The Luxury Sedan, a body style that, despite the changing tides of SUVs, remains a desirable option for South Africans who have a little bit extra to spend. The current BMW 3-Series is one of the benchmark luxury sedans and still makes a case for the sedan body style as a whole. If you're not too convinced about owning an SUV, then this is still a good option to consider. What does it cost to own,n though? Let's check out how much an entry-level 3-Series will cost, namely the 320i.
Related: BMW 320d M Sport (2023) Review
Cost of ownership
To determine the cost of ownership, we'll use this calculation:
- A typical finance agreement over 72 months, with a 10% Deposit, interest rate prime +2%, no balloon or trade-in value.
- Using a daily commute of 45km, as that's the average distance South Africans travel for work, totalling 990 km per month.
- The current petrol price is R30.25 for 95RON inland. We'll use the claimed fuel economy figures to estimate how much petrol you'll spend per month.
- Estimated Insurance Premiums for a minimal risk driver (Remember this will vary from person to person, as well as area. Contact your insurance company to calculate your monthly premiums accurately).
Excluded from this calculation:
- Service/Maintenance Plan - The 3-Series in this spec comes with a 5-year /100 000 km maintenance plan.
- Tyres
- Admin and licensing fees
- Depreciation and GFV (Guaranteed Future Value)
| BMW 320i | |
| Price | from R920 231 |
| 10% Deposit | R92 023 |
| Estimated Monthly Instalment | from R16 516 |
| Estimated Insurance Premium | from R2 200 - R2 700 (We'll settle in-between with R2 550) |
| Claimed Fuel Consumption | 6.5L /100km |
| Monthly Fuel Usage | 64 Litres |
| Estimated Monthly Fuel Cost | R1 936 p/m |
| Total Estimate p/m | from R21 002 |
For one, R21 002 per month isn't cheap, but it's the standard for luxury purchases. The insurance is on the pricier side, as one would expect, but the running costs for the 3-Series aren't too bad given the estimated fuel consumption figures.
You can shop for the latest BMW 3 Series deals here and sell your car too.
