10 BMW Models You Should Buy Used
Right now, the used BMW market sits in a sweet spot: prices have softened from their post-pandemic highs, yet the cars themselves haven’t gotten any less capable. The catch is that buying blind can still sting — ownership costs on the wrong model or year can spiral fast. The encouraging truth, though, is that used German luxury vehicles don’t have to be a gamble, and BMW has a surprisingly strong track record when you know exactly which models and years to target.
In the luxury segment specifically, BMW trails only Japanese rivals Acura (4th) and Lexus (1st). Every BMW model on this list earned at least a 4/5 “Reliability Verdict,” and two achieved the ultra-rare 5/5 perfect score.
2016 BMW F25 X3
KBB Fair Purchase Price: $9,585 – $12,250
Our second BMW on the list is the second-generation F25 X3, which was available from the 2011 to 2017 model years. 2015 is the LCI (facelift) year, which brought meaningful styling updates and revised engine options across all variants.
2016, the penultimate year of production, delivered the highest reliability ratings of this X3 generation. Only two engine platforms were offered for the facelifted F25 X3 — the predecessors to the current B-Series engines, known as the N-Series. These include the 2.0-liter N20 turbocharged inline-four found in sDrive20i, xDrive20i, and xDrive28i models, and the 3.0-liter N55 turbocharged inline-six found in xDrive35i models.
While the N20 is the more efficient choice (around 24 MPG combined) and delivers solid performance for its displacement, the N55 inline-six gives up only about 3 MPG combined versus the four-cylinder and is one of the finest engines of its era — with low-end torque that has to be felt to be believed.
2016 BMW F30 3 Series
KBB Fair Purchase Price: $10,400 – $22,600
The first BMW on our list is none other than BMW’s own bread and butter, the 3 Series sedan. Specifically, the sixth-generation F30, which was available from 2012 to 2018. 2016 is the LCI (facelift) year, which brought several significant updates — none more important than the introduction of the B-Series generation of turbocharged BMW engines, now the standard across BMW’s entire vehicle lineup.
Both the 2016 and 2018 model years are top picks within the generation for this reason. The B-Series engines — the 2.0-liter B48 turbocharged inline-four found in 330i models and the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six B58 found in 340i models — remain the most reliable turbocharged engines BMW has ever produced.
2016 BMW F22 2 Series
KBB Fair Purchase Price: $12,000 – $19,700
The first-generation F22 2 Series compact coupe, available from 2014 to 2021, is next on our list. As with the 3 Series, 2016 was a pivotal year for the 2 Series: the platform received the updated, more reliable B-Series engines, while a full aesthetic LCI refresh followed the next year in 2017.
The F22BMW 2 Seriesrepresents the last of a dying breed — the only true compact sporty BMW coupe remaining. With the B-Series engines on board, the reliability concerns that shadowed pre-LCI models became a thing of the past, freeing drivers to enjoy the performance without the anxiety.
2021 BMW G01 X3
KBB Fair Purchase Price: $21,300 – $31,500
Moving into the mid-range of our list, you’ll notice a significant jump in price compared to the previous entries. This third-generation X3 compact SUV was available from 2018 through the 2024 model year, with a mid-cycle refresh arriving for 2021.
M40i models built after 2020 received a welcome power bump to 382 horsepower, giving this refined luxury SUV genuine performance credentials — including a 4.9-second 0-to-60-mph time. BMW also managed to shed more than 100 pounds from this generation compared to its predecessor, while simultaneously raising fit and finish quality across the board.
2021 BMW G30 5 Series
KBB Fair Purchase Price: $24,200 – $38,700
Our only BMW 5 Series Sedan on this list is the seventh-generation G30, which was available from 2017 to 2023 and received a refresh for 2021. The larger, more expensive 5 Series unlocks additional high-output engine options not found in smaller BMW models, including the 500+ horsepower 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 in the M550i xDrive and M5/M5 Competition variants.
The G30 5 Series stands out within BMW’s lineup for offering the most diverse powertrain options of any model here. That said, if reliability is your primary concern, we recommend steering clear of the V-8-powered variants in favor of the 540i or 530i. And if you don’t genuinely need xDrive, skip it — your maintenance budget will thank you.
2022 BMW G20 3 Series
KBB Fair Purchase Price: $24,300 – $43,300
The second 3 Series sedan on our list is the seventh-generation G20, which ran from 2019 to 2023 with a refresh for the 2022 model year. The proven B-Series inline-four and inline-six engines that cemented BMW’s reliability reputation carry over from the previous generation without missing a beat.
Beyond the exterior body revisions, the most notable LCI change is the addition of BMW’s Curved Display as standard equipment across all 3 Series variants. Elevated build quality combined with meaningful refresh updates gives the 2022 model year both the strongest reliability verdict score and the highest owner satisfaction rating of any year in the G20 generation.
2022 BMW G01 X3
KBB Fair Purchase Price: $25,900 – $38,600
The third generation of the X3 compact SUV ran from 2018 through the 2024 model year, with its mid-cycle refresh arriving for 2021. We covered the 2021 model year earlier in this list, where it posted an impressive reliability verdict. But it is the 2022 model year that earned the rare distinction of a 5/5 reliability verdict score — an achievement you see at most once per generation, if at all.
What sets the 2022 model year apart? The X3 M40i gained BMW’s 48-volt mild hybrid system, while underperforming variants like the plug-in hybrid xDrive30e were quietly discontinued. This streamlining keeps the M40i firmly at the top of the X3 hierarchy — a model that genuinely earns the “Sport” in Sport Utility Vehicle, unlike most of its competition.
2022 BMW G22 4 Series
KBB Fair Purchase Price: $28,600 – $40,300
The second-most-expensive entry on our list is the current second-generation BMW 4 Series, the G22, which has been on sale since the 2021 model year. Among the available model years, the 2022 stands out with a 4/5 Reliability Verdict and a perfect 5/5 Owner Satisfaction rating. The B-Series engines of this generation now come equipped as standard with BMW’s 48-volt mild hybrid system, delivering a noticeable improvement in both efficiency and throttle response.
The 4 Series Coupe has become BMW’s best-selling car, surpassing even the storied 3 Series Sedan in recent years. Part of the reason is the sheer breadth of body styles on offer: the 4 Series comes as a 2-door coupe, a 4-door Gran Coupe, and a convertible — compared to the sedan-only 3 Series. The Gran Coupe occupies an interesting middle ground, slotting between the 3 Series and 5 Series in size, which has admittedly blurred BMW’s model hierarchy considerably.
2023 BMW G01 X3
KBB Fair Purchase Price: $29,600 – $44,400
The consistency of the G01 X3’s quality and reliability following the 2021 refresh is unmatched by any other model in BMW’s modern lineup. The 2021 through 2023 LCI X3 model years represent the absolute cream of the crop for this generation — though even this class-leading compact SUV isn’t quite perfect.
The weak link is the four-cylinder-powered 30i. No matter how you frame it, the 30i cannot replicate the M40i’s engine character — especially given how close the two models’ efficiency figures actually are. Sure, the 30i is quick enough, but trading down to the base engine to save a few dollars upfront rarely feels like the right call in hindsight.
Despite this, the majority of G01 X3 models sold were 30i variants — a choice the well-informed BMW buyer would avoid. If you’re shopping this generation of X3, you’re doing it for the best pound-for-pound engine experience available at the price point, and that means the M40i.
2023 BMW G05 X5
KBB Fair Purchase Price: $37,400 – $49,900
BMW’s perennial best-seller is the fourth-generation G05 X5 mid-size SUV, which has been available since 2018. In recent years, the X5 has been locked in a tight sales battle with its smaller sibling, the X3. Despite commanding a higher price — and topping this list as the most expensive entry — it continues to sell in impressive numbers, outpacing many more “affordable” BMWs.
Like the 5 Series, the BMW X5 offers a wide range of powertrain choices, including larger twin-turbocharged V-8 options not available in the X3. But if reliability is the priority, the xDrive40i — with its turbocharged inline-six — is the clear choice. The V-8 models are undeniably exciting, yet the xDrive40i is the informed pick every time.
Consumer Reports goes out of its way to call the G05 X5 “one of the best vehicles we’ve ever tested.” The 2023 model year is the only instance we’ve seen a vehicle achieve a “double perfect” score — a 5/5 rating in both the Reliability Verdict and Owner Satisfaction categories simultaneously.
Sources: BMW, KBB, J.D. Power
Related posts
Latest Post
No Comments