View all BMW reviews
All the latest information on BMW's 3-Series range.
Read expert and owner BMW 3-Series reviews, including full performance figures, running costs, practicality, safety and handling statistics and options data.
Browse the photo gallery and get accurate pricing for any BMW 3-Series.
Plus, get a great deal on new or used BMW 3-Series cars for sale.
We have 4 reviews of recent BMW 3-Series models:
-
A devastating super saloon that’s both flawed and brilliant
Parkers rating: 4 out of 5 4.0
New price:
£89,545 - £97,370
PROS
- Brilliant to drive
- Fairly practical
- Compelling engine
CONS
- Very expensive BMW 3 Series
- Controversial styling
- Aurally not exciting
Read full review
-
-
Fabulous driver's car with room for the family
Parkers rating: 4.1 out of 5 4.1
New price:
£91,775 - £126,185
PROS
- Rewarding to drive
- Room for four, plus luggage
- Supercar-baiting acceleration
CONS
- Expensive, with high-cost options
- Styling is still divisive
- It's not exactly quiet
Read full review
-
Still the best compact executive saloon for all purposes
Parkers rating: 4.5 out of 5 4.5
New price:
£41,220 - £61,990
PROS
- Wide range of engines and trims available
- Great fun to drive yet still comfortable
- High-quality interior with lots of tech
CONS
- Options can make it quite pricey
- Jerky start/stop system
- Firm and fidgety ride on M Sport models
Read full review
-
Great to drive with some clever practicality features
Parkers rating: 4.2 out of 5 4.2
New price:
£43,840 - £63,790
PROS
- Great to drive yet comfortable
- Lots of smart design touches
- Wide range of trims and engines
CONS
- Non-premium rivals carry more
- Not all of the tech works perfectly
- Expensive, especially with options
Read full review
Older reviews
2012 - 2020
-
Despite its age it remains a compelling all-rounder
Parkers rating: 4.4 out of 5 4.4
Used price:
£1,961 - £55,480
PROS
- Engaging handling regardless of engine
- Comfort isn’t spared for agility
- Generous equipment levels
- Performance/efficiency balance
CONS
- Interior doesn’t feel as premium as some rivals
- M Sport ride can be unsettled without adaptive dampers
- Cabin isn’t the roomiest in this segment
Read full review
-
Parkers rating: 4.3 out of 5 4.3
Used price:
£14,842 - £32,799
PROS
- Engaging performance
- Muscular stance
- Communicative handling
- Family car practicality
- Manual gearbox standard
CONS
- Very expensive 3 Series
- Interior lacks drama
- ‘Piped’ exhaust sound
Read full review
2005 - 2013
-
Solid, desirable used saloon
Parkers rating: 4.5 out of 5 4.5
Used price:
£528 - £6,082
PROS
- Great to drive
- Decent level of standard kit
- Superbly built, refined interior
CONS
- Expensive for what it is
- Firm ride
- Not as reliable as you'd think
Read full review
1998 - 2006
-
Parkers rating: 4 out of 5 4.0
Used price:
£604 - £3,784
PROS
Roomy, quick, pleasure to drive
CONS
Popular equals common, pricey
Read full review
1991 - 2001
-
Parkers rating: 4 out of 5 4.0
PROS
Image; smooth six cylinder engines; great to drive
CONS
Not much standard equipment; limited rear legroom; less exclusive than some rivals
Read full review
2012 - 2020
-
Parkers rating: 4.2 out of 5 4.2
Used price:
£2,871 - £25,255
PROS
Improved boot space, efficient and economical diesel engines, premium image
CONS
Servicing and maintenance could be costly
Read full review
2005 - 2013
-
Sporty small estate is an appealing alternative to a used Golf or Focus
Parkers rating: 4.5 out of 5 4.5
Used price:
£728 - £7,027
PROS
- Great to drive
- Well equipped trim levels
- Relatively easy to maintain
CONS
- Small, for an estate
- Smaller engines can be unreliable
- Most on the market are diesel
Read full review
1998 - 2006
-
Parkers rating: 4 out of 5 4.0
Used price:
£731 - £4,137
PROS
Roomy, refined, technically brilliant
CONS
Expensive, no longer best in class
Read full review
1991 - 2001
-
Parkers rating: 3.5 out of 5 3.5
PROS
Smooth six cylinder engines; great to drive
CONS
Not much standard equipment; limited rear legroom; less exclusive than some rivals
Read full review
2012 - 2020
-
Parkers rating: 4 out of 5 4.0
Used price:
£3,370 - £22,341
PROS
- More boot space than a 3 Series Touring
- Distinctive looks
- Fantastic interior space
CONS
- Those distinctive looks will not be to everyone’s taste
- Not as fun to drive as a 3 Series saloon or Touring
Read full review
1998 - 2006
-
Parkers rating: 5 out of 5 5.0
PROS
Refined, packed with gizmos, image
CONS
Expensive, ugly, cramped in the back
Read full review
1991 - 2001
-
Parkers rating: 2.5 out of 5 2.5
PROS
Image; smooth six cylinder engines; great to drive
CONS
Not much standard equipment; limited rear legroom; less exclusive than some rivals
Read full review
2005 - 2013
-
Parkers rating: 4.5 out of 5 4.5
Used price:
£626 - £8,545
PROS
Great choice of efficient engines, supreme handling, beautifully styled, sophisticated and refined cabin
CONS
Firm ride, some expensive options, tight legroom in rear
Read full review
-
The M3 gains a V8 - and loses weight
Parkers rating: 5 out of 5 5.0
Used price:
£6,089 - £21,326
PROS
- Ultimate driver's car
- Purposeful styling
- Sublime V8 engine
- Standard leather and sat nav
CONS
- High running costs
- Hard ride
- Fairly plain cabin
- Many abused examples for sale
Read full review
1998 - 2006
-
Parkers rating: 5 out of 5 5.0
Used price:
£627 - £5,897
PROS
Beautifully styled, technically superb
CONS
Expensive, poorly equipped
Read full review
-
Parkers rating: 5 out of 5 5.0
Used price:
£10,339 - £21,110
CONS
Perhaps overshadowed now by Audi's RS4
Read full review
1991 - 2001
-
Parkers rating: 4 out of 5 4.0
PROS
Image, smooth six cylinder engines, great to drive
CONS
Not much standard equipment, limited rear legroom, less exclusive than some rivals
Read full review
2005 - 2013
-
Parkers rating: 4.5 out of 5 4.5
Used price:
£1,301 - £7,343
PROS
Beautiful folding metal roof, great choice of efficient engines, superbly refined
CONS
Small bootspace, much more expensive than the similar 3 Series Coupe
Read full review
1998 - 2006
-
Parkers rating: 4.5 out of 5 4.5
Used price:
£6,212 - £9,655
PROS
Wind in your hair makes M3 even more thrilling
CONS
A lot of money for a 3-Series BMW
Read full review
-
Parkers rating: 5 out of 5 5.0
Used price:
£922 - £3,150
PROS
Refined, roomy, technically brilliant
Read full review
1991 - 2001
-
Parkers rating: 4 out of 5 4.0
PROS
Image; smooth six cylinder engines; great to drive
CONS
Not much standard equipment; limited rear legroom; less exclusive than some rivals
Read full review
Latest news
-
Welcome to Parkers Deal Watch. On this page, you’ll find a selection of the best new car deals to sink your teeth into. This page covers both personal car leasing...
-
March 2025 has been a home run for new car registrations, growing a strong 12.4% year-on-year and recording the healthiest registration figures since March of 2019. The data, revealed by...
-
Whether you tow a touring caravan, a car trailer, a glider, or just a load of garden rubbish, you’ll want one of the best cars for towing that doesn’t compromise...
-
If you need the space and practicality of an estate car but aren’t quite ready to make the switch to a fully electric vehicle, your options might seem limited. That’s...
-
The best hybrid cars have enjoyed an upturn in popularity among buyers recently because they’re a good first step towards electrification, offering lower running costs without the hassle of EV...
-
If you think all the best hybrids are all penny-pinching econoboxes, think again. Even proper premium manufacturers like BMW and even Bentley are wheeling out luxury hybrid cars. With sizeable...