BMW 3-series buying guide – what you need to know about the F30/F31

The sixth-generation 3-series ushered in the turbo and downsizing era at BMW. Freude am Fahren has been doing it since 2011 with six, four and even three cylinders and with electric power steering. All this to reduce CO2 emissions. At Bosch Car Service Piet Smink in Hoogland, a black 316i Touring Business from 2014 with almost 170,000 kilometers of experience is on the starting blocks for a test drive and a check on the four-column engine.

We put the BMW 3-series touring on the bridge, a purchase inspection can’t hurt.

What is it with certain types of cars you get in? You adjust the seat and steering wheel to your body size and fasten the seat belt. You start the engine, shift to one (in this case D) and drive off, only to find that it feels good after the first few meters. That it sits well and that such a car smoothly rolls, springs and dampens and immediately follows your steering commands. The BMW 3-series has been part of this select group of fine cars since 1975.

You always attract a BMW 3-series.

Many variants of 3 Series and also a 4 Series

Over the years, the body and engine range has steadily expanded. For example, the sedan was joined by the Touring and, since the F30, by a GT. The Coupé, the Gran Coupé and the Cabriolet are even marketed as a 4-series, to keep it clear. There are M3 variants of the Sedan and recently also of the Touring and M4 variants of the Coupé and Cabriolet.

The block is always far back in a BMW 3-series. The aging crowd of enthusiasts regretted that the BMW 328i is now equipped with a four-cylinder. Six-cylinder enjoyment is only reserved for the very expensive 335i. The zeitgeist and the ever stricter emission standards force the engine builder to downsize. The 320i, the 328i and even the 335i after the facelift have a four-cylinder engine built against the bulkhead. It is supported by a turbo (with the 335i and the 335d even two) in order to achieve an acceptable power and torque. The engines do not disappoint in this. In fact, these engines also have more than enough pulling power at the bottom. At the bottom of the ladder, it has traditionally been the four-cylinder, the 316i and the 318i, that rule the game. With the facelift (in 2015) the 316i expired and the 318i even got a new three-cylinder. Times change… That also applies to gear changes. The manual gearbox has fallen out of favor, because three quarters of all versions in this model range shift automatically, with eight gears. And oh yes, almost half of the used car range consists of Tourings. While the predecessor model E90/91 had a few things to criticize in terms of reliability, finish and mechanics, for the time being this F30/31 seems to have been improved on all fronts. Is it all cookie and egg?

The ZF automatic transmission of the BMW 3-series requires a period of familiarization in terms of operation.

Sublime interplay

The real party used to start with the wonderful-sounding six-cylinder, from this model generation F30/F31 the majority has a four-cylinder engine under the hood. For this buying guide we start at the bottom of the ladder: the 316i. It houses the N13 engine, which was developed with the then PSA, which produces 136 hp. Thanks to the (single) turbo you will not be short of anything. The interplay with the eight-speed ZF automatic transmission is sublime. You can safely put it on your shortlist, if it has been properly maintained and if the timing chain – possibly also the oil pump chain – has already been replaced. It is even better if the VANOS system and the turbo, which regularly gives up the ghost, are included. Then you have had the major weaknesses of this power source. The N20 engine with which the 320i and 328i appear at the start has the same complaints. Here the oil pump sometimes refuses to work, with serious consequences if you do not stop the engine in time. In addition, problems with turbos and piston damage are also known here. For greater reliability, it is better to save for the younger variant with the B48 engine, which the 320i and 330i were allocated after the facelift. This engine demands its turns on time and then rewards you with carelessness. According to the scientists, the 340i six-cylinder is the best engine in the range. However, you come across them sporadically in the Netherlands. All 3 series are best viewed from below before signing. They can sweat or even leak some oil. Since the F30/31, BMW has also been offering hybrid versions, initially as Active Hybrid and from 2015 as the 330e iPerformance.

Diesels are nice too

Although diesels are hardly interesting in urban areas, this is less or even not the case in rural areas. Despite sky-high taxes and currently expensive fuel, frequent drivers are still good with a diesel. With the 318d you are already well served, and if you are a little more for the environment, you can consider a 320d Efficient Dynamics. If you are in the market for it, check whether the N47 (320d) already has a new distribution set. The N57 straight-six that serves in the 330d and 335d is the engine for the true freaks who like to use the potential.

30,000 kilometers with oil is actually too long

The latter can cause damage to the connecting rod bearings. If these engines are faced with a lot of short distances, they tend towards internal pollution. In that case, the EGR valve must be cleaned. In the end, it comes down to the fact that all versions would like to be warmed up quietly and have their maintenance carried out on time. That is why Carrec thinks the oil change interval of 30,000 kilometers is too long. The company recommends 20,000 kilometers as an upper limit. Due to the use of many plastic parts, the thermal management is also a point to check regularly. So keep an eye on the thermostat.

The vast majority of these cars are ordered with ZF’s eight-speed automatic transmission. The maintenance schedule states ‘maintenance free’, but that’s bullshit. No gearbox, transfer case or differential is maintenance-free. The oil ages and loses its lubricating effect. A test drive makes clear whether the gearbox shifts properly. That is to say accurately, without jerks and bucks. In short, fresh oil every 60,000 or 90,000 kilometers! Just like before.

Transmission xDrive versions should not make noises

The six-speed manual transmissions on offer are all fool proof except for the 335i. However, the gears are sometimes difficult to put in. A worn mechanism under the poker is to blame. The 335i-bak is not quite up to the torque. In cars with the X-Drive 4WD system, it is recommended that you listen to ensure that the transfer case does not make any disturbing noises and that it does its job properly.

Purists don’t like the straight line of this 3-series. As a rule, this can be corrected literally with alignment. Vibrating front trains also occur. That is also a matter of aligning and balancing the tires. Kilometers will ever have to deal with worn wishbone rubbers, knuckles, shock absorbers and wheel bearings. These are normal wear parts, just like brake discs and pads. If all is well, the MOT inspector will check the springs for breaks and the shock absorbers for leaks and in the best case for operation.

Rust on the brake calliper.

Although the body is rust-resistant, many users – including AutoBild colleagues – complain about the poor paint quality. The miles on our black test car have also not gone unnoticed, although this is also due to poor maintenance. A wash once a week is not enough to keep the paintwork in good condition. However, this is the fate of many modern cars, and station wagons in particular. They have become utensils. Worth mentioning are the headlights, which often give up the ghost. That is a result of a lot of use. Also, the rear lights can fall off spontaneously as a result of a breaking fastening clip. There are also complaints about window rubbers that change color.

Check gutters and drains

In addition to the fact that the rear lights can contain water, the motor of the rear window wiper (on the Touring version) sometimes fills up. Dismantling and cleaning is then the motto. Unfortunately, the versions with a panoramic roof can also have to deal with leakage. Check carefully whether the gutters and drains are clean and dry.

Age-related ailments with glued windows, delamination can occur.

The interior is known for its good ergonomics and build quality, although many users still complain about rattles and creaks. The material in the lower regions looks cheap for a premium car. This is expressed in creaks, where the door pins are notorious. In addition, the coating is not particularly wear-resistant. The side bolsters of the leather upholstery in particular the sports seats eyes quite quickly ‘used’, although that also depends on the way you handle your car.

The simplest multimedia system of this generation BMW 3 Series. More expensive versions are often stolen.

Rusting rails

There may still be some issues. For example, the side window protection can spontaneously refuse, causing the window to sag while driving. Only re-reading or changing the switch module solves this problem. The iDrive also sometimes has problems. Then the display shows no navigation and the radio does not play. A software update will help here. There are also reports of an interior mirror that spontaneously hangs and rattling seat frames also occur. Worse are the rusting rails of the sports seats in early copies. A mysterious complaint concerns noises from under the armrest. There are metal pipes running underneath that cause these noises.

There have been recalls in the past due to the EGR valve on the 330d and 335d, and steering issues that could cause the control module to fail, while early ones suffered from a failing brake booster. There has also been a recall for the passenger seat belt, as well as for the airbag. It is important to verify that recalls have been followed before purchase.

Bring a checklist and consider purchase inspection

Although this Buying Guide contains a laundry list of possible problems – large and small – as a prospective buyer you don’t have to fear a 3-series, in whatever form. It is important to take a checklist with you when you visit the candidate who has been killed. Ideally, you want one with low mileage, which has been maintained by the dealer or specialist. Of course, it all depends on your budget. A car with mileage experience does not have to be an obstacle, as long as it has enjoyed a wealth of maintenance. Incidentally, this is kept digitally; you look in vain for stamps in ‘the booklet’. A purchase inspection can’t hurt either. That costs something, but then you also have something. That goes for every BMW anyway. This German driving pleasure can and should cost something.

in collaboration with Bosch Car Service Piet Smink, Hoogland and Carrec Technocenter, Soesterberg