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BMW 3-Series

• Reliability (shortcut)
• Repair Histories (shortcut)
• Extended Warranty
• Real-World Gas Mileage (shortcut)
• "Why (Not) This Car?" Reviews (shortcut)
• Tire Reviews
• Forums
• Specifications
• Features

 

 

BMW 3-Series Reliability

Want to more clearly know what the difference in reliability will be if you buy a BMW 3-Series rather than another vehicle? Concerned about your chances of getting a lemon?

TrueDelta provides this information in the form of "times in the shop" stats that make the actual repair rates clear and, in the future, "lemon-odds."

The latest Car Reliability Survey (CRS) results include BMW 3-Series reliability information based on owner experiences through June 30, 2010:

Successful Repair Trips per Year (per 100 vehicles)
Year	Make	Model	Trips / Year per 100	TS	Cars Mon/Car Av Odo
2010	BMW	3-Series / M3	12 Fewest         Most		25 4.0 4200
2009	BMW	M3*	join to view		14 5.6 6200
2009	BMW	335	87 Fewest         Most High failure rate for the High Pressure Fuel Pump in the 335i. 335d included with the 328. Low average odometer for M3.		32 7.8 9400
2009	BMW	328	25 Fewest         Most High failure rate for the High Pressure Fuel Pump in the 335i. 335d included with the 328. Low average odometer for M3.		34 7.1 10000
2008	BMW	328	40 Fewest         Most High failure rate for the High Pressure Fuel Pump in the 335i. 335d included with the 328. Low average odometer for M3.		40 6.8 22900
2008	BMW	335	86 Fewest         Most High failure rate for the High Pressure Fuel Pump in the 335i. 335d included with the 328. Low average odometer for M3.		48 8.4 19900
2008	BMW	M3*	join to view		22 5.8 12800
2007	BMW	335	90 Fewest         Most By the time these cars are in their third year, high pressure fuel pump failures are much less common and no longer yield a much higher repair rate for the 335i than for the 328i.		74 8.4 28700
2007	BMW	328	73 Fewest         Most By the time these cars are in their third year, high pressure fuel pump failures are much less common and no longer yield a much higher repair rate for the 335i than for the 328i.		62 7.5 32700
2006	BMW	3-Series 4dr	75 Fewest         Most		92 7.7 49400
2005	BMW	3-Series	118 Fewest         Most Possibly a blip at the end of the standard warranty, to get things fixed before the warranty runs out.		29 8.4 57800
2004	BMW	3-Series	87 Fewest         Most Very low average odometer and/or very small sample size for M3 might explain low reported repair frequency.		54 7.4 63300
2004	BMW	M3*	join to view		10 7.3 36800
2003	BMW	3-Series	108 Fewest         Most		38 7.9 73700
2002	BMW	3-Series	99 Fewest         Most		37 7.5 85800
2002	BMW	M3*	join to view		13 6.2 64200
2001	BMW	3-Series	141 Fewest         Most		47 8.0 94300
2000	BMW	3-Series*	join to view		19 6.2 133300
1999	BMW	3-Series - E46*	join to view		14 7.4 146200
1999	BMW	3-Series - E36*	join to view		10 6.4 99100
1998	BMW	3-Series / M3*	join to view		19 5.1 141100
1995	BMW	3-Series / M3*	join to view		16 3.6 146800

To see how the BMW 3-Series's repair frequency compares to other model years and competing car models, and for a table key, click here. Updated quarterly.

We also have some new reliability stats for the BMW 3-Series. "Nada-odds" reports the percentage that required no repairs at all, not even a minor one--nada--in the past year, while "Lemon-odds" reports the percentage that required three (or more) repair trips.

Nada-odds     cars per 100 with no repairs (nada) in the past year; 100 is ideal Lemon-odds     cars per 100 with 3+ repair trips in the past year; 0 is ideal
Year	Make	Model	Nada-odds per 100 cars	Lemon-odds per 100 cars	Cars Mon/Car Av Odo
2008	BMW	335	join to view		28 11.6 23300
2007	BMW	335	50	11	46 11.5 30800
2007	BMW	328	join to view		29 11.4 36400
2006	BMW	3-Series 4dr	49	< 1	46 11.3 53000
2004	BMW	3-Series	join to view		26 11.5 64700
2001	BMW	3-Series	join to view		25 11.4 97700

To see how the BMW 3-Series's Nada-odds and Lemon-odds compare to competing car models, and for a table key, click here. Updated quarterly.

To provide comprehensive results, TrueDelta needs reliability data on all cars--not just the BMW 3-Series--from people like you. To encourage participation, those who help provide the data receive free access to the site's car reliability information. Find out the details.

BMW 3-Series Repair Histories

To supplement our Car Reliability Survey, TrueDelta collects BMW 3-Series repair histories, a list of all the repairs that have been performed on a vehicle. With these, no minimum sample is required and owners can report repairs that occurred before joining.

Individual responses to both the Car Reliability Survey and the Car Repair History Survey are posted here:

2011 BMW 3-Series Problems and Repair Histories

2010 BMW 3-Series Problems and Repair Histories

2009 BMW 3-Series Problems and Repair Histories

2008 BMW 3-Series Problems and Repair Histories

2007 BMW 3-Series Problems and Repair Histories

2006 BMW 3-Series Problems and Repair Histories

2005 BMW 3-Series Problems and Repair Histories

2004 BMW 3-Series Problems and Repair Histories

2003 BMW 3-Series Problems and Repair Histories

2002 BMW 3-Series Problems and Repair Histories

2001 BMW 3-Series Problems and Repair Histories

2000 BMW 3-Series Problems and Repair Histories

1999 BMW 3-Series Problems and Repair Histories

1998 BMW 3-Series Problems and Repair Histories

1997 BMW 3-Series Problems and Repair Histories

1996 BMW 3-Series Problems and Repair Histories

1995 BMW 3-Series Problems and Repair Histories

Think you might have a lemon, and want to see if other owners are having similar problems? Then this is the place to check.

BMW 3-Series Extended Warranty

Concerned about the BMW 3-Series's reliability? Considering an extended warranty? Warranty Direct is a 26-year-old company with nearly 2 million contracts sold and over $500 million in paid claims.

Like insurance, extended warranties are best bought to limit downside risk, and from a company that is almost certain to remain in business. While for most people extended warranties will not pay off, for some they will pay for themselves many times over.

If you are unsure about the BMW 3-Series's reliability, or simply want the peace of mind afforded by an extended warranty, you can click here to purchase one from Warranty Direct.

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BMW 3-Series Gas Mileage

Everyone knows that government estimates often aren't indicative of the BMW 3-Series's gas mileage in the real-world.

In response, TrueDelta began collecting gas mileage data from owners of the BMW 3-Series, with the intent of providing real-world gas mileage estimates customized to how and where you drive.

BMW 3-Series Real-World Gas Mileage

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"Why (Not) the BMW 3-Series?" Reviews

For car buyers' reasons for buying a 3-Series--or not--click here.

Want another perspective? Since 1999, Michael Karesh, the developer of TrueDelta, has contributed reviews to Epinions, where he is one of two people who oversee the autos section.

Michael's most recent BMW 3-Series review.

Note: The older the review, the more likely it has become outdated owing to more recently introduced competitors.

BMW 3-Series Tire Reviews

The Tire Rack offers the Internet's most extensive collection of BMW 3-Series tire reviews, tire survey results, and tire tests. To see which tires are available for the BMW 3-Series--or for your car--and go from there to Tire Rack's comprehensive information, use the tool in the sidebar.

The Tire Rack can be especially useful as a source of winter tires, which I have strongly recommended ever since buying a set for my car. If you're unhappy with your car's handling and braking on snow and ice, you probably just need proper winter tires, not a new car.

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BMW 3-Series Forums (TrueDelta partners)

These forums have helped make our results possible. For discussions of the 3-Series by owners, visit:

bimmerforums.com -- BMW 3-Series forum

Need expert advice on a problem with your 3-Series?
Pay what you'd like, and only if you receive a helpful response.

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