Anyone Own a BMW?.
- Thread starter mrhotdice
- Start date
Costs would be waaaaay more than the Big 3. My SIL had an X3. It was a blast to drive and was fairly reliable. Had an issue with the AC unit. Although it was covered under warranty, the invoice to fix it was insane.
I have a 2013 328xi and I love it.
I bought it CPO with 23K miles on it and got it for a great price.
Had it 18 months so far and no issues, not sure how long I will keep it after the CPO warranty expires, depends on how long it stays reliable.
But fun as heck to drive.
I bought it CPO with 23K miles on it and got it for a great price.
Had it 18 months so far and no issues, not sure how long I will keep it after the CPO warranty expires, depends on how long it stays reliable.
But fun as heck to drive.
To answer the question in the title, yes, lots of people own BMWs. It will cost triple to have it serviced in Lexington. They have to outsource the work to a garage in Louisville. They will put the car in an enclosed trailer and haul it there. Or you can save a few bucks by taking it there yourself. Just have to waste a day.
FALSE..FAKE NEWS...ALTERNATIVE FACTS....
I don't know where you got that info, but it's wrong. Many shops service BMW's in Lexington and usually for a cheaper price than the dealer.
I have a 2013 BMW 335i convertible with a push button retractable top. I've had two issues within the last year. First was a water pump. I took it to Don Jacobs and it was a $1400 job. I said, never again! Just last week I had the coils, plugs, and a new valve cover changed as preventive maintence. Don Jacobs quoted $1650. I called a guy that works at one of the BMW repair shops and he said he would do it on the side. I bought the parts for $750 (valve cover was $500) and the mechanic came to my house, fixed it and charged me $300.
I do my own tire rotations, oil changes, brakes, rotors, etc. Now when I have to tune it and/or change the valve cover gasket, I'll be doing that too after I watched him do it.
I love driving my BMW and take it to Florida during the winter.
Well, not everyone has a BMW mechanic on their speed dial. It’s great if you trust the guy. Just keep in mind that he probably isn’t covered if he screws something up or wrecks it on a test drive.
Why would you have to change a valve cover after only five years?
This. I have never heard of replacing a valve cover as part of regular maintenance. Maybe the gasket but the cover itself seems like a big waste of money.
It will vary a bit based on model, but stay on top of the maintenance and you’ll rarely have an issue. Otherwise, what would’ve been a simple maintenance activity can quickly become a costly repair (e.g., VANOS problems).
BMW may have changed this around 2015, so not sure if still true, but they used to also have the best warranty in the industry. I had about 2.5 years of CPO warranty on my old 330 and it covered everything, and not just repairs. Oil changes, brakes jobs, control arm bushings, and wiper blades were all free. Only things I had to pay for were gas and tires.
For repairs, I used to go to Motorsports on Versailles Rd. Not sure if they are still around (this was over 15 years ago), but they did very good work and their rates were reasonable.
I’ve owned several over the years and absolutely love them and haven’t had any issues. But if it’s used, I’d recommend checking one of the BMW forums for the model you’re considering. They’ll usually have a thread on the typical maintenance costs to expect each year.
Like he said, if you want an overpriced, unreliable ride, with really expensive parts, then it sounds like you have found your car!!!
For reliability yes, enjoyability no...generally speaking, of course there are exceptions. I love and have owned both.
German stuff out of warranty will teach you about tough love....
I love seeing a bunch of poor people driving old BMWs and acting like they're bigtime.
Hey I'm sittin' right here! You sonuva .....!!
Not really...I'm worse...I'm poor & my son drives around a 2007 328xi. I don't even get to drive it., I just get to pay for the license, insurance, gas sometimes, etc...
My brother owns 3 or 4, he does his own work unless it's electrical. He said common repairs/parts aren't that expensive, but you get your eyes @#$%&! out when it comes to electrical issues....which is most of the problems.
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I have owned two BMW's (325i and a Z4) and they were both fun to drive and reliable. The 325 never needed a major repair in the 10 years that I owned it. The Z4 was great until my wife was hit from behind at a stop light. The electric top never worked right again and we had to get rid of it. Today, the wife and I drive Audis because IMO they surpassed BMW in several categories of vehicles.
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Therein lies the rub. German rigs are always plagued by electrical gremlins while the Japanese have perfected that stuff. But Germans have perfected driving dynamics.
All in what you’re looking for I guess.
They bombed Pearl Harbor....
My car had a leaking valve gasket and needed to be replaced. The valve cover itself is made of plastic and is prone to cracking as mileage adds up. Since changing the gasket is a 5 hr job, I decided to change the cover too, as well as the plugs and coils, as preventive maintenance.
This car is not my "main squeeze". It is only driven in warm months when I feel like getting it out. It is expensive to maintain, but the car is really fun to drive. Lots of BMW owners on forums have said it's the most reliable car they have ever owned. However, if I have another costly repair job, I may get rid of it and look at something else.