Used F30 BMW 3 Series (2012-2019) Buyer's Guide

The F30-gen BMW 3 Series was one of SA’s most popular vehicles while it was on the local market from 2012 to 2019. What mechanical issues should you look out for when shopping for a used example? Francisco Nwamba has answers – and spares prices!

BMW Group South Africa produced no fewer than 5 generations of its 3 Series business-class sedan from the early ‘Eighties to the late Twenty Tens. The F30 was the final iteration of the BMW 3 Series that was built in SA; when it was replaced by the current G30, the Rosslyn plant switched to building the X3.

Compared with the E90-gen model that preceded it, the F30 BMW 3 Series’ exterior styling held broader general appeal and the sedan was more luxury- and comfort-oriented and slightly less sporty to drive.

It also had a notably more forgiving ride quality and incorporated 3- and 4-cylinder turbopetrol engines, the latter of which made up the bulk of the range. The flagship was still powered by a 3.0-litre inline-6 turbopetrol, however – first the N55 (in the 335i) and later, the now ubiquitous B54 motor (in the 340i).

Suffice it to say, well-maintained and -preserved examples of the F30 3 Series remain highly desirable on the used market, so it would be wise to know what to be wary of when shopping for a 2nd-hand example of the sedan (the info in the video also pertains to the 3 Series GT and various 4 Series contemporaries).

Francisco Nwamba, who has owned an F30 BMW 3 Series, points out some key aspects… He goes through the common problems (concerning engines and the cooling system), what to look out for on a test drive and lists selected parts prices (including those of brake- and suspension components).

Search for a used F30 BMW 3 Series listed for sale on Cars.co.za