BMW 3-Series Saloon (05-11) - Review

Review by David Ross on
Last Updated: 16 February 2011
The fifth-generation BMW 3-Series combines a high-quality cabin and decent equipment levels with the best drive among 'executive' saloon alternatives. The striking four-door gets a power boost over the old model but, thanks to the Efficient Dynamics program, both fuel economy and emissions have actually been improved. It's not as good an all-rounder as the Audi A4, with less passenger space and a firmer ride, but it sets the class benchmark for driving pleasure. An Autumn 2008 facelift gave the 3-Series sharper styling and a refreshed interior and also brought a new diesel engine to the line-up in the shape of the 330d. However, the pick of the line-up - for performance and economy - is the excellent 320d EfficientDynamics which is great to drive and is claimed to return an amazing 69mpg.
4.5 out of 5

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Company Car Costs

P11D Value

The price of the car excluding road tax and first registration fee. This is used to calculate company car tax.

CO2 g/km

The carbon dioxide emissions of the car, which decides the company car tax band into which the car falls.

BIK Band

The percentage band used to calculate company car tax, determined by CO2 emissions of the car.

20% Tax / 40% Tax

The annual amount of company car tax payable based on the drivers income tax level, either at the basic rate or the higher rate.

Standard Trim

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

318i 4d

£19,807

175

15%

£594

£1,188

£594

£1,188

318i 4d Auto

£21,297

190

15%

£639

£1,278

£639

£1,278

320i 4d

£21,437

178

15%

£643

£1,286

£643

£1,286

320i 4d Auto

£22,927

190

15%

£687

£1,375

£687

£1,375

320si 4d

£24,772

214

15%

£743

£1,486

£743

£1,486

318d 4d

£22,192

150

18%

£799

£1,598

£799

£1,598

320d 4d

£23,312

153

18%

£839

£1,678

£839

£1,678

320d 4d Auto

£24,802

179

18%

£892

£1,785

£892

£1,785

ES

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

318i ES (08) 4d

£22,510

146

15%

£675

£1,350

£675

£1,350

318i ES 4d Step Auto

£24,035

155

15%

£721

£1,442

£721

£1,442

318i ES 4d

£20,520

175

15%

£615

£1,231

£615

£1,231

318i ES 4d Auto

£22,010

190

15%

£660

£1,320

£660

£1,320

318i Exclusive Edition 4d

£24,475

146

15%

£734

£1,468

£734

£1,468

318i (143bhp) ES 4d

£21,175

142

15%

£635

£1,270

£635

£1,270

318i (143bhp) ES 4d Auto

£22,665

152

15%

£680

£1,360

£680

£1,360

320i ES (08) 4d

£23,670

148

15%

£710

£1,420

£710

£1,420

320i ES 4d Step Auto

£25,165

159

15%

£755

£1,510

£755

£1,510

320i ES 4d

£22,170

178

15%

£665

£1,330

£665

£1,330

320i ES 4d Auto

£23,660

190

15%

£709

£1,419

£709

£1,419

320i (170bhp) ES 4d

£22,840

146

15%

£685

£1,370

£685

£1,370

320i (170bhp) ES 4d Auto

£24,330

156

15%

£730

£1,460

£730

£1,460

316d ES 4d

£24,505

118

13%

£637

£1,274

£637

£1,274

318d ES 4d

£22,925

150

18%

£825

£1,650

£825

£1,650

318d ES (08) 4d

£25,270

119

13%

£657

£1,314

£657

£1,314

318d ES 4d Step Auto

£26,795

140

18%

£964

£1,929

£964

£1,929

318d (143bhp) ES 4d

£23,925

123

18%

£861

£1,722

£861

£1,722

320d ES 4d

£24,065

153

18%

£866

£1,732

£866

£1,732

320d ES 4d Auto

£25,555

179

18%

£920

£1,840

£920

£1,840

320d (177bhp) ES 4d

£25,090

128

18%

£903

£1,806

£903

£1,806

320d (177bhp) ES 4d Auto

£26,580

144

18%

£956

£1,913

£956

£1,913

320d ES (08) 4d

£25,775

128

18%

£928

£1,856

£928

£1,856

320d ES 4d Step Auto

£27,270

144

18%

£981

£1,963

£981

£1,963

320d (184bhp) ES 4d

£26,490

125

18%

£953

£1,907

£953

£1,907

320d (184bhp) ES 4d Step Auto

£28,015

140

18%

£1,008

£2,017

£1,008

£2,017

Edition ES

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

318i Edition ES 4d

£21,925

142

15%

£657

£1,315

£657

£1,315

318i Edition ES 4d Auto

£23,415

152

15%

£702

£1,404

£702

£1,404

320i Edition ES 4d

£23,590

146

15%

£707

£1,415

£707

£1,415

320i Edition ES 4dr 4d Auto

£25,080

156

15%

£752

£1,504

£752

£1,504

318d Edition ES 4d

£24,675

123

18%

£888

£1,776

£888

£1,776

320d Edition ES 4d

£25,840

128

18%

£930

£1,860

£930

£1,860

320d Edition ES 4d Auto

£27,330

144

18%

£983

£1,967

£983

£1,967

SE

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

318i SE (08) 4d

£23,865

146

15%

£716

£1,432

£716

£1,432

318i SE 4d Step Auto

£25,390

155

15%

£761

£1,523

£761

£1,523

318i SE 4d

£21,550

175

15%

£646

£1,293

£646

£1,293

318i SE 4d Auto

£23,040

190

15%

£691

£1,382

£691

£1,382

318i (143bhp) SE 4d

£22,205

142

15%

£666

£1,332

£666

£1,332

318i (143bhp) SE 4d Auto

£23,695

152

15%

£710

£1,421

£710

£1,421

320i SE (08) 4d

£25,600

148

15%

£768

£1,536

£768

£1,536

320i SE 4d Step Auto

£27,125

159

15%

£813

£1,627

£813

£1,627

320i SE 4d

£23,200

178

15%

£696

£1,392

£696

£1,392

320i SE 4d Auto

£24,690

190

15%

£740

£1,481

£740

£1,481

320i (170bhp) SE 4d

£23,870

146

15%

£716

£1,432

£716

£1,432

320i (170bhp) SE 4d Auto

£25,360

156

15%

£760

£1,521

£760

£1,521

325i SE 4d

£25,910

203

15%

£777

£1,554

£777

£1,554

325i SE 4d Auto

£27,400

218

15%

£822

£1,644

£822

£1,644

335i SE (08) 4d

£32,610

218

15%

£978

£1,956

£978

£1,956

335i SE 4d Step Auto

£34,270

221

15%

£1,028

£2,056

£1,028

£2,056

335i SE 4d

£31,705

218

15%

£951

£1,902

£951

£1,902

335i SE 4d Auto

£33,340

221

15%

£1,000

£2,000

£1,000

£2,000

325i SE (08) 4d

£28,210

168

15%

£846

£1,692

£846

£1,692

325i SE 4d Step Auto

£29,905

174

15%

£897

£1,794

£897

£1,794

330i SE (08) 4d

£31,000

173

15%

£930

£1,860

£930

£1,860

325i (3.0L) SE 4d

£26,620

170

15%

£798

£1,597

£798

£1,597

330i SE 4d Step Auto

£32,660

175

15%

£979

£1,959

£979

£1,959

325i (3.0L) SE 4d Auto

£28,255

170

15%

£847

£1,695

£847

£1,695

330i SE 4d

£29,275

210

15%

£878

£1,756

£878

£1,756

330i SE 4d Auto

£30,765

216

15%

£923

£1,846

£923

£1,846

330i (272bhp) SE 4d

£30,015

173

15%

£900

£1,800

£900

£1,800

330i (272bhp) SE 4d Auto

£31,650

173

15%

£949

£1,899

£949

£1,899

318d SE 4d

£23,955

150

18%

£862

£1,724

£862

£1,724

318d SE (08) 4d

£26,625

119

13%

£692

£1,384

£692

£1,384

318d SE 4d Step Auto

£28,150

140

18%

£1,013

£2,026

£1,013

£2,026

318d (143bhp) SE 4d

£24,955

123

18%

£898

£1,796

£898

£1,796

320d SE 4d

£25,095

153

18%

£903

£1,806

£903

£1,806

320d SE 4d Auto

£26,585

179

18%

£957

£1,914

£957

£1,914

320d ED 4d

£27,845

109

13%

£724

£1,448

£724

£1,448

320d (177bhp) SE 4d

£26,120

128

18%

£940

£1,880

£940

£1,880

320d (177bhp) SE 4d Auto

£27,610

144

18%

£994

£1,988

£994

£1,988

320d SE (08) 4d

£27,100

128

18%

£975

£1,951

£975

£1,951

320d SE 4d Step Auto

£28,595

144

18%

£1,029

£2,058

£1,029

£2,058

320d (184bhp) SE 4d

£27,845

125

18%

£1,002

£2,004

£1,002

£2,004

320d (184bhp) SE 4d Step Auto

£29,370

140

18%

£1,057

£2,114

£1,057

£2,114

325d SE 4d

£28,065

155

18%

£1,010

£2,020

£1,010

£2,020

325d SE 4d Auto

£29,700

169

18%

£1,069

£2,138

£1,069

£2,138

330d SE 4d

£30,490

160

18%

£1,097

£2,195

£1,097

£2,195

330d SE 4d Auto

£32,125

175

18%

£1,156

£2,313

£1,156

£2,313

335d SE 4d Auto

£33,825

177

18%

£1,217

£2,435

£1,217

£2,435

325d SE (08) 4d

£28,810

153

18%

£1,037

£2,074

£1,037

£2,074

325d SE 4d Step Auto

£30,470

164

18%

£1,097

£2,194

£1,097

£2,194

325d (204bhp) SE 4d

£29,620

151

18%

£1,066

£2,132

£1,066

£2,132

325d (204bhp) SE 4d Step Auto

£31,315

160

18%

£1,127

£2,254

£1,127

£2,254

330d SE (08) 4d

£32,330

152

18%

£1,163

£2,327

£1,163

£2,327

330d SE 4d Step Auto

£34,025

164

18%

£1,225

£2,450

£1,225

£2,450

335d SE 4d Step Auto

£34,765

177

18%

£1,251

£2,503

£1,251

£2,503

SE Business Edition

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

318i SE Business Edition 4d

£24,300

146

15%

£729

£1,458

£729

£1,458

318i SE Business Edition 4d Step Auto

£25,795

155

15%

£773

£1,547

£773

£1,547

320i SE Business Edition 4d

£25,995

148

15%

£779

£1,559

£779

£1,559

320i SE Business Edition 4d Step Auto

£27,490

159

15%

£824

£1,649

£824

£1,649

318d SE Business Edition 4d

£26,995

119

13%

£701

£1,403

£701

£1,403

318d SE Business Edition 4d Step Auto

£28,490

140

18%

£1,025

£2,051

£1,025

£2,051

320d SE Business Edition 4d

£28,100

128

18%

£1,011

£2,023

£1,011

£2,023

320d SE Business Edition 4d Step Auto

£29,595

144

18%

£1,065

£2,130

£1,065

£2,130

320d (184bhp) SE Business Edition 4d

£28,190

125

18%

£1,014

£2,029

£1,014

£2,029

320d (184bhp) SE Business Edition 4d Step Auto

£29,685

140

18%

£1,068

£2,137

£1,068

£2,137

EXL

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

318i Exclusive Edition 4d Step Auto

£26,000

155

15%

£780

£1,560

£780

£1,560

320i Exclusive Edition 4d

£26,210

148

15%

£786

£1,572

£786

£1,572

320i Exclusive Edition 4d Step Auto

£27,735

159

15%

£832

£1,664

£832

£1,664

318d Exclusive Edition 4d

£27,235

119

13%

£708

£1,416

£708

£1,416

318d Exclusive Edition 4d Step Auto

£28,760

140

18%

£1,035

£2,070

£1,035

£2,070

320d (184bhp) Exclusive Edition 4d

£28,455

125

18%

£1,024

£2,048

£1,024

£2,048

320d (184bhp) Exclusive Edition 4d Step Auto

£29,980

140

18%

£1,079

£2,158

£1,079

£2,158

Performance Edition

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

318i Performance Edition 4d

£23,010

146

15%

£690

£1,380

£690

£1,380

318i Performance Edition 4d Step Auto

£24,535

155

15%

£736

£1,472

£736

£1,472

318d Performance Edition 4d

£25,770

119

13%

£670

£1,340

£670

£1,340

318d Performance Edition 4d Step Auto

£27,295

140

18%

£982

£1,965

£982

£1,965

Edition SE

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

318i Edition SE 4d

£22,955

142

15%

£688

£1,377

£688

£1,377

318i Edition SE 4d Auto

£24,445

152

15%

£733

£1,466

£733

£1,466

320i Edition SE 4d

£24,620

146

15%

£738

£1,477

£738

£1,477

320i Edition SE 4d Auto

£26,110

156

15%

£783

£1,566

£783

£1,566

318d Edition SE 4d

£25,705

123

18%

£925

£1,850

£925

£1,850

320d Edition SE 4d

£26,870

128

18%

£967

£1,934

£967

£1,934

320d Edition SE 4d Auto

£28,360

144

18%

£1,021

£2,042

£1,021

£2,042

M Sport

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

318i M Sport 4d

£23,840

175

15%

£715

£1,430

£715

£1,430

318i M Sport 4d Auto

£25,330

190

15%

£760

£1,520

£760

£1,520

318i M Sport (08) 4d

£25,860

146

15%

£775

£1,551

£775

£1,551

318i M Sport 4d Step Auto

£27,385

155

15%

£821

£1,643

£821

£1,643

318i (143bhp) M Sport 4d

£24,495

142

15%

£734

£1,469

£734

£1,469

318i (143bhp) M Sport 4d Auto

£25,985

152

15%

£779

£1,559

£779

£1,559

320i M Sport 4d

£25,490

178

15%

£764

£1,529

£764

£1,529

320i M Sport 4d Auto

£26,980

190

15%

£809

£1,618

£809

£1,618

320i M Sport (08) 4d

£27,595

148

15%

£827

£1,655

£827

£1,655

320i M Sport 4d Step Auto

£29,120

159

15%

£873

£1,747

£873

£1,747

320i (170bhp) M Sport 4d

£26,160

146

15%

£784

£1,569

£784

£1,569

320i (170bhp) M Sport 4d Auto

£27,650

156

15%

£829

£1,659

£829

£1,659

325i M Sport 4d

£28,900

203

15%

£867

£1,734

£867

£1,734

325i M Sport 4d Auto

£30,040

218

15%

£901

£1,802

£901

£1,802

335i M Sport (08) 4d

£36,420

196

15%

£1,092

£2,185

£1,092

£2,185

335i M Sport 4d Step Auto

£38,115

202

15%

£1,143

£2,286

£1,143

£2,286

335i M Sport 4d

£34,515

218

15%

£1,035

£2,070

£1,035

£2,070

335i M Sport 4d Auto

£36,005

221

15%

£1,080

£2,160

£1,080

£2,160

325i M Sport (08) 4d

£30,960

168

15%

£928

£1,857

£928

£1,857

325i M Sport 4d Step Auto

£32,655

174

15%

£979

£1,959

£979

£1,959

330i M Sport (08) 4d

£33,955

173

15%

£1,018

£2,037

£1,018

£2,037

325i (3.0L) M Sport 4d

£29,260

170

15%

£877

£1,755

£877

£1,755

330i M Sport 4d Step Auto

£35,615

175

15%

£1,068

£2,136

£1,068

£2,136

325i (3.0L) M Sport 4d Auto

£30,895

170

15%

£926

£1,853

£926

£1,853

330i M Sport 4d

£32,085

210

15%

£962

£1,925

£962

£1,925

330i M Sport 4d Auto

£33,575

216

15%

£1,007

£2,014

£1,007

£2,014

330i (272bhp) M Sport 4d

£32,825

173

15%

£984

£1,969

£984

£1,969

330i (272bhp) M Sport 4d Auto

£34,460

173

15%

£1,033

£2,067

£1,033

£2,067

318d M Sport 4d

£26,245

150

18%

£944

£1,889

£944

£1,889

318d (143bhp) M Sport 4d

£27,245

123

18%

£980

£1,961

£980

£1,961

318d M Sport (08) 4d

£28,620

119

13%

£744

£1,488

£744

£1,488

318d M Sport 4d Step Auto

£30,145

140

18%

£1,085

£2,170

£1,085

£2,170

320d M Sport 4d

£27,385

153

18%

£985

£1,971

£985

£1,971

320d M Sport 4d Auto

£28,875

179

18%

£1,039

£2,079

£1,039

£2,079

320d (177bhp) M Sport 4d

£28,410

128

18%

£1,022

£2,045

£1,022

£2,045

320d (177bhp) M Sport 4d Auto

£29,900

144

18%

£1,076

£2,152

£1,076

£2,152

320d M Sport (08) 4d

£29,055

128

18%

£1,046

£2,092

£1,046

£2,092

320d M Sport 4d Step Auto

£30,550

144

18%

£1,099

£2,199

£1,099

£2,199

320d (184bhp) M Sport 4d

£29,840

125

18%

£1,074

£2,148

£1,074

£2,148

320d (184bhp) M Sport 4d Step Auto

£31,365

140

18%

£1,129

£2,258

£1,129

£2,258

325d M Sport 4d

£30,705

155

18%

£1,105

£2,210

£1,105

£2,210

325d M Sport 4d Auto

£32,340

169

18%

£1,164

£2,328

£1,164

£2,328

330d M Sport 4d

£33,300

160

18%

£1,198

£2,397

£1,198

£2,397

330d M Sport 4d Auto

£34,935

175

18%

£1,257

£2,515

£1,257

£2,515

335d M Sport 4d Auto

£36,565

177

18%

£1,316

£2,632

£1,316

£2,632

325d M Sport (08) 4d

£31,505

153

18%

£1,134

£2,268

£1,134

£2,268

325d M Sport 4d Step Auto

£33,165

164

18%

£1,194

£2,388

£1,194

£2,388

325d (204bhp) M Sport 4d

£32,370

151

18%

£1,165

£2,330

£1,165

£2,330

325d (204bhp) M Sport 4d Step Auto

£34,065

160

18%

£1,226

£2,452

£1,226

£2,452

330d M Sport (08) 4d

£35,350

152

18%

£1,272

£2,545

£1,272

£2,545

330d M Sport 4d Step Auto

£37,045

164

18%

£1,333

£2,667

£1,333

£2,667

335d M Sport 4d Step Auto

£38,630

174

18%

£1,390

£2,781

£1,390

£2,781

M Sport Business Edition

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

318i M Sport Business Edition 4d

£26,255

146

15%

£787

£1,575

£787

£1,575

318i M Sport Business Edition 4d Step Auto

£27,750

155

15%

£832

£1,665

£832

£1,665

320i M Sport Business Edition 4d

£27,950

148

15%

£838

£1,677

£838

£1,677

320i M Sport Business Edition 4d Step Auto

£29,445

159

15%

£883

£1,766

£883

£1,766

318d M Sport Business Edition 4d

£28,950

119

13%

£752

£1,505

£752

£1,505

318d M Sport Business Edition 4d Step Auto

£30,445

140

18%

£1,096

£2,192

£1,096

£2,192

320d M Sport Business Edition 4d

£30,055

128

18%

£1,082

£2,164

£1,082

£2,164

320d M Sport Business Edition 4d Step Auto

£31,550

144

18%

£1,135

£2,271

£1,135

£2,271

320d (184bhp) M Sport Business Edition 4d

£30,145

125

18%

£1,085

£2,170

£1,085

£2,170

320d (184bhp) M Sport Business Edition 4d Step Auto

£31,640

140

18%

£1,139

£2,278

£1,139

£2,278

Edition M Sport

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

318i Edition M Sport 4d

£25,495

142

15%

£764

£1,529

£764

£1,529

318i Edition M Sport 4d Auto

£26,985

152

15%

£809

£1,619

£809

£1,619

320i Edition M Sport 4d

£27,160

146

15%

£814

£1,629

£814

£1,629

320i Edition M Sport 4d Auto

£28,650

156

15%

£859

£1,719

£859

£1,719

318d Edition M Sport 4d

£28,245

123

18%

£1,016

£2,033

£1,016

£2,033

320d Edition M Sport 4d

£29,410

128

18%

£1,058

£2,117

£1,058

£2,117

320d Edition M Sport 4d Auto

£30,900

144

18%

£1,112

£2,224

£1,112

£2,224

SPP

2012 / 2013 2013 / 2014
Model P11D Value CO2 g/km BIK Band 20% Tax 40% Tax 20% Tax 40% Tax

318i Sport Plus Edition 4d

£26,470

146

15%

£794

£1,588

£794

£1,588

318i Sport Plus Edition 4d Step Auto

£27,995

155

15%

£839

£1,679

£839

£1,679

320i Sport Plus Edition 4d

£28,205

148

15%

£846

£1,692

£846

£1,692

320i Sport Plus Edition 4d Step Auto

£29,730

159

15%

£892

£1,784

£892

£1,784

318d Sport Plus Edition 4d

£29,230

119

13%

£760

£1,520

£760

£1,520

318d Sport Plus Edition 4d Step Auto

£30,755

140

18%

£1,107

£2,214

£1,107

£2,214

320d (184bhp) Sport Plus Edition 4d

£30,450

125

18%

£1,096

£2,192

£1,096

£2,192

320d (184bhp) Sport Plus Edition 4d Step Auto

£31,975

140

18%

£1,151

£2,302

£1,151

£2,302