2010 BMW 3 Series Review, Problems, Reliability, Value, Life Expectancy, MPG

The 2010 BMW 3 Series lasts around 200,000 miles with only some brake and fuel system issues. At $7,788 to $11,564, it’s a good value for buyers looking to get an entry-level European luxury car.

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The Good

The power is excellent from both of the 6-cylinder engines, the steering feels more responsive than other cars and the front seats are supportive.

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The Bad

There isn’t much headroom in the backseats, the navigation system is tricky to use and maintenance costs are higher than many luxury cars.

Is the 2010 BMW 3 Series a Good Used Car?

• Yes, 2010 is a good year for the 3 Series with a high overall rating of 8/10. Owner reviews praise the sporty driving experience, responsive steering, and strong engines.
• Interior materials earn a great rating of 8/10. There are many nice leather options, comfortable front seats, and the stereo system has good technology for its age.
• Reliability ratings are above average for a luxury sports car at 7/10. Avoid models from 2007 which have more mechanical issues, and models from 2008–2013 are all better.
• Performance is excellent from the standard 6-cylinder motor, and the turbo version offers even more power.
• The 2010 3 Series is a safe car, earning an overall rating of 4-stars in government crash tests with 4-stars in frontal tests, along with 5 stars in side impact & rollover ratings.
• Fuel economy is good for a luxury car at around 22 MPG, which should give owners about 354 miles of range out of the 16.1 gallon gas tank. Fuel costs are $49/month higher than other sedans at $254/month for 15,000 miles per year.

Positive Owner Reviews

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Joy R

Easy to maintain and good gas mileage.

Easy to drive. Low maintenance. Good gas mileage. Fun to drive. Sporty. No complaints except tires are hard to clean.

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Linda L

It make me very comfortable. And it has many safety features.

I like my car very much. It is very comfortable. And its performance is remarkable. It has no such a problem. It is much safer. This brand is top in the world. It gives me very good mileage. And it is very interesting to see. That means it will be everyone’s choice. And a very nice car for a family.

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Michael C

Will need to make internal combustion engines.

Since automatic cars are still a new development, the majority of vehicles running on the streets are still working on manual transmission. But studying the current trends of people buying new cars, it is evidently clear that more and more people are opting for the automatic transmission option.

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David H

It is paid for and has been very reliable.

I dislike the expense of light replacement for burnt out led and oil and filter cost. I love the comfort pick up and handling.

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Carla H

It’s a great car that is worth the value and has great handling.

It has a great interface for the Bluetooth system and navigation system. The car has great handling when making turns and is very comfortable for long road trips. It is a smaller sports luxury car so it is not as spacious however it does have a two seater in the backseat which can comfortably sit up to 2 people.

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Brandi G

It Is a luxury car. Be prepared to come out of pocket with quite a bit for any repairs. Not all mechanics are certified to work on luxury cars, trust the dealerships. They are pricey but they do it right the first time!

I love everything about my car. The only downfall is the price of repair and upkeep. I spend well over 100$ just to get an oil change and 10-20$ for replacement light bulbs.

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Cajeyan A

Stylish and performance-oriented cars, particularly comfortable.

I am already faced overheating, oil leaks, steering wheel vibrations under braking. When it was new, it was good the 2010 BMW 3-series for its balanced, athletic handling. For these traits, the 3-series is my favorite vehicle. It has good crash test rating. It is reliable. The 3 series had a more decent result. And the feature is also comfortable to drive my car.

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Reyes R

Custom colors. Exclusive materials. Personalized details. An

Custom colors. Exclusive materials. Personalized details. Anything is possible in the world of BMW Individual. A virtually limitless range of options, from one-of-a-kind paint finishes to bespoke interior materials, lets you create a custom vehicle that’s as unique as you. Or grab attention with an exclusive Limited Edition BMW. The choice is all yours.

Negative Owner Reviews

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Michaela E

Pros & cons of the BMW 328i.

My BMW has fuel pump and fuel system problems very often. It guzzles gas and needs oil changed frequently. It only takes premium gas so it is costly to fill up more so than need be. On the bright side it is a comfortable, decent sized car and can be pretty fast.

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Ricky P

Good drive with BMW and get enjoy with this.

It is too good. I feel comfortable with this. It is easy to drive. It is sits are good. I think everyone easily handle it. Over all it makes me feel good every time when I drive. It is never get me uncomfortable. If anyone can properly drive it, it will have good service.

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Bong L

BMW, good car but expensive investment.

The older the car gets, the more problems are occurs. BMW parts are very specific, therefore when a problem arises, I have to take it in to the dealership or a certified BMW shop. The service is quite expensive, this is my first BMW car and most likely be my last.

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Jessica H

It is very good at handling.

The car consumes a lot of gas. The parts are very. Expensive when it needs to be replaced. It is black color so it is hot in the summer.

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John K

Had some challenges but otherwise generally reliable.

Had to service the car repeatedly and had to replace the engine. The performance is otherwise well but I am not to sure regarding the reliability of the car. It is quite comfortable. It is sleek and eye catching but it is difficult to replace reliability for comfort.

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Gregory C

I like it: it is a classic car.

It is a black sedan. It drives well. It is getting old.

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Stephanie P

Very fun to drive; noticeable overall smaller details seem lacking.

More reliable than this car’s reputation claims. When everything is in tip top shape- performance is perfect. Comfort and the interior design of dashboard space is lacking compared to other cars in its class. Overall, I am a person who appreciates the smaller details which (in my opinion) the model BMW could benefit from some added finessing on many of the smaller features, some design flaws and connectivity. Spending extra time on the smaller details would improve the experience and functionality for the everyday driver who owns the car.

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Mike C

BMW 328xi coupe king time owner review of the car after 10 years.

Expensive to fix if things are wrong. Smooth ride otherwise. It is comfortable and small. Coupe. Good acceleration leather interior. Visually appealing it also rides really well. There have been a few recalls recently that cause concern but BMW took care of all at no cost.

What Do Critics Say About the BMW 3 Series?

• Consumer Reports says the BMW 3 Series has a refined powertrain and agile handling with average owner satisfaction scores.
• Edmunds gives the BMW 3 Series a 4.4/5 and praises the upscale cabin, but doesn’t like the lack of interior storage space.
• Kelley Blue Book users rate the BMW 3 Series 4.6/5 and enjoy the excellent build quality, but owners don’t like the lack of rear legroom.

What Common Problems Does the 2010 BMW 3 Series Have?

The most common problems with the 2010 BMW 3 Series include shaking while braking, loss of power while driving, and a worn-out airbag sensor. Overall, these problems are similar to other luxury cars from 2010, but 3-Series repair costs are a bit higher due to parts costs.

Shaking while braking is the most common complaint from owners at around 35,000 miles. The source of the problem are worn out brake pads and rotors which have to be replaced. Changing out the pads and rotors costs about $650, depending on local labor rates.

A loss of power while driving is another issue reported by owners at around 115,000 miles. There are several reasons a car can lose power while driving, but the fuel pump is the most likely reason in a 2010 BMW 3 Series. Replacing the fuel pump costs about $1,500.

A worn-out airbag sensor also shows up on some 3 Series models at around 100,000 miles. The sensor wears out as the vehicle ages and has to be replaced. Changing out the sensor only costs about $100.

There are 10 recalls, which is worse than other luxury cars from 2010. The most serious recall is for a loss of electrical power while driving and BMW will replace the positive battery terminal for free to solve the problem. Many other recalls are for air bags, which are common on all makes and models from 2010.

How Long Will the 2010 BMW 3 Series Last?

A well-maintained 2010 BMW 3 Series lasts around 200,000 miles, giving it a good durability score for a luxury car at 7/10. It’s about 50,000 miles shorter than top-rated competitors like the Lexus IS. Regular annual maintenance costs are higher than many other luxury cars, according to data from Repair Pal, at $739 per year.

Since most 2010 BMW 3 Series models will have over 100,000 miles buyer should be prepared to replace items including the ignition switch for $225, the parking brakes costing $350, and the clutch master cylinder, which costs $400.

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Minda F

The 328i is a very reliable vehicle.
The only issue is that it is a hard drive on the roads of new york.

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Debbie G

So far I really haven’t had any issues with BMW. I receive great and reliable service on top of the reliability from its performance

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Heather M

Yes it’s reliable, it has regular maintenance problems if you don’t take care and get it regularly checked

Is the 2010 BMW 3 Series a Good Value?

Yes, for a luxury car the BMW 3 Series is a good value. Blue book prices on the 2010 BMW 3 Series range from $7,788 to $11,564, making it close in price to similarly equipped luxury competitors like the Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4. When new, the price range was $33,150 to $51,200. Depreciation is average for a luxury car, losing around 12% of its current value per year.

What are the Different Models of the BMW 3 Series?

The fifth generation of the 3 Series was launched in 2006, and replaced by the sixth generation in 2012. There are two models of the 3 Series available in 2010, and they are offered as either rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive variants.

328i is the entry-level model with:

• 16-Inch Wheels
• Vinyl Leatherette Seating
• Automatic Climate Control
• 10-Speaker AM/FM/CD Stereo With 3.5mm AUX

335i is a more powerful version which adds:

• 17-Inch Alloy Wheels
• Power Front Seats
• Sports Suspension
• Xenon Headlights

Optional features on both models include:

• Navigation System With iDrive
• USB Connectivity
• Premium Leather Seating
• Upgraded Suspension
• Paddle Shifters
• Black Exterior
• Logic 7 Surround Sound Stereo

What Engines Come In the BMW 3 Series?

• The base engine is a reasonably powerful 3.0L 6-cylinder which makes 230 horsepower while getting up to 22 MPG.
• An available upgrade is the stronger 3.0L turbocharged 6-cylinder which produces 300 horsepower and gets up to 20 MPG. Performance is excellent, taking only 4.9 seconds to go from 0-60 MPH.

What Colors Does the BMW 3 Series Come In?

How Big Is the BMW 3 Series?

The 2010 BMW 3 Series is offered as a 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible, 4-door sedan, and 5-door wagon. It’s close in size to other compact cars including the Acura TSX and Infiniti G37.

Passenger room is great in the front seats, but the back seats of the sedan have limited legroom and are cramped for taller adults.

Cargo space is close to other luxury cars with a relatively small trunk in the convertible which only fits 2-3 suitcases, 3-4 in the trunk of the sedan & coupe, and up to 5-6 behind the seats in the wagon.

How Does the BMW 3 Series Compare to the Competition?

The 2010 BMW 3 Series is an excellent entry-level luxury car that focuses heavily on performance rather than an upscale interior, and earns our recommendation for shoppers.

The BMW 5 Series is another competitor from BMW, starting at about $1,500 more. Passenger room and cargo space are both better in the BMW 5 Series, but the BMW 3 Series has more responsive handling. We recommend the BMW 3 Series since the BMW 5 Series has more complaints from owners.

The Audi A4 is another luxury car offered in the same price range. Interior materials are more luxurious in the Audi A4, but the BMW 3 Series is quicker and more agile. We recommend going with the BMW 3 Series since they have lower ownership costs long term.

Ranks #6 Luxury Small Cars by Owners

1

car

2010 Audi S5

2

car

2010 Lexus IS

4.73

6

car

2010 BMW 3 Series

4.45

Do Owners Recommend the BMW 3 Series?

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Minda F

The 2010 BMW 3 series drives well and is reliable, easy to handle and comfortable. It drives well in all weather conditions.

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James L

Yes, I love my car. I and currently on my second BMW and do not think I will switch to another car brand.

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Robin M

Yes. It is reliable and luxurious. It is very comfortable. I like this series because it caters to the needs of me while I travel and the amenities are great