Used 2011 BMW 3 Series Consumer Reviews
Used 3 Series for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Terrible Car and Poor Service
dee134, 05/08/2015
2011 BMW 3 Series 328i 2dr Convertible (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
22 of 34 people found this review helpful
Do not buy a BMW convertible because they leak water. BMW Engineers stated it is normal for all convertible tops to leak. They don't disclose this information before you buy it. BMW corporate office has terrible service don't expect a phone call returned to you.
What a disappointment
Stephanie , 09/18/2020
2011 BMW 3 Series 328i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
12 of 18 people found this review helpful
Bought mine brand new 2011. Pampered it and took fabulous care of it. It has 49,000 miles. The car is literally falling apart. In the last 6 months its been towed 5 times! First spark plugs then coils, battery, ground strap, CAS module, starter and oil gasket. Thousands of dollars! The dealership told me get it through the winter and dump it. I said but it’s not a disposable car, it’s a bmw with under 50 thousand miles. They told me it’s old. My husband has a 2007 Ford Explorer with 153,000 miles. My sister a 2005 Toyota Matrix runs like a top. The dealership told me yeah we hear that all the time. Trust me don’t do it! The older BMW’s were solid vehicles but these newer ones are garbage. What a huge disappointment.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2011 BMW 3 Series for sale near you
Showing 3 of 73 listings
- 328i ConvertibleMSRP: $8,499193 mi away
- 328i xDrive SedanMSRP: $6,495178 mi away
- 328i xDrive SedanMSRP: $10,99815 mi away
See all 73 listings
Fun to drive, but needs routine attention
silverseal99, 09/28/2019
updated 08/31/2023
2011 BMW 3 Series 335d 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbodiesel 6A)
7 of 10 people found this review helpful
I own two 2011 335d--one Sport (wife's) with 48K miles and one M Sport (mine) with 102K miles. The wife's car makes a good "control" for comparison, remains very tight and smooth, and has had relatively few issues. Mine is demonstrating BMW's subtle and frequent issues. The Good: BMW Warranty service has been top notch from the right dealership (we have 2 local and a third within an hour). Many class issues have been covered by an extension of warranty for that item--check before you pay someone for a beyond-warranty repair. Absolute joy to drive! Clean, quiet, no smoke or diesel rattle, gobs of torque--20 to 80 mph is its "niche." Delivered 39.6 mpg at 80 mph cruise to Las Vegas, 33.6 combined, 26 mpg city. Steering is wonderful with excellent feedback. Brakes are absolutely awesome, front pads lasted 100K miles Sport seats are comfortable and supportive--extension under hamstrings is great for long trips. Trunk will fit two full sets of golf clubs and one folding cart. The Bad "LIfetime" means "Life of the warranty"-- Significant maintenance issues will begin at 50K miles. Once out of warranty, SoCal dealer wants $175 an hour to troubleshoot issues (offset against repair if dealer does the repair). Fortunately, I do my own repairs. Carbon build-up due to direct injection is a class issue, will cost $2100 in Southern California. Harmonic balancer will fail and leave you stranded if you don't replace it before hand. Wiring harness in shift selector module will eventually break due to a tight bend. Wiring harness in trunk will eventually break locking you out of the trunk. You will need a laptop computer and BMW software to do other than simple service. Even changing the battery requires re-programming the computer or gremlins will attack. Issues to date on my car: 50K - Diesel Exhaust Fluid tank issues emerged Electronic "gremlins" compel me to replace battery (my nickel) 53K - Glow plug control module failure (my nickel) 57K - SCR tank failure (repaired under warranty) 61K - MAF sensor failure (repaired by dealer as good faith measure) 90K - Passenger door handle Comfort Access sensor shorted and "cooked" (my nickel) Trunk latch handle failure (my nickel) 92K - Windshield washer pump failure (my nickel) 94K - Driver air bag replacement (warranty) 95K - Rear window regulator failure (my nickel) Rear windshield gasket failure (poor materials, my nickel) Broken wiring harness in shift selector module (my nickel) 96K - NOX sensor failure (warranty) 99K - Turbo oil leak - replaced turbo boost hose (my nickel) Replaced leaking vacuum lines (my nickel) Serviced "lifetime" transmission (seals, filter and fluid) (my nickel) 101K - Catastrophic failure of vibration damper (required tow, my nickel) 102K - Trunk lock-out due to broken wiring harness (my nickel) UPDATE 104K - Replaced trunk actuator handle (again--rubber split) 106K - Rear driver side window regulator broke (again) (Dorman provided free replacement, I installed). 108K - SCR cooler flap inoperative. Replaced vacuum box and vacuum lines (as preventive maintenance). - Replaced coolant expansion tank (broken indicator stem) - Replaced thermostat (inoperative) - Replaced CCV hose (hardened and brittle with age) - Replaced driver side hood support/gas tube (weak) 110K - Replaced two trunk support pistons (weak) 113K - Multiple glow plug related codes--replaced glow plug control module - Replaced driver side cup holder (broken spring) 115K - Replaced rear driver side window regulator again under Dorman warranty - Performed carbon build-up cleaning (Note: CBU was really bad. Performed walnut blasting procedure and picked up 2+ MPG in city driving. Passed STAR SMOG without issue (but took 450 miles driving to reset monitors!). 116K - Replaced driver side rear window regulator (again!) under Dorman warranty. Noted that new regulator is an improved design over previous models. - Driver side door actuator failed (broken)/replaced Okay, so why do I keep them? 1) My wife and I love the performance, fuel economy and handling, 2) I do all of my own maintenance which keep costs manageable, 3) I have a spare vehicle I can use when one of the Beemers acts up. However, I would not recommend buying a used 335d unless you are handy and a hobbyist and have access to Rheingold or BMW factory software for troubleshooting and analysis. Noting the above, the wife's 2011 335d has been relatively trouble free for now 65K miles. I am doing CBU clean on it this week as a preventive maintenance issue but have not had any related codes.. If you want performance get a BMW. If you want dependable reliability, get a Toyota. - - - - - - - UPDATE #2 - - - - - - - - 116K - Rear window regulator failed (replaced under Dorman warranty) - Driver's door actuator failed (my nickel) 117K - Sold the M Sport, took over the Sport. 2011 335d Sport 020K - Bought the car second hand in 2016. Since purchase I have had the dealer perform air bag, battery positive cable, and blower motor wiring recalls. I have done all maintenance and repairs to include replace battery, service "lifetime" transmission at 50,000 miles (per ZF recommendation) and replaced the Exhaust Backpressure Sensor (twice), thermostat (preventive), Injector #5, glow plug control module, 6 glow plugs (preventive), front and rear NOx sensors, and the hot film air mass sensor. NOTE: Do not trust either OEM or aftermarket (Chinese) parts on this car. I have had Facet brand OEM modules fail quickly necessitating doing the job twice. Furthermore, aftermarket NOx sensors looked like they were working but weren't and took me a lot of time and consternation to troubleshoot and finally replace with genuine BMW parts. Although 3 times the cost (or more), all problems immediately went away. Plan on carbon build-up cleaning every 50,000 miles (the gunk this direct-injected diesel collects is truly impressive!). Sold my M Sport at 117,000 miles in favor of keeping the wife's Sport (she got a newer E-350). Now have 70K miles on the latter.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Danger Danger after warranty
Grotto , 03/04/2022
updated 03/13/2023
2011 BMW 3 Series 335d 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbodiesel 6A)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
Great car when new and CPO. Owned since 2013, have 127k miles on it but put in a lot of money due to addicted torque, horsepower, fast and fuel mileage. One of the best M57 engine BMW has ever made but EPA emission equipment attached to the engine kills the car due to added cost and labor so trust me you are not saving on fuel, you're probably losing money if kept for a short term. Service engine light will always come on due to so many sensors, parameters and emission equipment that it's mind boggling. One needs to have a legitimate code reader if they own this car. 2 NOX sensors which will fail and will set you back $2300-3000k in parts and labor and car will go on a 99 mile count down before no start. BMW purposefully inflated common fail parts on this car because they can and most people don't have a clue and will learn the hard way which is their wallets. Injectors will set you back $335 a piece after market Bosch units whereas BMW will charge you over $650 a piece for same injector because they can. Harmonic balancer will fail another $400 plus labor. DPF will clog. Water pump will fail ($1200) DEF fluid pump/temp sensor will fail. Glow plug and module will fail. Carbon will 100% build up and that will cost you $2500-3500 to clean as it's an extensive job where with walnut blasting. Valve cover gasket will leak in time as the the rubber gasket like ll modern BMW's will harden and break. Good chance that the footwell module will fail. Lots of vacuum lines so they become brittle and will need full replacement around 100k due to heat cycle. Suspension electrical very good but shocks/struts will fail around 75k as w/ most BMW's but people don't change them. The car is bulletproof otherwise as long as you religiously change the BMW LL04 oil at 5-7,500 intervals. Fuel mileage superb with 425 ft/lb of torque on stock tune. I get 40 mpg on highways and 25-30 in city with aftermarket tune. Unless you are gear head or do a lot of car work yourself, in all due honestly stay away from this model. Service history key of you buy one but it seems like young people who don't have much money tend to gravitate to these used cars.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
What a whip
Paul Hess, 04/13/2021
2011 BMW 3 Series 328i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
Bought my first BMW 328i ex drive, don't know why I waited so long to buy one, what an awesome car 2011 ex drive, the power and cornering is unreal, they advertise the ultimate driving machine, such a fitting ad,
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value