2011 BMW 3 Series for Rs 10 lakh | Worth buying?

The E90 3 Series might miss out on creature comforts compared to the newer models, but it more than makes up for it with its drive and handling characteristics.

BHPian karanskumar recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Folks - I have never bought a luxury car. A friend is off-loading his BMW 320d for Rs 10 lakh - wanted to know if it's a good buy for a few years? Details below:

BMW 320d

• 2011 model
• 40,000 km done
• Overall clean, minor scratches on bumpers.

Single owner. Not used much.

Thoughts?

Here's what BHPian androdev had to say on the matter:

This generation looks very dated now. My suggestion would be to look for the next version of the 3 series (white LED corona rings, 2013 onwards) for Rs 13 - 14 lakh.

Here's what BHPian Turbanator had to say on the matter:

I used to own one back in 2008. Forget about the interiors or the looks, if you have never experienced a German car, and this car is indeed 40 K done, which is a big IF. You have to be absolutely sure about this. The best thing will be to get a thorough inspection from BMW and if it is what you have mentioned, it will be the best Rs 10 lakh you have spent on anything. It’s a rock-solid, CBU and should be easier to repair (no personal experience though as I didn’t keep it long)

Can negotiate for the inspection and any maintenance/ repairs BMW dealer will suggest after inspection. Keep some extra change for anything that may go wrong but 40 K is too little.

Here's what BHPian akshay4587 had to say on the matter:

I have a couple of questions for you; have you driven the car yet, if yes did you like it?

Have you verified the service history yet?

Are you okay with the lack of space at the back and a slightly harsh ride on bad roads?

If the answer to the above questions is yes, let me make your life easier for you; Get this car!!!!

I picked up the last of the E90's to be registered in the country (January 2013) in February 2021.

It's a 320D Msport with heaps of goodies including an M performance pack and yes it had done 37,743Kms, when I got it in February 2021, as of now Odometer stands at 42,220kms.

After having owned it for 8 months, I cannot fathom, where does the yearly bill of 1L for its upkeep is coming from?; God forbid if anything major goes wrong that's a different story but even then you will not take a 10-year-old BMW to a dealership, find an FNG and get it fixed. I have spent is around 14K on my car and that too just for its service; being the last of the E90's these cars are fairly reliable as long as you service them on time. The ride is harsh but I am planning to switch to 225/50/17 tyres at the next chance, and that should fix it for me. Rear seats are definitely low on space for tall passengers, if you can live with these shortcomings, go for it, and have fun on the road

Some photos of my car:

Here's what BHPian Dr.AD had to say on the matter:

My suggestion is not to rule out this car. Do a detailed check at a BMW service station first, and also verify that 40k km is genuine reading. If you get a confirmation from the BMW service that the car has no major repairs due, and if you also get some confirmation that 40k km is genuine, then I would say proceed with the thought process of buying this car. In that case, consider below the pros and cons of this E90 320d:

Pros:

• You get a great driver's car for Rs. 10L (or maybe even lesser if you negotiate hard). Nothing else in the current market at Rs. 10L will match the driving pleasure of this car.
• You will get to experience the BMW ownership and all the joys and pains that come with it. This car is a true blue BMW.

Cons:

• As others pointed out, maintenance cost is a gamble, and it can turn out either way. There are many E90s running smoothly and trouble-free even today. But on the other hand, there are E90s which need a new turbo (although not at 40k km), suspension repairs etc after 10 years and all of this can cost a lot.
• Although the car is a joy to drive, the steering is a bit too hard, and the suspension is way too stiff, at least by today's standards. Today, even the so-called driver's cars have comfortable suspensions and relatively lighter steerings (and I consider this to be a natural evolution of engineering improvements). But E90 will take you back to an era where driver's cars were totally painful on the comfort front. Whether you like it or not is your personal call.
• Regarding maintenance, it is not just the cost, but also the availability of parts that you have to worry about. Even relatively simple parts can take weeks or months of lead time if you go through the official dealers. And if you go the FNG route, you need to have a lot of knowledge of what parts you need and which are genuine aftermarket suppliers etc. It is not an easy game to manage unless you are really going to invest your time and money into this.
• The car has a poor rear seat - both for space and comfort (or lack of both, to be precise). If you are looking for a family sedan, this is not the car to consider.

So that is my summary. We can only point out the pros and cons. You will have to make a decision based on what you like and what you do not.

Also, a big question is whether this will be a second car (for weekend fun or as a project car) or whether primary/only car? If you are looking for a primary/only car, this is the wrong car. But as a second car which is primarily for the absolute driving pleasure (and nothing else) and weekend drives, and on which you do not mind spending time and money from time to time, this will be a great fun car!

All the best in your decision making!

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