45–60 mpg	Various	150–190 hp	45–60 mpg	~£195*
M Sport Trim — not an M car. Run-flats costly. Various · 40–55 mpg	Various	150–252 hp	40–55 mpg	~£195*
M Sport Shadow / Pro Blacked-out M Sport packs. Various · 40–55 mpg	Various	190–252 hp	40–55 mpg	~£195*
340i / 335i Straight-six petrols. 3.0 petrol · 30–38 mpg	3.0 petrol	306–326 hp	30–38 mpg	~£195*
M3 (F80) Competition pack common. Specialist only. 3.0 twin-turbo · 25–30 mpg	3.0 twin-turbo	431 hp	25–30 mpg	~£195+*
Touring estate Body style — verify engine. Various · 30–60 mpg	Various	150–431 hp	30–60 mpg	~£195*
xDrive AWD Winter traction; more drivetrain complexity. Various · 35–55 mpg	Various	190–431 hp	35–55 mpg	~£195*

*Indicative annual UK Vehicle Excise Duty for typical post-April 2017 cars after year one (~£195 petrol/diesel standard rate at time of writing). First-year rates, pre-2017 CO₂ bands, electric rules and the expensive-car supplement can differ — confirm with the registration on GOV.UK.

Full specifications

Engine2.0 litre

Gearbox5- or 6-speed manual; automatic varies by trim

DimensionsApprox. 4.0–4.6m long · 1.7–1.8m wide

ServiceUsually 12 months or 10,000–20,000 miles; confirm by VIN and handbook

InsuranceTypically groups 23–34

Road taxDepends on first registration date, CO₂ band and fuel type — confirm on GOV.UK

CO₂Varies by engine, gearbox and trim — check the V5C or GOV.UK vehicle enquiry

Buying a used 3 Series

1N47 timing chain history on earlier diesels
2M Sport: check run-flat tyre costs
3Touring estates command a premium — inspect load bay

· Confirm the exact engine code, trim and gearbox on the V5C before ordering parts
· Check the latest MOT history and advisories on GOV.UK
· Compare cold-start behaviour, warning lights and service invoices before buying

Common faults to check

Inspection prompts — not a diagnosis.

EGR cooler and DPF loading on diesel models
Timing chain stretch on some N47 engines
Control arm and bush wear affecting alignment

Owner handbook

Official BMW manuals — oil grades, tyre pressures, fuses. We link out; PDFs stay with the manufacturer.

BMW owner manuals ↗

Guides & tools

More BMW

1 Series

1.5 Diesel

X1

2.0 Diesel

5 Series

2.0 Diesel

Reviewed October 2026. Photos: Wikimedia Commons. Manufacturer handbook and UK model-year specifications GOV.UK MOT guidance and vehicle test standards Owner and workshop inspection patterns; verify against the specific VIN