are BMW's hard to maintain?

Question

my parents are considering getting me a used Z3 as my first car!! woo hoo! lol. but anyways what i am scared about just maintaining it like getting the oil changed and stuff. is that really expensive? also, is there a site that actually has the crash test ratings for the Z3's? i've been looking for a little bit on the internet and every site says theyre not tested or something. and if you have just some general advice on Z3's? it would be really appreciated. thanks!

well the ones we are looking at are about 10 to 13 grand so theyre not THAT BAD. and dont think omg what a spoiled brat because im gonna be paying for it too. lol just to let you guys know

Z3's arent ugly you punk!!

Answer 1

I've worked on all sorts of cars before, including a few BMW's. Changing oil is about the same as any other car, though the oil filter might cost a few dollars more. As with any import car the parts will cost a little more. Now if you want to do it yourself, or have a friend change the oil, they will need a metric socket set. If you are talking about other repairs, transmission, etc, yet it will cost more. Crash test results, I don't know, but usually German cars are built pretty good so i wouldn't worry too much. Enjoy the car.

Answer 2

BMW's are no more expensive to maintain than any other automobile. Most European car manufacturer's suggest synthetic oils, which cost more but last longer. Thus the same overall cost of maintenance. The fluid changes can be done by any local express lube type place. Belts, hoses, lights can be done by any reputable shop. The expense will arise when something on the car breaks. European cars are engineered with very expensive systems and parts. This is a very special car that you are dealing with and it will require special shops to repair it. You will not find crash tests because most German auto manufacturer's have there own crash test facilities. They are some of the safest cars on the planet. Be aware that BMW has been known for it's electrical (wiring) issues. These can be very expensive to diagnose and repair. The price range you mentioned is obviously a car out of warranty. I would suggest getting a service contract (see your dealer) on the car. This will put the unexpected expensive repairs on someone else. Have you considered a Toyota product :) None the less, enjoy the ride!!!

Answer 3

It all depends on which Z3 you get. The 1.9 is somewhat gutless, but the motor is cheaper to maintain. The 2.8 is fast, but heavier and more parts that wear out...4cyl. vs. 6cyl. Both engines are pretty reliable, as teh 6cyl. version is a inline 6, which in my opinion is the most reliable engine cofiguration when compared to V-types or boxer engines.

My advice is to plan on keeping up the maint., i.e. oil changes, coolant flushes, spark plugs, etc... I would NEVER take it to a dealer. If you live in a major city or live near one, you should find a independent shop that specializes in BMWs. These shops tend to work harder to keep your business and most of them have gone through factory training, so they're just as good, if not better than dealer technicians, and 9 times out of 10 they're much cheaper than the dealership.

If you or your family are the do-it-yourselfers, check out forums on teh Internet to get help and advice on maintaining the car. Check out www.roadfly.org In there you will find forums for every BMW model.

Hope this helps and have fun. Nothing handles or drives like a BMW.

Answer 4

Routine maintenance--like oil changes and wheel balancing--shouldn't be expensive.

If you break any major parts, though, the replacements will not be cheap. BMW's are luxury import cars and will always carry a higher price tag for parts and labor because they're so complex. (Always remember that for high-end cars, it's not the price you bought it for that kills you--it's the maintenance costs!)

You should set aside as much of your paycheck as you can afford in an account specifically for your car's maintenance, and keep up on the regularly scheduled maintenance to prevent having to take your car in for major problems. Also, be sure to take your car to a highly recommended BMW specialty shop that has ASE-certified technicians on hand.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/) and http://www.safercar.gov/ should have crash test ratings if they're available anywhere. :)

Answer 5

BMW's are very reliable car's depending on how you drive them. Take care of them and don't put to much stress on the tranny. Oil changes are not that expensive. I can't remember how much right now. Z3's are ugly, every wanna be rich person has one, other than that BMW makes a great line up of Vehicles. M Coupe=Wet my pants

Answer 6

BMW cars need to go to a BMW dealer for service. New BMW cars have all service (fluids, brakes etc) included in warranty. When warranty expires, sell car or pay BIG for correct servicing. This is a precision device with very specific service requirements.
I don't know about Z3 but BMW is Very Strong! in crash testing.

Answer 7

Yes, that's one of the many reasons they are among my least favorite cars. In fact, BMW technicians have a separate training program at vocational schools just to become BMW technicians, if that gives you any clue. As a first car, I couldn't recommend a BMW any less.

Answer 8

I am a european car mechanic, so bear with me.

Prices on parts for a modern american car, modern asian car, and modern european car are almost all the same if you buy OEM parts. Where the US and Japanese cars can help you out is in the aftermarket parts division. Usually aftermarket service parts are available for much less than OEM parts.

However, I have found many of the aftermarket parts to be awful quality. OEM US and Japanese parts are usually pretty good. OEM Euro parts are typically much greater quality.

So, will it cost you more to take it to a dealer? Yup. But it's only a facade. If you can work on the car yourself, the pricing will come out about the same for OEM parts.

BMW makes a fine car, and it is easy to service the vehicle yourself in comparison to many other makes. Don't even get me going about Porsche. Also, you will find the reliability is quite good.

Answer 9

Hi, Besides repair cost. Find out insurance costs. You might not like the price. A sugestion. Look at a Miata. Better repair costs, bullet proof. And It's a convertable.

Answer 10

I just got an 06 330xi. If you buy a new Z4 BMW will pay for your maintenance for 4 years, including oil changes, windshield wipers, brake pads, etc.