Used 2018 BMW 3 Series for sale 

There is a wide range of choice to make for if you are planning to buy the 2018 BMW 3 series. There are four trims available and each of them comes with a unique powertrain. Each sedan gets rear wheel drive while the all-wheel drive is available for $2,000. The Wagon and the Gran Turismo meanwhile come standard with all-wheel drive.

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The base 320i is a complete value for money option. You can add other features like Apple CarPlay for $300 and heated front seats for $500. Throw in $3,550 more and go for the Sports Plus design package which offers better suspension, 18-inch alloys with performance tires and sports seats.

All the trims in the BMW 3 Series are separated by powertrains and all are turbocharged. The base 320i sedan gets a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that churns out 180 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque that is mated to a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission.  Power increases as you move up the trim as the 330i comes equipped with a more powerful 2.0-liter engine (248 hp, 258 lb-feet of torque).

The 328d and the 330e sedan gets similarly powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. An eight-speed automatic transmission comes standard for both these trims. The 328d meanwhile uses a diesel fuel that gives out 180 horsepower and 280 lb-feet of torque. The 330e is a hybrid vehicle and mates the turbo 4 cylinder with a 7.6 kWh battery and 87 hp electric motor for a combined output of 246 horsepower. Last but not least is the 340i that gets a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine producing 320 hp and 330 lb-feet of torque.

The competition is closely matched with the BMW, offering identical configurations. The base Audi A4 is the closest match in terms of horsepower, and even that offers 10 horses more than the baby BMW. The sporty Jaguar XE offers the best power output figure, followed closely by the C-class Mercedes.

Acceleration

Though the BMW 3-Series sedan used to wear the crown in its segment, it has now been surpassed by its rivals. The BMW takes 7.1 seconds to go from 0-60 mph. From its 2.0 Liter engine acceleration is not that pretty and it takes quite a lot of time for this sedan to reach the 60mph mark from a standstill position. Body control is said to be good for the 3 series sedan with an equally appreciable body weight distribution. 

Competitors like the 2018 Mercedes Benz C Class and the 2018 Jaguar XE take 6.2 seconds and 6.0 seconds respectively to reach 60 mph. The 3-Series is also bested by all others in the quarter-mile dash.

Ride and Handling

The 2018 BMW 3-series is able to provide the power-filled performance you’d expect from a BMW car. The steering is responsive. The car comes with an option to add an adaptive suspension system for a smoother driving experience on bumpy roads. Previously the BMW 3 Series used to rule this segment with its precise handling but now that section has been challenged by equally potent rivals like the Jaguar XE which offers very good handling capabilities in the rival segment.

The 3-series has a good and balanced body control and feels nimble around corners. If comfort in driving is what you’re looking for then the softened suspension won’t disappoint you.

Braking

The 2018 BMW 3-Series is equipped with front and rear disc brakes along with an anti-lock braking system that brings the car to a state of rest from 60 mph in a decent 123 ft. While the figures certainly aren't impressive, they are quite fine for a car with this price tag. 

The only car in this segment with better braking is the 2018 Audi A4 which takes 105 ft before coming to a stop from 60mph, extremely good figures regardless of price or segment. Mercedes disappoints with below-average performance. The 2018 BMW 3 Series and the Jaguar XE jointly holds exactly the same braking performance and both the cars make a halt from 60-0mph in just under 123 ft.

The 2018 BMW 3-Series has a fuel-efficient engine. The base trim will give you a more than decent mileage of 24mpg (city), 35mpg (highway), and combined mileage of 28mpg. If you go for the all-wheel-drive, you need not worry about the fuel economy as the car loses only 1 mpg.

The 3-Series is less efficient than Jaguar XE, which has a mileage of 25mpg in the city, and 34mpg on the highway, averaging at 28mpg combined efficiency. Audi surprises here, with the best efficiency figures from the most powerful engine here.

The instrument panel and the interiors feel outdated and there’s too much unnecessary use of plastic which makes the interiors look pretty average for a BMW. The car has comfortable leather upholstered seats with properly contoured support for the back which makes it easier for the driver on long drives. The car has a seating capacity of 5 people with ample room for head, legs and knee room.

The base trim offers 6-way manually adjustable front seats with 2-manual headrests while the top trim offers a highly customizable seating option. The 340i has 14-way power front sports seats, 4-way lumbar support, and 2-way power side bolsters ensuring that you experience a satisfying and comfy ride.

Mercedes C-class gives the 3-series a run for its money in this category. Both cars are closely matched, and occupants of both will appreciate the space inside. Jaguar and Audi aren't far behind though, and front seats offer plenty of space in both.

Cargo Capacity

The 3-Series has a boot volume of 13 cubic ft, which is decent for a small luxury car. It can easily swallow two large bags, and weekend getaways should be fun. There are also cubby holes everywhere in the cabin, providing additional space to hold little nick-nacks.

Jaguar offers better trunk space, and by a significant margin. The Audi and BMW offer the same trunk space with the Mercedes falling a bit shorter. 

Infotainment System

The most noticeable upgrade is the availability of the iDrive 6.0 in all trims of the car. Premium Package adds a lot of upgrades to the inbuilt options.

• 4G LTE
• Apple CarPlay
• Aux Input
• Bluetooth connectivity
• HD Radio
• Mobile Wi-Fi
• Navigation with real-time traffic updates
• Real-time weather updates
• Voice input
• 6.5-inch color display

The infotainment system on the BMW 3-Series is highly responsive and has a simple and easy-to-use interface. The system comes with crisp graphics and functions responsibly and quickly.

The 2018 BMW 3 series looks classy with the company’s signature double grille while the overall lean appearance appeal more to the devoted fans of the traditional designs of BMW.

The 3-series has a wheelbase of a smidge over 110 inch, which is technically the shortest among its rivals. It also is the lightest standing at a base curb weight of almost 3,300 pounds. Still, the Beemer manages to be quite easy to muscle around the town.

The Mercedes-Benz C Class has the longest wheelbase, 1.2 inches longer than the 3-series. In terms of looks, the Jaguar has no equal. Its flowing lines and swooping headlights capture the onlooker's heart faster than the other cars here.

Exterior Features:

On the outside of the car are a few useful features, such as:

• LED headlights
• LED fog lights
• Power folding, heated side mirrors
• 18-inch bicolor wheels (Shadow Sport special edition)

The 2018 3-Series has a plethora of safety features like blind-spot monitor, brake assist, electronic stability control, and lane departure warning. Further, the car has adaptive cruise control to ease up the driving experience. It has also achieved a top safety pick from the Insurance Institute from Highway Safety(IIHS). Many of the safety features don't come readily and is offered as an additional package at an extra price. 

• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Front and rear Head Protection System (HPS)
• Seat-mounted front side-impact airbags
• Brake Assist
• LATCH attachments for child-restraint safety installation
• Automatic-locking retractors (ALR) on all passenger safety belts for installation of child-restraint seat
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Electronic Stability Control

BMW 3-Series VS Mercedes-Benz C Class

One thing that can be said when comparing the 3-Series with its rivals is that the aesthetics are subjective. If you prefer a classic design which reminds you of the old BMW then you’ll find the body of 3-Series more pleasing but if trendy and stylish is your thing the body of the Mercedes will appeal to you more.

The Mercedes accommodates people more comfortably and has a more powerful engine than the 3-Series. The C Class is quite expensive, costing $5350 more for its base trim than the 3-Series. It depends upon whether you want to spend an extra 5 grand to get a better engine or have a tight budget and can do with an engine which isn’t as good but performs well.

BMW 3-Series VS Jaguar XE

The Jaguar XE has a superior performing 247hp 2.0 L engine when compared to the 3-Series (180hp). The Jaguar has the best in class acceleration taking just 6.0 seconds to reach 60mph. The XE is also equipped with a slightly more economical engine 25/34/28 mpg, the Jaguar XE is the car to go for.

BMW 3-Series VS Audi A4

Audi surpasses the 3-Series in terms of ride and handling. We personally think that Audi A4 has the best looking exterior in this segment. Audi A4, again, has a slightly better fuel economy and engine performance of 190hp. Further, the brakes of the Audi A4 are more powerful. All this makes Audi the preferable choice.

Choose the 3-Series for its class, comfort, luxury and a powerful and fuel-efficient engine. Also, don’t forget about the diverse customizations and the engine variants that BMW offers.  With that being said, the competition offers trendy looks and better performing powertrain and drivetrain. Further, since the 2018 BMW 3-Series hasn’t been through any major changes since last year, upgrading seems like an unnecessary choice. Our advice is to wait for the highly anticipated 2019 model which is going to feature major upgrades.