What a 2002 BMW 325i Is Worth Today

A 2002 BMW 325i typically sells today for roughly $3,000 to $8,000 in the U.S., with most clean, running examples falling in the $4,000–$6,000 range. That spread depends heavily on mileage, maintenance history, condition, options, and whether the car appeals to BMW enthusiasts in your local market.

Why the 2002 BMW 325i Still Matters

The 2002 BMW 325i, part of the E46 3 Series generation, has developed a reputation as a modern classic: old enough to be analog and engaging, but new enough to offer decent safety, comfort and daily usability. It’s no longer just a used car; for many buyers it’s an entry point into enthusiast ownership, which shapes what people are willing to pay today.

Current Price Ranges in the Real Market

While pricing can vary significantly by country and region, recent listings from major used-car platforms, enthusiast classifieds, and auction sites in late 2024 show consistent value bands for the 2002 BMW 325i. These bands reflect what buyers are actually paying rather than just ambitious asking prices.

Typical U.S. Price Brackets

The following breakdown summarizes the most common value ranges for a 2002 BMW 325i in the U.S. market based on mileage, condition, and documentation.

• Under $3,000: High-mileage (often 200,000+ miles), rough cosmetics, deferred maintenance, possible mechanical issues, or salvage/rebuilt titles. Often project cars or “mechanic’s specials.”
• $3,000–$4,000: Running and reasonably complete examples with higher mileage and visible wear. May need suspension refresh, cooling system work, or interior repairs. Title usually clean but maintenance history spotty.
• $4,000–$6,000: The core of the market: clean, stock or lightly modified cars with roughly 130,000–190,000 miles, decent paint and interior, and at least partial service records. Usually mechanically solid with no major immediate needs.
• $6,000–$8,000: Well-kept, enthusiast-maintained examples, often with extensive documentation, preventative maintenance on known E46 weak points, and mileage nearer the low- to mid-100,000s. May include desirable options like Sport or Premium Package.
• $8,000+: Exceptionally clean, low-mileage (often under 100,000 miles), largely original cars, or unusually well-preserved examples with complete history and no rust. These are increasingly treated as collector-grade driver’s cars.

Taken together, these tiers show that while cheap 325is still exist, genuinely sorted and preserved cars command a noticeable premium, reflecting both scarcity and growing appreciation for the E46 platform.

How Values Differ in Other Regions

Outside the U.S., the same age and model can fetch different money due to taxes, import rules, and demand.

• Canada: Prices are broadly similar to U.S. levels once currency conversion is considered, though rust-free cars from milder climates tend to be worth more, and winter-beaten examples less.
• UK & Western Europe: More E46s were sold, so supply is higher. Everyday examples can be cheaper in raw price terms, but well-kept, low-rust cars and factory manuals with sport trims still attract premiums.
• Australia & New Zealand: Smaller supply and import hurdles can push values above North American equivalents, especially for manuals and cars with impeccable histories.
• Markets with strict emissions or inspection regimes: Cars that easily pass inspections and have documented maintenance often carry significant added value, because failed tests can make an older BMW effectively unsellable.

The global pattern is consistent: ordinary, tired 325is remain inexpensive, while cars with clean histories, rust-free bodies, and documented care are increasingly recognized as desirable and priced accordingly.

Key Factors That Determine What a 2002 325i Is Worth

A 2002 BMW 325i’s market value is rarely about model year alone. Several overlapping factors determine whether a particular car sits at the bottom or the top of the price range.

Mileage and Maintenance History

On a 22‑year‑old BMW, odometer readings matter, but maintenance often matters more. The 2.5‑liter inline‑six (M54 engine) can run well past 200,000 miles if serviced properly.

• Low mileage (under ~120,000): Increases value, especially if paired with strong documentation and minimal wear. Buyers often pay a premium for these cars.
• Average mileage (~120,000–180,000): This is where most cars sit. Well-maintained examples can still be solid daily drivers.
• High mileage (180,000+): Not an automatic deal-breaker, but value drops unless the seller can show consistent, recent work on key systems like cooling, suspension, and gaskets.
• Service records: Stacks of invoices for oil changes, cooling system overhauls, suspension refreshes, and gasket replacements can raise the car’s value by narrowing perceived risk.

The combination of documented maintenance and sensible mileage can shift a car from “budget beater” pricing to the more desirable middle or upper bands.

Mechanical Condition and Known E46 Weak Points

Mechanical health significantly influences price, especially when known E46 issues have been addressed.

• Cooling system: Radiators, expansion tanks, and water pumps are known wear items. A recently refreshed cooling system boosts value and buyer confidence.
• Suspension and steering: Worn bushings, shocks, and control arms are common on older cars. A tight, well-sorted chassis is a selling point and commands more money.
• Oil leaks and gaskets: Valve cover and oil filter housing gaskets commonly leak on M54 engines. A leak-free or recently resealed engine is a plus.
• Automatic transmission health: Smooth shifting, no hesitation, and fluid changes on record can support stronger pricing. Hesitation or harsh shifts push the value down.
• Manual gearbox and clutch: Manuals are sought after; a crisp-shifting box with a strong clutch adds to the car’s desirability and price.

Because many buyers know about these recurring issues, cars with documented fixes often sell faster and for more money than superficially similar cars without such work.

Exterior, Interior, and Rust

Cosmetic condition and rust can make or break a 325i’s value, especially in climates with road salt.

• Paint and bodywork: Original paint in good condition, with no major dents or mismatched panels, supports higher pricing. Obvious resprays or accident repairs typically reduce value.
• Rust: Rust around wheel arches, rocker panels, and underbody sections is a serious concern; visible corrosion can push a car to the bottom of the price range, regardless of mechanical health.
• Interior condition: Cracked leather, sagging headliners, and broken trim pieces are common. A clean, intact interior is a strong selling point on a 20+ year old sedan.
• Electronics: Functioning climate control, windows, sunroof, and factory audio systems help maintain value; electrical gremlins can be enough to scare off non-enthusiast buyers.

In practice, a structurally solid, rust-free shell with a clean interior is often worth more, even with moderate mileage, than a lower-mileage car hiding corrosion or extensive cosmetic problems.

Trim Level, Options, and Transmission

Not all 325is are equipped the same way, and certain configurations now attract enthusiast premiums.

• Sport Package: Typically includes firmer suspension, sport seats, and more aggressive wheels. These cars are more desirable to drivers who value handling and aesthetics.
• Manual transmission: Increasingly rare and prized by enthusiasts. A clean manual 325i often sells faster and for more than an equivalent automatic.
• Premium features: Options such as leather seats, upgraded sound systems, and xenon headlights can add modest value, particularly if they are in good working order.
• Body style variants: While your question focuses on the sedan, coupes and wagons with the same 2.5‑liter engine can skew slightly higher or lower depending on local demand, but the value drivers are broadly similar.

Overall, a 2002 325i with the right mix of sport options, manual transmission, and tasteful specifications tends to sit at the top end of the price spectrum for this model year.

Title Status and Ownership History

Paperwork and legal status heavily influence market value, especially for buyers seeking a reliable daily driver.

• Clean title, no major accidents: Command the strongest prices and are most attractive to a wide pool of buyers.
• Salvage or rebuilt titles: Typically sell for substantially less, often 20–40% below comparable clean-title cars, even if repaired well.
• Number of owners: Fewer owners, especially when paired with continuous records, can boost confidence and price. Frequent ownership changes can raise questions.
• Enthusiast ownership: A documented history of care by BMW-savvy owners can raise value, especially when supported by receipts and parts documentation.

Buyers increasingly view clear, transparent history as part of the value proposition, rewarding cars whose stories are well-documented and straightforward.

How to Estimate the Value of a Specific 2002 325i

If you are buying or selling a particular 2002 BMW 325i, broad ranges are just a starting point; a more tailored estimate requires comparing like with like and factoring in current market data.

Practical Steps to Get a Realistic Number

To understand what a specific car is worth today, focus on direct market comparisons and objective condition checks.

1. Check local listings: Search AutoTrader, Cars.com, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and enthusiast forums for 2001–2003 325i models in similar condition, mileage, and configuration in your region.
2. Review recent sales, not just asking prices: Browse completed listings on sites like Bring a Trailer, Cars & Bids, and eBay Motors to see what cars actually sold for, especially those matching your car’s spec.
3. Use valuation tools cautiously: Guides like Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, or NADA can provide a baseline, but older enthusiast cars often trade above or below these estimates based on condition and demand.
4. Adjust for maintenance and repairs: Add value if big-ticket items (cooling system, suspension, gaskets, tires, brakes) were done recently; subtract if they are overdue or obviously failing.
5. Factor in local demand: In areas with many older BMWs and independent shops, values can be stronger; in regions where parts and expertise are scarce, prices may drop because buyers fear repair costs.

By blending broad pricing data with specific, up-to-date comparisons for your area, you can arrive at a more accurate and defensible number for a given 325i.

Where the 2002 325i Sits in Today’s Enthusiast Landscape

The 2002 BMW 325i occupies a transitional space: no longer just an aging used car, not yet a full-fledged collectible like an E30, but increasingly appreciated among enthusiasts who prefer balanced, naturally aspirated sedans over newer, more complex models.

Depreciation, Plateau, and Emerging Classic Status

After years of steady depreciation, values for clean E46 3 Series models—especially manuals, sport-package cars, and coupes—have largely flattened and, in some cases, started to tick upward.

• Depreciation mostly done: A large portion of the car’s initial value has long since disappeared, leaving a relatively stable, low base price.
• Growing enthusiast interest: The E46 is now old enough to feel classic but new enough to use daily, which is attracting a new generation of buyers.
• Rising cost of “good” examples: As rough cars are scrapped or parted out, truly well-preserved, low-rust, low-mileage 325is become rarer, supporting higher prices.
• M3 halo effect: The E46 M3 has become a recognized modern classic, and its rising profile tends to pull interest—and sometimes pricing—up for lower trims like the 325i.

This doesn’t mean every 2002 325i is destined to appreciate sharply, but it does suggest that carefully maintained examples are less likely to lose much more value and may slowly become more desirable over time.

Summary

Today, a 2002 BMW 325i in the U.S. is generally worth around $3,000 to $8,000, with most solid, everyday examples trading in the $4,000–$6,000 range. The exact figure for any individual car hinges on mileage, mechanical and cosmetic condition, maintenance records, options, title status, and regional demand. While tired, high-mileage 325is remain relatively cheap, genuinely well-kept, rust-free, and properly maintained cars are increasingly recognized as modern classics and are priced accordingly.

How much is a 2002 BMW 325i worth?

A 2002 BMW 3 Series 325i Sedan 4D has depreciated $316 or 10% in the last 3 years and has a current resale value of $2,778 and trade-in value of $1,139.

How much is a used BMW 325i worth?

Find a Used BMW 325i Near You
TrueCar has 13 used BMW 325i models for sale nationwide, including a BMW 325i Sedan and a BMW 325i Sedan (SULEV). Prices for a used BMW 325i currently range from $3,975 to $7,489, with vehicle mileage ranging from 37,038 to 229,364.

What is the value of a 2002 BMW today?

2002 BMW 3 Series Pricing

	Original MSRP	KBB Fair Purchase Price (national avg.)
325iT Wagon 4D	$34,865	$3,874
325xiT AWD Wagon 4D	$36,615	$4,025
330i Sedan 4D	$38,410	$4,181
330Ci Coupe 2D	$39,410	$4,120

How many miles will a 2002 BMW 325i last?

200,000 to 250,000 miles
You can expect your 3 Series to last anywhere from 200,000 to 250,000 miles when properly maintained.