- 1,878,733 E90 units sold worldwide; highly popular premium used car.
- Average annual maintenance for 320d is 1,000–1,500 RON; major repairs up to €2,000.
- 335d maintenance can reach about 4,800 RON for tax/inspection.
- Parts aren’t prohibitively expensive; many aftermarket options exist.
BMW 3 Series E90 ranks among Romania’s most popular premium used cars. In any city you’re in, you’ll surely have friends who own or have owned a BMW 3 Series. This popularity isn’t accidental—the E90 changed the game when it appeared, quickly becoming the mid-class sedan of choice.
With 1,878,733 units sold worldwide, the E90 proved itself a true BMW success story. To many, the best-selling engine was a diesel and not the inline-six petrol engine, characteristic of the Bavarian brand.
BMW E90 maintenance costs
Annual maintenance on the 320d
DailyDriven has gathered opinions from hundreds of Series 3 owners, offering a clear picture of real maintenance costs. When asked “How much does it cost to maintain an E90 320d?”, 35 owners provided the following representative responses:
- Vrinceanu Madalin: “Oil + filters: 1,300 RON (promotion)”
- Târziu Bogdan: “Costs approximately 1,500 RON”
- Bogdan Suster: “Up to 1,000 RON”
Annual maintenance costs on average 1,000-1,500 RON per year for the 320d engine. Owners who have encountered serious turbo or other major engine component issues report costs up to €2,000, but these fall into the category of major repairs, not preventive maintenance.
Costs on more powerful engines
For the 335d variant with 286 HP and automatic transmission, costs are significantly higher:
- Liviu Alexandru: “4,800 RON, tax and inspection”
The larger engine and the additional 130 horsepower bring maintenance costs up to three times higher than those of the 320d.
Prices of replacement parts
Owners have varying opinions about parts costs, but the general consensus is that the E90 is not prohibitive expensive:
- Anghelescu Gheorghe Silviu: “It depends on parts; on the market you find a multitude of parts that aren’t original. It depends what you choose to pay—little for parts and a lot later for repairs. I choose to spend more on parts, but to sleep easy afterward.”
- Zlataru Darius: “This isn’t a car where parts cost a lot; it’s a bit more expensive than an A4, but if you buy the cheapest parts, you’ll encounter problems after some time.”
- Nemțanu Vasile: “Yes, it’s not hard to maintain even if it’s a BMW.”
Common problems on the E90
Based on the responses from owners, the main problems encountered on the E90 are:
- EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) - common issue on diesel engines
- DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) - the particulate filter tends to get clogged in urban driving
- Air conditioning compressor - normal wear after years of service
- Shock absorbers - replacement needed depending on driving style and road conditions
Experience of a 320d owner
Tarița Daniel: “Over a year and a half I replaced two parts I didn’t expect to fail: the alternator (original BMW) and a bearing (original BMW). Otherwise there were sensors, ATE brake pads, Angel Eyes bulbs, original filters, an accessory belt, and an original BMW crankshaft pulley.”
Issues specific to the 335d
Liviu Alexandru: “Head gasket issues; I’ll be changing the engine soon. The BMW doesn’t seem particularly reliable to me. It feels like a sturdy, well-made car; with the earlier model (320i) I had more problems.”
Real fuel consumption
Owners of the 320d report the following consumptions:
- Boțoteanu Bogdan: “It consumes 9-10 L/100km in city and on the highway”
- Anghelescu Gheorghe Silviu: “Between 6 and 7.5 L/100km”
- Zlataru Darius: “8.4 L/100km urban, 4.9-5.2 L/100km extra-urban”
- Andrei David: “In summer around 7-8 L/100km in the city and in winter 9-11 L/100km (Craiova)”
- Nemțanu Vasile: “Around 5.7 L/100km in normal driving. In aggressive driving at speeds above 90-100 km/h it’s about 7%”
The general consensus points to an average of 6-8 L/100km in mixed conditions for the 320d engine.
Driving experience
Handling and ride
As with its E46 predecessor, the BMW E90 offers genuine driving pleasure. The rigid chassis curbs body roll even in tight corners. The “hefty” steering provides a pleasant sense of safety and maneuverability. The E90 feels well balanced and responsive; it’s an agile car, easy to control when it wants to slide a bit in a corner negotiated too ambitiously. The suspension was tuned to cope with the new run-flat tires that the cars came with from the factory.
Urban driving – owner opinions
- Boțoteanu Bogdan: “Not exactly easy for everyone; the steering is somewhat heavier than an A4 or a C-Class.”
- Anghelescu Gheorghe Silviu: “Very good; the automatic transmission makes it easy to drive, it’s just a bit harder to park.”
- Zlataru Darius: “Quite easy, but you have to be careful in city driving not to get into understeer.”
- Andrei David: “It drives very well; both the consumption and the size make it a good city car.”
Available engines
The E90 offers a wide range of engines, from economical diesels to high-performance petrols:
- 316d – 0-100 km/h in 10.9 seconds
- 320d – 0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds
- 330d – 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds
- 335i – 0-100 km/h in 5.8 seconds
The most popular engine in Romania was the 320d, likely due to a balanced power-to-economy ratio and the very low tax.
Reliability and durability
Considering there are still thousands of E90s on Romanian roads, the car has proven to be very reliable over the years. Being a common model, parts cost less than for rarer brands such as Alfa Romeo or Lexus.
Known specific problems
- Owners of the 320d Efficient Dynamics complained of excessive vibrations coming from the driveshaft
- Dual-mass flywheel on the 320d with a manual gearbox – costs 5-6 times more than a simple flywheel
- Common problems in 2011 on the DPF and turbo for N47 engines in the 320d when cars were driven short distances in winter
- The 2008 320i model comes with run-flat 225/45 R17 tires for a firmer road feel
Common issues such as DPF or EGR are encountered on most diesel cars and should not be considered specific to the E90.
Prices on the second-hand market
New, the E90 cost up to €50,000. Prices in Romania started from €25,000 and reached €50,000 for a 335i in top trim.
Current prices (second-hand)
- 320i with 160,000 km – about €4,800
- 320d – on average between €5,000-€7,000
- High-mileage models – from €3,000 (about 10% of the original price)
Conclusion
The BMW E90 is a car that earns its money and has earned it over time. It offers a premium driving experience, reasonably maintenance costs for its class, and proven reliability.
The only drawback reported by owners is the exterior styling. The E46 was much more aesthetically beloved, and the E90, coming right after it, did not achieve the same design appeal. Still, BMW isn’t alone in facing design challenges between generations—many consider, for example, the Golf 6 to be the least aesthetically successful.
