Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW 3 Series (2012-2018) review - Reliability and Safety

The BMW 3 Series finished mid-table in our Driver Power survey, but safety is top-notch

Reliability and Safety rating

3.0

How we review cars
RRP
£41,040 £61,565
Avg. savings
£5,683 off RRP*
Find your BMW 3 Series
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The latest 3 Series finished 34th (out of 75) in the 2018 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, with predictably strong showings for performance and handling. As a whole, BMW finished a disappointing 21st out of 26 manufacturers, which is behind Mercedes and Volvo, but ahead of Vauxhall.

As for safety, the BMW scored the full five stars in the Euro NCAP crash safety tests, but it is second to the Lexus IS as it has six airbags as opposed to eight in the Japanese car.

Adaptive brake lights are also standard on the 3 Series, as well as automatic lights and wipers, and rear parking sensors. You can also buy lane change assist, blind spot warning and auto high beams as optional extras on the lower-spec models.

Warranty

All cars come with a three-year unlimited mile warranty (beating that of the Audi A4) no matter which 3 Series you go for. Of course, things like brake pads and tyres are not included – though some service plans will add these for extra cost.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The 330e gets an extra warranty for its battery pack over and above the standard cover. This lasts for six years, although the Passat GTE has cover for eight years.

Servicing

Various service packs are available for the BMW 3 Series. A comprehensive package covers your car for three years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes sooner). Service Inclusive, as BMW calls it, costs around £399 on standard models, or around £1,000 on the M3.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    320i Sport 4dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £41,040
Select car

Most Economical

  • Name
    330e 22.3 kWh Sport 4dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £47,075
Select car

Fastest

  • Name
    M340i xDrive MHT 4dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £61,565
Select car
Senior test editor

Dean has been part of the Auto Express team for more than 20 years, and has worked across nearly all departments, starting on magazine production, then moving to road tests and reviews. He's our resident van expert, but covers everything from scooters and motorbikes to supercars and consumer products.

New & used car deals

BMW 3 Series

BMW 3 Series

RRP £33,315Avg. savings £5,683 off RRP*Used from £11,495
Mercedes C Class
Audi A4

Audi A4

RRP £32,725Used from £9,390
BMW 4 Series

BMW 4 Series

RRP £45,285Avg. savings £5,322 off RRP*Used from £23,799
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: The Leapmotor C10 electric SUV is cheaper than some superminis
Leapmotor C10 - front

Car Deal of the Day: The Leapmotor C10 electric SUV is cheaper than some superminis

The Leapmotor C10 is one of a new wave of Chinese cars that don’t cost the earth. It’s our Deal of the Day for September 2
News
2 Sep 2025
New BYD Seal 6 2025 review: talented estate should have BMW worried
BYD Seal 6 Touring - front tracking

New BYD Seal 6 2025 review: talented estate should have BMW worried

BYD’s latest arrival isn’t an EV, but efficiency is still key
Road tests
3 Sep 2025
New BMW iX3 to shake the EV world with huge 500-mile range
BMW iX3 - front action

New BMW iX3 to shake the EV world with huge 500-mile range

The UK’s longest EV range at a tasty price: BMW’s game-changing iX3 is here
News
5 Sep 2025