Used 2016 BMW 3 Series for Sale near California

Compare 2016 BMW 3 Series Trims

The 2016 BMW 3 Series offers a range of trims from budget-friendly options to performance-oriented models, catering to various preferences and needs.

• Starting at $10,419
• Best MPG/MPGe: 67 city / 78 hwy
• Most Popular: 328i Sedan RWD

Trim Overview

Prices updated weekly from CarGurus listings.

Quick Compare Table

Listing prices sourced from CarGurus — updated weekly. OEM specs from manufacturer data.

Missing data displayed as "—".

Trim Deep Dives

320i Sedan RWD — "Who It's For"

The 320i Sedan RWD is the pick for shoppers who want a luxury experience without the higher price tag of other trims.

• Avg. market price: $10,419 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 24 city / 36 hwy
• Inventory: 332 listings
• View 320i Sedan RWD listings

320i xDrive Sedan AWD — "Who It's For"

The 320i xDrive Sedan AWD is ideal for those who want all-wheel drive without a significant price increase.

• Avg. market price: $11,366 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 23 city / 35 hwy
• Inventory: 348 listings
• View 320i xDrive Sedan AWD listings

328i Sedan RWD — "Who It's For"

The 328i Sedan RWD is the pick for shoppers who want a balance of performance and luxury without going overboard on price.

• Avg. market price: $10,620 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 22 city / 34 hwy
• Inventory: 711 listings
• View 328i Sedan RWD listings

328i xDrive Sedan AWD — "Who It's For"

The 328i xDrive Sedan AWD is perfect for those who want the benefits of all-wheel drive along with a sporty feel.

• Avg. market price: $12,324 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 22 city / 34 hwy
• Inventory: 672 listings
• View 328i xDrive Sedan AWD listings

328i xDrive Wagon AWD — "Who It's For"

The 328i xDrive Wagon AWD is for shoppers who need extra cargo space without sacrificing performance or luxury.

• Avg. market price: $15,188 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 22 city / 34 hwy
• Inventory: 45 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View 328i xDrive Wagon AWD listings

330e iPerformance Sedan RWD — "Who It's For"

The 330e iPerformance Sedan RWD is the choice for eco-conscious buyers seeking luxury and efficiency in one package.

• Avg. market price: $12,830 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 67 city / 78 hwy
• Inventory: 74 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View 330e iPerformance Sedan RWD listings

340i Sedan RWD — "Who It's For"

The 340i Sedan RWD is for those who desire a powerful engine and luxury features without the AWD premium.

• Avg. market price: $19,199 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 22 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 57 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View 340i Sedan RWD listings

340i xDrive Sedan AWD — "Who It's For"

The 340i xDrive Sedan AWD is the ideal choice for performance enthusiasts who need all-weather capability.

• Avg. market price: $23,595 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 22 city / 33 hwy
• Inventory: 86 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View 340i xDrive Sedan AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — 328i Sedan RWD

With 711 active listings, the 328i Sedan RWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse 328i Sedan RWD listings

Best Budget Option — 320i Sedan RWD

At $10,419 avg market price — below the lineup median of $12,577 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse 320i Sedan RWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — 330e iPerformance Sedan RWD

With an impressive MPG/MPGe of 67 city / 78 hwy, the 330e is the most efficient choice.

Browse 330e iPerformance Sedan RWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 1, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2016 BMW 3 Series cost?

Prices have softened 8.70% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,269 listings available, which gives you a solid amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2016 BMW 3 Series a good car?

Generally — the 2016 BMW 3 Series earns a 4.17/5 user rating and a 7.5/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Performance at 10/10.

Owners repeatedly praise its safety, build quality, comfort, and enjoyable driving experience. That lines up with the car’s driver-focused character in the overview, where it is framed as a sports-car-like sedan that still works for everyday use. If you want a used luxury car that prioritizes driving enjoyment over pure plushness, this model year fits that brief well.

Only 33.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals, so the market is selective rather than flooded with bargains.

Is the 2016 BMW 3 Series reliable?

Owners rate it 4.17/5, a solid signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner feedback points to a car that feels dependable in daily use, with praise for build quality and a generally trouble-free ownership experience. The expert evaluation also emphasizes that BMW’s updates for this year improved the car’s driving dynamics and refined its systems, which supports confidence in how it should hold up over time. BMW’s free scheduled maintenance for the first 4 years or 50,000 miles also helps reduce early ownership burden.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about outright durability and more about whether the car was maintained carefully and equipped with the features you expect.

What should I look for when buying a used 2016 BMW 3 Series?

At 53.7% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the car has been in a collision or has higher mileage. Focus on body condition, steering feel, brake condition, and whether the electronics and driver-assistance features work as intended. Because this model year can be found in a wide range of configurations, it also pays to confirm the exact equipment on the car you’re considering.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The 2016 BMW 3 Series is offered in 320i, 328d, 330e, 330i, 340i, and M3 model series. The lineup spans different engines and equipment levels, so base versions are more stripped back while higher trims add more performance and features.
• Powertrain: BMW installs a new turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine in the 340i, with 320 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque. An 8-speed sport automatic is standard, a 6-speed manual is available at no charge, and xDrive AWD is available.
• Safety package: The Driver Assistance Package adds a reversing camera and parking sensors. The Driver Assistance Plus Package adds forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, active blind-spot information, and a 360-degree camera view system.
• Infotainment: iDrive is included in every 3 Series. Navigation, BMW Online, BMW Apps, and a heads-up display are included in the optional Technology Package. Enhanced Bluetooth with smartphone integration is also available.
• Fuel efficiency: The 340i returned 22.4 mpg on a test loop, and BMW cites 23 mpg in combined driving.

Which 2016 BMW 3 Series trim should I buy?

The 2016 BMW 3 Series is offered in 6 trim levels: 320i, 328d, 330e, 330i, 340i, and M3.

Here's the short version:

• 320i: This is the entry point if you want the 3 Series experience at the lowest rung of the lineup. It makes the most sense if you care more about getting into the badge and chassis than loading up on extras.
• 328d: Choose this if you want a diesel-flavored efficiency play within the lineup. It suits buyers who value long-distance commuting and lower running costs.
• 330e: This plug-in hybrid trim is for shoppers who want electrified efficiency in a 3 Series package. It is the most specialized choice in the lineup.
• 330i: This is the balanced pick for most buyers, giving you a stronger feature-and-performance mix without jumping all the way to the top end.
• 340i: This is the best-value trim if you want the strongest performance character. It gets the turbocharged 6-cylinder engine and delivers the most compelling enthusiast experience.
• M3: This is the full performance model for buyers who want the most serious driving focus in the range.

The safety-package note to keep in mind is that the reversing camera is not standard and comes with the Driver Assistance Package, while the more advanced driver aids are bundled in Driver Assistance Plus.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2016 BMW 3 Series?

This is a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you have room to shop carefully without expecting every listing to be a bargain.

• Deal availability: 33.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,269 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.70% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 53.7% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $11,666, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2016 BMW 3 Series's resale value?

The current average of $11,782 sits slightly below last year's $12,904.

That price movement suggests the model has already absorbed some depreciation, which can help future resale stability if you buy at the right price. For a seller, the key is to avoid overpaying now, because your eventual resale value will be shaped by how well you bought in relative to the market. A clean history, strong maintenance records, and desirable equipment should help your car stand out when it’s time to sell.

Vehicles with solid owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.17/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2016 BMW 3 Series safe?

The 2016 BMW 3 Series earns a Marginal result in the IIHS small overlap frontal impact test.

It earns a 7/10 safety score from our experts.

BMW’s driver-assistance suite is split across packages. The Driver Assistance Package adds a reversing camera and parking sensors, while Driver Assistance Plus adds forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, active blind-spot information, and a 360-degree camera view system. BMW Assist eCall technology with enhanced automatic collision notification and an SOS emergency request button is included as well.

The main caveat is that the small-overlap crash result is weaker than the rest of the car’s safety performance, so you should pay close attention to repair history and structural condition on any used example.

Should I buy a 2016 BMW 3 Series or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2016 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2016 if:

• 33.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 53.7% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.70% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.17/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• The 2016 update brings meaningful improvements to the car’s driving dynamics and technology.

Consider the 2015 if:

• At $10,542, the 2015 costs less than the current year's $11,782 average.
• It stays true to the 3 Series formula with a tight chassis and strong engine character.

The bottom line: If you want the better-rounded version of this generation, the 2016 is the smarter target because it adds meaningful updates while still sitting below last year’s average price. If your priority is simply getting into a 3 Series for less money, the 2015 is the value-first alternative.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 29, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.