Surprising depreciation numbers for BMW 3 Series in South Africa
The F30 BMW 3 Series has remained remarkably resistant to depreciation in South Africa.
In the past eight years, the value of the family sedan has dipped by a mere 23% in select cases, despite an entirely new generation (G20) being introduced during this period.
AutoTrader’s best-selling cars of 2024 showed that the F30 still remains in high demand on the used market, as it stood eighth out of 10 in terms of sales for the year.
The average age of the 5,753 units sold was eight years old, average mileage 106,523km, and average price R381,086.
Looking at what’s on AutoTrader right now, the models that meet this criteria tend to be either the 320d automatic or the 340i.
The table below compares how much value these sedans lost since they were new in 2016, depending on which month they were purchased:
| Model | Price Jan 2016 | Price Nov 16 | Average price 2024 | Value lost in Rand | Value lost in % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 320d Auto | R497,900 | R556,100 | R381,086 | Between R116,814 and R175,014 | Between 23% and 31% |
| BMW 340i | R666,000 | R733,500 | R381,086 | Between R284,914 and R352,414 | Between 43% and 48% |
This shows that, in the best-case scenario, owners would only have lost around R117,000, or 23%, on their 320d in a matter of eight years should they have sold their 320d in 2024, or roughly R175,000 (31%) at most.
Those who got the sportier 340i lost out noticeably more, understandably so given the high-performance nature of these cars and the risk that goes along with that.
Bucking the trend
The depreciation of the 3 Series, in particular the in-demand 320d, bucks industry averages and is a testament to the fervent demand for the luxury sedan.
Mark Ridgway, Chief Technical Officer of used-car dealer getWorth, said that a new car typically loses 10% of its value the minute it’s driven off the lot, around 15-20% after one year, and 30-40% after five years of ownership.
He also said that affordable entry-level cars that are light on fuel tend to hold their value better than an expensive ride from a high-end brand with more power.
For the eight-year-old BMW to sit, on average, closer to the depreciation of a one-year-old car is therefore particularly notable.
Despite these premium German four-doors being much more expensive to own than most other autos especially once they have passed 100,000km, and being heavier on fuel than an economical hatch that is much newer, they retain their value far better than most.
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