2020 BMW 3 Series

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

• Oil use between services All years

  What to check: Ask for the oil change records, and ask whether the car has warned of low oil between services. Look for light blue smoke under hard acceleration.

  Euro Premium Parts reports oil consumption on early 330is from about 30,000 miles, and advises against a high-mileage early 2019 330i without oil change records. Car and Driver's M340i needed four quarts in 40,000 miles, which BMW called normal. In an owner forum thread on the four's reliability, four owners of 2019 to 2024 330is report no engine faults, one at about 35,000 miles.

  Sources ^9,10,11

• High-pressure fuel pump on the four All years One source so far

  What to check: Listen for a rough idle and feel for hesitation, and ask for a scan for fuel delivery fault codes.

  Euro Premium Parts calls this failure critical and dates it to about 50,000 to 80,000 miles.

  Sources ⁹

• Coolant leaks on the four All years One source so far

  What to check: Smell for coolant, look for residue at the thermostat housing, and ask about low-coolant warnings.

  Euro Premium Parts names the plastic thermostat housing and hoses, usually from about 60,000 miles, and valve cover gasket leaks from about 60,000 to 80,000 miles.

  Sources ⁹

• Oil filter housing gasket on the six All years One source so far

  What to check: Smell for oil, and look for residue on the lower engine block.

  Euro Premium Parts reports this leak from about 40,000 to 70,000 miles.

  Sources ⁹

• Cracked plastic charge pipe All years

  What to check: Feel for a loss of boost, and look over the plastic pipe from the turbo for cracks.

  Euro Premium Parts says the M340i's plastic charge pipe can crack under boost at about 40,000 to 60,000 miles. In an owner forum thread, the owner of a 2019 330i xDrive names the charge pipe as the one part they would watch.

  Sources ^9,11

• Electric water pump on the six All years One source so far

  What to check: Watch the temperature on a long test drive, and ask whether the water pump and thermostat were replaced.

  Euro Premium Parts says the electric water pump can fail and overheat the engine, typically at about 60,000 to 80,000 miles.

  Sources ⁹

• The 330e's batteries and charger All years One source so far

  What to check: Ask for a dealer report on the high-voltage battery's health, compare the electric range shown with a full charge, check the 12-volt battery, and try charging it.

  Euro Premium Parts reports 12-volt battery failures at about three to five years, noticeable range loss possible after four to six years, and charging faults that often need a software update.

  Sources ⁹

• Worn suspension bushings All years One source so far

  What to check: Listen for clunks over bumps, feel for vague steering or a loose rear, and look for uneven tyre wear.

  Euro Premium Parts reports front control arm bushings wearing from about 50,000 to 70,000 miles, and rear integral link bushings from about 60,000 to 80,000, more often on xDrive cars.

  Sources ⁹

• Stuck grille shutters All years

  What to check: Make sure no engine or drivetrain warning is lit, and ask whether the grille shutters were replaced.

  Car and Driver's M340i had its shutters stick open with a check engine light, and the dealer replaced the lower shutters under warranty. In an owner forum thread, the owner of a 2019 330i xDrive reports a drivetrain malfunction warning when the grille would not open, cleared by resetting the codes.

  Sources ^10,11

• Rattles and buzzes inside All years One source so far

  What to check: Drive over rough roads with the radio off, and listen at the dashboard, the head-up display, the roof lights, the seat belts and the sunroof.

  In an owner forum thread on rattles, five owners of 2019 to 2025 cars describe a click, buzzing from the head-up display under load, a ticking from the roof map lights fixed with felt tape, rattling from the back and the sunroof, and a buzz in an M340i.

  Sources ¹²

• iDrive and camera faults All years One source so far

  What to check: Try the screen, Bluetooth, navigation, the parking sensors and the reversing camera.

  Euro Premium Parts reports screen freezes, Bluetooth drops and navigation errors, usually fixed by software updates, and parking sensor and camera faults, often at a connector and in cold climates.

  Sources ⁹

Recalls

• 19V600000 2020

  The rear centre headrest can fold down in a rear crash because of a poor weld.¹³

• 19V684000 2019–2020

  The reversing camera's display settings can be changed so its image stays hidden in reverse.^14,15,13

• 19V732000 2019–2020

  Needle roller bearings on the engine's counterbalance shaft may have been fitted wrongly, so the shaft can come loose. Dealers replace the engine.^14,15

• 19V755000 2020

  The trunk's inside release cable may have been fitted wrongly, so the trunk cannot be opened from inside.^15,13

• 19V850000 2020

  The headlight control units can fail, so one or both headlights go out.¹⁵

• 19V912000 2019–2020

  The rear outer seat belt pretensioners may not lock in a crash. Dealers replace the rear seat belts.^14,15

• 20V164000 2020

  The front seat belt buckle sensors can read a belted occupant as unbelted, so the airbags and pretensioners may not deploy as they should.^15,13

• 20V355000 2019–2020

  The steering tie rods can be damaged by high heat and rough roads, and may break.^14,15,13

• 21V096000 2019–2021

  Part of the reversing camera's image can be blocked, or the screen may not light up, in reverse.^{14,15,16,13,17}

• 21V598000 2020

  The engine software can lose braking assist while the engine starts.¹³

• 23V211000 2019–2021

  A seat frame may not be properly welded to its rails, so it may not hold the occupant in a crash.^14,15,16,13

• 23V584000 2019–2022

  The audio module software may not sound the seat belt reminder properly.^{14,15,16,18,13}

• 24V576000 2020

  Repeated tries to start after the starter fails can overheat it, with a risk of fire. Dealers update the software.¹³

• 25V636000 2019–2021

  The starter relay can corrode, overheat and short-circuit, with a risk of fire. Owners are told to park outside, away from buildings, until the starter is replaced.^14,15,16

What buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

• Sought after: The six-cylinder M340i All years

  Euro Premium Parts calls the M340i the best overall choice of the generation, and Car and Driver's 40,000-mile test praises its chassis and its smooth, quiet engine.^9,10

• Avoid: A 330e without a check of its batteries All years Less sought after One source so far

  Euro Premium Parts advises caution with a 330e unless the health of the high-voltage battery is confirmed and its maintenance verified, and warns that one driven mostly on gasoline can hide a worn battery.⁹

Before you pay

Open the buyer's checklist

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.