BMW · 1986–present
BMW 3 Series: specs, motor tax and NCT in Ireland
We cover 33 versions of the BMW 3 Series from 1986 to today, across 6 generations. Motor tax runs from €170 to €2,400 a year depending on engine and registration year, and the oldest qualify for €56 vintage tax.
Motor tax by year
3 Series E30 1986–1993
| Version | Years | Fuel | cc | bhp | CO2 g/km | Motor tax/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 325i Convertible | 1986–1993 | Petrol | 2494 | 170 | — | €56 vintage |
| M3 | 1986–1991 | Petrol | 2302 | 195 | — | €56 vintage |
| 320i | 1987–1991 | Petrol | 1990 | 129 | — | €56 vintage |
| 325i Sport | 1987–1991 | Petrol | 2494 | 170 | — | €56 vintage |
| 316i | 1988–1991 | Petrol | 1596 | 100 | — | €56 vintage |
| 318is | 1989–1991 | Petrol | 1796 | 136 | — | €56 vintage |
| M3 Sport Evolution | 1990–1990 | Petrol | 2467 | 238 | — | €56 vintage |
3 Series E36 1991–2000
| Version | Years | Fuel | cc | bhp | CO2 g/km | Motor tax/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 316i | 1991–1998 | Petrol | 1596 | 100 | — | €514 or €56 vintage |
| 320i | 1991–1998 | Petrol | 1991 | 150 | — | €710 or €56 vintage |
| 325tds | 1993–1998 | Diesel | 2497 | 143 | — | €1,080 or €56 vintage |
| M3 3.0 | 1993–1995 | Petrol | 2990 | 286 | — | €56 vintage |
| 318ti Compact | 1994–2000 | Petrol | 1895 | 140 | 187 | €673 or €56 vintage |
| 328i Sport Coupe | 1995–1999 | Petrol | 2793 | 193 | — | €1,391 or €56 vintage |
| M3 GT | 1995–1995 | Petrol | 2990 | 295 | — | €56 vintage |
| M3 Evolution 3.2 | 1996–1999 | Petrol | 3201 | 321 | — | €1,809 or €56 vintage |
3 Series E46 1998–2006
| Version | Years | Fuel | cc | bhp | CO2 g/km | Motor tax/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 320d | 1998–2005 | Diesel | 1995 | 150 | 153 | €710 |
| 330d | 2000–2005 | Diesel | 2926 | 184 | 178 | €1,494 |
| 330i Sport | 2000–2005 | Petrol | 2979 | 231 | 218 | €1,494 |
| M3 | 2000–2006 | Petrol | 3246 | 343 | 287 | €1,809 |
| 318i | 2001–2005 | Petrol | 1995 | 143 | 180 | €710 |
| 325ti Compact | 2001–2004 | Petrol | 2494 | 192 | 215 | €1,080 |
| M3 CSL | 2003–2004 | Petrol | 3246 | 360 | 287 | €1,809 |
3 Series E90 2005–2013
| Version | Years | Fuel | cc | bhp | CO2 g/km | Motor tax/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 320d | 2005–2012 | Diesel | 1995 | 177 | 128 | €200–€710 |
| 320i | 2005–2012 | Petrol | 1995 | 156 | 149 | €400–€710 |
| 335i Coupe | 2006–2013 | Petrol | 2979 | 306 | 205 | €790–€1,494 |
| M3 | 2007–2013 | Petrol | 3999 | 420 | 295 | €1,809–€2,400 |
3 Series F30 2012–2019
3 Series G20 2019–present
| Version | Years | Fuel | cc | bhp | CO2 g/km | Motor tax/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 320d | 2019–present | Diesel | 1995 | 190 | 124 | €270 |
| 330e | 2019–present | Plug-in hybrid | 1998 | 292 | 32 | €170 |
| M340i xDrive | 2019–present | Petrol | 2998 | 374 | 177 | €790 |
| M3 Competition | 2021–present | Petrol | 2993 | 510 | 228 | €2,400 |
Vintage tax
Cars built up to 1996 already qualify for vintage tax (€56 a year). Later ones qualify on their 30th anniversary, the last in 2056.
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Motor tax rates: Department of Transport schedule (unchanged in Budgets 2025 and 2026), checked 2026-09. CO2: official UK type-approval figures from the Vehicle Certification Agency; Irish-market versions can differ slightly. Your car's exact CO2 and band are on its registration certificate, and motortax.ie shows the rate for a given registration. Pre-July 2008 cars are taxed on engine size; July 2008–2020 on NEDC CO2; 2021 on, on WLTP CO2.