2006 BMW 3-Series Review: It Just Doesn’t Make Sense to Buy a Used BMW

The 2006 BMW 3 Series is an excellent luxury car with sporty performance under the hood, it’s priced fairly, and it’s one of the worst financial decisions you can possibly make. Expensive repairs and specialized service needs will have your 2006 3 Series spending more time in the garage than on the road. If you want a used luxury car experience, settle for a Volvo.

Is the 2006 BMW 3 Series a Good Used Car?

• Overall Rating 8/10 – The 2006 3 Series’ biggest issues all have to do with it being a used luxury car. As a piece of engineering, as a piece of design, BMWs are excellent across the board.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 9/10 – It’s a $6,000 used car that feels like $60,000.
• Reliability 5/10 – The engine and transmission will go the distance with adequate care. But, when you’re spending two, three, four hundred dollars a month on little here-and-there repairs, that’s more of a curse than a blessing.
• Safety 8/10 – Generous standard features and a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS make the 2006 BMW 3 Series one of the safest used sedans on the road.
• Gas Mileage 8/10 – The entry-level 325i model averages 21/30 miles to the gallon, which isn’t bad for a car of this age.
• Value 5/10 – It’s priced fairly, it’s a marvel of engineering, but high ownership costs make it more of a collector’s item than a practical daily driver.

What Do Critics Say About the 2006 BMW 3 Series?

Consumer Reports reviewed a 325i 3 Series, praising the interior space and responsive handling, comparing it to sports cars behind the wheel. The car’s transmission earned some praise, but they felt the user interface could have been more intuitive in some areas.

Kelley Blue Book users give the 2006 3 Series a strong 88% recommendation, with praise for the car’s performance, longevity, and comfortable interior. Expensive repairs have been the biggest complaint, as BMWs demand specialized repair every time something goes wrong.

Edmunds had strong praise for the high quality interior trim materials, the wide range of configurations, and the available all-wheel drive, acknowledging BMW as the industry leader in vehicle dynamics. The high sticker price and cramped trunk space earned the car some red marks.

What Common Problems Does the 2006 BMW 3 Series Have?

The 2006 3 Series has 1,220 complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 659 of these are for airbag issues, with complaints still being registered in 2023. There have been six airbag recalls, the last one in 2019, with many drivers reporting that their VINs were not covered.

There are 183 electrical complaints on file with a number of drivers reporting problems with the heat, air conditioning, and engine light following a recall for an overheating blower motor wire.

88 engine complaints mostly center around white smoke coming from under the hood, noises coming from the crankcase, and, in one instance, the engine actually exploding after stalling out at 45 miles per hour.

The 3 Series has 14 recalls on file with the NHTSA, which doesn’t quite come out to one a year, but it’s certainly higher than average for a 2006 model car.

How Long Will the 2006 BMW 3 Series Last?

The engine and transmission in a 2006 3 Series can easily last 250,000 miles or more with adequate care. BMW have a reputation for excellent engineering, and they live up to it. The problem isn’t with the engine, it’s that you’re going to be spending more than average for all the little here-and-there repairs.

Repairpal estimate an annual maintenance cost of around $773, which is nearly twice what you’d be paying with many compacts. The most expensive common repair is a new catalytic converter starting at around $2,830, which is enough to simply buy a new car.

How Is the Technology?

The entertainment technology in the 2006 BMW 3 Series is a cut above the industry standard. Even the entry-level 325i includes an MP3 player and ten speaker.

Onboard safety tech is, likewise, better than you expect to see in a 2006 model car. You’ve got ventilated anti-lock brakes as a standard feature, along with traction control, and crash sensors to automatically unlock doors and hit the hazard lights.

Is the 2006 BMW 3 Series a Good Value?

It’s not a very good idea to buy a 2006 BMW 3 Series now. Luxury cars tend to age like milk, with expensive repairs mounting up and parts becoming impossible to replace.

Typical listing prices are fair for a car of this quality, ranging from $5,461 for an entry level sedan to $6,618 for the 330xi edition, but a high cost of ownership means that the car should be of more interest to collectors and diehard BMW fans than to someone just looking for a reliable, comfortable daily driver.

What are the Different Models of the 2006 BMW 3 Series?

The BMW 3 Series isn’t offered in standard trim levels so much as configurations, with the i models being fuel-injected, the Ci being two-door coupes, and the Xi models being all-wheel drive.

Additionally, you have 325 and 330 models, with the differences being under the hood. The 330 is sport-tuned for better horsepower. There is also a standalone M3 model which is technically part of the 3 Series family, but marketed and sold independently as a premium luxury sports car, and typically lists for close to twenty grand.

Interior options in all configurations include:

• Anti-lock brakes and traction control
• Fog lights
• Heated mirrors
• Rain sensing windshield wipers
• Leatherette seating
• Remote keyless entry
• Dual zone automatic air conditioning
• CD player with MP3 player and 10 speakers

What Engines Come In the 2006 BMW 3 Series?

• The 325Ci model 2006 Series 3 comes packed with a 2.5L straight-four delivering 184 horsepower and 175 torque. The 2.5L averages 20/29 miles to the gallon, city/highway, and it’s configured in rear wheel drive with a 5-speed automatic transmission.
• 325i and 325xi models are equipped with a 3.0L straight-six delivering 185 lb.-ft. of torque and 215 horsepower. This is paired to a 6-speed automatic and averages 21/30 miles to the gallon in the rear-wheel i, and 20/28 in the all-wheel xi.
• All 330 models are equipped with a sport-tuned version of the 3.0L straight-six, delivering 255 horsepower and 220 lb.-ft. of torque in the i and Xi, and and 225 horsepower and 214 lb.-ft. of torque in the Ci. The engine averages around 20/30 miles to the gallon in rear wheel drive, 20/28 in all wheel drive, and it’s paired to a 5-speed automatic in all models but the 6-speed automatic xi.

What Colors Does the 2006 BMW 3 Series Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2006 BMW 3 Series?

BMWs are typically among the most comfortable cars in their size class, and the 2006 3 Series is no exception. The suspension runs nice and smooth, the interior trim quality is above average, and the front bucket seats are firm and supportive.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2006 BMW 3 Series Have?

The 2006 3 Series packs an underwhelming 10 cubic feet of trunk space to start with. But, with the seats folded down, the wagon model can pack up to 60 cubic feet.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

The 2006 model 3 Series was the first model year in the nameplate’s E90, or 5th Generation, running from 2006 to 2011 in the US.

2004: Most of the changes made to the 3 Series in 2006 were cosmetic, with newly contoured bumpers and headlights in the front end.

2005: 2005 saw the debut of the E90 generation overseas, while Americans were still driving the E46 models.

2006: The E90 debuted in the US for 2006, featuring an all new platform with a longer wheelbase and wider tracks, allowing for a larger interior.

2007: Convertible models were added for 2007.

2008: New 16 inch wheels are standard for some models.

2009: The 3 Series got a facelift for 2009. The new “LCI” E90s received dramatically moderniszed crease lines throughout the body design, and a new N57 engine under teh hood bumping base horsepower up to 181.

How Does the 2006 BMW 3 Series Compare to the Competition?

If you’re looking for a comfortable, luxurious, perfectly-engineered sedan from 2006, you’re probably better off going with a Volvo S60 than anything else. The S60 delivers similar performance and a similar driving feel to the 3 Series but for a couple grand less. It’s low-maintenance, and it’s one of the safest cars on the road.

The Mazda 3 offers a luxury driving experience at a low cost, typically listing for a few hundred dollars more than the S60. But, it comes with poor crash test ratings, and the wimpiest engine options of the three, starting at just 150 horsepower in the entry-level i model.

There’s no nice way of putting it: Luxury cars just don’t age well, and BMWs least of all. If you want the luxury experience without spending forty, fifty, sixty grand on a new car, a used Volvo is as good as it gets without sacrificing practicality or signing up for a 96 month loan.

Do Owners Recommend the 2006 BMW 3 Series?