Anything wrong with older German cars?

[tweakmm]

I'm going to be getting my license soon am I'm looking at getting maybe a '93 325i. They cost about $8,000. From everything that I've read they go strong until about 250,000 miles.
Has anybody bought an older luxury car and had alot of problems with it?
I plan to spend about 8,000 on a car anyway and I don't see why I shouldn't get a car thats a couple years old but is alot nicer
Is there any reason why I shouldn't buy a used bimmer?

BTW, I'll be paying for most of the car

 

[jadinolf]

The only thing that would cause me to ponder it would be the cost of repairs.

Remember you'd be driving a rich man's car.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: jadinolf
The only thing that would cause me to ponder it would be the cost of repairs.

Remember you'd be driving a rich man's car.

very true.

A/C Compressor $970
Alternator $590
Automatic Transmission or Transaxle $1,190
Brakes $260
Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing $645
Exhaust System $670
Exhaust System $790
Shocks and/or Struts $980
Timing Chain or Belt $1,265

VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS!

link

 

[Rallispec]

my g/f has an 89' bmw 325

over the past 5 years that car has needed more than 17k in repairs.


german = suck

 

[skyking]

everybody already said it: Repairs

 

[vi edit]

The overall "feel" of the German cars is unmatched over the long run. I had an 8 year old VW that still drove better than 90% of the new stuff put out by domestic, and even some Japanese companies. The cars remain very responsive and don't get sloppy with age. But, this comes at a price. They require more maintanence, and more expensive maintanence than domestics and japanese cars.

For example - VW recommends spark plug changes every 20k miles on some of their engines, every 30k on others. They recommend changing the timing belt every 60k miles compared to 80k-90k of domestics and Japanese cars...even longer for American and Japanese cars that use timing chains instead of belts. Not only are you required to bring it into the shop more often for routine stuff, you are going to pay more for it because of the smaller number of good german mechanics. They charge a premium because they can.

If I had to use it for a daily driver, and I didn't have much expendable cash to pay for repairs, buying a 10+ year old used german luxury car would not be my first choice.

Buy a used camry or altima and be done with it if that is your intent. Just my $.02

 

[FlashG]

My old 83 323 grey market cost me over $9K in maintenance over 4 years. Although it was a Hartge (S/P) with gobs of power, I never mistreated it

BTW,

For the most part, I did my own work so the majority of that $9K was for parts only

 

[Vette73]

As most have pointed out the repair bills will be high. I am a mechanic and the parts alone cost an arm and a leg, let alone the labor to put it in. And even then you might have to order the part so even if the mechanic is free it might take any where from 1 to 5 days to get a part.

If you want a nice car that won't kill you on repair bills, look for something like a Olds Intrigue, or ANY gm car made after 1987 with the 3.8L V-6.

If you want something flasy but nice, look at a 1990 or 1991 Buick Reatta. It is a Handbuilt 2 door buick. I found one for my grandmother, she likes sports cars. FWD with the 3.8L motor. Quick, safe, easy to fix, and they are VERY Sharp. I have seen a well maintained 3.8L go over 300K easy.

But any car you look at, call autozone and ask for basic parts, like a water pump, Alt, starter, etc...
The water pump on a 3.8L buick is less than $30 and in stock, a water pump on some Volvos cost over $150 and it has to be ordered. Let alone the difference in how much it cost to install, thats another ballpark.
Get a car that will take care of you, not the other way around.

 

This Bimmer is a little easier on the wallet

 

[FlashG]

Roger,

I always thought Isetta?s were way cool. However the front opening door with attached steering is scary.

Come to think of it I think that my particular car might have suffered mechanical indigestion from eating too much horse meat (the 5.0 variety).

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: Roger
This Bimmer is a little easier on the wallet

That's the Steve Erkle car!

 

[tweakmm]

I don't like the idea of alot of costly repairs

I think im gonna ask a dedicated BMW forum and see how often they need repairs

 

[squirrelman]

I've got a 1980 Mercedes-Benz 450SL and I love it so far. It is built very solid and I would wager it will still outlast most Civics and whatever else everyone here recomends. Sure you will pay more for repairs but you will have a BMW. If your vain, and come on everyone is or they lie, you know people will be more impressed by a BMW then some boring Civic. I test drove a 1992 735i and a 1992 525i and both were very nice cars. I also test drove a 1991 325ic the convertable, that i didnt care for all that much. The reason I didnt go with the BMW in the end and got the car I really wanted was I felt there was just way more things to go wrong on the BMW. Everything is electronic and those things scare me about breaking. In the end get what car you really want or you will be dissapointed. Just make sure you realize it will be more expensive for repairs, but if you get a well maintained one if good shape you usually dont have to repair them as much.

 

[FlashG]

Try here

BMW

 

[Mavrick007]

Originally posted by: pulse8

Originally posted by: Roger
This Bimmer is a little easier on the wallet

That's the Steve Erkle car!

Heh Nah, it's more of the Mr. Bean variety