BMW 3er-Reihe F30/F31/F34/F80 320i, 184 PS, 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive (2012–2016)

Research for this car

• Generation guide BMW 3 Series F30 (2012-2019): known problems and buying guide

  A practical used car. Prefer a 2016 or later B48 petrol or a B47 diesel, and check the N20 timing chain first.

• Gearbox guide ZF 8HP 8-speed automatic (BMW Steptronic): problems, costs and what to check

  A solid 8-speed when its fluid is changed on time. Buy with oil records and a clean scan, and avoid one that shudders or has run in limp mode.

Known issues for this car

Before you buy this car

From the generation guide

1. Start the cold engine and listen for a rattle in the first seconds. Read stored codes P0016 and P0017 with a scanner. Bad result: a rattle, those codes, or no proof of timing chain work.
2. Read the steering warning lamp and stored codes with a scanner. Bad result: a warning lamp, a pull or drift, or no repair record for the sensor or steering software.
3. Check the iDrive screen, Bluetooth and navigation for ten minutes. Bad result: freezes, dropouts, dead pixels or an old software version.
4. Check for overheating warnings and ask whether the electric coolant pump was replaced. Bad result: a temperature warning, or no pump replacement on a car over about 100,000 km.
5. Lift the car and check the front shocks, ball joints and stabiliser links. Bad result: play in the joints, leaking shocks or knocks over bumps.
6. On a pre-facelift rear-wheel-drive car, ask for proof that the steering gear bolts were replaced with steel. Bad result: no record.
7. Ask a BMW dealer to check open recalls for the car's VIN. Bad result: an open brake vacuum pump campaign.

From the gearbox guide

1. Read the gearbox fault memory with a BMW-capable scanner. Bad result: pressure or solenoid codes such as 4F84, 4F87, P189C or P0748, or a past limp mode.
2. Ask for fluid and filter invoices. Bad result: no fluid change by 80,000 to 120,000 km, or a change without an adaptation reset.
3. Drive the car from cold and select Drive and Reverse. Bad result: a hard 1-2 shift, or a delay of 1-3 seconds before the gear engages.
4. Drive 15 minutes in town, then under load. Bad result: jerky 2-3 shifts, flaring, slipping or a burnt smell.
5. Hold a steady light throttle at low speed. Bad result: a shudder or vibration, which points to the torque converter lock-up clutch.
6. Look under the car on a lift. Bad result: oil at the wiring connector on the case, on the plastic pan or on the cooler lines.

Running costs

ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months

ADAC versions