Buying a used BMW 3 Series E90 (2005-11)

The BMW 3 Series was launched in 1976 to replace the ageing 2002.

Since then, and via a process of evolution rather than radical change, BMW has produced so many 3 Series variations that collectors would need a multi-storey car park to house one of each.

By the time the 21st century arrived, BMW’s 3 Series was into its fourth incarnation and taking a major role in the global prestige market.

In Australia during 2002, the 3 Series held a 16.3 per cent share of the nation’s luxury car market, perilously close to Mercedes-Benz, which with its C-Class held 16.6 per cent.

Five years later and with the fifth-generation E90 series well established (after launching in May 2025), the 3 Series line-up was split between the luxury and sports car segments and sales for the 2007 calendar year totalled 8716 units.

Mercedes-Benz held onto second position, but with a combined 5557 sales from its C-Class sedans and CLK two-doors, the segment was firmly in BMW hands.

Other parts of the world saw the E90 exert similar dominance and a sales total that during six years of production would top three million units.

Most prolific was the E90 sedan with 1.82 million, least common the E93 convertible that joined the range in 2007 and contributed just 256,000.

A minor facelift in 2008 delivered new bumpers, lights and a widened grille. The suspension was modified to increase track width at the rear and 320d diesels received a new and slightly more powerful engine.

• Routine servicing neglected in lower-value cars
• Valvetrain noise from worn lifters
• Fuel pump failure
• Engine oil leaks

The E90 BMW 3 Series range launched in Australia in 2005, and available for six years, was immense and confusing.

Excluding high-performance BMW M3 versions, there were 19 major variations of the E90 3 Series, meaning that not even the largest dealers were likely to have one of everything in stock.

Engines ranged from 2.0 to 3.0 litres, with 110kW shared by the turbo-diesel and smallest petrol engine and 225kW available from the twin-turbo 3.0-litre.

For $50,800 plus on-road costs, you could buy a base-model 320i manual, while others would soar past $113,000 to fund a 330i Highline convertible.

As will be obvious to anyone who travels outside Australia and sees these cars in very humble roles, the E90 has served for many years as transport for police, sales reps, junior government officials and people needing a rental car.

Here and overseas, resale values have slumped dramatically and all models are available at small fractions of their original cost.

Even the cheapest E90 offers a decent list of equipment including climate-control air-conditioning and automatic headlights and wipers. As was expected from BMW, the options list was prolific and included rear park distance control at $900, but the big-ticket item was inbuilt navigation at an horrific $6900.

When new, a 320i Executive in six-speed automatic form cost $57,200 plus ORCs. It upped the ante to include 16-inch alloy wheels, extra embellishments and leather throughout the cabin. Engine output remained at 110kW.

BMW’s first 323 appeared back in 1979 and the company held true to the concept of an affordable sports sedan when including a 130kW version in the E90 range.

These with 2.5 litres and automatic transmission hit the showroom floor at $67,400 plus ORCs. In addition, there was a 140kW coupe and very smart E91 Touring (station wagon), which when new cost more than $70,000 but barely manages a tenth of that price in today’s second-hand market.

Alongside the 323i series sat the similar but more expensive 325i sedan and coupe. These had 160kW, came with six-speed manual or automatic transmission and were priced from $73,400-$84,000. Performance was better than with the 323i, but $6000-$10,000 extra just to shave a second off the 0-100km/h time was hard to justify.

Here endeth the pragmatism, because for a tad more than $100,000 the E90 BMW 3 Series delivered a model for those in the market for real rip-snorting performance.

The BMW 335i was available in sedan, coupe or convertible form at prices that began at $104,000 and soared past $133,000 for the M Sport convertible.

The engine was BMW at its imperious best: a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six, reined back to a modest 225kW but still able to lay down the 0-100km/h dash in 5.5 seconds.

Gear shifting was via the console lever or snappy paddle shifters mounted on the steering column. Also standard to the 335i was dynamic stability control, which when disabled allowed track day lairs to exploit prodigious oversteer whenever a bend allowed.

While BMW still offered 335i buyers a massive list of wallet-tickling options, the list of standard stuff filled a couple of pages and would have kept new owners occupied for days.

At 11:1 on the compression ratio, the engine needed 98RON premium unleaded fuel but consumption still averaged 9.6L/100km.

Pretty good by all accounts and now seriously affordable, especially if the number of E90 BMW 3 Series models parked outside high schools with P-plates stuck to the windows are any guide.

These first-time buys won’t necessarily be the top-spec versions, but having the key to any kind of Bimmer rattling about in your lunchbox is smart on multiple levels.

From a parental point of view, cars like the 320i and 320d diesel offer strength and safety while keeping a lid on performance. The petrol-fed 320i is a solid lump of car, with plenty of primary safety devices and an 85.3kW/tonne power to weight ratio. By comparison, a Mazda3 Neo makes 90.8kW/tonne.

For drivers with greater age and experience on their side, plus a fatter bank account, various other E90s exist, with extra performance and features but still at a quarter of original price or less.

E90s in the used market will almost exclusively be automatics; of the 300-plus E90 BMWs found while checking carsales.com.au listings, just three were manual.

Some E90 autos feature paddle shifting for near-instant gear acquisition, just like you’ve seen on TV in GT and production car racing. No clutch to juggle in city traffic but plenty of engine braking and driver control when pressing on.

In recognition of driver preference, BMW has for decades stuck with rear-wheel drive in 3 Series cars. While dabbling with xDrive AWD in places where winter brings markedly reduced grip levels, all of the E90s offered to Australia were RWD.

They also ran on remarkably small wheels and narrow tyres. The largest were the 17-inch alloys (18s optional) on the 335i with 225/45-section tyres. Looking at more conservative models, a 320i will likely be sitting on 16-inch steel rims with 205/55 rubber.

Brakes across the range are discs but with their dimensions governed by wheel diameter. Still, with ABS and stability control, E90s all stop effectively.

When the available distance wasn’t enough to prevent a crash, the suite of six airbags and seat belt pretensioners were there. They also played a role in helping the E90 score 34.6 out of a possible 37 points when tested for occupant protection by ANCAP in 2005.

Despite costing over $100,000 at introduction in 2007, the 325i convertible sold in sizeable numbers and is still easily found in the used market.

The folding hard-top is a wonderful piece of engineering, but when testing an open-top E90 do make sure you watch the top being lowered and raised to ensure the action is smooth and silent.

Access to the rear seat in these and the E92 coupe calls for some flexibility, but once on the fairly flat rear seat, comfort levels and legroom are okay. Boot space in cars that don’t need to accommodate the mechanism to retract a top is decent as well.

Although the 3 Series E90 boot has space for at least a space-saver, BMW was so confident that replacements for its standard-fit run-flat tyres would be available everywhere, it didn’t provide a spare wheel at all.

In Europe, where the BMW badge comes with fewer pretensions than it does here, 3 Series models have for years been common in the role of family runabouts and still perform that function very well.

Diesel versions of the E90 BMW 3 Series are economical and their mechanical parts are robust, minimising running costs. They aren’t particularly popular either, so a good 320d should be cheap to buy.

The rear seat in E90s is better suited to younger children than tall teens, but even they will fit providing there is some compromise on positioning of the front seats.

• Complete service history with oil changes more frequently than the manufacturer’s 15,000km recommendation. Urban running allows sludge to form, which can damage the variable valve timing mechanism.

• Ticking or tapping from the valvetrain. Not necessarily due to lubrication issues, but a sign of wear to valve lifters and perhaps the camshafts as well.

• Some 2009-12 BMWs were involved in a 2023 recall to check mountings for the VANOS variable valve timing unit. These could become loose and send the vehicle into limp-home mode.

• When considering a BMW, or any vehicle built during the past 20 years, check with an authorised dealer to see if any recall work is outstanding.

RedBook Inspect mobile inspectors can take the guesswork out of buying a car with a comprehensive vehicle inspection.

Used vehicle grading for BMW 3 Series E90 (2005-11)
Design & Function: 14/20
Safety: 16/20
Practicality: 13/20
Value for Money: 15/20
Wow Factor: 14/20 (335i)
Score: 72/100

Also consider: Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Lexus IS