2019 BMW 3 Series

MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says the all-new 2019 3 Series sits on a new platform and features more power, new safety tech and more performance goodies for the M340i. The 330i and 330i xDrive are available this model year, and the 3 Series Gran Turismo and Sports Wagon carry over from the previous generation. The EPA rates the 2019 3 Series at 23 to 30 mpg combined and $2,600 to $3,350 a year in fuel on fueleconomy.gov (opens in a new tab), with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a 3.0-liter six-cylinder, in rear-drive and all-wheel-drive forms.

NHTSA lists nine recalls under the 330i name for 2019. 19V732 says the needle roller bearings of the counterbalance shafts may have been improperly installed on 2019 to 2020 330i and 330i xDrive models, potentially loosening the shaft. 19V912 says the outboard rear seat belt pretensioners may not lock as intended in a crash. 19V352 covers driver and passenger knee air bag assemblies that may have been improperly folded and assembled, and 20V355 covers a steering gear tie rod that may fracture in high temperatures on rough roads. 19V684 and 21V096 cover rear visibility, 23V211 covers a seat frame that may not have been welded properly to the seat rails, and 23V584 concerns seat belt warnings. Five of these also apply to the M340i. The engine and seat belt campaigns are the ones to confirm on the VIN.

NHTSA holds 41 complaints on the 2019 3 Series: engine 9, unclassified 9, electrical system 7, power train 5, air bags 4 and exterior lighting 3. Bimmerpulse (opens in a new tab) says repairs on the turbocharged engine can easily exceed $2,000, especially if they involve replacing critical components like the turbocharger, and Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) rates a 2019 with 84,000 to 96,000 miles as a medium risk of major repair.

Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) says a 2019 3 Series has depreciated $6,403, or 26 percent, in three years, leaving a resale value of $17,550 and a trade-in value of $13,600, in the 25th to 75th percentile for depreciation among 2019 sedans. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class rates 20 to 27 mpg ($2,850 to $3,900 a year) and the Audi A4 25 to 30 mpg ($2,600 to $3,100) for 2019, so the 3 Series sits between them on fuel cost.