Debunking the myth, BMWs maintenance are expensive.

[halik]

I DIY almost anything on my car but my parents don't want me touching the lease lol.

On my moms Audi Q7

Front Rotor/Pads 22k miles 890 bucks
Rear Rotor/Pads 25k miles 830 bucks
4 tires gone at 25k miles 720 bucks
Battery went bad at 21k miles 350 bucks
9 quarts of Oil needed = $120 per oil change

Warranty work
All 4 door handles broke(the button on them)
Side view mirror not working.
Bluetooth system not working, had to re flash the comp for that.
Rear Sunroof clip broke 3 times.


Needless to say my dads not buying a German Car any more lol.

Crazy ripoff on the battery - the one for my moms old benz was 120 at the dealer.

 

[KIAman]

Interesting, but your Nav DVD should be more like $200, not $20, and that is simply your fault not the manufacturers, and the Computer upgrades are 1) Not necessary 2) You can do them yourself in 4 minutes.

I had a "back-up" image of my own dvd, which I had to put back on a dvd

Where can you update your own computer, especially in 4 minutes? Dealer takes 3-4 hours per flash. Not necessary? They were to reprogram the automatic transmission shift points, set automatic transmission torque lockup parameters per gear, update vanos parameters, add more dash functionality, add mp3, add alarm, and update nav program.

You're thinking of service reset, which isn't the same thing. I've done plenty of those myself.

 

[Pantoot]

Dealer takes 3-4 hours per flash.

And that is if you are lucky and they don't fry anything in the process.

With 9 liters of oil at around $13 bucks a liter, I know I am in for an expensive oil change when the warranty expires.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Why would you replace a transmission? Most of the failures are due to the no reverse issues. In my car particularly, if it ever fails it's just a solenoid that I can easily replace, and I drive my car like it's meant to be driven. Power steering pump, most of the failures are due to people neglected to change the fluid in it, which I have right around the time I changed the transmission fluid.

You're talking about catastrophic failures, which could happen on any cars. I'm just saying that maintenance is not expensive, relative to the driving experience and price compare to just about everything else.

I've owned two 3-series BMWs (automatics) and both of them needed new transmissions around 100k miles. The dealership wanted $5k to replace a transmission. Independent shops were quoting around $3k. DSG would be twice that I suspect.

 

[SSSnail]

I've owned two 3-series BMWs (automatics) and both of them needed new transmissions around 100k miles. The dealership wanted $5k to replace a transmission. Independent shops were quoting around $3k. DSG would be twice that I suspect.

What failed?

 

[StageLeft]

What failed?

One of the spinning bits, I bet.

 

[SSSnail]

One of the spinning bits, I bet.

Refer to Divided's posts...

Anyways, most of the failure is due to no-reverse, and that's easily fixed. It wouldn't require replacement of the entire transmission. So you got ripped off Jules, unless the failure was something else.

 

[StageLeft]

Refer to Divided's posts...

Anyways, most of the failure is due to no-reverse, and that's easily fixed. It wouldn't require replacement of the entire transmission. So you got ripped off Jules, unless the failure was something else.

I was trying to get a laugh as most of the parts in the transmission are spinny bits

 

[SSSnail]

I was trying to get a laugh as most of the parts in the transmission are spinny bits

I know

 

[JulesMaximus]

Refer to Divided's posts...

Anyways, most of the failure is due to no-reverse, and that's easily fixed. It wouldn't require replacement of the entire transmission. So you got ripped off Jules, unless the failure was something else.

I don't remember...it was years ago. I do remember that the slushbox in the later one was a sealed unit and you could not service them...only replace them.

 

[SSSnail]

I don't remember...it was years ago. I do remember that the slushbox in the later one was a sealed unit and you could not service them...only replace them.

Yes you can, I did; it has a drain hole and a fill hole, no dip stick. It's a retarded design though, you can't check for fluid level and the only way to check it is via a thermal scan. If the temp is low, you drain a bit; if the temp is high, you put more in... It was by far the most frustrating thing I've ever done.

 

[Zargon]

yeah thats pretty retarded

 

[StageLeft]

Yes you can, I did; it has a drain hole and a fill hole, no dip stick. It's a retarded design though, you can't check for fluid level and the only way to check it is via a thermal scan. If the temp is low, you drain a bit; if the temp is high, you put more in... It was by far the most frustrating thing I've ever done.

Believe it or not I've found the occasional repair on my vehicles so frustrating, just getting a particular screw in or something aligned that I've in a small way wanted actually to die. Nothing in my life, not even a slow computer or code that won't damn well run, frustrates like certain car repairs.

 

[thescreensavers]

Crazy ripoff on the battery - the one for my moms old benz was 120 at the dealer.

Oh yea it is 120, but its under the seat and labor time..ect

haha. $350 for a crappy battery, wth? And I say it's crap because it's obviously OEM and only a crap battery would have died in 21k anyway so now they have another crap one. $60 from Walmart buys a battery, $350 is lotsa money.

Yea, the battery for my car was 60 bucks, but hers is
Also burning through rotors and pads that quickly unless she's taking it to the track something is wrong.

Well she is a bad driver :X, brakes at the last second, but you need to change rotors at the same time blah blah, idk man My dad just paid for it, I would of done some research.

wow - that sucks considering you can get Q7 rotors for ~$120

lol whats done is done :X

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Oh yea it is 120, but its under the seat and labor time..ect



Well she is a bad driver :X, brakes at the last second, but you need to change rotors at the same time blah blah, idk man My dad just paid for it, I would of done some research.



lol whats done is done :X

VAG rotors usually only last through one set of pads, such is the way

 

[JulesMaximus]

Yes you can, I did; it has a drain hole and a fill hole, no dip stick. It's a retarded design though, you can't check for fluid level and the only way to check it is via a thermal scan. If the temp is low, you drain a bit; if the temp is high, you put more in... It was by far the most frustrating thing I've ever done.

Well, that's a stupid fucking design.

 

[StageLeft]

Well, that's a stupid fucking design.

Sometimes I really think the Euro brands deliberately make working on the cars hard, like it's a source of pride or something.

 

[SSSnail]

Sometimes I really think the Euro brands deliberately make working on the cars hard, like it's a source of pride or something.

No, it's revenue generating source, planned obsolescent. You know what's even more retarded? The new M3 doesn't even have an oil dipstick, everything is checked via sensors.

 

[reallyscrued]

No wai! You're saying with a little mechanical expertise you can maintain a BMW for not-that-much?

Hey sherlock, with a little mechanical expertise, you can maitain a honda/toyota/etc for almost fucking nothing.

I'm not gonna sit here and look up links for you, check rock-auto prices, and get into flame wars that will never end, but I'll type up some relevant stuff I can think of from the top of my head.

I bought an '92 E36 325is my junior year in highschool. Previously drove a '96 Camry LE.

Prompted about 5 of my friends to go out and buy BMWs. They all hate it. I fixed mine all on my own with the help of a mechanic turned friend. Put in control arms, bushings, hoses, radiator, (actually whole cooling system), window regulators, you name it.

Did I love driving it? Fuck yeah. But it was expensive, even without standard shop labor costs.

EDIT: Oh, I also owned an '02 330CI, but only for a couple of months before I decided I really didn't like the E46 over the E36. Now I don't work and do college full time so I drive a 2000 Civic Si Coupe around.

Now this car is CHEAP to maintain. Really needs rear breaks and an alternator belt though. I'll be sure to come back to this thread and let you know how much I spent on repair.

 

[SSSnail]

And... the high school kid discovered the thread. Maybe I should have put "compare to other cars in its class" in the thread title so shitheads don't smash keyboards in response while developing a stroke.

Edit: for shits and giggles, what didn't you like about your 330Ci over your e36 325i?

 

[reallyscrued]

And... the high school kid discovered the thread. Maybe I should have put "compare to other cars in its class" in the thread title so shitheads don't smash keyboards in response while developing a stroke.

Edit: for shits and giggles, what didn't you like about your 330Ci over your e36 325i?

Ah I see, compared to other cars in its class.......yeah well that changes everything.

No wait, it doesn't.

If you can do labor yourself, parts for Audi, BMW, MB, and the luxury lines of Japanese brands are relatively the same price. It really depends on the model and year of the car.

Even then, I don't think anyone when they hear the phrase "a BMW costs a lot to maintain" immediately compares it to MB and Audi. They are probably referring to increased costs over a Honda or Toyota.


And the 330CI was an awesome car but coming from the E36, it felt really heavy and dense. Also, there was no option of putting in a limited slip differential unless I got it custom built since the M version isn't a simple bolt on; not that any of it matters because I was tired of shit breaking in BMWs. Hence the Civic.

The day I buy another BMW will be when it falls under dealer/factory warranties; I'm drooling over the N54s in the 3 series and 1 series.

 

[SSSnail]

How much did those e36 325i weight? GVWR. I don't know, it wasn't much lighter and with a less powerful engine, with crappier suspension. I just thought "That's strange!".

But anyways, my point of this thread was that there are some people in this forum would always bash BMW, and then go and recommend some other cars as if they're paid to do it, then throw baseless "facts" around.

Well, enjoy your Civic. (and I don't have any other meanings behind that)

 

[reallyscrued]

How much did those e36 325i weight? GVWR. I don't know, it wasn't much lighter and with a less powerful engine, with crappier suspension. I just thought "That's strange!".

But anyways, my point of this thread was that there are some people in this forum would always bash BMW, and then go and recommend some other cars as if they're paid to do it, then throw baseless "facts" around.

Well, enjoy your Civic. (and I don't have any other meanings behind that)

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/1992-to-1998-bmw-325i-328i-323i-6.htm
http://www.eurotuner.com/roadtests/68602/index.html

E36 - 2866 pounds.
E46 - 3395 pounds.

Yeah, its a great deal heavier. The newer suspension and higher horsepower motor just made up for the weight difference. The redesign of the 3 series (the last redesign I mean) was just to make it more modern, the body lines and interior, but the driving experience actually suffered. The M's were a different story.

It's not strange though, and I'm surprised you thought so. Newer doesn't always mean better. Search E36 vs E46. It's been a long, raging debate. And holy shit, what I wouldn't do for a physical cable throttle in an E46. Clutching with an electronic throttle was a pain in the ass. I fear I've strayed too far off topic now though.


But I hear you. There are plenty of people on these forums that will tout a G35 over a BMW and I used to scoff at it; that is, until a friend of mine bought a G35. It's an auto, and it's an '04 (earlier model) but there hasn't been a damn thing wrong with it in 2 years. I have a funny feeling if he would have purchased a similarly priced BMW, he would have had to repair SOMETHING on it by now.

Stop letting your pride get in the way of reality. I really love BMWs to death; but face it man, they ARE high maintenance vehicles and they ARE expensive to maintain. It's awesome you were able to replace the cooling system yourself and save so much money...but what happens when something breaks that requires specialized tools? Just something to think about.

Thanks for the salute on the Civic. It has 210,000 miles on it now. I am abusing it and I'm pretty sure the previous owners have done the same. I hope to hell it does not require a major repair before I graduate college. Maybe I should go easier on it.

 

[SSSnail]

Meh, one of my friend is a bodyshop owner and he has all the tools I ever need for anything (if that fails I'd just run next door and borrow some tools). He also has a few BMWs laying around, and an e36 M3 as well. Have a few friends that owns G35, and 350Z, I just can't get used to the driving position and the perceived blindness whenever I'm in the driver, or passenger seat, that and the ride itself.

I'm debating on whether to get an e36 or e46 M3 and go the GT route, weekend willower...

 

[DivideBYZero]

I had a "back-up" image of my own dvd, which I had to put back on a dvd

Where can you update your own computer, especially in 4 minutes? Dealer takes 3-4 hours per flash. Not necessary? They were to reprogram the automatic transmission shift points, set automatic transmission torque lockup parameters per gear, update vanos parameters, add more dash functionality, add mp3, add alarm, and update nav program.

You're thinking of service reset, which isn't the same thing. I've done plenty of those myself.

No, I thought you meant the Nav computer only which is VERY easy to update, in fact I'll be updating Koing's E46 M3 tomorrow.

Anyway, nearly everything in a BMW has a flashable component. That you asked for it to be flashed is neither here nor there. Even the lighting system has a Lighting Control Module that can have firmware updates. Adding MP3 functionality, adding an alarm, these are all things you want, not something they or BMW owe you.