BMW 3 Series Price Guide

The BMW 3 Series is the definitive sports saloon and the car against which every competitor in the executive compact segment has been measured for fifty years. From the E21 that launched the nameplate in 1975 to the current G20, it has consistently offered the best balance of driving dynamics, build quality, and practicality in its class. Seven generations have honed the formula without ever fundamentally departing from it.

The Lineage

The E21 established the nameplate; the E30 made it famous; the E36 made it accessible; the E46 made it perfect; the E90 added technology; the F30 added efficiency; the G20 added sophistication. Each generation improved on the last in objective measures while occasionally sacrificing some of the intangible character that made earlier cars special. The M3 performance variant has run alongside every generation and is covered separately.

Buying

Choose a generation by era, budget, and priorities. The E30 and E46 are the modern classics; the E46 is the sweet spot where form and function aligned; the F30 onwards offers the most technology. All are well-supported by the extensive BMW specialist network.