BMW 3 Series Depreciation
Measured against live listings, a 5-year-old BMW 3 Series lists at $24,987 — 56% below the $56,727 median price of a new one today, while a 3-year-old runs $33,170 (41.5% below new). Median odometer at that age: 61,153 miles.
By the CarWhere Research Team · Live US listing medians · Updated 2026-10-25
| Model year | Age | Median asking price | vs new today | Median miles | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (new) | — | $56,727 | — | — | 10013 |
| 2025 | 1 yr | $37,998 | −33% | 16,585 | 650 |
| 2024 | 2 yrs | $35,493 | −37.4% | 25,851 | 809 |
| 2023 | 3 yrs | $33,170 | −41.5% | 32,720 | 972 |
| 2022 | 4 yrs | $27,993 | −50.7% | 49,437 | 431 |
| 2021 | 5 yrs | $24,987 | −56% | 61,153 | 687 |
| 2020 | 6 yrs | $22,495 | −60.3% | 75,250 | 682 |
| 2019 | 7 yrs | $20,075 | −64.6% | 82,028 | 387 |
| 2018 | 8 yrs | $14,995 | −73.6% | 83,351 | 728 |
Median asking prices from live US dealer listings (min 40 per point) vs the BMW 3 Series's median new price today. Live market data, not book-value estimates. Updated 2026-10-25.
Buying a used BMW 3 Series? Two checks before the price.
Benchmark the asking price against what buyers actually paid. Cross-shopping? Compare curves in the 182-model depreciation study.
FAQ
How much does a BMW 3 Series depreciate?
Measured against live listings, a 5-year-old BMW 3 Series lists at $24,987 — 56% below the $56,727 median price of a new one today, while a 3-year-old runs $33,170 (41.5% below new). Median odometer at that age: 61,153 miles. These are asking-price medians from live US dealer inventory (687 listings behind the 5-year figure), not book-value estimates.
What's the best age to buy a used BMW 3 Series?
The steepest part of this curve is year 3 → 4, where it sheds another 9.2 points. Buying just after a steep drop means the previous owner paid it; the BMW 3 Series's year-by-year table above shows exactly where the price settles.
Is a used BMW 3 Series a good deal versus new?
A 3-year-old BMW 3 Series saves about $23,557 versus new (41.5% below) with a median 32,720 miles on the clock. Whether that's the right trade depends on the model year — check the reliability record before the price.
Where does this data come from?
Median asking prices from live US dealer listings via licensed vehicle-data providers, aggregated per model year (minimum 40 listings per point) and compared with the BMW 3 Series's median new price today (10013 new listings). Refreshed 2026-10-25. Republish with attribution to CarWhere (carwhere.com).