Why have German cars become so… bad?
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- Опубликовано: 20 май 2024
- Are German cars that bad now? From glory days to rocky roads, dive into why German cars aren't as reliable as they used to be. Explore scandals, management decisions, and the future of automotive excellence! #germancars #Reliability #automotiveindustry
00:00 German Car Quality
00:38 Consumer Report
01:20 German car industry problems
02:20 German car history
02:50 Diesel Gate
03:30 German car transparency
04:10 New German car models
05:30 German EVs
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The main issue is the use of cheap materials, lots of failure-prone plastic engine components which should be metal
many vw's use plastic water pumps 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@isaachunt5799 plastic water pumps, plastic PCVs, plastic thermostat housings that crack, plastic coolant hoses that fail, plastic timing chain guides, etc etc etc. It's sad really
Yes that part!!!
Also German cars are increasingly made outside of Germany where quality control is generally worse, such as how US Consumer Reports was referenced in which most German cars in the US are actually made in the US
@@thomasgrabkowski8283 Yes but so are many Hondas and Toyotas.
In the past German cars build by engineers, now by accountant.
.....as an accountant....I state that we have never been interested in participation of product development. We don't care what's behind figures, not our business. But we are constantly FORCED to produce blind cost cutting recomendations even w/o knowledge what's the real subject.... this is dictated idiocy against our wil!
You are blaming the wrong people... it has always been those evil MBA executives who have no real skill in life other than being born with a silver spoon in their asses.
Not accountants: shareholders!!!!! They are the ones that destroyed car business and, also, Boeing, for example!!! They are the poison of the modern society.
@@WhiteMouse77problem is there are a lot of accountants on boards of companies.. And your right you guys don't care about the product, the engineering, or the people worst of all.. Hence why.. You are the problem.. You even stated it... You aren't interested in product development
Sounds like another big company. Boeing 😂
As someone who worked on CNC production in Bosnia. I can tell you our main export was German car manufacturers. So when someone tells you "German quality", theres a high chance your most reliable parts were made by some dudes in bosnia and not germans 😂
There is nothing wrong with Bosnians, dont be stupid.
Remember when people used to say china products don't last long. Germany has become the china of Europe. Both are a manufacturing hub. The problem is short term profits and shady practices to extract money from the consumers through breakdowns and repairs.
A ko mislis da ih sastavlja na liniji, schvabo ? U BMW-ju proizvedemo 288 vozila za jednu smjenu, samo Renault pravi vise, on proizvede 300 vozila za jednu smjenu. Takt proizvodnje SAAB-a je bio 18 minuta, dok je takt proizvodnje BMW-ja 2.5 minuta. Schvabo je prno u fenjer.
@@antonm8719 It is just that they still haven't get rid of their cancerous evil mohamedanism. Otherwise they are not so terrible bad.🙂🙃😊😉🙂
Okay? Bosnians must be pretty good CNC workers. I have never had any more than the most minor issue with a German car in my lifetime and one of my earliest memories was is riding in a BMW as a kid. There are definitely some bad trends in new German cars but those reflect terrible trends in the overall car market. I don’t think most BMW’s are as solid as they used to be but they are still good cars if you take proper care of them. The worst I’ve personally experienced were annoying door panels and stuff like that. Sure, it’s annoying to happen on a car of that price but it’s a pretty minor thing in the grand scheme.
This video doesn't really say anything, does it?
DW isn't what it used to be either! 😹
Thats exactly it
Not really
Exactly my thoughts as it finished...
Lies again? Best Dad Grab Car
The problem is predatory planned obsolescence engineering. Their cars are engineered to break down after the warranty ends. I will never buy another German car. Paid $1500 to replace a $50 part because so many other parts had to be removed to get to the plastic part.
It's not planned obsolescence, it's just how their customers purchase cars. At least in North America, people buying German brands are just doing it for the appearances, they don't want to drive older cars so there's no point building quality components that last because it's not what their target demographic cares about. Anyone that wants reliability just buys Japanese cars instead so it ends up being a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Sorry to break it to you bud. That's no where near a purely German problem.
😄 omg.. oh yeah... there was a bug in my software... it was american.. i'll never buy american software .. 😄
It is definitely not just German cars that "break down".
Don't ascribe to malice, which can simply be explained by incompetence.
It's not just cars, all manufacturing these days is done with the mindset of shareholder uber alles. Back when companies were making quality products they were generally run by engineers who put the product first as opposed to job hopping BS artists with MBAs who parachute in to high powered positions, cut costs and sell the family silver to increase dividends and then move on to the next victim. A brand used to mean something - nowadays all a brand is is a marketing tool. Its completely unsustainable and its going to come crashing down one of these days.
This is why I'm no longer an engineer.
That was a classic episode of Peep Show which I will never forget. 2 people decide to start a consultancy company... One says to the other he wants him to be his partner. The guy says "I don't know anything about consultancy" The guy says: "You go in, fire 50% of the work force, then rebrand, then fuck off. Congratulations, you are now a fully qualified consultant."
Spot on. I've seen it happen from inside a European company that was bought by a large American concern, and it's a depressing experience.
i know no one cares but i just wanna point out that ü as in "über" can be written as "ue"
same goes for ä as "ae" and ö as "oe"
"Back when companies were making quality products..." they were also making a lot of money. I just don't understand how this "new business model" can work, when everybody knows and talks about how bad these cars are nowadays. How do they even make money. They sell lots of cars but there will come a point when they will necessarily run out of customers...
Recently had to change the battery on my 2016 Mazda 6. A friend stopped by and appeared shocked that I was replacing it by myself.
He said "I guess you got the code from the dealership"
"What code?" I asked..
He went on to explain that both of his Audis required a "special code" to the ECU in order to recognize the new battery.
He was very surprised when my Mazda started right up after fitting the new battery.
I'm a big fan of the overall simplicity of Japanese motors.
Hope they stay that way and don't follow the footsteps of the Germans
This is a joke? Right? Code to replace the battery? Since when that became a thing?
I guess I'll stick with my 1998 corsa for a very long time
yes just insane that you need to go to the dealer to have your battery changed, I'll stick with my Toys and Lexus.
Unfortunately I'm starting to see the beginnings of it. I have a 2021 Mazda CX-5 and recently took it in for some minor warranty work, during which the dealer gave me a new CX-90. Mazda has gone the way of the Germans and eliminated the oil dipstick, relying on an electronic measuring system that I could not get to work for the life of me as it refused to recognize the engine was running as part of its checklist before displaying the oil level. I first saw electronic oil level monitoring systems in 2008 while working at an Audi dealer and it didn't work at all then, either...nice to see the technology hasn't improved one bit in the last 16 years.
@@deloreanman14 yes the good old dipstick was just too outdated and people couldn't figure out how to read it, haha.
The necessity to code applies to other German makes too (not just Audi) Apparently it's possible to diy code the batteries on German makes once you've got an obd scanner (found a few videos on this from searching"audi battery replacement coding")
That aside, I'm disappointed to hear that Mazda is digitizing the oil dipstick on their new models.
It seems that no manufacturer has completely strayed away from planned obsolescence on current models
German here. Take my advice and buy Japanese cars.
What’s your recommendation?
I agree, but in Europe, in an era of deglobalization and expensive sea transportation, Japan made car parts might become more difficult to get.
Let's hope that companies keep diversifying their supply chains!
Understandable point. They're cheaper. More reliable. And look decently good. A good car with a good reputation.
@@florindragosthe availability of parts is not an issue since there are many companies in europe who licence build parts for japanese cars. And they are even getting more numerous.
Such a shame. German made was synonymous with quality. My family, and myself, have owned quite a few over the last 50 years. VW, Audi, Mercedes and BMW... we've had them all.
These days, if you look up the driveway at any of our houses, you'll see Honda, Toyota and Mazda. No, they don't have the dynamic appeal of our old German cars, but they are reliable to a fault and ridiculously affordable to own and service. By the way, none of us are what you would consider "poor", either. But we all appreciate value for money, and German car manufacturers can no longer fulfil that requirement.
Same, my family also has porsche Mercedes and VW. They’re quite nice, yet now we tried Honda Toyota and most recently byd, they are much cheaper than German brands. Now we just want to see the EV market and how the players are going to play out. As German brands are far behind Japan and China.
They're still high quality. American cars are crap. I think only Japanese make comparably better cars.
It's ridiculous that some people automatically associate "poor quality" with any car manufacturer that isn't German or Italian. After all, cars are simply transportation machines that take you from point A to point B. In reality, Asian automakers produce better quality cars and are not as obnoxious.
The answer is quite simple. Germany isn't German anymore. Less and less German people are in Germany, of course you will not get German quality.
if Japan were to be replaced by a foreign group like Africans or Indians, they would no longer be able to produce quality machines anymore. This had essentially happened in Germany.
@@okwatever3582In EV race, Chinese and Tesla EVs are best. Then German EVs. But Japanese EVs are very behind. Even GM and Ford do better than any legacy japanese automaker in Electric cars. And German EVs are pretty ahead than Japanese automakers, Ford and GM.
My dad tells me the stories of when Mercedes quality and reliability was second to none back in the 80s. Now he doesn't even wanna look at a Mercedes any more. I am buying the Japanese Mercedes (Lexus) soon for its reliability and quality.
Nothing stopping either of you from buying a pre '94 Mercedes today. There are always plenty for sale to choose from. Their robustness has meant they don't have the overinflated prices of their rarer competitors too- purely because so many have survived in good condition.
I've been driving a 1990 E-Class daily for 6yrs and love it. the initial purchase price AND everything I've spent to service and maintain it in that time would only equal 6-8mths of lease payments on a new car!
No Mercedes for our family either. Enough suffered.
Besides the LS, pretty much every Lexus is cheap...ish to own (compared to some german rivals). I love their line up, just wish they made better choices for the infotainment, it is just a minor inconvenience for decades long reliability though.
Good luck, I hope you enjoy your purchase and that it serves you well.
Lexus used to be the Japanese Mercedes now they are boring aside from the LC model. Also the is model has looked the same for 10 years at least
Here in Hong Kong. The service cost and part of german cars are hugely expensive. The Japanese petrol car and china EV are so much better
Old Mercedes Benz, especially those with diesel engines, were ridiculously durable.
The Americans took it over and said "this car is overengineered" ie things don't go wrong. Under US ownership, Merc became awful. Esp with the shady dealers who'd break things before handing it back. NUmerous dealers in England became owned by organised crime groups too.
@@RS-xx9veexcept that the most reliable v8 ever made m113 came from chrysler era.
Americans never took over Mercedes, if you look up the years with Chrysler, the Mercedes CEO was the dominant CEO
@@KingofInterns Another far fetched claim. And the most garbage Mercs ever came from that era. St. What use is ONE (you claim!) good engine when masses of models are falling apart due to massive deterioration in quality?
@@sakondisable Bit of a far fetched claim. Merc was a byword for quality and reliability before then. It's overwhelmingly clear America steered the policy of MB in that era... towards garbage. And it especially showed in the cowboy attitude of dealers too.
Every time I redline my brand new VW Arteon, the engine area starts to smell of melted plastic! You can smell it outside of the car..
it's because it's brand new and expected. I had a new Mazda MX 5 which had the same issue, but they told me before I bought it, that it will smell "funny". The smell will go away after some time. Just give it some more time.
@@andreasschipplock4568 Yeah, but why? Was that EVER normal? 🤔
To many plastic parts are out-gassing due to the higher engine bay temperature during high power demand.
It's normal I rented an audi and it smells like that
My friends auto repair shop is full of mostly BMWs, then MB, then Audi. Over the past 20 years, they are DESIGNED ON PURPOSE to fail after 4 years and 60,000 miles. They make a lot of money in repairs. They are for lease only for the smart person. Owning them as a status symbol is a joke. Foolish purchase.
Where are all these bullshit comments coming from? Can't believe all this nonsense
ppl waste $ on what they love. status symbol? hardly. they are the ultimate driving machine. name a better 4 door sedan as a daily driver.
To own as status symbol nothing is joke. If it is status, it is status.
@@mdjey2 When the brand is known for breaking down the only status the owner earns is embarrassment.
@@andrewdinns1746 Most car reviews list Cadillac and Lexus sedans as driving just as well if not better than their German rivals. I'm taking a CT5 Blackwing over an M5 any day
It is absolute planned obsolescence. For example, Audi, you have to change the main engine chain every 100 000km or so. Where is the chain? At the back of the engine. So you have to take everything out to get to it every 100 000km.
Where was the chain before in these cars? At the front of the engine so that you can remove it without taking the engine out.
totally agree but remember Ford did this on their 2004-20010 4.0 V6 Engines as well, the tensioners lastet like 100k miles, then the engine has to be removed, but would buy a mustang before any audi.
This is not unique to German cars, in fact American cars are the worst culprit of this considering GM invented it.
This is a bit of an oversimplification, on some engines (notably the 4.2 V8) the timing chain is on the back of the motor for packaging reasons, the ubiquitous 2.0T has it on the front like most cars. And the timing chain has a much longer lifespan than 100,000km, the issue with the motor I assume you are refering to is a design fault with some of the older chain tensioners which should have been replaced pre-emptively with an updated model to prevent failure. It is inarguably an engineering failure and put a big dent in the reputation of late 2000's early 2010's audis but claiming that audi intentionally designed the timing chains to wear out and put them on the back of the motor to increase service costs and vehicle turnover is frankly unfounded.
That isn't planned obsolescence it's just a highly inconvenient decision for packaging, you don't buy Euro cars because they're easy to work on,
@@darklordsauron3415 can we go as fart to say americans invented planned obsollecence. GM, apple and google are just a few examples
4:10 Seriously?? I understand where the news is coming from but MINI (owned by BMW) is #3 and not highlighted? Seems a bit biased reporting to me.
Thanks for your feedback. The classification of MINI as either a German or British car brand can be somewhat nuanced due to its history and ownership. Yes, MINI is now owned by BMW, but still mainly produced in the UK.
@@DWREV Sir, are you British? The influence of BMW should have been mentioned in the video and you know it.
@@DWREVBMW bought MINI in 1996. The survey is from 2023.
Lots of VW cars are manufactured in China, is VW now a Chinese car manufacturer?
Why has DW video quality... gone bad? Pretty superficial journalism here, fits well with the subject. Companies just want more margin or worse products... Unfortunately this is the trend.
Thanks for watching and your thoughts! What would you like us to cover?
I can't believe Mercedes dropped so far behind Lexus these days, it wasn't like this in the 90s
When you like to drive an ugly car - buy a Toyota/Lexus.
My friends look at me funny because my dream car is Lexus Lc500❤❤
Except they didn't dropped behind atleast in innovation and quality.
That’s why I left BMW and Audi to buy a Lexus ISF 12 years ago. Best decision ever.
Where have you lived in the 90s ?
The S class had dozens of issues, the newly designed E-class in the debut years too. A-class was not able to drive around a moose.
I doubt you have the right awareness to judge and compare over decades if you have forgotten all of this.
Back then in the early 90s mercedes had fallen far behind BMW which became obvious with the S-class that debuted in 1990 and did not sell well in europe or at all cause it was called giant and ugly, only americans had bought it. The next S-class 7 years later was more agile but suffered from quality issues from day one but they had the luck that BMW hired a new designer that killed the sales of the 7 series. Mercedes picked up speed in sales and alter AMG became the saviour as the surplus mercedes agile like a BMW M series while the Maybach brand stalled . I have owned most of these cars , over 50 in the 2 decades cause I drove a lot and got a new car every 6 to 9 months. And I can remember when they broke in the first year and below 100.000 km. I stranded with a SL 600 with a broken rooftop that did not wanna open due to a hydraulic leak when I wanted to travel to italy. I got a loaner, best car ever: smart city coupe for 2
cause it was a saturday and they had no other car . Similiar issues with a CLS 500 , which also was a car produced in the first year .
They love using plastic, especially in the engine areas where heat cycles make it prone to failure.
BMW N54 engine
Like timing chain fasteners... its ridiculous.
Environmental regulations force them to use cheap plastic materials.
@@user-hm9is5ke9i They might claim that ie use lightweight materials to enhance fuel economy. But it only enhances it a little. More importantly, alloys etc could be used. Which would dramatically increase longevity ... which is far better for the environment. The truth is, they are kidding people. Produce low longevity cars to make more money... and harm the environment.
Lets talk about the real issue. The cartel they made that limited progres .
They're designed to fail and to keep failing in a cascade starting around the warranty period ending. This is confirmed with BMW engineers I have spoken to and my own experience.
I used to be a massive BMW fan. I owned a dozen of their cars. That was ten years ago. Never again.
My mother bought 2021 vw tiguan, in 2 year use engine vibrating harder than usual, when checked at the dealershop they said the engine mounting was need to be replaced
I'm very confused because it damaged without the vehicle ever in accident
Engine mount is made out of rubber and metal and it's quite common for the rubber to fail. Durability of this is quite random due to many varaibles but item it's self is cheap.
Overconfidence killed them.
Executive greed too
Arrogance !
I have a 2024 GLS Benz wagon sitting in my garage with 2100 miles and a check engine lamp ( dealership said software issues and emission issues). I also have a 2011 BMW 335i with 70,000 sitting in my garage undriveable because to change the $18 abs sensor this car requires a $4,000 front axle replacement, since the sensor plug (something that is regularly serviced on all cars) is anchored to the axle by design on this car. In addition the Bmw has been leaking oil from cheap $15 rubber seals that require close to $3000 in replacement costs. In addition to this the 2G onboard telephone has malfunctioned and keeps calling 911 every time the car is turned on. This is an unknown cost as my dealership has no resolution since 2G technology is absolute and cannot be serviced or removed from the car. In addition to that all these issues (except the oil leak) have set off the check engine lamp which voids the car from passing inspection. I'm the second owner of the car from a certified CPO purchase and the car has always had proper servicing done timely at my local bmw dealership thru the extended warranty and about $8000 spent since 2017 when the warranty expired (water pump x 2, brakes, oil seals x 2, fan belts and pulleys x 3, coolant hose, coolant tank, washer fluid tank, key fob, battery x 2, fuses, daytime running lamps x 2, there more....). Even with careful ownership and money my BMW 335i became undriveable. The car dealerships make cars to last 3 years/40k miles tops before you will need to replace it
Same issues with my 335… complete junk
If German cars are so terrible, why in the world did you buy/lease a 2024 Benz wagon? Image, same as everyone else.
You should find a new mechanic. Phone can't dial of it doesn't have power. Someone just needs to pull a plug or fuse or even clip a wire.
I was looking at cheap 335's the other day. Think I'll pass.... I'd like to find a simple 128i. Wife had one and it was a decent, simple car. No turbo. No AWD.
I recommend that you change your service because all of those 335i problems are solvable. ABS sensor is can be changed in 30 minutes. Phone can be turned off, and I think there is no 2G service in USA anymore. Oil leak is a little harder but given you don't know what you talk about I guess that is fixable as well. I also think that someone is marrying you because those services that you listed bellow are rather strange. Not to say that you are listing things that make no sense to be mentioned, so I call BS. And yes, stealerships botch services most of the times, so it probably is not well maintained, no matter the certified CPO. Find a solid BMW mechanic or sell it to someone willing to play with it.
Why on earth did you not go for a Lexus RX 350 or a Lexus TX or GX instead? You'd be so much happier!!!
From Nevada. I own and drive 4 vehicles. 2018 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L V8 Crew Cab color: Cement, 2022 Lexus GX 460 4.6L V8 in Nightfall Mica Blue, 2022 Toyota RAV4 XLE Hybrid in Silver, 2023 Toyota RAV4 SE Hybrid in Cavalry Blue. The Lexus GX460 and two Toyota RAV4 Hybrids are built in Japan. The Toyota Tundra made in USA. I always use the highest octane top tier gasoline in all my vehicles. All my vehicles run perfect never have any issues.🤣🤣🤣
I drive a 2023 BMW and fly a 1990 MiG-29, and they both suk bawls!
@@auntbeatrice6911 What type of 2023 BMW
I imagine the cost of repairing things when something does go wrong is a factor as well. The air suspension on my parents E Class wagon went bang recently and it was replaced under warranty for over £1000
They have been stagnant for too long
They were always bad, but there are new good players from China and India. They look even worse!
The last German vehicles I owned were the MB 83 240D and a GD300. After keeping both for close to twenty years, I never purchased another German vehicle ever. Their philosophy changed drastically from nineties, I switched to Japanese vehicles, namely Toyota and Honda and have never looked back.
I agree. 😊 Though Mercedes from the 80' is still the best car ever, the planned obsolescence destroyed all the German companies in the last 20 years or so..😅
My '82 MB280T was a fantastic car...and the last so reliable, after this only troubles with the others I had. Now I own a Lexus LS500h, and so far 50TKM-nothing to repair-10 years of warranties, and 160TKM !!! Never MB again
Well if you can't afford it then so be it.
@@krisone63 it's not a question of affording. It's about feelings. If you have a good quality durable car that lasts 50 years, you can be proud. Plus, planned obsolescence is destroying the planet and climate.
@@krisone63 can't afford what? the junk MB?
🖐 agree with video on MB quality decline. We have a 2022 GLE350 that has been ok but not great with a couple expensive under warranty repairs in first 2 years on road. Also have owned a 18 year old MB S350 for 5 years, solid as a rock and reliable with 100k miles on it. Plan was to purchase the 2022 GLE after lease ends this year but instead will return it. Likely replace it with Japanese (Lexus etc), as we don’t have the time or patience for unreliable MB.🔥🖐
I had an MB station wagon and it was a nightmare
1. Persistent oil leaks
2. Turbocharger failed
3. Intercooler failed
4. Intake manifold had to be replaced
5. Air suspension failed on three wheels
6. Struts in passenger side wheel needed replacement
7. Radar failed and needed replacement, weirdly shutting down all electronics
8. Mystery electrical failure, shop replaced alternator, battery and some boards
9. Connecting rod broke, scrapping the engine.
sounded like my Subaru WRX.
1. Severe oil leaks, most WRX's are known for this
2. Turbo charger failed twice, the other time, had to replace the turbo hose
3. intercooler problems as well
4. Rear suspension collapsed, ended up replaced the whole thing
5. Small electric problems here and there
All this started about 71K miles in...I don't think its necessarily the brand but the overall quality.
@@em34ev3r Oh no! I had a Subaru too. On a quiet night, I could hear it rusting.
@@john-paulsylvester2382 yea the flat boxer engine design isn't really that great. I got rid of my WRX and now driving a 22' civic hatchback. The gas mileage wasn't all that great to begin with.
I wouldn’t read to far into Consumer Reports. They listed Mini as high in reliability when in fact they are made by BMW with BMW parts so those “surveys” are flawed and have a lot of bias. Also, Americans and Germans are very different when it comes to vehicle maintenance.
I also had to scrape my eyebrows down from my hairline after seeing Mini rated highly. BMW and Mini... You take them in on trade and they leak oil and then you take them to the BMW dealership and they tell you "that doesn't qualify as a leak by BMW standards. That's normal."
You need to consider that the 3 cilinder engine in the minis are rarely ever used in BMW, so that could definitely result in mini "on average" being more reliable.
So, what you don't like is the truth of regular people honestly reporting their facts, than the bought and paid for "JD Powers" false and misleading fake reviews?
Tell the truth, I don['t understand Mini's rise myself, they make horrible crappy cars. Maybe their quality control has been significantly improved?
good point. I wonder if Mini has their own dedicated engineering and manufacturing teams though...
edit: mini is not assembled in Germany, so the point made in the video stands.
I read and saw videos that BMW has improved in reliability a lot compared to their reputation from the late 90s to 2010s. They made a engine approved by Toyota for the Supra.
German cars have an awful reliability reputation here in the US. BMW has apparently learned their lesson but it will take another 20 years for them to recover. BMWs use of plastic parts for powertrains, Mercedes of over complicated electronics ....Volkswagen cheating ...i can go on an on. I have had Acura and Lexus brands for years and they are head and shoulders above the germans.
I had an X1 with 55k miles and it needed 5k of engine work (I got multiple quotes too)
Very happy with my Acura now 😂
I life in Germany and in the 90ties I switched from German brands to a 3year old used Jeep XJ which I drove for 21 years. All my neighbours laughted back than, but all their German cars run into problems sooner or later. Some even bought 3 different German cars in those 21 years which all broke down with major engine problems or transmissions.
The Jeep had some issues as well, but was easy and chep to fix. Even the brakes had been less expensive than a that from a small German Mercedes A160.
I'm a current BMW owner and I had a few notable issues over the 10 years I owned the car. One of these happens to _most_ BMWs of that particular model (driver's door handle no longer opens the door), and the other happens to _every single one_ (when audiobook is playing over bluetooth, the the map directions are silent - that is, the audio stops, but there's silence instead of directions). BMW basically doesn't care after it sells the car to you. No updates, no proactive fixes. My next car will not be a BMW. I was quoted $800 to fix the door actuator, BTW. I replaced it myself in about half an hour using instructions from RUclips - it costs $130 brand new.
The thing that I realised when I bought my Audi RS5 2012, that I thought I'm paying a premium amount of money for a reliable car that would save me enough in the maintenance side of ownership. But, it turned out it wasn't any different than any other car brand, actually it was worst. I lost so much on maintenance that I just couldn't justify the initial price tag. It was a rip off.
Now I'm happy with a Korean, Chinese or Japanese car that is a fraction of the price without the unnecessary horse power, yet it will for sure be more reliable.
Company owners greed, putting profits first, short-term scope of management caring only for bonuses, no long term reputation building.
It's worth noting that 81% of cars in Germany are leased or financed. Most of them will never be owned outright. They will just be replaced within 5 years, at which point they are almost financially unviable straight out of warranty. Some of the better ones might have a 2nd life as a used car, but most will go abroad via the auctions to live out their lives with a dash full of lights.
My point being... Car buyers are the problem. People want disposable cars, so thats what the industry makes. Car buyers don't even wan't to open the hood.. So we get cars with no dipstick.. And it was those same adults who voted in new strict laws despite cars not really being the worlds pollution problem.
I'm not sticking up for our greedy corporate overlords. I'm just saying it makes sense. What I don't get is how they decided that selling volume disposable cars is more profitable than stiching up the spares market which they seem to have abandoned almost completely.
@@M3rVsT4H we need to go very deep in Economics and Corporate Finance, but a couple of main points:
1. German car compaines do not target Germany anymore. Their main consumer market has become China and traditionally USA. Same with the production facilities. Leasing is not widely spread in China and USA.
2. Not only does the primary market impact the consumer behavior and buying decisions, but also secondary market. Here we have to consider 2 points: exit value: after 5 years any German car becomes 5 times cheaper (very bad reliability and depreciation) the initial value. Second: those having their first experience from the secondary market become buyers for primary market/ That's not the case with Germans' for the same reasons (reliability).
3. Competitors, innovation and long term planning. In Japanese and now Chinees rivals short-term profits are simply banned. Their management and employees in general are evaluated based on long term goals and performance, loyalty to the company and fundamental values. Germans are just shareholder servants with their rigth-away greed. BTW- this is also amongst the reasons why American car compaines failed.
@@Project_88 Quite true, the problem is by no means unique to Germany. I just didn't want to get lost in stats so I picked one country to look up. I think the disposable car business model is more about finance than cars, and so is the pricing.
FWIW, I looked up comparable info. The USA has just shy of 80% financing on new vehicles. And nearly 40% of used vehicles. And China's automotive finance market woke up in 2022.. Sitting around 70%
But yes I agree.. Big topic. :)
That is the definition of a business. An organization that maximizes profits and minimizes spending. What you stated is literally in line with business philosophy and always has been.
@@darklordsauron3415 I think he's talking about companies that spent the better part of a century building a reputation of quality and reliability, squandering that rep for a lousy cash grab. Either way you slice it, it's not good business.
Here in the USA, VW has just replaced the old Mk7 Golf with the more 'electronified' Mk8. To say that the new one has been a disaster is generous. I had my daughter buy one of the last Mk7's deliberately due to this- we've been down this road with every new Golf since the Mk3 replaced the Mk2.
Exactly I got rid of my MK7 golf R and the new one was just so horrible that I ended up buying a WRX.
Solution - buy Japanese - simples
@@alexjackson9997 - Yeah, but then everyone would think I'm Mexican.
How has the Mk8 been a disaster? Not bashing, asking.
Outside the dynamic improvements, the Mk8 has been an abomination.
Double overhead cam is not enough. You have to put 3 or 4 cams per cylinder bank to increase the probability of belt/chain failure. AND make sure to make them interference engines so that the repair price will be so high that the owner will be forced to scrap the car and buy another consumer trap.
What AMG car is used in the thumbnail?
Looks like the new 4 cylinder C63
I alternate my daily driving between my 1981 280E and 240D. Original engines and transmissions. Simple and reliable. Mercedes quality died in the mid 80s.
I've owned Mercedes of that era as well. I disagree that the quality died then. I'd say in the end of the 90's.
Smart cars are more reliable 😅🤣
In 2010, I made a decision that I thought would fulfill a dream of mine: owning a Volkswagen GTi. This car, a symbol of aspiration and desire, was chosen over the Civic Type R FD2, despite their similar price tags in my country. It was not just a car to me; it was a dream realized, a testament to hard work and dedication. However, this dream soon turned into a costly nightmare. Within just four years, I faced a slew of issues: premature oil leaks, electrical failures, an intake manifold leak, water pump failure, and prohibitively expensive replacements. These problems forced me to sell the car, a decision that weighed heavily on my heart.
A decade has passed since then, and the landscape has drastically changed. Volkswagen vehicles have become a rare sight on the roads in my area, tarnished by a reputation so damaged that used car dealers are wary of accepting them, if they do at all. In stark contrast, the Civic Type R FD2 has ascended to legendary status worldwide, a testament to its enduring appeal and reliability.
The infamous Dieselgate scandal further exposed Volkswagen, revealing a startling lack of integrity at the heart of the manufacturer. This was not just a matter of reliability or the normal wear and tear one might expect from owning a car. It was a matter of principle. To discover that a company could act with such disregard for ethics, transparency, and environmental responsibility was deeply disheartening.
The essence of this experience transcends the personal. It serves as a powerful reminder to the world of the paramount importance of integrity in business. Companies wield significant influence over our lives, our dreams, and the health of our planet. When they choose to betray the trust of consumers and the broader community, they do more than fail on a corporate level; they undermine the very fabric of ethical responsibility.
Let this be a call to action: to demand better, to hold corporations accountable, and to support businesses that prioritize ethical practices, transparency, and integrity. It's about more than just cars-it's about the values we champion in our communities and the legacy we leave for future generations. Shame on Volkswagen and any entity that forsakes its moral and ethical obligations. Let us learn from these mistakes and strive for a future where integrity is not just expected, but demanded.
What a lovely and thoughtful comment! 👍🏾
So over dramatic. Personally I think if you buy a German car, you either need to have low mies, or be absolutely certain of previous owners. These cars are much more affected by bad maintenance, and furthermore, are much more likely to be driven hard. Yes, they won’t last as long as a Japanese car with the same treatment, but it will still last much longer then the average abused German car. I bought a 2008 GTI more then a year ago, we’ll see how it goes.
@darklordsauron3415 You're a new German car owner. I owned five in the row. The older models were well made despite the slight complexity. The later ones are overengineered, overcomplex, sabotaged, made to break down on purpose, and are impossible to fix in a reasonable way. You have to replace the whole engine or replace the whole car. Trash, evil engineering.
Well said.
Stay gold.
Bro discovered ChatGPT
My neighbour bought brand new Audi A8 for 130 000€ and after 2 months, when he put gas pedal on the floor to try the acceleration, the half axle cracked !!! What you think about this?
It's a shame to see the quality of German cars fall so far. The Mercedes-Benz cars my parents purchased in the late 80s and 90s were so well built, so well engineered and reliable. I wouldn't even consider a German car these days due to the poor reliability/build quality. Once they get over 100K miles, they become money pits. I had a friend by a late 2000s BMW he bought for $12,000 with 100K miles that he spent another $12,000 on repairs to keep it going before having it towed to the junkyard.
Dieselgate and a dead end focus on Crossovers and SUVs for profit.
Decades of poor innovation and contempt from greedy executives
Partly also due to lack of vision of how the outside world is proceeding to investment in hybrids and EVs. They’re going with the mentality of “because we’re so big and the dominant brands, we will not be outcompeted” which lead them to today’s situation.
How does focusing on a particular body style effect reliability and quality?
All of these only applies to VWs not all other VW owned or German car brands.
Dieselgate was actually a carefully orchestrated hoax. VW succumbed (like most of Germany) to the green lie and wanted out of diesel. It was the easiest way of walking away from it. Effectively write off the loss. They did not make the valid argument that the cars perform better during assessment because that is the actual most efficient the engines run at.
In the 90ties they laughted about american SUV and pickups, then they build them themselves.
But they did not copy as well as asian brands did. I would never buy a German SUV and I am German myself! It would have been better the German brands would have come up with fresh ideas. Does not fit them to copy someone else.
Most German brands are still trading on their historical prestige and quality. Whereas in reality many of them are just overpriced for what they are and have very little in common with their esteemed predecessors (e.g. 1 series or A class these days compared to the quality RWD sedans of yesteryear). But people are vain and most know little about cars and will continue to lease/buy them on finance to keep up with the Joneses.
100%
I rate people's intelligence by what they drive. You drive a Tesla, M.Benz, mini, Jeep and such my opinion of you goes way down. I look at you like a hungry wolf, wondering if I can sell you some annuities, a share in a bond company that owns the Chunnel, Eiffel Tower and London bridge or some pet rocks.
@@mutteringmale Still grateful that my life is not affected by what an uninspired troglodyte thinks about me.
German cars are considered status symbols nowadays. People buy German cars to show off, so they don't really care about the quality or the price.
@mutteringmale what cars do you drive? 😅
Have owned BMW and now VW, middle of range vehicles for last 10 years. I have found my main issues have mostly always been electrical/electronic failures. Even had an entire door harness fail and need replacing. This caused the car unable to be locked and threw a check engine/immobilization errors. Real pain and expense to diagnose.
I've had three new Audis as I love the dynamic image they have - the last one in particular suffered from software glitches (for example, the satnav & radio constantly resetting) and it took over a year for updates/fixes to arrive. I've taken delivery of a Hyundai Kona Hybrid and can't believe everything actually works!
It appears the Germans just figured out what we have known since the 2000's.
I am German, had my last German car in the late 90ties, than switched to foreign brands. I never regret this.
@@hermes667 Germany had reliable metal. Never reliable automobiles in reality. The engineering had always been too complicated for its own good. Those Tiger tanks got stuck. Jeep can offroad better than any german vehicles and still can. 😂It all over engineered crap. Germans engineers need to go back to the drawing board. Too much stuff in one package is no good.
@@makemapfor off road they have only the vw pick-up that is good.
And who is "we"?
It’s true, I have a 50k e class Mercedes 2020, 40k miles, and it’s garbage. So many issues, many of which Mercedes won’t cover in the extended warranty - the steering wheel material worn through, headlight unit failed, sat nav software issues, strange noise from brake pedal. NEVER AGAIN
As a youngster I had the 2002, beautiful. Later on the E30 convertible, straight six. The attention to detail of both cars was second to none, torch in the glove box, in its charging port, spare fuel in the boot, in a specially designed container. The only issue I had was the central locking in the E30, otherwise both cars started and would run like clockwork.
Easy: cars are no longer build by engineers, instead controllers have their thumb on everything. We know what we should do, but we aren’t allowed to. The freedom to engineer what’s sensible was reduced bit by bit, and now it’s meetings over meetings how to cut cost or how to „optimize“ even more. At one point this „optimizing“ cut into the longevity, and today it’s not only cut, it’s sliced. We know how to build cars and other things. We just aren’t allowed to do so. Regards from Germany. (i think i sounded harsher than i wanted to, but I’m a bit frustrated. Some cars are still great, and the design choices on the engineering side are often very innovative. I still drive one of our cars, and it’s even a fully electric one. Very reliable, nearly no maintenance necessary - a thing the BWL guys strongly dislike - if we get the chance to do better, to decide engineering topics on the engineering side, the cars will be what they were, and people would appreciate that, i think. Maybe it would be a little bit less profitable for the shareholders, but it the right thing to do - for the reputation and for the people driving and loving the cars!)
You are so correct in every aspect , well explained good job , I hope more people read your explanation , very intelligent !!!.
as a engineer myself i agree.
at one time i was in a meeting with 19 other people (middle management) all deciding what i should do next.
.. lol
Completely agree with you, the only true innovation has happened is in the design language and everything else is just cost cutting.
yet, toyota(and lexus) who has placed quality in the center can still be reliable despite it all. Mind you, that doesn't mean they are perfect but they surely have commitment to accept flaws and put their afford to resolve it (in sold cars, but also cars in the pipeline). And they always come 1st or 2nd in global annual turn over. If people had a bit of common sense, they should be the 1st by a big margin over and over.
As a controller I feel attacked 😂 but I do agree with you. Just remember that we are not just focused on the product but the bottom lines and overhead to keep the company afloat and profitable so people could keep their jobs. If we don't cut your product cost due to the pressure from stockholders, removing your position is the next option to cut cost. Sad but true.
Before Dieselgate, German carmakers like VW were profiting significantly from diesel vehicles. However, as emission regulations tightened, they faced challenges and were resistant to considering alternative solutions like hybrids, despite Toyota's success with the Prius. The manipulation of emission tests was never going to be sustainable, and expecting it to go undetected indefinitely was idiotic. After 2016, while quality remained strong, weight issues led to some compromises as more and more assistance systems came into use. I'd suggest that a more balanced strategy, including full hybrids alongside electric vehicles, could have been a better approach for VW, Mercedes, BMW, and Porsche and would have made for a smoother transition. Instead, they've gone all-in on EVs even though the infrastructure isn't there.
Executives were simply contemptuous and greedy, that TDIs were superior market choice and that there was no need for innovation, despite political pressure as well as concepts and R&D of electrified prototypes going back each decade.
Audi's etron concepts were infamously mocked for being green washing vaporware, despite a working Audi A1 range extended EV prototype, Audi only took electrification seriously several years after Tesla stole their lunch
It’s partly due to politics and their huge legal departments that manipulate the system. Then, after new EVs and hybrids came along, they are now facing what they thought they eluded previously. Their past is now biting back at them.
100% agreed. Germans can’t compete with the Japanese for Hybrids and their BeVs are not at par with Tesla and they can’t match the price point of the Chinese. They are stuck in limbo land because of their past glory
Toyota just got busted for a decades long emissions scandal that makes vw look like a Greenpeace poster child.
Before the govts started tightening emissions regulations, the German cars were very good. I own a 2006 Audi Q7 and the thing still runs good. Not to mention that it looks upscale and classy as well. So I too am quite reluctant to switch from this to the crappy tinboxes that they make nowadays.
But the govt thought that it knows better and tightened regulations more than the automakers could meet. The TDI cars were very good cars, I would say even better than my petrol Q7. And no, they were not polluting the environment; they were merely failing the stricter govt emissions standards by a few points. I kick myself for not buying a TDI Q7 and holding on to it.
This video says a lot but explains nothing, I stopped taking it seriously after they failed to mention that Mini, a BMW owned brand, ranked 3rd in the consumer report.
Thanks for your feedback. The classification of MINI as either a German or British car brand can be somewhat nuanced due to its history and ownership. It's still considered a British car brand by many. An analogous example would be that Pernod Ricard owns a significant portfolio of Scotch whisky brands, but no one would call those beverages French. But we acknowledge that there is also a case to be made that MINI is now German.
@@DWREV I appreciate the reply, although, there isn’t any nuance from an engineering point of view, the cars are fundamentally German. There are BMW badges all over the parts, using BMW engines, BMW control units and so on - the F55 uses a B46 engine from BMW… the older R55 diesel used an N47. Comparing a French brand owning a Scotch whiskey brand to BMW owning Mini and calling it analogous is a huge stretch, Pernod Ricard (from my understanding) hasn’t upended the way the Scotch is made, only owns the companies. It is not a good analogy. The piece cited a report that contradicts what you’re trying to convey and basic research would lead you to that conclusion, plain and simple.
That's not quite true. As a whisky enthusiast, I can say that small independently owned distilleries are the most willing to be creative with the product, and some even go to the effort of growing their own peat. Just look at the fantastic job Kilchoman is doing. The brands owned by global conglomerates, on the other hand, tend to follow a much more conservative -- and profitable -- approach. But in spite of that, no one would hesitate to call all of these products "Scotch".
@@DWREVThis is ridiculous, you clearly have an anti German bias here. I am not paying the GEZ for exaggerated slander against the German car industry, although I am willing to acknowledge that it has lost a step. Your comments are neunmalklug.
@@re_stricted I agree with your comment and am finding myself questioning the reporting of DW, as well as the patronising comments of the DW representative in this chat.
In the mid 2000s I did allot of business all over Germany for several years on behalf of fleets who owned 100,000s of vehicles and were trying to reduce their perennial expenditure on replacement parts. Seeing the sheer size of the VW OE Teile / Original Parts building at Baunatal, Kassel was a revelation to me. I realised then that these cars were DESIGNED to fail unlike 1960s/70s/80s/90s German cars that were absolutely rock solid and 100% reliable. Similar to GM in the USA, when the accountants overruled the engineers then the end product and ultimately the Customer suffers. People will only tolerate so many failures. Every single brand new German car I owned had major parts failures. Just go back to making reliable and dependable machines - like the Japanese do to this day - and some customers may come back.
Had a 2017 A4
65000km
Mechanically leaked coolant, oil, transmission fluid.
No experts could fix it all they recommended was replacing everything.
Well, that is not normal, even for Audi. Normally, this only happens if the owner cannot be bothered to go easy on the engine when cold, causing extreme hotspot related tensions in the metal of the engine causing it to warp and - ultimately - start leaking. Only remedy: replacing everything. This is user error 99 out of 100 times, sorry.
I like that Audi ranks higher than Volkswagen, when they use the same parts 🤣
Same cars but maybe VW choose to make cars unreliable for rich people since they don’t drive them longer. lol.
Doesn't Audi generally use higher quality materials because they are a more premium brand
@@TSERJI Audi has more luxurious interiors and trim for sure. But 80-95% of the parts are interchangeable between the two with the same VAG part numbers and manufactured in the same factories. Audi dealers just mark them up more. There's an old saying, "If you're getting parts for your Audi, go to Volkswagen"
@@TSERJINo. It’s all essentially marketing, with a few nicer parts on touch points in the interior to make people feel like they got something different.
@@froggy0162 Still, it's not like an Audi is lower quality than a VW...
As someone who has a german car currently and a german car previously, I think the main issues seem to be rather baffling over-engineering that leads to ridiculous requirements for simple maintenance and repairs, an overemphasis on bells and whistles, but the main back-breaker for many will be the cost of replacement parts, unless you have some top of the line performance model like an M5 or AMG 65, it's very hard to justify why you're paying 2-3x for simple parts like coil packs over Japanese, Korean, and even American models.
In the states you can buy a beautiful Merc in most of the production classes 5-7 years old with 75k miles for well under $20k. They are beautiful but man what a POS! It will cost you as much as you paid for it with even a short list of repairs which are guaranteed to happen soon after driving it away. That smile soon turns to anger.
As a co-owner of a VW Buzz, I am content with the product, but felt it could have been executed better, considering the price. It was more than twice the price of any vehicle we have owned before, at about €60 k. A heat pump would have been useful here in Norway, to help sustain range in the winter, for example. Many of my friends have owned German vehicles, but I see many of them transitioning to Tesla.
Selling €60k EVs without a HP is a joke, even more so if it's not even available as an option
Tesla? Let us know how that goes! They fall apart on their own...
There are better choices.
@@alobosk Even my son-in-law has a Tesla. I thought he was going to buy a Fisker Ocean.
Be careful what you wish for. Tesla isn't American, it's from HELL. The more people that drive Tesla vehicles, the worse off we are as a society. From labor practices, to cutting out dealerships so that zero profit remains where the vehicles are purchased in those communities, to being run by a drug-addled evil villain, Tesla is a bad actor. Elon Musk complimenting China's horrendous working conditions and scheduling (12 hour days six days a week!). SKIP TESLA. Get a friggin' Toyota or Ford or something.
This video offers 0 insight. Just showing some old clips and a couple of sentences from selected invidivuals
Its a terrible video hey. I feel like I watched a dozen commercials for a news program that never starts!
Correct
DW, not to wonder. They went from bad to worse eve faster than the quality of todays cars.
As someone with experience with a Volvo the big problem was that we saw maintenance costs double going from Toyota to Volvo. It wasn't just that Toyota was slightly more reliable but primarily that every bit of work that needed to be done was much more expensive for the Volvo. I think part of that was that there was healthy competition among mechanics servicing Toyota. There was one shop within driving distance that did Volvos.
In my neck of the woods its always been known to get rid of your German car right before the warranty expires.
Totally agree - a few years ago I had a BMW 3 series as a company car - just before i returned it to the lease company it was due a service, so I booked it in.
When I dropped it off for the service, I said the suspension bushes had started to squeak (70,000miles) - could they grease them - the mechanic said they were a 'sealed unit' and would need replacing - he quoted a silly price and i said don't bother.
This wouldn't have have happened 20yrs ago with a German car - they got too greedy and quality has gone out of the door.
When you constantly batter your component suppliers to reduce prices, while always looking to increase your own profits, something is going to give. Usually overall quality and reliability.
I still drive a Mercedes W124 model 1990. Still very reliable and in great condition.
The last good Benz!
I’ve had Mercedes mostly. I regret selling some of my older models. Especially my 2001 AMG E55. That think was built like a tank. I had a 2020 E class and it was nothing but trouble. I got rid of it quickly. I bought 2 older E classes with low mileage and they have been fantastic. One E350 and an E550. But it’s a shame. My old 80’s and 90’s Benz’s were super solid too.
German here. After 20 years of driving Volkswagens, I switched to Dacia 8 years ago. I don't have a problem with paying more for better quality, but I have a problem with just paying more.
GM is doing better now.... Hilarious...
Yes, GM doing better is a load of crap. LOL
No Hyundai is even doing better than GM
@@tedkim4020 And Kia even better
@@tedkim4020 Ofcourse, they are doing better globally....
@@tedkim4020 I life in Germany. We bought a Hyundai. Quite better than those Opel or VW our neighbours have. :D
premium german brand have turned into a 'lifestyle' product rather than what it was before, cutting cost and profits seems the main interest nowadays
JDPower has a conflict of interests between their surveys and their consulting part of the business working with manufacturers, so I don't know why you use them as source of information to quantify reliability.
We appreciate the feedback
@@DWREVsure you do 😂🎉
The referenced statistics in the video were (also) those of CR.
I've never owned a Benz or BMW and cannot speak from experience. My neighbor has a "Range Rover". Now there is a vehicle where you get to know your dealer service advisor very well, according to her.
I owned a 2016 BMW 750L. great ride, great looking and lots of power. When the odo got to around 45 k miles the lights started to come on. Warranty now gone. Most every time I brought the car in to the dealer the bill was usually 1800.00 dollars. First fluid leak sensor. 1700.00 dollars. The next light was for a fuel leak sensor,1800.00 dollars. The run flats were constantly getting bubbles in sidewall, 400.00 a pop for tires. New battery 530.00 dollars. Just before trading it in for a Lexus 600H ,the best vehicles on the road! I had to do a brake job, complete, new rotors and pads 2800.00 dollars. This pos turned into a money pit! Never again will i own a BMW!
If you want to own the car for 5+ years, or want to get a luxury used car! Get yourself a Lexus
Defently not! - Yes the Engine last really long, but the interior looks quite soon extremely bad. And the Entertainmentsystem is made out of hell - something Toyota/Lexus never learned.
❤You are right as a 17 year old petrol head, my dream car is the Lexus Lc500
I'm just obsessed with it compared to the newer German cars
That's true as no one that leases a Lexus every keeps it, the maintenance and reliability go in the toilet after two or three years.
I own a Toyota. Every car I ever owned i drove into the ground. My longest lasting was a ford ranger which I drove for 17 yrs.
It's better to buy Austin Allegro 🥳
I'd spotted a decline in dealership care and quality too. Problems include a national dealership I used would 'forget' to collect my car after a pre-arranged booking. Things like that cost me a days work. Others included them telling me what my next car should be! It got so bad that I've switched to using another manufacturer and one who isn't German. I'd tried contacting HQ with my dealership problems and even they couldn't be bothered - Arnold Clark if anyone is reading.
My new car from another manufacturer is superb. Quality is very good and the dealership is awesome.
My 2018 BMW I3 has proven to be the ultimate economy car. It costs one-fifth as much to operate as my old combusted vehicle and has needed less service than any car in my forty-year driving career. So the concept and the hardware is good, but the software is a nightmare. I've been working in electronics for decades, but it took a half-hour to figure how to tune the radio to a station. The navigation is equally guarded by mystery and if any of the ten parking sensors fail, it will blank the rear-view camera and drive you nuts by incessantly plucking a viola.
Our one experience with a new VW Jetta that costs us $35,000 (Au) was a dismal disaster. Never again. A rolling break down 🤬
The increased outsourcing of components and systems suppliers since the 1970s led to the loss of quality in the end. The OEMs are just writing requirements and integrating products of others with ever increasing process and bureaucracy requirements. Focus on quality of the end product is less important and not even possible when you're not actually building the components.
One thing hasn't changed though.
Spare parts prices are still obscene.
That's waaay down the line. Even though everything is plastic & cheaper (to produce), you still gotta be able to afford the car FIRST! You'll think of parts prices when you're in the hole. Like buying a printer, but much much much more expensive. 🤦♂😂
my a45s is kicking nicely in australia . Got bad road noise but you expect that in small package with massive wheels on it
I think German car's reliability is an issue. You only need to look at U.S. used cars' values; Japanese cars enjoy a much better depreciation than German cars. German cars' parts and preventive maintenance are both more expensive. My mechanics friend explains to me that German cars are less easily accessible for repairs, so the labor hours are adding up quickly for repairs. I owned a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder since it's new and averaging about $700 maintenance a year for the car.
Japan's lead has been lost to China's EVs now
Most of chynese junk are sold in mainland chyna where they block competitors unfairly. Besides chynese EVs spontaneously combust so wo cares
Japanese follow a very different engineering principle than the Germans. Japanese cars are underpowered and have poor fuel economy. German cars are over engineered , over powered and uses a lot of tech to meet EU fuel regulation and emissions. So they have to give up on something, reliability is the best choice since the average brand new car buyer, keeps their car for only 5-6 years
@@jomo2483 Japanese cars have poor fuel economy? What?
@@jomo2483japanese carw have great fuel economy but not so nice driving experience..I mean they just goes and that's about it
A lot of people in the US Buy Lexus over Mercedes Benz and BMW based solely on reliability, even if the German cars are beautiful and fast they also have a well deserved reputation of being delicate and expensive to maintain. People also remember diesel gate and choose Honda, Mazda, Subaru and Toyota over VW.
As someone that owns a 2020 BMW 330i I can attest to this literally had replace the instrumental cluster due to a software issue and a water pump, coolant hose and a few other things because cheaper materials were used it sucks
Made in Mexico 2016 Jetta Sportwagen with 100K begins to pump gas out of the gas tank. I find its a known issue, VW regional customer service basically tells me there is no option nothing they will do and replacing the gas tank is $6K. Never buy VW
This is not new. It's been many decades since German cars have been highly reliable. Perhaps an additional problem is the focus of US dealers and consumers to lease new German cars. It is a fact that leasees do not maintain their cars properly so they suffer more wear and tear in a short time. Buyers of those cars encounter more problems than other car brands and cause German brand reputation to suffer even more than deserved.
Dude all my German friends know that new BMW/Mercs aren't reliable. They've had them and know people with them lol.
might be one of the points, but only a small one. How can Audi/BMW have plastic chain tensioners inside of the engine? There things are on a timer to break. Plastic part without anything rubbing on it/friction and inside of the engine = 5-7 years, metal part = forever. Germans do not care about forever not a single bit anymore.
Don't trust Consumer Reports. They destroyed the Suzuki Samurai sales during the 80s or 90s by falsifying the Elk Test in the US, an otherwise excellent quality value vehicle.
Those were amazing off road!
@japanwatchconnection The Audi 5000 unintended acceleration was real, because Audi screwed up the ergonomics that made it too easy to mistakenly step on the accelerator instead of the brake.
I'd love to see a much more substantial and well researched video on this topic. The very premise of this video depends too much on the US Consumer Reports chart (CR has received a lot of criticism for their methodology). Furthermore, I suspect regional differences could reveal several interesting layers to a very important topic (no two factories are the same). Across all car brands, naturally.
GM is a role model for disaster. Went from the biggest corporation in the world to being bankrupt.
$14,000 gearbox that lasts well less than 100,000 km is a big kick in the balls for anyone...
omg....
I worked in the german auto industry and can say to you the main reason for quality issues nowadays stem from overregulation by the government in terms of environmental protection and the growing complexity with all the electrical systems added.
First we have the environmental protection:
This led to downsizing engines and the addition of turbo chargers. A lot of pressure into an aliminium block since we also have to do weight reduction. Less weight, less fuel, less carbon. The same goes for a lot of other components now made out of plastic for the sake of weight reduction.
The result, components under huge stress, which are not sturdy enough. Also the components only have to last a car's lifetime, BMW defiens that as 15 years.
Second cars got more complex:
Ppl now want their cars to have Apple CarPlay, parking assistance etc. This introduces more electrical modules.
A lot of more elements to care about and which can break. Easy equation, if for example 5% of your components can break within 10 years and you have 100 components in your car, 5 will break. If you have 1000 components, then 50 will break. That's the basic of things.
Management decisions to cut costs by reducing research and devlopement and quality of materials can be a part of it, but are not the major problem. The 2 aspects I listed above have more of an impact. Hope you guys understand now.
Are Lexus and Toyota not sold in Europe? Your argument regarding regulation does not seem to make sense.
@@michaelwerner5165 Exactly what I wanted to say. Why isn't Lexus having so many issues despite them offering similar engines and tech?
So in trying to reduce carbon emissions, they end up making them higher? If major parts of a car break consistently, most people will probably be forced to buy a new one. Instead of keeping one car for decades, people might need to change cars every 5~8 years depending on stress. Either German politicians are really short sighted or car companies are very sneaky.
@@KeliK1 Toyota is way more conservative and uses way more proven tech then for example MB and BMW.
And yes the German automotive sector has dropped the ball in keeping up real quality instead of their quality image.
In 2022 to every ones surprise the most relaible car in Europe was a Dacia! (according to ADAC,ANWB and other roadassistance european sister clubs)
Dacia is a budget brand of Renault that builds basic/ulitarian cars with proven Renault tech.in Romania.
Even the Romanians can build cars better now and they were known for unreliabel badly build rail/road vehicles.
A Diesel locomotive got the nickname Ceaușescu wrath, and the Citroen/Olcit Axel differd in build quality for each vehicle.
The Japanese always were the most careful about their build quality and components which gave them the best reliability.
Why can't German manufacturers have the same ethos? Don't Germans have a reputation for being fastidious too?
I had seven VWs in a row. The last two were lemons and that was the end of VW for me. I test drove the ID.3 the other day and was underwhelmed. The absolute lowest part was when my son bought a used one and we couldn't repair it because it had snapping plastic where there should have been metal and screws. It was worse than a Whirlpool Dishwasher. So much for that bonding experience.
I had a 2014 VW Tiguan for four years with no issues at all. Ran very refined, fit and finish was better than any other I've ever owned, and never had one major problem with it. Unfortunately in 2018, it got hit by a huge truck going 40 MPH while it was parked and was totaled.
Easy answer: they put cheaper Materials. Poor plastic, to raise marginns.
Yes, but not only German manufacturers do this. All car manufacturers do this.
Its to save weight ...
@@stefanbraun1951 Mazda for example are using better materials than previous ones .. there is room for improvement for other car brands or look at the KIA or Hyundai , they are making big progresses ahead of the german auto industry . People will seek quality and cheap maintenance and unfortunately germans over engineered the heck out of it for the sake of the peoples wishes and they will go down like the history in general .
@druidZZZe I know nearly nobody who drives a Kia or Hyundai. Instead, I knew lots of people with Mercedes, BMW, VW...
What do you mean by "overengineered"? German cars drive much better at high speeds, are very stable in these situations, and look better. Additionally, they offer great engines and usability-friendly interior. I think people who really enjoy driving will decide for a BMW, MB, or Audi. Of course, when you just decide based on price, you have to go with other manufacturers. But there are also Cupra, Seat, Skoda, Renault, Fiat, etc. people could choose instead.
@@stefanbraun1951 well besides USA (where the market is dominated by japanese auto makers ) and europe(and not all of it ) there are no good roads . Yes they are made for autobahns and….??? In France for example it is very highly restricted for 30km/h . Where do you use these german cars for their truly speeds ?
Accurate, in Australia it's purely a status symbol, everyone knows they're bad cars. BMW it seems are the best of a bad bunch, of course I drive a Toyota and the Korean cars are seen as the inbetweeners
People are still happy to have them here, as long as they’re leased and under warranty. Woe betide the used purchasers….
Japanese for me, no grief with my ' 380 '😅.
German Cars are designed to drive waaaaaay better then Asian cars, which of course adds complexity and requires some maintanace.
My 1975 VW Rabbit 4 speed was much more fun to drive than my 1977 Datsun B-210 5 speed, the difference was the Datsun never let me down in 8.5 years. I was stranded several times with the VW during my 9 months of ownership.@@MrWhatauchever
woe betard
I definetly can agree with these video. I have a VW and it just stays in the shop every other month. Check engine light is a mainstay on my car's dashboard
Consumer reports needs to differentiate between major failures and electronic faults with the infotainment system…
Thought I upgrade from Ford to VW group but you guys really spoiled the party 😅😅😅
You got me😂...
Depends on the type of segment upgrade you purchased. It may seem weird but if you're going for upgrade on decent mid-segment cars, not for something like trucks, Hyundai's would do upgrade job to replace your Ford, they're even better build and more reliable also.
Buy those Japanese brands you have stayed away from for so long....Lexus, Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Subaru....plenty to choose from.
@@kevinrtres Reliability and decent build is good on Japanese cars, though some Toyota's/Honda's on a particular segment may not provide as good fit & finish or solid quality, build as a Ford, that're economical but more well built than it's reliable long-lasting Japan counterparts of lower segments which may cause some dissatisfaction. That's why I'm not so sure with suggesting on Japanese cars, eg:- Focus feels more solid build than a Corolla.
All my Audi, Mercedes Benz and VW has been an utter reliability nightmare, never again.
Besides the deep pocket pain, the frustration and danger is just unforgivable.
You can’t pay me to own these.
Whot you drive right now ?
Audi is the worst offender, they are literally a nightmare to own
Over the last 34 years, I have owned many cars, including an Audi, three VW’s and a BMW and will never own any of these brands again. I am very happy with my 2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio that has been exceptionally reliable and will likely purchase another when it’s time to replace my current car.
@@tonyvargas368italian cars and reliability😂😂😂
@@socko1019 Lexus & Tesla
Even the Tesla is far better in reliability than these German car makers, just too many short cuts for prestige brand and price from these German brands. Enough is enough
They became too complicated with more things that can go wrong
So as someone from the USA whose car brands faced a very dark age in the 1970s known as the Malaise era, this makes me think that Germany is just going through the same thing at the moment 🤷♂️
I live in Germany and had the chance to drive several cars like Renault, Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, BMW 3 series, hyundai i20, Audi A4...
As long as you have warranty, all of them will be fine. BMW and Audi were both above the others in terms of interior materials, rattle free interiors, overall sound deadening, more comfortable suspension and they are build for high speed. Japanese cars get loud inside, renault was most comfortable, but some rattles when hitting pot holes, show that they don't care about perfection. Hyundai became a real option here, but hard plastic interior seem cheap. Ultimately I bought a Mazda again. Not a perfect car for the german roads and highways, but hopefully a reliable and long lasting car and value for money was good too.
As the person who grew up with Mercedes Benz and BMW, I have to say that the quality had dropped significantly after the end of the 90s. They used to be built like a tank, as reliable as Toyota and Honda. But now, I feel like everything is messed up.
Mechanics say - after 80s.
Film titled "why German cars have become so bad" and proceeds to show BMW, MINI, and Porsche in top 10 of most reliable.
Outstanding work as always @DW
Glad you like it. Pass it on to a friend!
I am like most people, I want a cheap and reliable car that fills my needs, it needs 4 wheels, a heater and windows. Add however many seats you need, a radio is a bonus, AC is a bonus. That is all you need, all we really want so stop putting so much electronics in cars that will break in a years time. Why in this day and age we cannot make cars that have a 400,000 mile lifespan as a minimum baffles me. Build me a car out of aluminum so it is lighter and uses less fuel, it will be cheaper too, dump the plastic and use aluminum and it will be 100% recycled at the end of its life. OH - WE DON'T LIKE ELECTRIC CARS!