Recorded auction results and live UK asking prices for this model are below, along with how many are still on the road. Our own sold-price comparables are still building.
Still on UK roads
Vehicle counts contain public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 — DfT/DVLA vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0120, Great Britain), grouped by generic model. Counts cover all body types and fuels registered under this model name.
MOT pass rate & common faults
MOT pass rate by year — broadly steady since 2020:
Excludes 2024 — that year covers a different number of tests from the rest of the series, so the rate is not comparable with the years shown.
Most common failure areas — share of failed tests citing each area (a car can fail on more than one), from 60,000 sampled fails:
| Suspension | 21.9% |
| Tyres | 21.1% |
| Brakes | 20.7% |
| Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment | 19.5% |
| Visibility | 8.4% |
MOT figures contain public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 — DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results (Great Britain), class 4 (cars & light vehicles), 2024. Pass rate is measured across first (initial) MOT tests only; a pass counts a certificate issued outright or after minor repair at the station. Grouped by generic model.
Live UK market — what they’re listed at
Cheapest way in: the E90 (2005–2011) — median asking around £3,500 across 38 live listings.
Asking by generation — median live UK asking price per era (so a broad model isn’t one blended figure):
| Generation | Years | Median asking | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| E36 | 1991–1997 | £24,999 | 3 |
| E46 | 1998–2004 | £4,450 | 24 |
| E90 | 2005–2011 | £3,500 | 38 |
| F30 | 2012–2018 | £17,500 | 12 |
| G20 | 2019–now | £28,494 | 6 |
What’s for sale by price — how the live UK listings split by asking price:
| Price band | Listings | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under £5k | 47 | 56% |
| £5k–£10k | 16 | 19% |
| £10k–£20k | 6 | 7% |
| £20k–£35k | 14 | 17% |
| £35k–£50k | 1 | 1% |
Asking by mileage — median live UK asking price by odometer band (the live counterpart to recorded sales above):
| Mileage | Median asking | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40k mi | £24,999 | 7 |
| 40–80k mi | £4,500 | 47 |
| 80–120k mi | £3,500 | 19 |
| 120k+ mi | £3,200 | 3 |
Asking figures are live, de-duplicated statistics from the eBay UK and dealer listings we currently track for this model — the same cars shown in “for sale now”. Asking prices are not sold prices.
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For sale now
All 84 live listings ›Every car listed for sale right now; priced-car medians below are de-duplicated to one row per car.
Jump to a generation — live listings, filtered by production years.
eBay listings
Shown separately from other sources. Details are as eBay last reported them.
Also search these marketplaces
Jump to live results for the BMW 3 Series on marketplaces we link to rather than index:
AutoTrader › Car & Classic › Classic Trader › eBay Motors › Gumtree › Facebook Marketplace ›
About the BMW 3 Series
The 3 Series is the benchmark compact sports saloon, and the enthusiast market centres on the rear-drive classics: the E30 (1982–1994), the E36 (1990–2000) and the E46 (1998–2006). The E30 is the appreciating icon, the E36 the lightweight-and-analogue choice, and the E46 the widely-loved sweet spot — better built, faster and more usable. Their halo M3s have become sought-after modern classics. On the E36 and E46, check the rear subframe mounting points, which can crack; on all of them, rust and history trump specification.
Read next: BMW E36 vs E46 3 Series — our full buying and pricing guide.
BMW 3 Series: FAQs
Which classic BMW 3 Series should I buy?
The E30 is the appreciating icon, the E36 offers lightweight, analogue purity for less, and the E46 is the better-built, faster all-rounder many people recommend. Choose based on whether you prioritise collectability, purity or usability.
Do BMW 3 Series have the rear subframe problem?
The E36 and E46 can crack at the rear suspension/subframe mounting points where loads feed into the body — more notorious on the E46, especially M cars. Inspecting that area is essential, and a documented reinforcement repair is a plus.
How much power does the BMW M3 have?
It varies by generation: in European trim the E36 M3 made 286–321 PS and the E46 M3 made 343 PS. US-market E36 M3s were significantly detuned, so always check the specification for the market a car was built for.