BMW 3 Series Depreciation
A BMW 3 Series will depreciate 54% after 5 years and have a 5 year resale value of $22,241.
Once driven off the new car lot, the BMW 3-Series loses value quickly, as do most BMWs. For new purchases, after three years, your 3-Series will be worth about 60% of its original sticker price. However, if you want to let someone else get the new car smell, and you want to save a bunch of money, consider one that is a few years old, and still falls within BMW's "certified pre-owned program", also known as a CPO car. Some good deals can be found here, and given that their looks don't change much, no one will even know that it's not a brand new car.
The chart below shows the expected depreciation for the next 10 years. These results are for vehicles in good condition, averaging 13,500 miles per year. It also assumes a selling price of $48,625 when new. Enter your purchase price, expected ownership period and estimated miles driven annually. Our depreciation calculator will predict an expected resale value for the BMW 3 Series.
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BMW 3 Series Depreciation
| Years Old | Depreciation | Residual Value | Resale Value | Mileage | Resale Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,740 | 67.63% | $32,885 | 13,500 | 2025 |
| 2 | $18,059 | 62.86% | $30,566 | 27,000 | 2026 |
| 3 | $20,281 | 58.29% | $28,344 | 40,500 | 2027 |
| 4 | $22,781 | 53.15% | $25,844 | 54,000 | 2028 |
| 5 | $26,384 | 45.74% | $22,241 | 67,500 | 2029 |
| 6 | $28,052 | 42.31% | $20,573 | 81,000 | 2030 |
| 7 | $29,593 | 39.14% | $19,032 | 94,500 | 2031 |
| 8 | $33,916 | 30.25% | $14,709 | 108,000 | 2032 |
| 9 | $33,931 | 30.22% | $14,694 | 121,500 | 2033 |
| 10 | $35,034 | 27.95% | $13,591 | 135,000 | 2034 |
BMW 3 Series Depreciation
| Years Old | Depreciation | Residual Value | Resale Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,740 | 67.63% | $32,885 |
| 2 | $18,059 | 62.86% | $30,566 |
| 3 | $20,281 | 58.29% | $28,344 |
| 4 | $22,781 | 53.15% | $25,844 |
| 5 | $26,384 | 45.74% | $22,241 |
| 6 | $28,052 | 42.31% | $20,573 |
| 7 | $29,593 | 39.14% | $19,032 |
| 8 | $33,916 | 30.25% | $14,709 |
| 9 | $33,931 | 30.22% | $14,694 |
| 10 | $35,034 | 27.95% | $13,591 |
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Buying a BMW 3 Series New vs Used
If you purchase a used BMW 3 Series that is 2 years old, then you could save $18,059 compared to buying new, and still have a relatively new model with plenty of useful life remaining. If you plan to keep this vehicle for 3 years then your total cost of depreciation would be $8,325. Try other age and ownership length combinations, or different vehicles to see if you can find depreciation sweetspots where this cost is the lowest. Hint: Try vehicles between 2 and 4 years old, as brand new vehicles depreciate quickly. Also, if this is a recently released model and buying a few years old isn't possible, consider another vehicle, or perhaps wait until more used 3 Series models become available.
What About BMW 3 Series Insurance Costs?
The average cost to insure a BMW 3 Series is about $3,168 per year. This adds up to around $15,840 after 5 years of vehicle ownership. Unlike depreciation, this expense can often be lowered by shopping around for lower insurance premiums. Comparing quotes will ensure that you are not overpaying if you already own a BMW 3 Series. Or, if you are just researching, then it would be money-wise to know this cost before buying. Try our Competitive Quote Tool or the form below to get free quotes. Advertising Disclosure
The Best Model Years to Buy a BMW 3 Series
The 2024 BMW 3 Series is our top pick for the best model year value for the 3 Series. With the 2024, you would only pay, on average, 68% of the price as new, with 92% of the vehicle's useful life remaining. The 2023 and 2022 model years are also attractive years for the 3 Series, and provide a relatively good value. Our rankings consider multiple factors, including the 3 Series's price as new, current price, maintenance costs and remaining years of overall predictabe expenses. Our top ranked model year represents the most car for the money of the BMW 3 Series models.
BMW 3 Series Historical Depreciation
| Year | New Price | Current Price | Maintenance | $ Decline | % Decline | % Paid | Value Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $48,625 | $48,625 | $562 | $0 | 0% | 100% | |
| 2024 | $55,912 | $37,813 | $654 | $10,812 | 22.24% | 67.63% | Best |
| 2023 | $54,878 | $34,495 | $831 | $3,318 | 8.77% | 62.86% | Better |
| 2022 | $53,028 | $30,909 | $1,067 | $3,586 | 10.4% | 58.29% | Better |
| 2021 | $53,262 | $28,310 | $1,293 | $2,599 | 8.41% | 53.15% | Good |
| 2020 | $52,638 | $24,077 | $1,700 | $4,233 | 14.95% | 45.74% | Good |
| Year | Price | % Paid | Value Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $48,625 | 100% | |
| 2024 | $37,813 | 67.63% | Best |
| 2023 | $34,495 | 62.86% | Better |
| 2022 | $30,909 | 58.29% | Better |
| 2021 | $28,310 | 53.15% | Good |
| 2020 | $24,077 | 45.74% | Good |
BMW 3 Series Depreciation Rankings
We've ranked over 300 models from best to worst for Depreciation. See where the BMW 3 Series ranks for Depreciation compared to other vehicles. Also check out how the 3 Series stacks up in our rankings for Maintenance, Insurance and Overall Costs.
Other BMW 3 Series Costs of Ownership
Finding a car or truck that saves on depreciation costs is important. But, it's also imperative to view all major BMW 3 Series costs. This will ensure that you are finding the vehicle that provides you the best value, at the lowest cost. We've created tools that will also help you to save on the following ownership expenses:
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