BMW 3 series

Which BMW 3 Series Version Should You Buy?

The version to choose depends chiefly on whether you value low fuel consumption, strong acceleration, AWD or an older, simpler powertrain. Among the supplied figures, the seventh-generation 318d 2.0 AT Steptronic is the economy leader at 4.7 l/100 km combined, while the M340i 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic is the performance leader at 374 hp and 4.4 seconds from 0–100 km/h.

The version to choose depends chiefly on whether you value low fuel consumption, strong acceleration, AWD or an older, simpler powertrain. Among the supplied figures, the seventh-generation 318d 2.0 AT Steptronic is the economy leader at 4.7 l/100 km combined, while the M340i 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic is the performance leader at 374 hp and 4.4 seconds from 0–100 km/h. The sixth-generation liftback offers 165 mm of ground clearance and a 60-litre tank, whereas the seventh-generation Estate 5-door has a 40-litre tank and 130–141 mm of clearance. Buyers considering a used BMW 3 Series can also choose progressively simpler older versions, including naturally aspirated Gasoline engines, 5-speed gearboxes and RWD.

BMW 3 Series generations: what changed?

The second generation ran from December 1981 to April 1994. Its Estate 5-door range contained 88 versions. The shown 316, 318i, 320i and 325i variants use 1,596–2,494 cc engines producing 100–170 hp. Gearboxes have 4 or 5 speeds, and both RWD and AWD appear. Ground clearance is 125–140 mm and the tank holds 62 litres.

The third generation ran from January 1990 to December 2000, with 78 Estate 5-door versions. The displayed range adds Diesel choices to Gasoline models and spans 90–193 hp. All shown transmissions have 5 speeds, kerb weight ranges from 1,280 to 1,410 kg, and ground clearance is 110 mm.

The fourth generation ran from March 1998 to February 2003 as a Sedan with 89 versions. The shown engines produce 105–193 hp and work with 4- or 5-speed gearboxes. RWD dominates, but AWD is available in 325xi 2.5 MT and 325xi 2.5 AT. Ground clearance is 130 mm and the tank holds 63 litres. Its restyling, included within the same generation, ran from January 2001 to February 2007 as a Coupe with 103 versions. The displayed restyled range reaches 231 hp, introduces a 6-speed Manual in 330i 3.0 MT, and retains both RWD and AWD.

The fifth generation ran from December 2004 to February 2010 as a Cabrio with 178 versions. Its displayed versions span 156–306 hp, use 6-speed Manual or Automatic transmissions, and are RWD. Ground clearance is 138–143 mm and the tank holds 63 litres. The restyling, running from September 2008 to October 2014, remained a Cabrio and contained 176 versions. Its shown range also spans 156–306 hp, while specified emissions classes range from Euro 4 to Euro 5.

The sixth generation ran from October 2011 to June 2016 as a Liftback with 88 versions. Among the displayed cars, output ranges from 143 to 190 hp, combined consumption from 4.3 to 5.1 l/100 km, and ground clearance is 165 mm. Its restyling ran from June 2015 to January 2019, also as a Liftback, with 83 versions. The shown restyled selection expands to 150–313 hp, offers Manual and Automatic transmissions plus RWD and AWD, and uses a 60-litre tank.

The seventh generation ran from October 2018 to June 2022 as an Estate 5-door with 30 versions. The displayed range covers Gasoline and Diesel engines, 150–374 hp, Manual and Automatic transmissions, and RWD or AWD. Combined consumption ranges from 4.7 to 7.6 l/100 km, while ground clearance ranges from 130 to 141 mm.

BMW 3 Series engine and transmission specs

Because the database contains many identically named versions in different generations, the table keeps every supplied modification name exactly as recorded and groups equivalent specifications where all listed fields match.

BMW 3 Series performance and fuel economy

For maximum performance, the seventh-generation M340i 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic is the clear choice: 374 hp, 500 Nm, 4.4 seconds to 100 km/h and 250 km/h. Its combined consumption is 7.6 l/100 km. It delivers about 124.7 hp per litre and carries about 4.7 kg of kerb weight per horsepower.

The seventh-generation 330d 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic combines 265 hp and 580 Nm with a 5.4-second acceleration time, 250 km/h top speed and 5.6 l/100 km combined. The RWD 330d 3.0 AT Steptronic takes 5.6 seconds but uses 5.5 l/100 km combined. Choosing AWD therefore saves 0.2 seconds while adding 30 kg and 0.1 l/100 km.

The seventh-generation 330i 2.0 AT Steptronic has 258 hp, reaches 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds and consumes 6.4 l/100 km combined. The AWD 330i 2.0 AT xDrive Steptronic is 0.1 seconds quicker, but it adds 65 kg and uses an extra 0.2 l/100 km. Both reach 250 km/h.

For economy, the seventh-generation 318d 2.0 AT Steptronic records 4.7 l/100 km combined, 8.8 seconds to 100 km/h and 215 km/h. Its 318d 2.0 MT counterpart uses 4.8 l/100 km, takes 8.9 seconds and reaches 217 km/h. The Automatic is 0.1 seconds quicker and saves 0.1 l/100 km, while the Manual has a 2 km/h higher top speed.

The sixth-generation 318d 2.0 AT with 150 hp records the lowest combined figure in the supplied data at 4.3 l/100 km. It takes 9.2 seconds to reach 100 km/h and reaches 210 km/h. The sixth-generation 320d 2.0 AT with 190 hp also uses 4.3 l/100 km, yet reaches 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds and 226 km/h. On the recorded figures, it provides 40 hp more without increasing combined consumption.

Where the database provides no figure, it must be treated as not measured. For example, acceleration and top speed are not measured for the fifth-generation 323i 2.5 MT, while its city, highway and combined consumption are also not measured. The fourth-generation 316i 1.6 MT likewise has acceleration, top speed and consumption listed as not measured.

BMW 3 Series dimensions, weight and wheel sizes

The seventh-generation Estate 5-door ranges from 1,490 kg for 318i 2.0 AT Steptronic to 1,770 kg for M340i 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic. Gross weight ranges from 2,050 to 2,365 kg. RWD versions have 141 mm of ground clearance, the displayed 320d, 330d and 330i AWD versions have 135 mm, and M340i 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic has 130 mm. Every shown version has a 40-litre tank. Wheel sizes are not measured except for the M340i 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic, which lists 225/45 R18 and 255/40 R18.

The sixth-generation restyled Liftback has 165 mm of ground clearance and a 60-litre tank throughout the shown range. Kerb weight spans 1,645–1,820 kg and gross weight 2,140–2,315 kg. Wheel sizes are not measured for the displayed versions. Compared with the seventh-generation range, it offers 24–35 mm more clearance and 20 litres more tank capacity.

The non-restyled sixth-generation Liftback also has 165 mm of clearance, but its tank holds 57 litres. The specified wheel sizes on selected 150 hp and 190 hp versions are 225/55 R17 and 225/50 R18; other shown wheel sizes are not measured.

The fifth-generation Cabrio uses a 63-litre tank and provides 138 or 143 mm of clearance. Kerb weight in the shown versions spans 1,600–1,810 kg, although the 328i 3.0 MT in the restyled selection is listed at 1,525 kg. Selected 335i 3.0 MT versions use 225/45 R17 and 255/40 R17; wheel sizes for most other displayed versions are not measured.

The second-generation Estate 5-door has a 62-litre tank, 125–140 mm of clearance and shown kerb weights from 1,170 to 1,350 kg. Wheel sizes are not measured for every displayed version.

Which used BMW 3 Series version should you choose?

Choose the seventh-generation 318d 2.0 AT Steptronic if the priority is low consumption with an Automatic: it returns 4.7 l/100 km combined, has 320 Nm and reaches 100 km/h in 8.8 seconds. Choose the 320d 2.0 AT Steptronic when stronger acceleration matters: its extra 40 hp and 80 Nm cut the sprint by 1.7 seconds while combined consumption rises by only 0.1 l/100 km.

Choose the seventh-generation 330i 2.0 AT Steptronic for a Gasoline balance. At about 129.1 hp per litre, it has the highest specific output short of the M340i 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic among the displayed seventh-generation cars. It is 2.5 seconds quicker to 100 km/h than 318i 2.0 AT Steptronic, with 102 hp and 150 Nm more, while using 0.2 l/100 km more combined.

Choose the seventh-generation 330d 3.0 AT Steptronic if torque and economy are the central criteria. Its 580 Nm exceeds the 330i 2.0 AT Steptronic by 180 Nm, and its 5.5 l/100 km combined figure is 0.9 l/100 km lower. Their 0–100 km/h times differ by 0.3 seconds in favour of the Diesel.

Choose M340i 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic only when the strongest supplied performance matters more than economy and clearance. It has 109 hp more than 330d 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic and reaches 100 km/h one second sooner, but uses 2.0 l/100 km more combined and has 5 mm less ground clearance.

For a sixth-generation Liftback, 320d 2.0 AT with 190 hp is the strongest numerical economy choice in the non-restyled selection: 4.3 l/100 km combined and 7.7 seconds to 100 km/h. In the restyled range, 335d 3.0 AT xDrive Steptronic provides 313 hp, 630 Nm and a 4.9-second sprint while retaining 5.7 l/100 km combined consumption.

Choose an older naturally aspirated version when that engine configuration is the priority. The fifth-generation 330i 3.0 MT with 272 hp produces about 90.8 hp per litre and reaches 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds. The turbocharged 335i 3.0 MT produces about 102.7 hp per litre and cuts that time to 5.8 seconds, but its combined consumption is 9.5 l/100 km versus 7.8 l/100 km for the 272 hp 330i 3.0 MT.

Price, lease rates, reliability records, common problems and current BMW 3 Series cars for sale cannot be compared from this dataset because those values were not measured. A purchase decision based on the supplied evidence can compare generation, body type, engine, performance, consumption, drive, clearance, tank capacity and weight—but not market cost or repair history.