Insurance
$2,455/yr
Full-coverage insurance averages $2,455 a year nationally for this vehicle — roughly 2.0× its maintenance bill. ACI estimate anchored to AAA's 2025 national average ($1,694/yr full coverage).
BMW 3 Series Maintenance Cost (2016–2026)
Report ACI-BMW-3SERIES · Updated July 2026 · Figures are ACI model estimates
The BMW 3 Series costs about $1,241 a year to maintain — $570 in year one rising to $2,100 by year ten, or $12,410 across a decade. That ranks #50 of 52 vehicles tracked by AutoCostIndex. Figures are modeled estimates at 12,000 miles a year with independent-shop labor, covering scheduled maintenance and expected repairs but not fuel, insurance, or depreciation.
Maintenance Cost Report ACI-BMW-3SERIES
BMW 3 Series
gas · luxury sedan · MY 2016–2026
- Avg annual cost
- $1,241
- 10-year total
- $12,410
- Cost rank
- #50 of 52 vehicles
- Major-repair chance, 5 yr
- 21%
Average Annual Cost $1,241
$103per month
10.3¢per mile
Assumes 12,000 mi/yr · independent shop · 10-year average · ACI model estimate
The BMW 3 Series ranks #50 of 52 vehicles we track; budget accordingly.
What it costs as it ages
Annual cost by vehicle age · ACI modelVehicle age, years · figures at 12,000 mi/yr, independent shop
Costs stay under $1200 a year through year 5, then climb as tires (set of 4) and other wear items come due.
Common services
Typical U.S. pricing · independent shop| Service | Typical cost | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| Oil change (synthetic) | $150 | 10,000 mi |
| Cabin + engine air filters | $95 | 15,000 mi |
| Brake pads (front, pair) | $520 | 48,000 mi |
| Tires (set of 4) | $1,200 | 40,000 mi |
| Brake fluid exchange | $160 | 45,000 mi |
Your numbers
Table recalculates with the settings panel| Vehicle age | Annual cost | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Age 1 | $570 | $570 |
| Age 2 | $590 | $1,160 |
| Age 3 | $665 | $1,825 |
| Age 4 | $1,030 | $2,855 |
| Age 5 | $1,155 | $4,010 |
| 5-year total | $4,010 | $4,010 |
Ownership context
National averages · beyond the maintenance billCost rank
#50 of 52
The BMW 3 Series ranks #50 of 52 vehicles we track; budget accordingly. One documented pattern: Valve-cover and oil-filter-housing gasket leaks are a common repair by year six. Verify open recalls for any vehicle at NHTSA.gov.
Gas service profile
5 routine items
Routine costs are fluid-and-wear driven: oil at 10,000-mile intervals, filters, brakes, and tires. Tires (set of 4) is the single largest routine bill at $1200.
Against its rivals
Average annual maintenance · ACI model| Vehicle | Avg annual | 10-yr total | vs. 3 Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 3 SeriesThis page | $1,241 | $12,410 | — |
| Tesla Model 3 | $688 | $6,880 | −$553/yr |
| BMW X3 | $1,290 | $12,895 | +$49/yr |
Questions people ask
Is the BMW 3 Series expensive to maintain?
It runs above average. The 3 Series averages $1,241 a year in maintenance and typical repairs, ranking #50 of 52 vehicles on AutoCostIndex. That places it in the most expensive tier of vehicles we track; budget accordingly.
What does a BMW 3 Series cost to maintain per year?
$1,241 a year averaged over the first ten years — about $103 a month. Year 1 runs roughly $570; by year 10 the annual figure reaches $2100. Ten-year total: $12,410.
What are the most common 3 Series services?
The routine items are oil change (synthetic) (~$150), cabin + engine air filters (~$95), brake pads (front, pair) (~$520). Intervals and full pricing for every service are in the table on this page.
What's not included in this estimate?
Fuel or charging, insurance (about $2,455 a year nationally for this vehicle), collision damage, parking, tolls, taxes, and registration. The figure covers scheduled maintenance plus typical age-related repairs, modeled per our methodology.
Keep exploring
Similar running costs
Rankings & hubs
How we calculate this
Every figure on this page is a modeled estimate from the ACI maintenance model: each routine service is amortized per mile from its manufacturer-schedule interval, priced at independent-shop labor rates, with an age-based repair expectation on top. The method is open — the exact formula, its calibration against AAA's published ownership-cost study, and its limitations are on the methodology page. Your invoices will differ; the model sets expectations, it doesn't predict a single car.
REFERENCES: AAA — Your Driving Costs 2025 (fact sheet) · AAA — Average mechanic labor rates by state (2026) · NHTSA — Safety recalls lookup · BMW Ultimate Care — complimentary maintenance, 3 years / 36,000 miles · Updated 2026-07-19