Specs for all generations of BMW 3 Series

BMW 3 Series is an extensive line up of cars, that has been on the market for over 45 years. The model has been evolving and improving with each new generation, making it hard to give a reliability overview of the whole model range. Something common for most BMW 3 Series cars, or at least those still being on the roads today, is that the problems that occur are most often electrical or engine-related. Running costs, maintenance, and repair are also higher than those of the average car – not something unusual for a premium brand such as BMW, but still worth mentioning. On the positive side, ratings from consumers are nevertheless high, as the model's superb performance prevails over the occasional issues one might experience with a BMW 3 Series.

BMW’s Active Cruise Control allows drivers to set a particular distance to keep from the vehicle in front. For seventh generation variants, introduced in 2018, the technology is not added as standard, but is still available as an option, along with Steering and lane control assistant, Lane Change Warning system, Cross-Traffic Alert, and others. Standard driver assistance technologies, on the other side, include Collision and Pedestrian Warning with Braking function and Lane Departure Warning.

iDrive is BMW’s in-car communications and entertainment system through which the driver controls the vehicle’s features and settings, making the process quicker and more convenient. It was first featured in 7 Series variants, now being used in all modern BMW cars. In the 3 Series range, it first appeared in the model's fifth generation and consisted of navigation, infotainment, and other main functions. iDrive operating system continued being featured in the following generations’ variants from the 3 Series range, the latest ones (as of 2022) using iDrive 7.0 with an 8.8-inch display as standard.

When first released on the market in 1975, BMW 3 Series vehicles were equipped with four-cylinder carburetted petrol engines with a few engine size options - 1.6 L, 1.8 L, and 2.0 L. Later the same year, variants that used fuel-injection were also added to the model range.

Leather interior undoubtedly creates a more premium feel in any vehicle. For the BMW 3 Series, leather is often used for the car’s steering wheel or other small interior elements, but leather seats are not standard for the model range. For more recent generations, however, leather seats are generally available as an option to have, added to upper trim levels.