Want To Buy A Used BMW 3-Series F3X? Here’s What To Look For Before Signing The Papers

The BMW 3-Series is one of the cars that really need no introduction. Its life began back in 1975 with the E21 and continued with the ultra-popular E30 of the 1980s and early 1990s.

The third gen, or the E36 as it was better known, was made from 1990 to 2000, and the E46 came out in 1997 and remained in production until 2006, when it was replaced by the E9X. The F3X was launched in 2011 and it left assembly in 2019, when it gave way to the G2X.

So, if you want a relatively new 3-Series for a rather decent price and don’t mind buying used, then the F3X range, which comprises of the F30 Sedan, F31 Touring, F34 Gran Turismo and F35 LWB (long wheelbase), as well as the F32, F33 and F36 4-Series Coupe, Convertible and Gran Coupe, is one tempting choice.

First, you will have to decide what engine you want, and there are quite a few to choose from, all of them turbocharged, depending on where you live. The petrol lineup started with the 316i and includes the 318i three-cylinder, the 320i, 328i and 330i four-pots, and the 335i and 340i six-pots. The diesel family kicked off with the 316d, followed by the 318d, 320d, 325d and 328d inline-fours, and the 330d and 335 inline-six units, with the 320d, rated at over 180 HP, being one of the most popular engines in Europe. You could also get the electrified variants, such as the ActiveHybrid 3 or the 330e, and of course, the range-topper of the series, the M3.

Having decided on the power unit and transmission, which can be a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic depending on the engine and trim level, then you will have to make sure that no one had messed around with the odometer, because the 3-Series can hide its miles like a champ. Subsequently, you will have to listen carefully for possibly squeaky seats, because that can be a sign that their frames might have started to corrode.

As for other potential issues that you might face over time, and the necessary maintenance work that comes with owning a used premium compact car, you will have to check out the buyer’s guide put together by AutoExpress down below. And if you own or have owned an F3X 3-Series (or other generations), feel free to share your experience with it in the comments section below.