Used BMW 3 Series Touring 2012 - 2019 reliability

The Touring is a popular and hard-working estate car that might well have been used for long-distance journeys, so always check that mileages add up in the service book or check them against the MOT history, provided the car is old enough to have one. Check the interior and exterior for obvious signs of wear, too.

All of the diesel engines in this generation of the 3 Series Touring use a timing chain rather than a belt, but it’s still worth listening out for any ticking metallic sounds which might stem from a faulty tensioner because this can be an issue on earlier examples with infrequent servicing. Better yet, opt for a post-2015 example because that has a revised diesel engine that suffers less from this issue.

Some owners have found the Bluetooth to be temperamental, but this might be fixed with a software upgrade at a BMW dealer. Beyond that, the iDrive infotainment system is holding up well and is still one of the more logical systems to use.

If you're interested in finding out what to look for on older 3 Series Touring models, click here for the 2005-2013 version, or here for the 1999-2005 model.

Crankcase bearing bushing

This recall affects some 3 Series models made from 11 March 2019 and 9 July 2019, and concerns a crankcase bearing bushing that might not have been pressed into the engine correctly. This may sound like a minor issue, but cars that are involved will actually need to have a new engine fitted, so speak to a BMW dealer for further information.

Crankshaft sensor

A problem with the crankshaft sensor of some examples built from 16 May 2018 and 7 June 2018 could lead to the engine going into an emergency reduced power mode, limiting performance. A BMW dealer will be able to confirm if your 3 Series is affected by this and arrange to have the sensor replaced.

Seatbelt mechanism

There is a possibility that some examples manufactured between 1 September 2014 and 31 March 2015 could have a faulty Driver's side seatbelt mechanism that makes it difficult to use in cold weather. Find out from a BMW dealer if your car is affected since it will need to have the mechanism replaced.

Power steering

A potential issue with the power steering on cars manufactured from the start of production up to 8 December 2015, and the driver may notice heavier steering than usual if it does fail. Affected examples will need to have a new power steering system fitted to fix the fault.

Rear axle bolts

Additionally, the rear axle bolts on cars produced between 1 January 2015 and 1 September 2016 can fail when reused, so if any work has been carried out on the rear axle (for example as a result of an accident repair), you need to be certain that new bolts have also been fitted.

Loss of drive

If you’re looking at a 2013 3 Series with a manual gearbox and you find it difficult to engage gears, it might be that the bolts securing the pressure plate are loose. There was a recall issued for cars made between 1 February 2013 and 30 June 2013 to have these bolts replaced in order to fix the problem.

Engine may stall

There is a potential issue with engines that stall due to the fuel pump, and relates to models produced between 1 September 2013 to 30 April 2014. You may notice a warning lamp and error message display in the instrument cluster before the engine cuts out. Check with a BMW dealer to find out if your example is affected by this because it will need the fuel pump to be replaced.

EGR cooler

There have been a few recalls for leaking EGR coolers and apply to various BMW models, but for the 3 Series it affects those built between 19 September 2015 and 22 November 2017. With such a broad timescale, contact your dealer for further information, because you'll need to have the vehicle inspected if it is suspected to be one of those affected.

Central rear headrest

Poor welds might mean the foldable central rear headrest might not work correctly on 3 Series models made from 5 - 31 July 2019, and will need to be inspected by a technician BMW dealer to determine if it needs to be replaced.

BMW as a brand has been improving and managed a 12th place result out of 32 manufacturers in our latest reliability survey. Its overall score was an encouraging 93%. It was beaten by Honda, Lexus and Volvo, but it finished above Audi, Mercedes and Volkswagen.

This generation of 3 Series finished in a lowly 18th place out of 24 cars in the executive car class in our most recent survey. its overall score was 87.5%. That put it below the Audi A4, the Jaguar XE and the Mercedes C-Class, but above the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Audi A6.

If you would like to see the full reliability list for executive cars, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.