Any and All BMW Owners...

[CDot]

How has it been owning one? Not the driving experience--more so the cost of ownership? As they get past that 50k mile mark, do you find they have a lot of issues?

Just curious...

[rms64]

I've had zero issues other than normal maintenance (which is by default a bit pricey if you take it to a dealer - fortunately there is a specialty shop near me that does a fantastic job) with my '07 335i.

80k miles and going strong.....now that I've typed this, something will probably break on the way home...

[jayshut11]

Mechanically, they don't tend to be any less reliable than other cars. Often times it's tech related things that go bad, like soft closing doors, navigation controls, etc which makes people think they are unreliable.

You'll want to keep in mind though that parts are more expensive. You have to pay to play, so to speak. 50,000 mile plus repairs can get expensive if you don't do the work yourself.

Treat it right and do the proper maintenance, and it will treat you right.

Might want to check out "Mike Miller's Old School Maintenance Schedule;" it's what I follow.

[antti@561detailing]

I bought one...station wagon with 130K ... it's more money than honda...or anything else...as matter of fact...some parts are less expensive...it really depends who took care of this car before...you need to do maintance no matter what car ... bmw is no different...and that's how you need to look at it...find a good car and you'll be fine...leased car...most likely you get the car that hasn't been taken care of...lease is rental and noone cares about rental cars... it does come down to who owned it before...you need to take care of your cars...read on forums what the weak points are and you know it before you get into it...I knew what I was looking for and got lucky with good owner...people with ex pensive cars have money to pay for maintenance...and they have free maintenance programs...it's not how expensive it is to own the car...it is how you or previous owner cared for it

[swanicyouth]

I've owned 3 BMWs - all of them has been rock solid. In fact, I've never had to ever pay for a dealer repair or diagnosis. My last BMW was traded in at 127k. My M has yet to have a single issue, not even a bulb out.

If your a DIY car guy, BMW maintenance is easy - but a bit costlier than non-Euro cars for parts. But, you can do almost everything yourself. If your paying a mechanic to do it - your going to PAY $$$.

The more electronic gizmos - the more likely you are to have an issue.

[Hokie335i]

I owned a 2003 330i ZHP from 100k miles to 168k miles and it was not bad maintenance wise. Had to do a few bushings, CCV and vanos but other than that, just normal things.

I now have a 2007 BMW 335i and haven't had any issues and had it from 30k miles and now it's at 50k

[2.ooohhh]

Totally depends on the model, age, and previous owner's(if any) maintenance.

Generally the 5 and 7 series require more maintenance(especially true of the '90s-early'00s 540s and 740s), often this is because they have far more standard features, factory options, and weigh more. The 3 series can be a very cost effective, and reliable daily driver or a very fun weekend driver/autocross car provided it's been maintained properly. Without proper maintenance they will deteriorate to scrap value very quickly. I picked up an '03 e46 3 series for under $300 when my wife needed a new car. It needed a new engine, brakes, and suspension(not to mention paint correction); all due to lack of maintenance.

[CDot]

Thanks all; I own a '01 Altima that shows her age almost every time she has the opportunity. I own a Haynes Manual and do maybe 1/2 the maintenance on the car. I'm entertaining the thought of getting a used 3 series next year.

[jayshut11]

I'm entertaining the thought of getting a used 3 series next year.

Go for it! The less tech the better in my opinion. Just more to go wrong I think. Then again, I'm a purist.

[Desertnate]

I owned a '99 E46 3 series for nearly 8 years and put over 100K miles on it (130K if memory serves). Even after all that time it looked good and ran perfectly.

The first 3~4 years I had a few expensive issues but they were all covered under warranty. Once over that hurdle it was pretty smooth sailing.

I kept up with the maintenance so it wasn't too bad. You will pay more than many other cars. One thing to look for is reputable independent BMW garages so you can avoid going to the dealership. I saved quite a bit of money this way. I also learned to change my own oil, so there was a nice savings there as well.