Should you buy a used BMW 3 Series Touring (E91)?

When new, this was the intelligent choice for people who enjoyed driving, but needed a car that could cope with family life or professional load-lugging, such as photographers or IT engineers. It was also relatively expensive, so you don’t see quite as many as you do the cut-price popular SUVs and hatchbacks of the same period. BMW didn’t need to discount the 3 Series.

It’s got a flexible load area and a little more room than a family hatchback (much more if you load up to the roof, but less legroom for rear passengers next to most rivals), in the same length as a Focus or Golf Estate, but with the driving experience of something much sportier.

However, BMW had to recall it a few times for fairly significant issues, and this alludes to the main downside of this generation of 3 Series Touring – some of the engineering, particularly for the more affordable (when new) models is not what you expect of a premium marque. Four-cylinder E90s and derivatives such as the E91 Touring are known for the poor quality and design of the timing chain and emissions control systems – though it’s equally the case that the effort to cut costs for fleet buyers means a cheaper attitude to service intervals can be blamed for some problems.

Since you’re buying used, there’s no reason to avoid the best models. That means the excellent six-cylinder petrol and diesels, which have fewer issues and are closer to the BMW ideal of a characterful engine, lithe rear-wheel drive handling, and a respectable amount of performance on tap even on subtle, fairly basic trim levels.

What we like about the 2005-2012 BMW 3 Series Touring

Low, lithe and engaging family car is a strong contrast against the growing trend for SUVs at the time, six-cylinder engines are smooth and generally reliable, motorway refinement and levels of technology make for an easy life on long journeys, most models are more economical than you’d expect.

What we don’t like

Expensive, difficult to maintain 518d and 520d, particularly the later versions, weak four-cylinder petrol models, poor track record of maintenance on ex-fleet cars, the presence of a GM gearbox waiting to catch unwary DIYers out with the wrong fluid, and the temptation of a bigger – but more practical and sophisticated – 5 Series Touring for similar money at this age.