BMW 3 Series 2016 review
Overview
The 2016 BMW 3 Series is the LCI facelift of the F30 generation — the car that owned Britain's company-car lists and still fills the fast lane of the M1. The facelift landed in autumn 2015, and the UK core range was 318d, 320d (including the efficient ED), 320i and the new 330e plug-in hybrid, all rear-wheel drive (xDrive was optional on the 320d) and all Euro 6. Our core spec is the 320d SE saloon with the six-speed manual, listed at £32,870 in LCI form — the M Sport manual was £32,085.
The 320d is the one to buy. The 1,995cc B47 twin-turbo diesel produces 190bhp and 400Nm, covers 0–62mph in about 7.3–7.5 seconds and officially claimed 58.9–64.2mpg combined (NEDC-era, depending on trim and wheels) with 116g/km of CO2 — VED Band C, or £30 a year under the old pre-April-2017 system, and a 21% BIK rate that made it the default fleet choice. The ZF eight-speed Steptronic auto is the gearbox to recommend: universally praised, near-silent at a 70mph cruise, and paired with a 57-litre tank and a 480-litre boot it is a proper motorway tool. The 330e plug-in hybrid arrived in 2016 with 252PS combined, 6.1 seconds to 62mph and a 25-mile electric claim — worth a look for town-heavy use.
The big fear — timing chains — needs context. The B47 keeps the N47's rear-mounted chain, but the drive was redesigned with a new chain and improved tensioner, and failures dropped dramatically versus the old engine. The risk today is low to medium; a cold-start rattle means investigate immediately, not eventually. The bigger real-world checks: BMW recalled over a million diesels for EGR-cooler fire risk, and the F30 B47 is covered — always check by VIN. EGR valves soot up, DPFs block on short-trip-only use (this engine needs regular motorway runs), crankshaft vibration dampers fail, and turbos and injectors wear at high miles. Shorter oil-change intervals beat trusting the condition-based service stretch to 18,000 miles.
Here is the contestable bit: the LCI's reprogrammed electric steering is more precise than the pre-facelift car's, but it is still light and remote next to the E90's old hydraulic rack — BMW chased efficiency, not feel. And M Sport on the optional 19-inch wheels looks the business but ruins the ride on pitted UK B-roads; the smarter buy is SE or Sport trim on 17s or 18s. Do the VIN recall check, demand EGR/DPF history, register a new battery properly (a replacement 12V AGM must be coded to the car's energy management), and this remains Britain's best all-round used executive saloon.
UK price from: £32,870
Specifications
| Engine | 2.0L 4-cylinder twin-turbo diesel (B47) |
| Power | 190 bhp |
| Torque | 400 Nm |
| 0-62 mph | 7.3–7.5 seconds (manual) |
| Top speed | 146 mph (manual) |
| Gearbox | 6-speed manual / 8-speed ZF Steptronic |
| Drive | Rear-wheel drive (xDrive optional) |
| Fuel economy (NEDC) | 58.9–64.2 mpg combined (NEDC-era) |
| CO2 emissions | 116 g/km; VED Band C |
| Boot space | 480 litres |
| Kerb weight | 1,450–1,505 kg |
| Timing | Rear-mounted timing chain (redesigned vs N47) |
| Insurance group | 28–32 (SE manual 28; M Sport 32) |
| Euro NCAP | 5 stars (2012 test, carried over) |
| Warranty | 3 years / unlimited miles |
Features
- 1,995cc B47 twin-turbo diesel: 190bhp, 400Nm
- Six-speed manual standard; ZF 8-speed Steptronic auto (the one to have)
- 58.9–64.2mpg combined (NEDC-era); 116g/km, VED Band C — Euro 6, ULEZ-compliant
- Rear-wheel drive as standard; xDrive optional on the 320d
- 480-litre boot, 57-litre tank, 1,450–1,505kg kerb weight
- 330e plug-in hybrid in range: 252PS, 6.1s 0–62mph, 25-mile electric claim
- M Sport trim on 18s standard (19s optional); SE/Sport smarter on 17s/18s
- 5-star Euro NCAP (2012 test, rating carried over); 3yr/unlimited-mile warranty
Common parts & prices
| Part | Price (GBP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake pads (axle set) | £62.99 | Typical range £45–£80 OE-quality; fitted £120–£200 |
| Cabin pollen filter | £47.99 | Catalogue-verified: Maxgear £27.49 – Mann £67.94 |
| Oil filter (Mahle OX404D type) | £13.99 | Typical range £10–£18 |
| 12V AGM battery 80Ah | £189.99 | Typical range £150–£230 part-only; MUST be registered to car |
| Front wiper blades (pair) | £24.99 | Flat aero type; typical retail |
| EGR valve (replacement) | £249.99 | Pattern part; soot-clogging is the common failure |
Pros
- The B47 320d is a near-silent motorway cruiser with genuine 60-plus mpg (NEDC-era)
- ZF 8-speed auto is one of the best gearboxes in any car
- Rear-drive handling balance no front-drive rival matches
- Redesigned timing chain cut N47-era failures dramatically
- 3yr/unlimited-mile warranty and huge parts/knowledge base in the UK
Cons
- EGR-cooler fire-risk recall covers F30 B47s — check by VIN, no exceptions
- DPF blocks on short-trip-only use; needs regular motorway runs
- M Sport on 19s ruins the ride on UK B-roads; electric steering lacks feel
- New 12V batteries must be registered/coded to the car — a DIY trap
