To BMW owners, are your cars high maintenance?

Question

I've always like beamers however my parents tell me that they are some of the most high maintenance cars out there. I talked to one of my friends who has had one for a year and hasn't taken it in a single time for a problem other than oil change etc. However I drive a caddy which requires work like 5 times a year and I don't see how it can get any worse.

Answer 1

I'd take a BMW over a Cadillac any day. My boss had one, and it was in the shop five times in the first 9 months. My boss has a business partner who had an Escalade. After 20,000 miles it needed a new transmission.

BMW pay for all service items for the first four years or 50,000 miles. This is pretty unique in the car industry.

Also if you look at Consumer Reports you will see that BMW have been getting better and better ratings year on year for the past six or seven years. They may not be statistically up there with Japanese cars, but they can certainly beat a Cadillac for reliability (again according to CR).

Answer 2

OMG this bs again. Listen you want my advice, go talk to shop owners who work on BMW's.

There isn't a definative answer. E30 BMWs and before, were rock solid. E36 BMWs and after had many problems (once electronics and cost-cutting on materials started to get involved). Every model is different. You can have a 530i and have it run without a hick-up for 15 years, or you can have some limited-edition, imported, 540i sport (incredible performance no doubt) but it will give you problems more often than a race car.

Do your research. And know this... BMWs are different. Do you think of all Fords as the same car? Whether a Ford Taurus, a Ford 3500 Super Duty, or a Ford GT? Same thing with BMW. A 3-series is the most reliable, simple, and inexpensive to maintain.

Some parts on 3-series are cheaper than even Honda (for your mechanic anyways, they might rip YOU off at the dealer). Of course the labor will be more expensive than on a Honda since the car is cluttered with options, not bare-bones like a Honda, and it takes more hours to do the work.

I recommend if you want a faster car than a 325i get a 330 or 335i or M3. Don't move up to a 5-series because then it gets more expensive, and a 6, 7-series is for a pimp.

BMW isn't anywhere as expensive as a Mercedes or Audi, just do your research before buying the car and do it after you have one.. meaning.. find a good mechanic that knows how to work on Bimmers and doesn't over-charge for the bullshit reason that "it is European." A 325i has a small engine and is Rear-wheel drive so it is easier to work on than a V6 Toyota Camry, so why should they charge more?

Moreover ask him or people at your car's forum if things like the official BMW oil-filter (which is like $50) is really needed for your particular model, or if you can just use the Fram one that's $5.

A lot of BMW's last a VERY long time so if you're buying a used one, make sure it was well taken care of (regular maintanence, etc). The difference between buying a BMW from some upper-class american, and from some asian (especially Chinese, Arab, Indian, or PERSIAN) guy who is too cheap to even do regular oil changes, is the difference between "the ultimate driving machine" and a money pit.

I love BMW's but like all German cars, if something does break, you should fix it right away. It isn't a Toyota which you can beat on no matter what. If you wait to fix a problem that occurred, it will either make a small problem a permanent one, or will cause additional things to mount up. If you're not cheap, then its a good car.. once you drive one, nothing else compares.

And by the way, they were built for the autobahn, so step on it every once in a while. Even my mechanic says that it is good for it. There has to be a happy medium between a lunatic Arab driver, and an old grandma who never takes it above 2,000 rpm (also bad for the car).

Good Luck.

Answer 3

BMWs, on the whole, do not need any more maintenance than any other car. It's a myth. I have 3, a '95 3 series, a '99 M3 and an '02 5 series. They have been rock solid, dependable and, surprisingly, reasonable priced maintenance.

Yes, it's sad when Caddys and Chevys (so I've heard) require more maintenance and have a typical repair that is more expensive than a European luxury vehicle.

Answer 4

Just had my BMW battery died on me tonight... it's the original factory battery, and it's a 2000 model. Maybe that might say something about maintenance.

But truthfully, your caddy seems a little extreme, and I would definitely say you're gonna do better with many other cars, including a BMW.

As a general guide, just look at Consumer Reports, you'll find that all cars have varying degrees of reliability, and the Japanese are amongst the most reliable.

Look at your caddy's rating, and just pick something with a better rating... I think it's not too difficult.

But here's a fair warning - you'll never go back to a caddy once you've driven a BMW.

Answer 5

I'm on my second new BMW and have had no problems at all. I really appreciate that all regular maintenance (oil changes, etc) are included for the first few years. In between these two cars I had two new Porsche's and the cost of maintenance was extremely high. Oil changes alone were $140+.

Answer 6

The only reason they are considered high maintenance is because it costs more to fix them than most cars. But, that's because the parts that are used on them are higher quality than most cars. It's a give and take. You get a better car, but when something does break it will cost you to fix it.

However, if you get a new one then you don't have to pay for maintenance at all while it's under warranty.

Answer 7

BMW are GREAT cars!
So much better than Cadillac, or ANY American built car. Better than most everything out there....
I think that your parents may be confused--- it does cost more than average to have them worked on, not because they are high-maintenance, but they're high-end cars. Less common as well, so you need special tools etc and generally mechanics charge more for working on BMW's than more common imports like Toyota, Honda etc.
By no means are they high-maintenance though.

Answer 8

No, they're not high maintenance. If you buy it new you get a warranty. Good for like 4 years. There's not much you need to do. Also if you have BMW assist if anythings wrong they will help you.

Answer 9

It depends..I have an 06 525i and have had some minor troubles...drive censor failed 6k into owning the car, hood didn't close correctly, but it is under warrenty for 4 years or 50k miles...whichever comes first, so I haven't spent a dime on maintenace yet...the warrenty covers tune ups, oil changes, etc....

From what I heard, they are pricey to maintain....but if you keep your car in good condition, then it will run forever....

Answer 10

My BMW's are the least expensive car to maintain out there. They are only expensive to fix if you crash them because the parts are expensive. I think I took my Honda to the shop more than my Bimmers. They also have the best warranty out there than any other car which is also a plus. They are worth the money.