BMW 3 Series Cost of Ownership
The 2026 BMW 3 Series sits in the mid-market on price, but the real cost shows up over five years of depreciation, fuel, insurance and maintenance. Here is the full breakdown, plus a calculator to adjust it to your mileage.
Depreciation is the headline cost on the 3 Series. At about 20% a year, a $46k example loses roughly $9k in the first twelve months alone, which is why a two- to three-year-old one can be a far better buy than new.
Key assumptions for this page
Sources: Kelley Blue Book · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — figures are estimates last reviewed 2026; verify before purchase.
What is source-backed vs modeled?
Published sources help shape the baseline where available. Local insurance and ownership indexes are modeled estimates, not insurer or lender quotes — they combine public demographic and cost signals with conservative assumptions. Replace the defaults with your own quote before deciding.
Run your own numbers
Your numbers
True cost per year
$9,607
Cost per mile
$0.8
Cost per month
$801
Insight — For most owners, depreciation is the largest line — often more than fuel and insurance combined — yet it never shows up on a monthly bill. Insurance is the cost you can change fastest without selling the car.
What if Annual mileage changes?
| Annual mileage | True cost per year |
|---|---|
| 6,000 mi | $8,879 |
| 9,000 mi | $9,243 |
| 12,000 mi · now | $9,607 |
| 15,000 mi | $9,972 |
| 20,000 mi | $10,579 |
Shop your insurance the smart way
Know your benchmark here, then compare real quotes from several carriers — prices for the same driver vary a lot.
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Good to know
Specific, useful answers for this page.
Is the BMW 3 Series expensive to own?＋
Over five years, the biggest cost is depreciation (~20%/yr), followed by insurance and fuel. Its above-average insurance factor raises the total. The breakdown above has the full picture.
What's the 3 Series's running cost?＋
At 30 MPG, fuel is a moderate yearly cost. Adjust your annual mileage above to see your real number.
How much does maintenance add on a BMW 3 Series?＋
Routine service on the 3 Series is moderate for its class. On a $46k vehicle, parts and labor scale with complexity, which the breakdown above folds into the five-year total.