You know, reading about your car on the Internet...

[Fritzo]

...will make you convinced it's the most unreliable thing on the planet and will require $1000's in repairs every week for the rest of your life.

I have to stop reading those BMW forums. It's like reading WebMD and being convinced you have every disease listed.

 

[SSSnail]

Dude, nobody go on forums to start a thread about how nothing happened to their cars today. The key to car maintenance is do what's need to be done, and keep track of what you've done so you'll repeat when scheduled to do so.

Otherwise, just enjoy it. And yes, every car requires maintenance, because of reasons.

 

[Kaido]

Related: https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/6527649280/h1DB24E35/

 

[Fritzo]

Dude, nobody go on forums to start a thread about how nothing happened to their cars today. The key to car maintenance is do what's need to be done, and keep track of what you've done so you'll repeat when scheduled to do so.

Otherwise, just enjoy it. And yes, every car requires maintenance, because of reasons.

By the looks of people's posts though, it looks like at 100K miles my car is going to lock the doors, fill the cabin with fart gas, tune the radio to Justin Bieber, and then a woman's voice will gently count down as the engine implodes into a black hole.

 

[Zap]

I'm convinced that being on the internet is an instant 38% reduction in IQ.

 

[phucheneh]

I've learned that the internet is most certainly the most comprehensive source of information for every car ever made.

As in...most info compiled into one place...

...which ends up being about 10% of the total repair info on any given vehicle. And roughly eighteen thousand percent as much bad advice.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Don't go to a car forum just to read stuff/hang around.

You simply go there to obtain information needed.

It's true, no one goes to a forum and talks about how great their car is/how reliable etc.

HOWEVER, you did decide to purchase a BMW.....and many of those stories are true. Just hope it doesn't happen to you.

Good luck

 

[DaTT]

It's funny you mention this. When I had my Thunderbird SuperCoupe, everytime I read about a problem on the forums, within a couple days I would get that problem

 

[SearchMaster]

It's funny you mention this. When I had my Thunderbird SuperCoupe, everytime I read about a problem on the forums, within a couple days I would get that problem

 

[kitatech]

On the OTHER end of the equation...

I posted a few pix of a replaced cracked Camry motor mount (invisible at a casual glance on my engine as it has a pair of rubber disks on either side, to keep it clean I guess), and shortly afterwards other owners saw the same cracks in their mount's rubber.

Parts like that can go rapidly as a result of a mechanical breakdown....or gradually.... and like the frog in the frying pan can go unnoticed until it's too late.

 

[NutBucket]

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. The few exceptions would be forums where more people are interested in modifying cars that needing to repair them...like NASIOC. Or the forum for 4th gen Accords. Seemed like most problems people were having were very common and the solutions straightforwards.

Based on the most popular forum for the GMC Acadia I should have just left mine at the dealership since it'll be going back to the mechanic constantly

 

[jupiter57]

...will make you convinced it's the most unreliable thing on the planet and will require $1000's in repairs every week for the rest of your life.

Exactly!
I don't think I ever did any internet research on a vehicle until ~'99-'00.
I had bought my '97 DeVille, absolutely MINT inside & out, got it dirt cheap as I was told it was overheating (Actually, it was not overheating, just occasionally puking coolant after running sometimes) & the previous owner was told it wasn't repairable (Northstar engine), I picked it up for a song, went on (Cadillac) DeVille & Northstar Forums & got worried, very worried!
Every single Northstar post was about "pulled" head bolts on the aluminum block, either had to remove the engine & use "Time-Serts" @ $700+ to repair it or replace the engine. Everyone who replied to my post actually told me trying ANYTHING else was just a waste of time!

I did some pressure tests, hot & cold, never leaked down, pulled the radiator & had it cleaned, tech said it was like new, so he tested the radiator cap and it was bad.
New $14 radiator cap (+ new water pump & belt) and it's still going strong 140K miles later with just "routine" maintenance. (Now at~238K)

Wife bought a Cadillac Catera last spring as she wanted something smaller, same story almost, reading through the posts on the Catera forums would have you believe they were the worst vehicle ever produced!
She's been driving it for a year, after replacing the A/C pump, condensor, & dryer to get her A/C good & cold, and a switch or a relay here & there, it seems to be a very reliable car!
(My DeVille still gets better MPG than her Catera, though!:biggrin

 

[MagickMan]

It's a collection of folks who have car issues, no one talks about their cars when they don't f*ck up. Ya know?

 

[Jimzz]

If you are looking for general problems forums can be great. If you see the same problem/question come up over and over then its probably a common issue or part of maintaince that needs more attention.

Before I buy any car/truck I go to forums of that car and see whats common.

 

[96Firebird]

The few exceptions would be forums where more people are interested in modifying cars that needing to repair them...like NASIOC.

This. LS1Tech is a forum with a wealth of information, and more than half the posts are about modifying the car instead of fixing something that broke. Most of the major issues have sticky threads with all the info you need, so that leaves the rest of the forum for posts about what mods people have done, or what mods they should do.

 

[Fritzo]

It's a collection of folks who have car issues, no one talks about their cars when they don't f*ck up. Ya know?

That's fine, but there's always some "go-to" fix that everyone uses for a blanket solution to a problem. This fix is usually quite expensive as well.

For example, my car was throwing error codes saying bank 1 and 2 were running too lean and the "check engine" light came on. The forums starting saying "IT'S THE 02 SENSOR!", "IT'S THE VANOS!" "IT'S YOUR SEALS!" "YOU'RE LOOKING AT A $500 FIX! IT HAPPENS TO EVERYONE!"

I actually took the time to see what "running lean" means, and it simply means there's a problem with the air/fuel mixture. The logical thing to assume is it's getting too much air or not enough fuel.

After looking for a hose with a crack in it and turning up nothing, I decided to look at the fuel filter. Sure enough, the bonehead that had the car before me never changed it in 84000 miles.

Got one for $45, popped it in, and put in a bottle of injector cleaner. No more engine light and no more error codes.

This is just a single example, but there is so much bad advice out there that people are insistent is good that it's almost not even worth bothering.

 

[JulesMaximus]

By the looks of people's posts though, it looks like at 100K miles my car is going to lock the doors, fill the cabin with fart gas, tune the radio to Justin Bieber, and then a woman's voice will gently count down as the engine implodes into a black hole.

I've owned BMWs. That is exactly what will happen. :thumbsup:

BTW-The scariest thing I've ever experienced was my wife putting our newborn in the child seat in the back of her 325i, starting the car up and backing out of the garage when I notice the strong smell of gasoline and fuel pouring out of the car underneath. I shouted for her to turn the engine off as I quickly got our son out of the car.

The gas tank and fuel pump are underneath the rear seat and a hose popped off the fuel pump so it was spewing gas out into the cabin. I don't know if someone just didn't tighten the clamp or what but it was very very unnerving.

 

[Fritzo]

I've owned BMWs. That is exactly what will happen. :thumbsup:

BTW-The scariest thing I've ever experienced was my wife putting our newborn in the child seat in the back of her 325i, starting the car up and backing out of the garage when I notice the strong smell of gasoline and fuel pouring out of the car underneath. I shouted for her to turn the engine off as I quickly got our son out of the car.

The gas tank and fuel pump are underneath the rear seat and a hose popped off the fuel pump so it was spewing gas out into the cabin. I don't know if someone just didn't tighten the clamp or what but it was very very unnerving.

Wow...you have to secure the lines to the pump in like 3 different ways. Someone made a major fail there. That could have turned out tragic D: Not really a BMW issue...more of a "not knowing what I'm doing" issue there.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Wow...you have to secure the lines to the pump in like 3 different ways. Someone made a major fail there. That could have turned out tragic D: Not really a BMW issue...more of a "not knowing what I'm doing" issue there.

Yeah, I'm not sure who did that work. We bought the car "pre-owned" so I had never even looked at the fuel pump until that happened.

That car was a big pain in the ass and when we finally did get rid of it I was relieved more than anything.

 

[SSSnail]

Yeah, I'm not sure who did that work. We bought the car "pre-owned" so I had never even looked at the fuel pump until that happened.

That car was a big pain in the ass and when we finally did get rid of it I was relieved more than anything.

This story is most common with BMW and some other car makers, and because of that, a lot of people falsely blame BMW for problems that have nothing to do with BMW. The cycle of maintenance neglect exacerbates from one owner to the next, because no one wanted to pay for it, then blame the car.

 

[Jimzz]

This story is most common with BMW and some other car makers, and because of that, a lot of people falsely blame BMW for problems that have nothing to do with BMW. The cycle of maintenance neglect exacerbates from one owner to the next, because no one wanted to pay for it, then blame the car.

Whos to say this was not a BMW issue? He did not say someone worked on it. That and what maintaince is there to a fuel line?
I have worked on hundreds of european cars and unless its under warranty or you yourself will be doing all the work would never tell anyone to buy one. I have a mercedes in my driveway and will be selling it soon. My wife got the "must have a european car..." bug out of her system after only owning 1.

 

[dbk]

This story is most common with BMW and some other car makers, and because of that, a lot of people falsely blame BMW for problems that have nothing to do with BMW. The cycle of maintenance neglect exacerbates from one owner to the next, because no one wanted to pay for it, then blame the car.

Wait, so are German cars not unreliable as I've come to believe - even with regular maintenance - compared to other brands? Why that perception then? Do most German car owners neglect regular maintenance more than other car owners?

Whenever I do hear that criticism, it always feels like a grave exaggeration but then again...

 

[Vdubchaos]

Wait, so are German cars not unreliable as I've come to believe - even with regular maintenance - compared to other brands?

In general, yes they are more unreliable. But it all depends on how you look at it.

For example, most German cars are more upscale and have lot more electronics/luxury items....so the probability of something breaking is greater.

More parts = higher risk of reliability

But in general, Germans have always been terrible when it comes to electronics. That hasn't changed.

You add AGE to the car and just about anyone will tell you that buying a used German car out of warranty is asking for trouble. Mind you, there is plenty of people that have had luck (me for example).

But I still wouldn't recommend one to a family member or a friend I care about....hehe

I have this rule of thumb, do NOT own a German car out of warranty period. Just a matter of time before your wallet will hate you!

Note: same can be said about other makers. For example, Japanese are notorious for poor exhaust components (they rust away).

There is no such a thing as a perfect car. Many people say Germans come close to perfection, and that might be true when you are taking 3-4 years of ownership > switching to another car.

In general, German Engineering = overly expensive/overly complicated for no apparent reason (see my thread on this).

 

[JulesMaximus]

Whos to say this was not a BMW issue? He did not say someone worked on it. That and what maintaince is there to a fuel line?
I have worked on hundreds of european cars and unless its under warranty or you yourself will be doing all the work would never tell anyone to buy one. I have a mercedes in my driveway and will be selling it soon. My wife got the "must have a european car..." bug out of her system after only owning 1.

I never did any work on the fuel system... well, until gas started pouring out of the car of course. I don't know if someone else had done any fuel system work on the car or not as I was not the original owner. Previous owner was a woman and there were records of it being serviced at a BMW dealership.

The car was bone stock in every way when we bought it.

 

[Fritzo]

This story is most common with BMW and some other car makers, and because of that, a lot of people falsely blame BMW for problems that have nothing to do with BMW. The cycle of maintenance neglect exacerbates from one owner to the next, because no one wanted to pay for it, then blame the car.

I think the problem is people tend to lease expensive cars, and leasing means "Woohoo! I don't have to pay for maintenance! I'll just drive it until it dies and get another one!"

Those cars then end up in the used car market, and...well...there you go.