Real example report · worked calculation, not a quotation
BMW 3 Series 2012
Every example uses the same standard scenario: 7,400 miles a year, 3-year ownership, finance purchase. So the figures compare directly across cars.
- Make
- BMW
- Model
- 3 Series
- Year
- 2012
- Fuel
- Petrol
- Engine
- 2.0 L
- CO2
- 147 g/km
Total cost of ownership
Source data: Read from one real 73 Auto report, calculated under the standard scenario stated above.Calculated as the report's annual ownership cost (£5,787) x the 3-year ownership period. Not a figure printed in the source report.
Cost breakdown
Every category this report covers, largest first.
Quick answers
?What does it cost to own a BMW 3 Series 2012?
In this real 73 Auto example, total cost of ownership for this BMW 3 Series 2012 is £482/month (£5,787/year), based on 7,400 miles/year over a 3-year finance ownership scenario.
?What are the running costs of a BMW 3 Series 2012?
Day-to-day running costs, including fuel / energy, service & MOT and maintenance & repairs and 5 other costs, total £4,682/year (£391/month) in this example, excluding depreciation and finance.
?What is the road tax (VED) for a BMW 3 Series 2012?
VED (road tax) for this BMW 3 Series 2012 is £150/year in this example.
?What is the depreciation on a BMW 3 Series 2012?
Depreciation accounts for £773/year (13% of the total cost) for this BMW 3 Series 2012 in this example.
What drives this cost
For this BMW 3 Series 2012, Fuel / Energy is the largest ownership-cost category, making up 23% of the annual total (£1,345/year of £5,787/year). Service & MOT is a close second at 22%, so together these two categories account for 45% of the total. Depreciation and finance together make up 19% of the annual cost, while day-to-day running costs (fuel/energy, insurance, servicing, maintenance, tax, tyres and roadside assistance combined) make up 80%. As a petrol vehicle, fuel costs are calculated from a fuel price of £1.40/litre at 35mpg, making up 23% of the total.
What this example is
This is a worked example for one specific vehicle under the stated assumptions, not a quotation or financial advice. A different registration, condition, location, driving pattern, insurance profile or finance agreement will produce a different result. See the methodology and data sources behind this figure.
For what these figures add up to and why, see what Total Cost of Ownership means and UK car running costs.
