BMW Buying Guides: Best Years and Years to Avoid

BMW buying guides by model and generation: the best years to buy, the years to watch, and the engines to trust or check. UK used-buyer focused across the 3 Series, 5 Series, 1 Series, X3, X5, and 4 Series.

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BMW 3 Series buying guideWhich BMW 3 Series to buy used in the UK: G20, F30 and E90 compared. Best years, engines to trust, and the timing-chain years to avoid.BMW 5 Series buying guideBuying a used BMW 5 Series in the UK: G30, F10 and E60 compared. Best years and engines, plus the V8 and timing-chain years to be careful with.BMW 1 Series buying guideUsed BMW 1 Series buying guide for the UK: F40, F20 and E87 compared. Best years and engines, plus the timing-chain years to be careful with.BMW X3 buying guideUsed BMW X3 buying guide for the UK: G01, F25 and E83 compared. Best years and engines, plus the timing-chain years to be careful with.BMW X5 buying guideUsed BMW X5 buying guide for the UK: G05, F15 and E70 compared. Best years and engines, plus the V8 (N63) years to be careful with.BMW 4 Series buying guideUsed BMW 4 Series buying guide for the UK: G22 and F32 compared. Best years and engines, plus the timing-chain years to be careful with.BMW 2 Series buying guideUsed BMW 2 Series coupe buying guide for the UK: G42 and F22 compared. Best years and engines, plus the timing-chain years to be careful with.BMW X1 buying guideUsed BMW X1 buying guide for the UK: U11, F48 and E84 compared. Best years and engines, plus the timing-chain years to be careful with.BMW 7 Series buying guideUsed BMW 7 Series buying guide for the UK: G70, G11, F01 and E65 compared. Best years and engines, plus the V8 and V12 years to be careful with.BMW X4 buying guideUsed BMW X4 buying guide for the UK: G02 and F26 compared. Best years and engines, plus the timing-chain years to be careful with.BMW Z4 buying guideUsed BMW Z4 buying guide for the UK: G29, E89 and E85 compared. Best years and engines, plus the water-pump and fuel-pump years to be careful with.BMW 8 Series buying guideUsed BMW 8 Series buying guide for the UK: the G15 coupe, G14 convertible and G16 Gran Coupe. Best engines, plus the V8 years to be careful with.BMW M3 buying guideBuying a used BMW M3 in the UK: G80, F80, E9x V8, E46 and E36 compared. Best engines, the rod-bearing and crank-hub years to check, and which generations are appreciating classics.BMW M2 buying guideBuying a used BMW M2 in the UK: F87 (N55, Competition and CS) and the new G87 compared. Best versions, the water-pump and crank-hub checks, and why residuals stay firm.BMW 6 Series buying guideUsed BMW 6 Series buying guide for the UK: G32 Gran Turismo, F06/F12/F13 and E63/E64 compared. Best engines, plus the V8 and V10 years to avoid.BMW i3 buying guideUsed BMW i3 buying guide for the UK, split by battery: 120Ah, 94Ah and 60Ah. Real-world range, REx vs pure electric, and battery health checks.

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