Come on everyone….let’s get his subscriber count up because his education on car brands are paramount. This guy knows his shit. It’s insulting that he does not have at least 500k subscribers…..he is brilliant.
Thank you very much Rick. I appreciate the support. Yes sharing channel or videos of mine to your respective social media platforms is the best support indeed. Thank you everyone for watching and for viewing my videos every week. Cheers and it would never be successful without each and everyone of you.
Talked to an banker/ financial advisor at at a bank about BMW’s yesterday. Dude straight up said you’re better off leasing them new and giving them the boot after the lease is up.
I was going to comment like that. BMWs and Mercedes nowadays are made for the leasing/renting customer and those cars are built to work for the renting/leasing period (about 3 years or so). After that, that customer will get another better, latest model and goes on and on... If you want reliable luxury, get a Lexus. BMW and Mercedes are not crap... They are built to run for an average of 3 years. After that, they don't care.
@@JoseSilva-ep2ww I disagree. I have a 9 year old BMW, I take it in for servicing once a year, and I haven’t had a single issue with it. And it still looks brand new and everything works. Most owners of older BMW’s and Mercedes don’t take care of them.
Maybe the new BMWs, some of the older ones are pretty solid such as the N52.. I supposed BMW, like any other car maker, had been pressure about the carbon emissions, MPGs, etc. Therefore, they sacrifice true quality of their naturally aspirated engines. In my opinion, BMWs are the Ultimate Driving Machine...I haven't driven a Porsche, Ferrari, or Lamborghini; but BMWs are my favorite. I own a N52 coupe manual transmission; equipped with a supercharger. Lots of funs!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I totally agree here. BMWs are such great driving Cars and they handle so well. But, the manufacturer never listen to their customers and build Reliable cars with less trips to the Dealership. Most BMW owners who purchase new BMWs are well off customers who are more than happy to part with their money for a Good quality product. But the way they overcharge their parts and labors ($250/hour here in California USA) ruins their reputation. I enjoy driving my BMW 535 Diesel. But I have lost faith in this Brand over the years.
People don't become well off throwing their money away on junk cars, most if not all just lease them or buy them via their companies and offset the loses via their business tax returns.
Wow! This is amazing how you’ve basically made an addictive series finally breaking down the truth behind these junk vehicles. As a BMW fan over the years, I have to admit that you’re spot on and as much as I don’t want to admit it, most German cars are the same. What would be great to see next, is a series on the best alternatives because I’m sure there are many people (car enthusiasts) like me who save up their hard earned cash and want to find suitable alternatives to the great handling and good looking BMWs, Mercedes and Audis. Also, I’m not interested in leasing as I did that before and I’m over it. Great idea for a daily but not for that weekend toy that you want to keep long term… Also, it’s basically a never ending subscription which is just not my preference anymore. I’m sure you’re build a regular fan base of these videos revealing the truth… I’m one of them - more power to you, Sir! 👍🏿
I still like the look and feel of German cars, but in the VW edition. They will break the same, but they won't cost you a small fortune to repair. I sure miss my 1980's BMWs. They used to be solid, reliable cars. You just couldn't kill them, same as the 1980's Mercedes. The new stuff is all plastic and disposable. How sad...
Spot on. BMW has been doing this for at least the last 20 years coincidentally I’ve not considered buying a BMW in the last 20 years. Currently in the market for a high end SUV and not even thinking about a used or new BMW. I don’t want to buy a used problem and I don’t want to plunk down 6 figures for a car that will be a basket case in 4-5 years.
Go back a few videos ago, and Mark would tell you he's eyeing the X3 M40i, so don't believe a word he says! This model has the world renowned B58 paired with the ZF8 tranny! Reliability is good as he put it, and the vehicle is a dream to drive! Absolutely worth the 60 grand it cost new, and I highly recommend it or the new X5 with the same engine, and tranny combo!👍🙂
It's called built in obsolescence. Nearly everything consumed is manufactured that way. From white stuff (fridges, clothing irons, washing machines) to motor vehicles follow this trend. I drive a 1989 735i Bmw in nearly perfect condition. Do all the maintenance myself. I simply love that car and will never want to get divorced from it.
It's not built-in obsolescence they're not smart enough to do that it's a company that's trying to make a complicated car with too much poor engineering is poor engineering not planned Ops license because they're not trying to make the car shity they they are that would be a good excuse on the back end
Great vid ! German cars today are way,way too complicated and have far too many things to break or go bad. There is a huge market for extremely simple cars.
For sure and if I could afford a car company start up, I would focus on performance, safety, and reliability and gadgets would not be high on the list.
Great video. BMW has made their bed and decided many years ago that building cool cars that won't hold up, as you stated "planned obsolescence" is exactly correct. And that's why they have earned bad reputations, with terrible resale values, and they push them out the door with decent lease deals that are subsidized by the manufacturer. The people that really take the hit are the ones that buy the 5-year old 7 series or X5, thinking they are getting the deal of the century, and they don't know what kind of problem they have just bought. Same can be said for Jaguar and Land Rover and the shit they put out, now even more so under Tata ownership. Fun cars, but lease don't buy, and throw the keys and the problems back to your dealer when you are finished with it in 3 years.
Hmm, I feel for you Mark, I can feel your despair with BMW's slow grind of death through it's inability to keep the once great driver and proud ownership experience alive. I feel the company is more focussed on profit then it's build quality and by trying to live on it's past laurels of pride without the necessary input of quality it can only fail. Luckily Lexus still remembers it's customers but are all the current vehicle builders in the same boat these days?
Designed to be leased. From top to bottom, from the drawing board to the service department, the whole business model...not built to last. Built to last through the lease (warranty period).
Amazing video!!! 🔥 All of you said it’s true: My experience with my 52,000 mile 328i 2,011 Spark plugs replaced ✅ Suspension replaced ✅ Radiator replaced ✅ Water pump replaced ✅ Break hose replaced ✅ Stop light fixed ✅ Oxygen sensor replaced ✅ Currently having a check light bc the MAF They are very expensive machines to drive and repair. I’m thinking about replacing my 328i 2011 for a MB C300. I’ve never owned a Merc so I’m wondering if is worth the change?
Hi Ricardo, you bet what you are seeing with the BMW is a common thing and paying a dealer or even a shop is going to drain a wallet in no time flat. As far as the C300 goes, be sure to stay dialed into this channel and my other Vlog channel because we own a 2018 C300 and have for over a year so we will share info on that car as we go along.
Audis are slightly different. Running fine except for the part where VW comes in. Also there's some engines that are quite sensitive to adulterated fuel and any slight fuel dirt happens....the car goes into self-destruction. Especially the Q7
The European vehicle body and interiors are made strong good quality to an extent. I had a VW and its interior fell apart. Had to redo the roof, door covers etc. Its very delicate inside but the car is solid. The engine on the other hand for all European vehicles is well built but all those little hoses and plastic parts are a pain in the ass. Truth be told the parts and service price is these European cars downfall. If they are making vehicles for the rich come out of the commercial market and leave it to the Japanese. I have a 2005 Subaru Legacy and it has served me so well, I wondered why the heck I bought a VW for? Japanese cars are more reliable, affordable, and easier to maintain. If i buy a European car it ust be new and I won't keep it beyond 5 years. They are money PITS.
There are upsides to experiencing a car such as a BMW. I’m a new owner and and learning about what the issues are and how the whole business model is so unethical and meant to drain their customers. Honda and Toyota get right and care about the consumer. I will enjoy my 2019 430i but once I see it going the road of endless repairs it’s GONE. I will go back to accords.
You asked a question about how many E46s are around. I drive around the country and the E46 is all over the place, surprisingly. But you're absolutely right. There are a lot of older BMWs that aren't on the road, anymore.
Have had my Toyota Kluger or highlander as it's known in North America since it had 200,000 km on the clock. Now has over 400,000 km. Absolutely nothing breaks. Just regular maintenance. Same with my 2010 Lexus is 250c. Bought it with 250,000 km on it . Only had it two years, but it drives as if it just came out of the factory.
So here's my recent history on my 2012 X5... The instrument cluster died - no lights, no gauge movement. Bought a used replacement and fixed that. Front struts went bad so I replaced those. Replaced the serpentine belt and pulleys because I've heard that's a ticking time bomb. Took apart the entire center console just to fix the cup holders where the elastic band had broken that keeps the clamps against your cup. Earlier this week I finally got all this done and was ready to start driving it daily again so I drove it to a shop for an oil change. The plastic connector for one of the radiator hoses busted on the way there. It's literally one thing after another with these cars.
Very nice video! I had a BMW X5 2016 for about 7 months... The heat seat turns on while you're driving by itself!! Crazy it keeps doing that for no reason. I took to the dealership and they asked me 1.7k to replace both modules. That was crazy.... I ended up selling it for a cheap price. They definitely are good looking cars... but I don't want them! Now I got a RAV4 2020 for more than a year... and never had any kind of issues... even driving 146 miles every single week day. They're really made for last. I'm enjoying Toyota a lot!
Keep up the good work as you are appreciated. I am on my fourth BMW amongst other cars that I have, because as you say, life is to drive boring cars. I have had a e21, e23, e30 and now have a e39 2002 530i m-sport. I know what I am getting into with the brand and I do wrench on my own cars. regards.
Interesting, the plastic parts tend to last longer here in the UK. That cowling stuff is just not compatible with the flat rate system. I have found bits broken, missing parts and screws on all my BMWs.. Thinking about it, old BMWs are also not so common either in the UK. A few years ago you would see more E39s than E60s despite the age difference.
I agree with your message. I have owned 2 BMWs. An E34, one of the last of them, built in 1995. Very little plastic under the hood. Rubber hoses instead of snap together plastic piping. Those snap together parts are great during engine assembly, but do not hold up over time, and as you point out they are very expensive when they need to be replaced. The E34 was a very enjoyable car to own, and not too difficult to do diy repairs. My second BMW is an E91 from 2006. This generation has all those lovely plastic bits under the hood. If you touch those plastic bits, they break, and there are many repairs that require you to move the plastic bits out of the way to reach the part of the engine you are trying to work on. An example is a starter replacement. The plastic parts that break during this repair procedure, exceed the cost of the starter itself. From my professional experience in the world of manufacturing, I can tell you that what Toyota does in terms of 1.) Design for Manufacturability, 2.) Design for Serviceability, 3. Design for Reliability, goes well beyond what BMW is doing. I enjoy owning a well made machine. And I enjoy taking good care of it. To me, there is not satisfaction in living with shortcomings in design, that manifest themselves in expensive repairs. It is a bad way to spend money, and time, and definitely detracts from my satisfaction with the machine. Since Toyota and Lexus have mastered the Quality, Durability, and Reliability, going forward, that is what I intend to own.
Thank you so much Michael, I totally agree with you and that’s how I saw my old Porsche 930. All parts were screwed together and not snapped or clipped. Parts were mostly aluminum and magnesium or at the very least pot metal which isn far superior to this plastic trash we see in modern BMWs. I know a lot of manufacturers use plastic and BMW is not the k my one, but it’s really figuring out the correct application and turbo heat touching a plastic pipe is inevitable to fail. Thank you very much and have a great day.
Thanks for sharing. BMWs are fun to drive, but unfortunately they're cheaply man. It's very sad. The best thing to do is to lease them, is a lot cheaper that way.
Good one Mark. Just wondering if a video dedicated to owners manuel would be helpful to the channel. I believe you elude to reading the owners manuel but many people fail toeven though a lot of answers are there. KEEP ON KEEPING ON.
I picked up a new 2021 330i last year with the newer 2.0L turbo B48 engine. You once did a video on how BMW fixed most of the design issues when they moved to the B48/B58 line. I hope I don't regret this purchase 5-6 years from now. I absolutely love it so far.
Hi Mark, still have my 2007 E90 325d M Sport at 180k. Was going to get 340 M Sport but was put off with the massive Road Tax to be paid per year as car cost over £40k post April 2017 coupled with the insane used Car price values increase during Covid, Chip shortage etc. Your videos on issues with BMW’s and other You Tubers simply just put me off buying a modern BMW. In addition Electric cars - price, range and infrastructure are certainly not there yet. Perhaps nearer to 2030? What car would you be looking to buy which ticks the boxes that my E90 did - still applicable now when I purchased at just over 3 year old so I didn’t take the massive hit on depreciation. Comments from other subscribers welcome of course
The more I watch channels like this, the more I appreciate the 1999 Lincoln Town Car I inherited from my grandmother. BMWs are great at what they do, but IMO are really intended for affluent people who lease a new car every few years or for hard core enthusiasts who have DIY car repair skills and / or are willing and able to spend what it takes to keep them maintained. The driving experience takes priority over reliability. Turbos put more strain on the engine, lighter weight plastics wear out quicker, high tolerance parts are more expensive to produce, etc. For me, a car is a tool for getting from point A to point B. If I were to get a new car, my idea of a high performance driving machine would be a V6 Camry.
I'll throw you a sleeper. An older Rav4 v6. Those things will snap your neck back with off the line acceleration. Totaaly unexpected! Lots of fun. Simple and cheap to maintain.
My favorite BMW is any 7 series Specially the Chris Bangle Design When they came out I was a kid now I can afford one but Ty to your channel I have stuck to Acura / Honda Only issue my TL Type S transmission failed design flaw But my accord and TLX no issues
"Are BMW's junk? Nope..not as long as you don't keep them more than 3-4 years after being bought NEW!!.After about 4 years all that bio-degradable plastic under the hood is affected by the engine heat and starts to disintegrate. Thanks for posting!!
I've owned my newly bought 6 Series coupe for 12 years now and it's awesome. I use it as a second, mainly weekend car though, so it has fairly low mileage.
I was a BMW fan, then one day my E46 cooling system exploded on the side of the road with no warning. Turns out the electric fan had failed at some point without providing any warning in the cabin, and with no mechanical fan present it was only a matter of time until I was idling for awhile on a hot day and the cooling system simply could not withstand the pressure of rising engine and coolant temperatures, all the while providing no indication at all on the cabin temperature gauge, which registers dead center when barely warmed up AND when on the verge of overheating. BMW engineering is a myth.
Great video very informative about BMW'S design very sad that the company is cheating people out of money because of the poor design and using plastic parts.
confirm the forums it is, but it is actually a very good and reliable engine. like the plastic teeth in the throttle actuator housing BMW rectified that and put steel teeth in it with the updated parts for that engine
100 percent facts. I have owned 5 BMW's and after having a tesla for a year and a half, I feel like an idiot for constantly giving bmw a chance. Tesla has the performance and 0 issues. I'm still traumatized from the valve stem seal replacement job I had to do on my e70 years back. I didnt even have time to enjoy the vehicle and had to do valve stem seals, change the crossover pipe, same issue with the tail light in the video ( had to replace that), constant problems with the air suspension. When it worked I loved to drive it but I was always a heartbeat away from having to do more work. If i didnt work on it myself I would have had to put 20k into a vehicle worth 15k ahah... Great vids 100 percent facts. Somehow bmws are addictive and kept me coming back for years.
Thank you very much for your comment and that’s generally the experience. They have been fun, but I believe that they have crossed the line for me too. I am out.
In fairness, 85% of BMWs are leased. Then they are designed to catastrophically fail, creating room for another lease. If it lasts a year beyond the outdated 48 month warranty period, that’s an engineering mistake.
Thanks for the great video. My friend they are designed ON PURPOSE like that. BMW, Mercedes, AUDI, Volvo etc do not want their cars on the road passed 10 years max. You even mentioned it in your video that you do not see old BMW on the roads. It is called milking your customer base and protecting the Brand image. If you look it from their point of view it makes sense. Guess what, most of their clients agree with them and do not care. Lease it for a few years, take the depreciation, turn it in and get another car. Only people who want to save money, or protect the environment do not like it. People like you and me and others who want value do not matter. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. Sorry for the harsh language. I do agree with you 110%.
I own two BMWs and two MINIs, am I insane? I don't think so. I research a lot before I buy because there are some really great reliable BMWs and some terrible money pits. I never go to the dealer except for recalls and warranty work. I change all oils at less then half the recommended intervals. I do almost all my own service work. I know where to buy parts from independent suppliers. Specialized jobs that I can't do go to a indie. This is the way to enjoy them without going bankrupt. Never ever own a bmw diesel out of warranty. N54s are only good when the previous own has spent at least 15k on turbos, injectors, fuel pumps water pumps, rads, housings before you buy.
You are right Bruce and I am the same way. I have shared Many DIY videos on my channel and am not afraid to tackle even far above average complex tasks, and I also leave the more complex issues to the dealer because I rarely have to outsource. With that said, way too many issues and the utter gouging that goes on is unacceptable and while you and I as well as some others can DIY and get creative, many other people cannot or do not want to so I believe it’s responsible to share these concerns with the public and they can make their decision if it’s acceptable or not. Have a great weekend and thanks a lot for your feedback.
Total garbage! I babied my X3 M Sport and a 95000km needs a need cylinder head. Plastic burst everywhere. Traded it in and never going to purchase another BMW. Overpriced for what they are. Get a VW if you like German style and feel cars. You won’t pay as much and the parts and maintenance is more responsible. The last decade is going to catch up them!
@@ECPP Yup, the level of wear on the cams and the eccentric shaft and valve tronic gear was astonishing! I did oil changes at 6000km and it’s 11 years old with 95,000km! What’s joke. I too had the infamous led light bar malfunction and water in the taillight. I remedied with some high temp silicone to seal it and luckily was able to find aftermarket Led tail light control modules that are made with better components for $80 for 4. The dealer list the part but you can’t buy it. You have to buy the whole assembly for $550! Windshield cowling leaks and ruined cylinder 5-6 injections. Overflow coolant tank split open like a cantelope and so have various vacuum lines and coolant hoses but not at the rubber but at the bs plastic quick connectors. I traded it in for a 2022 VW Tiguan R line black edition. Took out the 10y 100,000km extended factory warranty for $3k. Since we don’t drive much and so we’d never see the 4 year or 80,000km failure points. Got $15k for the trade in after negotiating the trade amount from $12k. Told them I would finance and on the day of pickup I paid in full for the car. 😉 the EA888 engine now in its 3rd gen has been refined for over 14 years and is relatively easy to work on. The common failure points have been remedied and with the extended warranty that replaces parts with genuine oem and covers labor and taxes it was a no brainer. Another thing you have to factor in with paying up front for the factory extended warranty in todays economic environment of our out of comtrol inflation, you are locking in todays labor rates and parts costs. With all those software controlled systems and capacitive touch control…all I see is $$ down the not too distant road. 3 visits for this stuff over the next 10 years will more then pay for itself. I equate the BMW ownership to that of getting a boat. The 2 most exciting days are the day you get it and the day you get rid of it! B.O.A.T = bring out another thousand!, every weekend you put it on the water and fuel it. BMW = Bring More Money With-you! 😂 Be a real friend to a friend everyone. Tell them to stay away from this brand. They aren’t the brand you grew up with anymore. It’s not a brand anymore. It’s a lifestyle your buying. After the first 4-5 years your in for a world of hurt. Then you do this,that and before you know it your committed. Then the big one comes and you wake up. I see tons of bmw’s. Unfortunately their not rolling down the road. They’re stacked at the auction houses and used car lots around town. The VW I went to had 12 bmw’s sitting there probably waiting to be picked up by the auction houses
@@danielchoi6477 lol no I've had my bmw for 10 years 2004 bmw 530d 310 000 km on the clock still runs like a dream 18 years later still performing to dropped my friends Subaru wrx 08 and a mazda 3 mps the other day we went to a car show and diced for the fun 😀
Hahhahahaha, ok, it doesn't take much to make you happy. J/K. I think it's important for people to have the things that make them happy in life and put smiles on their faces.
Chris I agree with you my littleZ4 coupe puts smile on my face. So what it costs a little more to run, People check out Honda parts some day if you think BMW parts are expensive. Actually my Z4 coupe has been very reliable must be the service guy. Me🇨🇦
For a lifelong BMW fan like me (who's love affair went sour years ago) it's a tough pill to swallow. New BMW's are actually junk. And they look very ugly. I'm amazed that BMW still outsells Mercedes-Benz in the US. To be fair, Mercs aren't as good as the old W124, R129 and W140 but at least the E-class is very solid midsize luxury sedan.
I always enjoyed the drive and have praised them for that reason, however, enough is enough. Low quality parts for premium dollars, and finding recent models struggle with durability
I just bought a 1997 323i e36 with 12,000 original miles and I love it. I have been doing some maintenance on it like oil pan gasket leak, valve cover since I am already doing oil pan, brake fluid change, coolant change. It runs really well. I won’t buy a new BMW but I will keep doing maintenance on my e36. Those engines can easily make 200,000 miles.
Mark I have owned the E36 325i new in ‘94 and the E60 535i new in 2008. I tracked the maintenance and repair cost to determine if buying new was justified. The conclusion was yes for the E36 and no for the E60. The E60 has been disappointing given the expensive repairs and the types of failures. I have replaced 4 water pumps, 6 injectors twice and the idler pulley twice. I have over serviced my cars in order to extend their life and am disappointed to say that my next purchase will be either a previously owned Porsche, Mercedes or Lexus. I enjoy your videos. Don in Unionville, ON.
Thanks for reaching out Don and I agree the engine in your e60 was the same I had in my 335 and it’s just not worth the hassle. Porsche would be my choice for the fun factor.
@@ECPP Mark, I have been waiting on a module for the active steering since the middle of June. The $2K module was back ordered from Germany and now they are struggling to programme it. lol. I am searching for a 2009 or later 997 911. Wish me luck
Because of the plastic material around the engine, my E92 335i would go into limp mode (engine malfunction) on high revs because the electrical connector for the vanos solenoid gets loose every time engine revs above 4000 rpm (because its plastic end has deteriorated over time), silly and funny problem that took me a while to figure out. Plastic for parts attached to the engine is a WRONG choice
As the owner of a tuned e93 335i I can not argue. Just changed the waterpump after changing it 22k miles ago. While working on it this weekend I've noticed the rear main seal is beginning to leak. Bought the car 2+ years ago and went through ALL of the known issues. It doesn't matter. The maintenance stuff is BS.....they are difficult to keep on the road period. With that said I love it to bits because when it's right it's honestly the most amazing performing car I've owned. Eveytime I crawl under it I say I'm done, I'm selling it.....then I fix it and it's a dream for a few more months and I decide to keep it. Viscous cycle!! Lol I'm not sure it would be allowed to take up garage space if it weren't for FCP Euro's lifetime guarantee on everything I purchase from the oil to the spark plugs and coil packs I go through every 10k miles due to the tune.
Another great video my Friend, I'm 58, thought I would treat myself to a minty fresh BMW 330i x drive or a Volvo S60. I'm a power plant engineer/mech. Do all my own vehicle service,But wow. I think I'll pass on the BMW. I know its a terrible time to buy, no dealer incentives to lease.I'm going to buy. Wish me luck. Thanks again for all you do!
2008 x5 3.0 250k miles and still running strong with original engine and transmission all due to PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE! People feel like they can treat these like Honda’s and still get by. 😂
A dream to drive and a nightmare to repair. I had to learn the hard way. I purchased 2 BMW’s brand new in 2005 and 2011. My 2011 3-series had everything “major” replaced under warranty. I sold the car to my boyfriend when I leased my 2019 X3 3 years ago and the car has been problem free for him - go figure! From my experience, I think BMW intentionally put parts on these cars that last 3 years to “encourage” you to lease- leasing is a guaranteed repeat customer easily! By my third BMW, I got smart and leased. It’s a black on black 2019 BMW X3 that’s about to go back to BMW in July 2022. My 4th BMW I ordered last month is a mineral white 330i with M-Sport that has a Tacora red interior. She will be leased too. If you take the pandemic and chip shortage out of the equation, generally cars depreciate way too quickly for me to ever consider financing anything again unless it’s a Honda.
I have a 40k Mile N51 no turbos and the dealer suggested $10k US worth of maintenance. I got it serviced from an independent for about $1500. Hoses were coming apart as they were removed.
Gotta do it yourself or have a trustworthy independent. With that said there are a couple of local Indy’s here that have quoted prices on some repairs, close to the dealer prices so what I see is an overall taking advantage of the little guy. Either DIY or kick to curb.
Tip for potential BMW owners. Before you buy your next Bavarian Motor not Works be sure to perform a coolant exhaust leak test. This is a simple test that checks for the presence of exhaust gas in your cooling system. If exhaust is present in the cooling system you have a head gasket failure in progress, and this can only end in a very expensive engine replacement, or an excruciating cylinder head remove, repair and replace, which can run into tens of thousands of $$. Replacing the engine produces a far more certain outcome. Oh and by the way if you happen to overheat one of the straight six cylinder BMW engines there is a BMW service bulletin that advises releasing and then re-torquing the cylinder head bolts before doing any repair. If any of the bolts do not hold torque it is because the head has warped and pulled the threads out of the block - BMW guidance at that point is a new engine. We should feel fortunate that BMW doesn't make planes or banking software.
I can't say they're junk. I've had two PESSCE cars in almost 30 years: 6 Series coupe and XF sedan. I still own both and they're amazing. (PESSCE - Powerful, Elegant, Sporty, Safe, Comfortable, Exclusive)
He's had bad experience with specific models known for their issues. Folks that state BMWs are junk (without specifying year and model) are ignorant. As a previous owner of two BMWs for more then 10 years, I can say that not all of them are junk. Heck, some of the newer engines are pretty good (specifically the B58 with the ZF 8 speed transmission).
@@mike6136 This may be true, however how does the uninitiated car buyer sift through all the data to figure out which BMW to buy? I have avoided BMW as an uninformed buyer because I simply don't know which one is going to be a problem and which one will likely be problem free.
@@monkymind4316 I can definitely relate to your concerns. Research and more research. A good majority of buyers will resort to one source. Also, people tend to be more vocal with negative experiences vs positive. Toyota did its research before allowing a BMW engine to be used in a car with their badge. Another example is the Kia/Hyundai brands - folks can't get passed the fact that those manufacturers are not what they use to be and are making better vehicles.
A lot would argue until reminded time and time again, Living in the province of Alberta Canada... we do experience harsh temperatures that are reasons for the plastic breaking parts of Euro cars - I attest to this because I was simply squeezing a tab on one of the plastic hoses and it broke - -40C outdoors and doing it in the garage which was still relatively cold at -16C. Even if you do it during the summer when pastic pieces have been exposed to harsh cold-hot-cold temps - it is what it is. BMWs are best leased. Most I've met who drive them, are new and leases. Bro' in-law was a tech with BMW, Audi and Volvo. His advice, best purchase a maintenance plan if you want to finance and own it and if buying it used, do as much DIYs and leave the complicated not-so-DIYs to the pros ;)
I was watching your 2018 most reliable bmws and you said 3 series 330s and 5 series 540, I am looking to get a 4 series 430i gran coupe and was wondering why you skipped over it. I did some research and i’m pretty sure it contains the same engine as the 2 listed above. has the 430i been proven to have problems?
got 118D e87 m47 engine 2005, 300.000km, angel eyes and xenons.. original turbo, mostly only common parts replaced, one thermostat. Still goes strong, doesn't have BMS for battery registration, only front electric windows, no steering wheel heating or anything, very basic, very reliable. No DPF from factory. BTW I feel like you are getting ripped off there, here in Europe for example all brakes on my BMW with biggest rotors optioned changed for ATE brand both sides were 500 eur, original would be around 1000eur, thermostat + power steering fluid + cooling fluid were like 220 eur, turbo if needed replacing for original around 1100 eur, new xenon bulbs around 80 eur that's good rated BMW garage expensive site prices, but not dealer ones. Dealer here charges around 70 to 80 eur per hour, garages around 25 to 40 eur
I have an e60 528i and yes I put in some work over the years but I am going on 5 years owning it and it has been great for me and the gas mileage helps a lot too…
Always seems like the US market have a very different experience to the U.K. market when it comes to reliability of things. I wouldn’t buy a used car of say 10 years old and expect to not have someone crop up. That’s what warranties can help with or equally just making an informed decision based on objective expectations rather than subjective dogma. The people that have the problems always screech the loudest, those that are happy just are.
uh thats because the ones in the US are not always german built but possibly built like in alabama which is one of those southern states where people talk like gomer pyle or andy griffith basically poorly american built and its all gasoline powered and not deisel
If they are junk why people try to sell them for a premium? I’m not even talking about the high mileage ones. I’m referring to the ones that don’t run? Blows my mind
E90 is one of the most reliable BMWs of all the models, it is relatively simple, the common or maintainace issues are likely the engine cover/transmission rubber seals, water pump/thermostat, plastic parts under the hood, ignition/injector coils... well, those are still a lot. If you are not a DIY type of guy, those still will cost you thousand of bucks per job.
I'm curious if a high performance design vehicle that doesn't break frequently... They try to balance weight, cost, performance and design. It's not as easy as it sounds. Lexus is probably more your speed. I'm cool with my BMW but I accept the flaws. I've own Audi, Mercedes, Lexus, Honda, Ford, Jeep, etc and all have problems.
Hi Will, as you see I own an F Type, I have owned Porsche, Lamborghini, Benz, BMWs and many Japanese or American made vehicles through the years and have no issues having some problems as it’s almost implied. It’s really more about the arrogance to correct know issues that run through generations, it’s arrogance at the service counter and it’s even more the over priced parts that are not built to the same quality that’s is charged. Bottom line is I love an exciting drive but it you my linked video you will get the whole perspective.
@@ECPP I get it. My background is 20 years working for automotive manufacturers. The used car market is not on their radar. They make zero money from it. The service center at dealers can survive on preventive maintenance revenue alone. They don't want big repairs. They want $200 30k oil change in inspections. Parts will always be expensive sure to low volume vehicles. No BMW platform had the volume of a Ford. If you check now, all makes parts are crazy expensive because no manufacturer can make them cheap. Just facts. BMW plastic is horrible but as I said if you check Honda they have plastic disease too. Get what fits your preference. If you buy used BMW, you buy repairs. You'd better be handy or wealthy.
@@rahimi4762 they do but just replaced radiator and house on my son's... and the plastics nipple broke...I also did the alternator, water pump, belts, window regulator, battery, valve cover gaskets and engine mount in past 2 years. Cars are great but used cars need repairs. Plus Acura has timing belt replacement every 60k.
I was very shocked to hear that from you! I agree on some points, but I am from UK and here we see many old BMW's still on the roads. I think the UK BMWs are more reliable maybe? By the way my dream car is an BMW E60 530D, haha so watching that video made me think twice. But here in UK there is manyyy
its true. also here in europe you see many older BMW from early to mid 200s, and late 90s. probably because european garages know how to work on them. American garages are known that they cant work on european cars because they are to complicated, except for some specialists in the US
Man,I honestly didn’t know they were that bad,my buddy said they were excellent when purchased new but have Alotta problems once they reach 10 years or more because all the plastic parts start to leak.
I have had my share of bmw”s . They tried to stick me at the bmw dealer on recall item but I did my research, they did an oil change without my permission. The service lady had to scramble for coupons because I declined to pay but I met them in the middle. I was looking at purchasing a Dark blue M3 2018, the new grill on the late model is more than I can bare. Stood in the lot for over an hour and was passed over. It wasn’t my first time dealing with racism at a BMW dealership. Had cash to pay for one I had ordered from Germany but had to find another dealership because again I was passed over for not fitting their profile customer .. I am sitting on 3 current bmw”s. Bought a C300 because of my bad experiences. I wrote Northern Cal bmw with my complaints and never received a response. I love the stance and power of the F80. I would love to just sit in my garage and look at it but I have a love hate relationship with BMW. It’s either another Mercedes’ or a used Porsche for me .. luckily I can work on the BMW but I have been faithful, they have not.
Hi Anthony, thanks so much for your comments and from my experience, you are not alone in any of that. We have tried the C300 and have owned it for over a year. So far so good.
If BMW doing this on purpose wonder if a class action lawsuits should be initiated for defrauding their customers among other things. Seems like.if this isn't just plain incompetence but an actual business model to rip off the consumer after the sale it might be worth looking into.
I have 2 E90's a 2010 and 2011 328i sedan if it wasnt for RUclips and me doing my own repairs & maintance i wouldnt have them, other then that they run sweet. Thank you FCP, ECS, Turner motorsports.
Another heartfelt video of pain Mark. Do think it's high performance vehicles in general that suffer constant ills that are exacerbated by poor parts/engineering? A lifetime of personal pain with these vehicles has sent me to both Honda and Toyota where all I know is automotive bliss. I've lived your intro mantra since 1974, but it's soul crushingly expensive.
Great video and I love BMW too 🤦🏾♂️. Some of the issues that you mentioned I know about and some issues I’m like really BMW!!! I have a 16 428i, knock on wood no major major issues yet. I know it’s coming though 😬
On the upside, owning a BMW you probably can make a lot more repair videos than you would with a Toyota/Lexus. I will admit I have driven two different BMW's and they handled great, but since both were rentals, I had the luxury of just giving the cars back when I was done driving them. And while driving them I found other things that swayed me away from wanting to buy one.
as for your x5 e70, you should have got a low mileage e53 less electronics than e70. much less to go wrong, and in my opinion much more robust, mines is now 145,000 from new , serviced on time and routine maintenance plus fitting 2 door carriers myself, thou saying that theirs still some cheap plastics in the engine bay , but not to severe, but it has to be a 6 cylinder model, petrol or diesel not v8 as they have there own issues.
Like I said before. High mileage out of warranty bmws valued under $25,000 only should be for people that know how to source parts themself and know how to work on the car themself. Great value cars for the mechanical inclined. Not so much for most normal people that don’t know how to wrench on cars.
The driving experience is overwhelmed with the thought of driving a ticking time bomb, for me. The B-58 engine, arguably, would help alleviate that. As they say, I'm too old for that sh+t. Ugh! Winter again in Edmonton?
The B58/48 are supposed to be the best new thing for BMW, but what about all the components around it like Mark said? I have an F10 and I changed the timing chain a few months after I got it and the engine runs like a dream......the components around it are a different story so what's so special about the B58 & B48 that makes them that much more reliable?
@@chubbychicken5585 you're wrong the B58 is 100% all BMW! Toyota couldn't make anything that was as good, because this is German engineering at its best! This is why they decided to slightly tweak the engine for the Supra, and then use the ZF8 tranny with this engine, because it's an incredible combo for reliability, and of course performance! Also the electronics, and the vast majority of the car is from BMW look it up!
From experience with several BMWs, they are junk! Look in the engine, 75% plastic. The last cold snap took out our 550i oil cooler, $600 part. They are such nice cars when running, however. Not sure why they can't seem to make them reliable after 5 years or 60,000 miles. The over-complication of systems is also senseless. iDrive unit also went out, need to reflow the solder on the processors. At least the car is running still, but no radio, no way to check oil, etc. Even if you are even mechanically inclined, run away from these cars if possible. I own two at the moment, one for driving while the other is under repair or waiting parts. Very nice cars when running for sure and styling is unique.
I have been following your for a while and do appreciate your knowledge and experience of the BMW brand. I first admired the older BMW's back in the late 70's and 80's yes I am an old guy who likes cars! My question is I have been following a new car start up by Ineos they are making the Grenadier to replace the old style Defender which has been discontinued by Land Rover they will be using a BMW straight 6 engine with a ZF Auto transmission. Do you have any predictions on the reliability of this drive train. Thanks!
Not just BMW over charging for parts. I had to replace just one lug nut on my Tundra. The parts counter at the dealer charged me almost $20 for one lug nut! Insane. I should of said no thanks and found an aftermarket lug nut. They are not only charging insane mark ups on vehicles but parts as well. Have to add also a dealer charging a $15k markup on a 4Runner TRD Pro.
There is a market for simple, fun to drive, easy to maintain cars. I was thinking this as i plan my retirement. Love my bimmer, and where u would have more time to work on them, part costs would be crazy and then there is the question of technological obsolescence with the electronics. To many potential issues at that time of life.
When four wheel disc brakes arrived in cars in the 70s, none of them had a satisfactory parking brake. It simply cannot be engineered into disc calipers, so there was a split in the market: cheap cars went with disc front and drum rear. The rear drum makes a good parking brake. Expensive cars went with disc front and a combined disc/drum at the rear, where the rear drum is solely used for the parking brake. This is expensive. It adds about $1,000 to the price of a new car. The new solution is four wheel discs and an electric parking brake. This uses an electric servo motor to screw a bolt into the inner disc to lock it - much cheaper than the disc/drum combo - while retaining the advantages of four wheel discs.
BMW will argue the fitting came loose with 'wear and tear; it never left the factory like that'. But, yes, as you correctly point out the amount of plastic under the hood of BMW's is staggering. 🙄
i worked with a guy ,and we both were making around 14 dollars a hour,,,,and he drove a fairly new looking bmw,,,i thought to myself,,,i hope he knows what he is doing
i have had two saabs,,a 9000 turbo and 900S both used in the past,,,,,,would love to have a bimmer or audi to experience them at some point,,,,,,but i know enough about cars to know you want to get something,that even if getting it fixed is hard on your wallet,,,you can afford to fix it,,,the saabs were not to bad as far as that went,,,but yeah,,,i make 17 dollars a hour on my job,,,,,and i know a bmw is out of my reach,here in charlotte NC,there are a lot of used bmw's on used car lots,could have gotten one,,,,,but decided to get a 2016 Malibu Lt,not regretting it,but if i ever strike it rich,,,for sure i would look at a bimmer or merc or audi new of course,they do look like really fun cars
Thanks a lot Gerald for your comment and yes I hear that In these cars can be a bucket list item but I would be careful about anything diesel, or v8 or early turbo cars and more specificay older than 5 years unless you can wrench well.
Agree 100% with you … Lexus are very reliable BUT THEY CANT claim they are sport SUVs with 235/45/20 whees and tires🤣🤣🤣 Nowadays is very hard to find a very sport SUV with good reliability
Are BMW’s junk? No, because life is too short to drive boring cars. If those people can’t afford a BMW, then they’re not a baller. Those types of people are better off leasing an Audi, Acura, or Buick.
Thanks, I believe I can afford these things easily, and balling is not throwing money into toilet and wealthy people did not become wealthy by throwing money away.
As a BMW enthusiast I have to say the video was spot on. One reason I buy BMW over Lexus is performance. Lexus is basically the Volvo of Japan. It's nice, pretty reliable, well constructed, and will get you from A to B. The brand is basically as boring as it gets till you are ready to shell out M3, M4 money for their performance model. Their current 2022 RC 350 model is slower than a 07 335i with the N54. For $56k US you can pick up a new 2022 M240xi that performance wise will crush anything in its price range, in the sports luxury sector. That is why BMW is more appealing to the enthusiasts. And let's face it the remainder buy BMWs simply for the badge. These people have no idea what motor is under the hood, and they don't care. This is why the base models are the most common ones on the road.
I absolutely nailed it and I agree to all points. For the hardcore, the M cars provide the driving dynamics that few cars can match other than Porsche or the odd Audi RS, and for people looking for that thrill. The rest, there is really no point to own them if it’s just for a car to drive.
I have an e90 n47 engine and maybe it's the west that overprices. But here In south Africa it's not that expensive to upkeep. Out of everything. The ONLY thing that's been an issue was a water reservoir and the footwell module and that was the only major parts I had .
The most irritating thing is that once a month I make a round trip of 600 miles. I could use a BMW (43,000m, 30mpg) or a Toyota truck (147,000m, 17mpg). With the current price of gas, I would prefer to use the Beemer, but it is always going wrong and has twice had to be towed, so I simply do not trust the piece of junk to get me there and back, whereas apart from some O2 sensors, the Tundra never goes wrong and I'm sure it will outlive me.
I think BMW are trying to follow the same model that the US follow for health care. Charge silly money for our of policy treatment and highly discount for policy(warranty) work Thanks for standing up to BMW they need a good shake up!
Any BMW off warranty should be avoided unless you have an independent or you can fix it yourself. Dealers are not always on their game and will BS you as to what’s wrong with your car in order to fleece you. I speak from experience as a $600 module replaced by dealer turned out to be a broken wire found out by me. Module returned no refund for labour fortunately they refunded the module. I’ll never darken their door again. But still love my e61 M package and Z4 coupe🇨🇦
I mean, I just had to pay $3.5k to replace the ECS module in my junky Hyundai, which is basically the value of the car. I couldn't even get it properly diagnosed at an indy shop bc HYUNDAI is doing dealer codes now...So, my point is just that this can happen across almost all brands these days. Except maybe Toyota bc they never change anything (which will see its fair share of issues in their upcoming updated models I am sure). My wife has a Sienna and that thing is a ROCK (coincidentally also drives like one LOL).
Not my E46. Maintenance maintenance and more maintenance! She’s actually fairly cheap to maintain now. She’s been my everyday car and nothing wrong with her. I don’t know much about the new BMW’s but I advise people to buy BMW’s that were produced from 1960’s- 2005.
@@zsb707 thats your problem then. If you want new get new. If you want a classic old car then get the classic. Either way both options has pros and cons only you can decide what you want.
@@trustyoungpierre9959 You're right. I've always bought new or pre-owned but not older than 5-6 years. That's why now I couldn't splurge on a magnificent S2000 even if I love that roadster ...
![FNAF vs TF2 - Episode 2 [SFM]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/z5b3V2-VLb0/mqdefault.jpg)
Come on everyone….let’s get his subscriber count up because his education on car brands are paramount. This guy knows his shit. It’s insulting that he does not have at least 500k subscribers…..he is brilliant.
Thank you very much Rick. I appreciate the support. Yes sharing channel or videos of mine to your respective social media platforms is the best support indeed. Thank you everyone for watching and for viewing my videos every week. Cheers and it would never be successful without each and everyone of you.
@@ECPP you rock !
Talked to an banker/ financial advisor at at a bank about BMW’s yesterday. Dude straight up said you’re better off leasing them new and giving them the boot after the lease is up.
You are totally right. Fun to own for 5 years and then…..
I was going to comment like that. BMWs and Mercedes nowadays are made for the leasing/renting customer and those cars are built to work for the renting/leasing period (about 3 years or so). After that, that customer will get another better, latest model and goes on and on... If you want reliable luxury, get a Lexus. BMW and Mercedes are not crap... They are built to run for an average of 3 years. After that, they don't care.
@@JoseSilva-ep2ww I disagree. I have a 9 year old BMW, I take it in for servicing once a year, and I haven’t had a single issue with it. And it still looks brand new and everything works. Most owners of older BMW’s and Mercedes don’t take care of them.
@@chrismichael1161 That is good to hear. However, your case is not common among BMW owners.
Maybe the new BMWs, some of the older ones are pretty solid such as the N52.. I supposed BMW, like any other car maker, had been pressure about the carbon emissions, MPGs, etc. Therefore, they sacrifice true quality of their naturally aspirated engines. In my opinion, BMWs are the Ultimate Driving Machine...I haven't driven a Porsche, Ferrari, or Lamborghini; but BMWs are my favorite. I own a N52 coupe manual transmission; equipped with a supercharger. Lots of funs!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I totally agree here. BMWs are such great driving Cars and they handle so well. But, the manufacturer never listen to their customers and build Reliable cars with less trips to the Dealership. Most BMW owners who purchase new BMWs are well off customers who are more than happy to part with their money for a Good quality product. But the way they overcharge their parts and labors ($250/hour here in California USA) ruins their reputation. I enjoy driving my BMW 535 Diesel. But I have lost faith in this Brand over the years.
Agreed. I love my E46 330i and E90 328i, but man... Fuck the dealership. They really over charge for prices.
People don't become well off throwing their money away on junk cars, most if not all just lease them or buy them via their companies and offset the loses via their business tax returns.
I would only lease never finance.
@@therealsyxx Yes but you can make real money on a Ferrari lease.
@@katherynscleaning5807 ohhh wow I never looked at it like that. You mean letting people rent it?
Wow! This is amazing how you’ve basically made an addictive series finally breaking down the truth behind these junk vehicles. As a BMW fan over the years, I have to admit that you’re spot on and as much as I don’t want to admit it, most German cars are the same. What would be great to see next, is a series on the best alternatives because I’m sure there are many people (car enthusiasts) like me who save up their hard earned cash and want to find suitable alternatives to the great handling and good looking BMWs, Mercedes and Audis. Also, I’m not interested in leasing as I did that before and I’m over it. Great idea for a daily but not for that weekend toy that you want to keep long term… Also, it’s basically a never ending subscription which is just not my preference anymore.
I’m sure you’re build a regular fan base of these videos revealing the truth… I’m one of them - more power to you, Sir! 👍🏿
I still like the look and feel of German cars, but in the VW edition. They will break the same, but they won't cost you a small fortune to repair.
I sure miss my 1980's BMWs. They used to be solid, reliable cars. You just couldn't kill them, same as the 1980's Mercedes. The new stuff is all plastic and disposable. How sad...
Spot on. BMW has been doing this for at least the last 20 years coincidentally I’ve not considered buying a BMW in the last 20 years. Currently in the market for a high end SUV and not even thinking about a used or new BMW. I don’t want to buy a used problem and I don’t want to plunk down 6 figures for a car that will be a basket case in 4-5 years.
I am with you on that. I have literally moved on and currently trying to sell this X5
you act like bmw is the only brand that does this
Go back a few videos ago, and Mark would tell you he's eyeing the X3 M40i, so don't believe a word he says! This model has the world renowned B58 paired with the ZF8 tranny! Reliability is good as he put it, and the vehicle is a dream to drive! Absolutely worth the 60 grand it cost new, and I highly recommend it or the new X5 with the same engine, and tranny combo!👍🙂
It's called built in obsolescence. Nearly everything consumed is manufactured that way. From white stuff (fridges, clothing irons, washing machines) to motor vehicles follow this trend. I drive a 1989 735i Bmw in nearly perfect condition. Do all the maintenance myself. I simply love that car and will never want to get divorced from it.
It's not built-in obsolescence they're not smart enough to do that it's a company that's trying to make a complicated car with too much poor engineering is poor engineering not planned Ops license because they're not trying to make the car shity they they are that would be a good excuse on the back end
Great vid ! German cars today are way,way too complicated and have far too many things to break or go bad. There is a huge market for extremely simple cars.
For sure and if I could afford a car company start up, I would focus on performance, safety, and reliability and gadgets would not be high on the list.
Great video. BMW has made their bed and decided many years ago that building cool cars that won't hold up, as you stated "planned obsolescence" is exactly correct. And that's why they have earned bad reputations, with terrible resale values, and they push them out the door with decent lease deals that are subsidized by the manufacturer. The people that really take the hit are the ones that buy the 5-year old 7 series or X5, thinking they are getting the deal of the century, and they don't know what kind of problem they have just bought. Same can be said for Jaguar and Land Rover and the shit they put out, now even more so under Tata ownership. Fun cars, but lease don't buy, and throw the keys and the problems back to your dealer when you are finished with it in 3 years.
Hmm, I feel for you Mark, I can feel your despair with BMW's slow grind of death through it's inability to keep the once great driver and proud ownership experience alive.
I feel the company is more focussed on profit then it's build quality and by trying to live on it's past laurels of pride without the necessary input of quality it can only fail.
Luckily Lexus still remembers it's customers but are all the current vehicle builders in the same boat these days?
These days it's the double-P...
Plastic and Profits
they lost the pure driver focus on cars and too many expensive gadgets
Designed to be leased. From top to bottom, from the drawing board to the service department, the whole business model...not built to last. Built to last through the lease (warranty period).
Amazing video!!! 🔥 All of you said it’s true:
My experience with my 52,000 mile 328i 2,011
Spark plugs replaced ✅
Suspension replaced ✅
Radiator replaced ✅
Water pump replaced ✅
Break hose replaced ✅
Stop light fixed ✅
Oxygen sensor replaced ✅
Currently having a check light bc the MAF
They are very expensive machines to drive and repair.
I’m thinking about replacing my 328i 2011 for a MB C300. I’ve never owned a Merc so I’m wondering if is worth the change?
Hi Ricardo, you bet what you are seeing with the BMW is a common thing and paying a dealer or even a shop is going to drain a wallet in no time flat. As far as the C300 goes, be sure to stay dialed into this channel and my other Vlog channel because we own a 2018 C300 and have for over a year so we will share info on that car as we go along.
Damn, that seems to be a lemon ...
Similar things apply to Mercedes, Audis and VWs.
If that cheap timing belt snaps on a interference engine, it's good bye engine/good bye car.
Exactly
Audis are slightly different. Running fine except for the part where VW comes in. Also there's some engines that are quite sensitive to adulterated fuel and any slight fuel dirt happens....the car goes into self-destruction. Especially the Q7
The European vehicle body and interiors are made strong good quality to an extent. I had a VW and its interior fell apart. Had to redo the roof, door covers etc. Its very delicate inside but the car is solid. The engine on the other hand for all European vehicles is well built but all those little hoses and plastic parts are a pain in the ass. Truth be told the parts and service price is these European cars downfall. If they are making vehicles for the rich come out of the commercial market and leave it to the Japanese. I have a 2005 Subaru Legacy and it has served me so well, I wondered why the heck I bought a VW for? Japanese cars are more reliable, affordable, and easier to maintain. If i buy a European car it ust be new and I won't keep it beyond 5 years. They are money PITS.
There are upsides to experiencing a car such as a BMW. I’m a new owner and and learning about what the issues are and how the whole business model is so unethical and meant to drain their customers. Honda and Toyota get right and care about the consumer. I will enjoy my 2019 430i but once I see it going the road of endless repairs it’s GONE. I will go back to accords.
Cheers
It seems you're experiencing some buyer's remorse ...
You asked a question about how many E46s are around. I drive around the country and the E46 is all over the place, surprisingly. But you're absolutely right. There are a lot of older BMWs that aren't on the road, anymore.
Have had my Toyota Kluger or highlander as it's known in North America since it had 200,000 km on the clock.
Now has over 400,000 km. Absolutely nothing breaks. Just regular maintenance.
Same with my 2010 Lexus is 250c.
Bought it with 250,000 km on it . Only had it two years, but it drives as if it just came out of the factory.
So here's my recent history on my 2012 X5...
The instrument cluster died - no lights, no gauge movement. Bought a used replacement and fixed that. Front struts went bad so I replaced those. Replaced the serpentine belt and pulleys because I've heard that's a ticking time bomb. Took apart the entire center console just to fix the cup holders where the elastic band had broken that keeps the clamps against your cup.
Earlier this week I finally got all this done and was ready to start driving it daily again so I drove it to a shop for an oil change. The plastic connector for one of the radiator hoses busted on the way there.
It's literally one thing after another with these cars.
yup including the service soon light after taking of the problem that turned it on only to come back a week or three later
Great video sir. Excellent analysis of how BMW just rips off the public 😢
Thanks Kevin
Very nice video! I had a BMW X5 2016 for about 7 months... The heat seat turns on while you're driving by itself!! Crazy it keeps doing that for no reason. I took to the dealership and they asked me 1.7k to replace both modules. That was crazy.... I ended up selling it for a cheap price. They definitely are good looking cars... but I don't want them! Now I got a RAV4 2020 for more than a year... and never had any kind of issues... even driving 146 miles every single week day. They're really made for last. I'm enjoying Toyota a lot!
Great point, we just want something to work as intended. Cheers
That was a wise decision. Some would argue that an X5 is way cooler than a RAV4. But what's the use of a car that continuously breaks down?
Keep up the good work as you are appreciated. I am on my fourth BMW amongst other cars that I have, because as you say, life is to drive boring cars. I have had a e21, e23, e30 and now have a e39 2002 530i m-sport. I know what I am getting into with the brand and I do wrench on my own cars. regards.
Thanks
Interesting, the plastic parts tend to last longer here in the UK.
That cowling stuff is just not compatible with the flat rate system. I have found bits broken, missing parts and screws on all my BMWs..
Thinking about it, old BMWs are also not so common either in the UK. A few years ago you would see more E39s than E60s despite the age difference.
Thanks for sharing
The days of the e30’s are gone. It’s no wonder why an E30 M3 goes for a pretty penny these days! Fantastic fun car.
I agree with your message. I have owned 2 BMWs. An E34, one of the last of them, built in 1995. Very little plastic under the hood. Rubber hoses instead of snap together plastic piping. Those snap together parts are great during engine assembly, but do not hold up over time, and as you point out they are very expensive when they need to be replaced. The E34 was a very enjoyable car to own, and not too difficult to do diy repairs.
My second BMW is an E91 from 2006. This generation has all those lovely plastic bits under the hood. If you touch those plastic bits, they break, and there are many repairs that require you to move the plastic bits out of the way to reach the part of the engine you are trying to work on. An example is a starter replacement. The plastic parts that break during this repair procedure, exceed the cost of the starter itself.
From my professional experience in the world of manufacturing, I can tell you that what Toyota does in terms of 1.) Design for Manufacturability, 2.) Design for Serviceability, 3. Design for Reliability, goes well beyond what BMW is doing.
I enjoy owning a well made machine. And I enjoy taking good care of it. To me, there is not satisfaction in living with shortcomings in design, that manifest themselves in expensive repairs. It is a bad way to spend money, and time, and definitely detracts from my satisfaction with the machine.
Since Toyota and Lexus have mastered the Quality, Durability, and Reliability, going forward, that is what I intend to own.
Thank you so much Michael, I totally agree with you and that’s how I saw my old Porsche 930. All parts were screwed together and not snapped or clipped. Parts were mostly aluminum and magnesium or at the very least pot metal which isn far superior to this plastic trash we see in modern BMWs. I know a lot of manufacturers use plastic and BMW is not the k my one, but it’s really figuring out the correct application and turbo heat touching a plastic pipe is inevitable to fail. Thank you very much and have a great day.
Thanks for sharing. BMWs are fun to drive, but unfortunately they're cheaply man. It's very sad. The best thing to do is to lease them, is a lot cheaper that way.
Exactly
Good one Mark. Just wondering if a video dedicated to owners manuel would be helpful to the channel. I believe you elude to reading the owners manuel but many people fail toeven though a lot of answers are there. KEEP ON KEEPING ON.
I absolutely agree having owned BMWs in the past. Thanks for telling the truth.
Thanks Rik
I picked up a new 2021 330i last year with the newer 2.0L turbo B48 engine. You once did a video on how BMW fixed most of the design issues when they moved to the B48/B58 line. I hope I don't regret this purchase 5-6 years from now. I absolutely love it so far.
They have been improved in those 2 engines.
Hi Mark, still have my 2007 E90 325d M Sport at 180k. Was going to get 340 M Sport but was put off with the massive Road Tax to be paid per year as car cost over £40k post April 2017 coupled with the insane used Car price values increase during Covid, Chip shortage etc. Your videos on issues with BMW’s and other You Tubers simply just put me off buying a modern BMW. In addition Electric cars - price, range and infrastructure are certainly not there yet. Perhaps nearer to 2030? What car would you be looking to buy which ticks the boxes that my E90 did - still applicable now when I purchased at just over 3 year old so I didn’t take the massive hit on depreciation. Comments from other subscribers welcome of course
The more I watch channels like this, the more I appreciate the 1999 Lincoln Town Car I inherited from my grandmother. BMWs are great at what they do, but IMO are really intended for affluent people who lease a new car every few years or for hard core enthusiasts who have DIY car repair skills and / or are willing and able to spend what it takes to keep them maintained. The driving experience takes priority over reliability. Turbos put more strain on the engine, lighter weight plastics wear out quicker, high tolerance parts are more expensive to produce, etc. For me, a car is a tool for getting from point A to point B. If I were to get a new car, my idea of a high performance driving machine would be a V6 Camry.
They really are only for the first 3-5 years under a lease
What?!!!? The 1999 Lincoln Town Car...ahhhhhhhhh memories. I would love to have another one of these cars.
I'll throw you a sleeper. An older Rav4 v6. Those things will snap your neck back with off the line acceleration. Totaaly unexpected! Lots of fun. Simple and cheap to maintain.
@@mannarmylie4195 Now that's a genuine sleeper. Never expected that!
Get an Acura or Volvo
My favorite BMW is any 7 series
Specially the Chris Bangle Design
When they came out I was a kid now I can afford one but Ty to your channel I have stuck to Acura / Honda
Only issue my TL Type S transmission failed design flaw
But my accord and TLX no issues
Cheers
"Are BMW's junk? Nope..not as long as you don't keep them more than 3-4 years after being bought NEW!!.After about 4 years all that bio-degradable plastic under the hood is affected by the engine heat and starts to disintegrate. Thanks for posting!!
I've owned my newly bought 6 Series coupe for 12 years now and it's awesome. I use it as a second, mainly weekend car though, so it has fairly low mileage.
I was a BMW fan, then one day my E46 cooling system exploded on the side of the road with no warning. Turns out the electric fan had failed at some point without providing any warning in the cabin, and with no mechanical fan present it was only a matter of time until I was idling for awhile on a hot day and the cooling system simply could not withstand the pressure of rising engine and coolant temperatures, all the while providing no indication at all on the cabin temperature gauge, which registers dead center when barely warmed up AND when on the verge of overheating.
BMW engineering is a myth.
Thanks for sharing Greg. Cooling system woes and BMW seem to go hand in hand.
Great video very informative about BMW'S design very sad that the company is cheating people out of money because of the poor design and using plastic parts.
Thank you. It’s a truly sad state of affairs. Thanks for reaching out.
Bro that M5 engine is literally the most troublesome engine ever. It’s the first time they ever did a v10. They are used to inline 6
confirm the forums it is, but it is actually a very good and reliable engine. like the plastic teeth in the throttle actuator housing BMW rectified that and put steel teeth in it with the updated parts for that engine
Thanks for the comment
You're idiotic for always going to the dealer for repairs lol
100 percent facts. I have owned 5 BMW's and after having a tesla for a year and a half, I feel like an idiot for constantly giving bmw a chance. Tesla has the performance and 0 issues. I'm still traumatized from the valve stem seal replacement job I had to do on my e70 years back. I didnt even have time to enjoy the vehicle and had to do valve stem seals, change the crossover pipe, same issue with the tail light in the video ( had to replace that), constant problems with the air suspension. When it worked I loved to drive it but I was always a heartbeat away from having to do more work. If i didnt work on it myself I would have had to put 20k into a vehicle worth 15k ahah... Great vids 100 percent facts. Somehow bmws are addictive and kept me coming back for years.
Thank you very much for your comment and that’s generally the experience. They have been fun, but I believe that they have crossed the line for me too. I am out.
Think of the BMW and Mercedes Warranty as a ticking time bomb…If you don’t run away from it before it times out, you will lose an arm and a leg.
Yikes. Totally true though.
In fairness, 85% of BMWs are leased. Then they are designed to catastrophically fail, creating room for another lease. If it lasts a year beyond the outdated 48 month warranty period, that’s an engineering mistake.
Haha, you know it. It then takes an Elon level of annual salary to stay on top of maibyenance and repairs after that.
Thanks for the great video. My friend they are designed ON PURPOSE like that. BMW, Mercedes, AUDI, Volvo etc do not want their cars on the road passed 10 years max. You even mentioned it in your video that you do not see old BMW on the roads. It is called milking your customer base and protecting the Brand image.
If you look it from their point of view it makes sense. Guess what, most of their clients agree with them and do not care. Lease it for a few years, take the depreciation, turn it in and get another car.
Only people who want to save money, or protect the environment do not like it. People like you and me and others who want value do not matter.
PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
Sorry for the harsh language. I do agree with you 110%.
Thank you very much for your comment. Totally right it seems like a society hinges on throw away items.
I own two BMWs and two MINIs, am I insane? I don't think so. I research a lot before I buy because there are some really great reliable BMWs and some terrible money pits.
I never go to the dealer except for recalls and warranty work. I change all oils at less then half the recommended intervals. I do almost all my own service work. I know where to buy parts from independent suppliers. Specialized jobs that I can't do go to a indie.
This is the way to enjoy them without going bankrupt.
Never ever own a bmw diesel out of warranty. N54s are only good when the previous own has spent at least 15k on turbos, injectors, fuel pumps water pumps, rads, housings before you buy.
You are right Bruce and I am the same way. I have shared Many DIY videos on my channel and am not afraid to tackle even far above average complex tasks, and I also leave the more complex issues to the dealer because I rarely have to outsource. With that said, way too many issues and the utter gouging that goes on is unacceptable and while you and I as well as some others can DIY and get creative, many other people cannot or do not want to so I believe it’s responsible to share these concerns with the public and they can make their decision if it’s acceptable or not. Have a great weekend and thanks a lot for your feedback.
This man Bruce knows what to do!
You should teach auto-schooling. You’ll teach the students the truth about vehicles 🚗💯✊🏽 Your the man bro!
Thank you very much I really appreciate that. Hope you are having a great weekend.
Total garbage! I babied my X3 M Sport and a 95000km needs a need cylinder head. Plastic burst everywhere. Traded it in and never going to purchase another BMW. Overpriced for what they are. Get a VW if you like German style and feel cars. You won’t pay as much and the parts and maintenance is more responsible.
The last decade is going to catch up them!
Absolutely right. It will catch up and so sorry for your issues. Sadly big repairs are a “thing “ with this brand.
I wouldn't touch a BMW with a 100 foot pole. Disposable toys.
@@ECPP
Yup, the level of wear on the cams and the eccentric shaft and valve tronic gear was astonishing! I did oil changes at 6000km and it’s 11 years old with 95,000km! What’s joke. I too had the infamous led light bar malfunction and water in the taillight. I remedied with some high temp silicone to seal it and luckily was able to find aftermarket Led tail light control modules that are made with better components for $80 for 4. The dealer list the part but you can’t buy it. You have to buy the whole assembly for $550! Windshield cowling leaks and ruined cylinder 5-6 injections. Overflow coolant tank split open like a cantelope and so have various vacuum lines and coolant hoses but not at the rubber but at the bs plastic quick connectors.
I traded it in for a 2022 VW Tiguan R line black edition. Took out the 10y 100,000km extended factory warranty for $3k. Since we don’t drive much and so we’d never see the 4 year or 80,000km failure points. Got $15k for the trade in after negotiating the trade amount from $12k. Told them I would finance and on the day of pickup I paid in full for the car. 😉 the EA888 engine now in its 3rd gen has been refined for over 14 years and is relatively easy to work on. The common failure points have been remedied and with the extended warranty that replaces parts with genuine oem and covers labor and taxes it was a no brainer. Another thing you have to factor in with paying up front for the factory extended warranty in todays economic environment of our out of comtrol inflation, you are locking in todays labor rates and parts costs.
With all those software controlled systems and capacitive touch control…all I see is $$ down the not too distant road. 3 visits for this stuff over the next 10 years will more then pay for itself.
I equate the BMW ownership to that of getting a boat. The 2 most exciting days are the day you get it and the day you get rid of it! B.O.A.T = bring out another thousand!, every weekend you put it on the water and fuel it. BMW = Bring More Money With-you! 😂
Be a real friend to a friend everyone. Tell them to stay away from this brand. They aren’t the brand you grew up with anymore. It’s not a brand anymore. It’s a lifestyle your buying. After the first 4-5 years your in for a world of hurt. Then you do this,that and before you know it your committed. Then the big one comes and you wake up.
I see tons of bmw’s. Unfortunately their not rolling down the road. They’re stacked at the auction houses and used car lots around town. The VW I went to had 12 bmw’s sitting there probably waiting to be picked up by the auction houses
@@johnl3230
Lol I wouldn’t touch one again with a dirty branch! 😂
@@insanegixxerdude486 💯
I love my BMW! I don’t care if it’s less reliable, or more expensive to maintain. It’s a dream to drive and always puts a smile on my face.
And that is important and if it has not been a thorn then do what makes you happy.
@@danielchoi6477 lol no I've had my bmw for 10 years 2004 bmw 530d 310 000 km on the clock still runs like a dream 18 years later still performing to dropped my friends Subaru wrx 08 and a mazda 3 mps the other day we went to a car show and diced for the fun 😀
Hahhahahaha, ok, it doesn't take much to make you happy. J/K. I think it's important for people to have the things that make them happy in life and put smiles on their faces.
Fool
Chris I agree with you my littleZ4 coupe puts smile on my face. So what it costs a little more to run, People check out Honda parts some day if you think BMW parts are expensive. Actually my Z4 coupe has been very reliable must be the service guy. Me🇨🇦
For a lifelong BMW fan like me (who's love affair went sour years ago) it's a tough pill to swallow. New BMW's are actually junk. And they look very ugly. I'm amazed that BMW still outsells Mercedes-Benz in the US. To be fair, Mercs aren't as good as the old W124, R129 and W140 but at least the E-class is very solid midsize luxury sedan.
True and the s63 is a beast
You kind of crack me up. Sometimes you love BMW, sometimes you hate BMW. Regardless, it does seem like you are completely obsessed with BMW.
I always enjoyed the drive and have praised them for that reason, however, enough is enough. Low quality parts for premium dollars, and finding recent models struggle with durability
I just bought a 1997 323i e36 with 12,000 original miles and I love it. I have been doing some maintenance on it like oil pan gasket leak, valve cover since I am already doing oil pan, brake fluid change, coolant change. It runs really well. I won’t buy a new BMW but I will keep doing maintenance on my e36. Those engines can easily make 200,000 miles.
Mark I have owned the E36 325i new in ‘94 and the E60 535i new in 2008. I tracked the maintenance and repair cost to determine if buying new was justified. The conclusion was yes for the E36 and no for the E60. The E60 has been disappointing given the expensive repairs and the types of failures. I have replaced 4 water pumps, 6 injectors twice and the idler pulley twice. I have over serviced my cars in order to extend their life and am disappointed to say that my next purchase will be either a previously owned Porsche, Mercedes or Lexus. I enjoy your videos. Don in Unionville, ON.
Thanks for reaching out Don and I agree the engine in your e60 was the same I had in my 335 and it’s just not worth the hassle. Porsche would be my choice for the fun factor.
@@ECPP Mark, I have been waiting on a module for the active steering since the middle of June. The $2K module was back ordered from Germany and now they are struggling to programme it. lol. I am searching for a 2009 or later 997 911. Wish me luck
Because of the plastic material around the engine, my E92 335i would go into limp mode (engine malfunction) on high revs because the electrical connector for the vanos solenoid gets loose every time engine revs above 4000 rpm (because its plastic end has deteriorated over time), silly and funny problem that took me a while to figure out. Plastic for parts attached to the engine is a WRONG choice
Some plastic makes sense but not nearly in the application that is used in these cars
As the owner of a tuned e93 335i I can not argue. Just changed the waterpump after changing it 22k miles ago. While working on it this weekend I've noticed the rear main seal is beginning to leak. Bought the car 2+ years ago and went through ALL of the known issues. It doesn't matter. The maintenance stuff is BS.....they are difficult to keep on the road period.
With that said I love it to bits because when it's right it's honestly the most amazing performing car I've owned. Eveytime I crawl under it I say I'm done, I'm selling it.....then I fix it and it's a dream for a few more months and I decide to keep it. Viscous cycle!! Lol
I'm not sure it would be allowed to take up garage space if it weren't for FCP Euro's lifetime guarantee on everything I purchase from the oil to the spark plugs and coil packs I go through every 10k miles due to the tune.
Great summary and that’s how I experienced my e92 335
Another great video my Friend, I'm 58, thought I would treat myself to a minty fresh BMW 330i x drive or a Volvo S60. I'm a power plant engineer/mech. Do all my own vehicle service,But wow. I think I'll pass on the BMW. I know its a terrible time to buy, no dealer incentives to lease.I'm going to buy. Wish me luck. Thanks again for all you do!
Thanks for reaching out Thomas. Good luck in the buy and I would like to hear what you end up buying.
2008 x5 3.0 250k miles and still running strong with original engine and transmission all due to PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE! People feel like they can treat these like Honda’s and still get by. 😂
I love these video's. Could watch them 24/7!!
Thanks a lot for watching
A dream to drive and a nightmare to repair. I had to learn the hard way. I purchased 2 BMW’s brand new in 2005 and 2011. My 2011 3-series had everything “major” replaced under warranty. I sold the car to my boyfriend when I leased my 2019 X3 3 years ago and the car has been problem free for him - go figure!
From my experience, I think BMW intentionally put parts on these cars that last 3 years to “encourage” you to lease- leasing is a guaranteed repeat customer easily! By my third BMW, I got smart and leased. It’s a black on black 2019 BMW X3 that’s about to go back to BMW in July 2022. My 4th BMW I ordered last month is a mineral white 330i with M-Sport that has a Tacora red interior. She will be leased too. If you take the pandemic and chip shortage out of the equation, generally cars depreciate way too quickly for me to ever consider financing anything again unless it’s a Honda.
Thanks for sharing
so what happened with that 2005???????????
@@fargeeks I traded it for the 2011.
I have a 40k Mile N51 no turbos and the dealer suggested $10k US worth of maintenance. I got it serviced from an independent for about $1500. Hoses were coming apart as they were removed.
Gotta do it yourself or have a trustworthy independent. With that said there are a couple of local Indy’s here that have quoted prices on some repairs, close to the dealer prices so what I see is an overall taking advantage of the little guy. Either DIY or kick to curb.
Tip for potential BMW owners.
Before you buy your next Bavarian Motor not Works be sure to perform a coolant exhaust leak test. This is a simple test that checks for the presence of exhaust gas in your cooling system. If exhaust is present in the cooling system you have a head gasket failure in progress, and this can only end in a very expensive engine replacement, or an excruciating cylinder head remove, repair and replace, which can run into tens of thousands of $$. Replacing the engine produces a far more certain outcome.
Oh and by the way if you happen to overheat one of the straight six cylinder BMW engines there is a BMW service bulletin that advises releasing and then re-torquing the cylinder head bolts before doing any repair. If any of the bolts do not hold torque it is because the head has warped and pulled the threads out of the block - BMW guidance at that point is a new engine.
We should feel fortunate that BMW doesn't make planes or banking software.
Under the hood there are lot of plastic. Heat + plastic is not a good combination.
That’s exactly right.
I can't say they're junk. I've had two PESSCE cars in almost 30 years: 6 Series coupe and XF sedan. I still own both and they're amazing. (PESSCE - Powerful, Elegant, Sporty, Safe, Comfortable, Exclusive)
Nice. Thanks for sharing
He's had bad experience with specific models known for their issues. Folks that state BMWs are junk (without specifying year and model) are ignorant. As a previous owner of two BMWs for more then 10 years, I can say that not all of them are junk. Heck, some of the newer engines are pretty good (specifically the B58 with the ZF 8 speed transmission).
@@mike6136 True. The B58 engine & ZF gearbox is a gem of a combo 👍.
@@mike6136 This may be true, however how does the uninitiated car buyer sift through all the data to figure out which BMW to buy? I have avoided BMW as an uninformed buyer because I simply don't know which one is going to be a problem and which one will likely be problem free.
@@monkymind4316 I can definitely relate to your concerns. Research and more research. A good majority of buyers will resort to one source. Also, people tend to be more vocal with negative experiences vs positive. Toyota did its research before allowing a BMW engine to be used in a car with their badge. Another example is the Kia/Hyundai brands - folks can't get passed the fact that those manufacturers are not what they use to be and are making better vehicles.
A lot would argue until reminded time and time again, Living in the province of Alberta Canada... we do experience harsh temperatures that are reasons for the plastic breaking parts of Euro cars - I attest to this because I was simply squeezing a tab on one of the plastic hoses and it broke - -40C outdoors and doing it in the garage which was still relatively cold at -16C. Even if you do it during the summer when pastic pieces have been exposed to harsh cold-hot-cold temps - it is what it is. BMWs are best leased. Most I've met who drive them, are new and leases. Bro' in-law was a tech with BMW, Audi and Volvo. His advice, best purchase a maintenance plan if you want to finance and own it and if buying it used, do as much DIYs and leave the complicated not-so-DIYs to the pros ;)
Excellent review. Couldn't agree with you more. Thanks.
Thanks Wayne. Much appreciated. I think we both have similar tastes and clearly we figured out something that many others have not yet.
I was watching your 2018 most reliable bmws and you said 3 series 330s and 5 series 540, I am looking to get a 4 series 430i gran coupe and was wondering why you skipped over it. I did some research and i’m pretty sure it contains the same engine as the 2 listed above. has the 430i been proven to have problems?
Ya that’s the b48 and is one of the more reliable late model engines
got 118D e87 m47 engine 2005, 300.000km, angel eyes and xenons.. original turbo, mostly only common parts replaced, one thermostat. Still goes strong, doesn't have BMS for battery registration, only front electric windows, no steering wheel heating or anything, very basic, very reliable. No DPF from factory. BTW I feel like you are getting ripped off there, here in Europe for example all brakes on my BMW with biggest rotors optioned changed for ATE brand both sides were 500 eur, original would be around 1000eur, thermostat + power steering fluid + cooling fluid were like 220 eur, turbo if needed replacing for original around 1100 eur, new xenon bulbs around 80 eur that's good rated BMW garage expensive site prices, but not dealer ones. Dealer here charges around 70 to 80 eur per hour, garages around 25 to 40 eur
I have an e60 528i and yes I put in some work over the years but I am going on 5 years owning it and it has been great for me and the gas mileage helps a lot too…
And some repairs are always a thing because everything wears out and breaks but there can get to be a point…
The alerts when the car first starts up is annoying but other than that it’s been enjoyable
Always seems like the US market have a very different experience to the U.K. market when it comes to reliability of things.
I wouldn’t buy a used car of say 10 years old and expect to not have someone crop up. That’s what warranties can help with or equally just making an informed decision based on objective expectations rather than subjective dogma.
The people that have the problems always screech the loudest, those that are happy just are.
Cheers
uh thats because the ones in the US are not always german built but possibly built like in alabama which is one of those southern states where people talk like gomer pyle or andy griffith
basically poorly american built and its all gasoline powered and not deisel
If they are junk why people try to sell them for a premium? I’m not even talking about the high mileage ones. I’m referring to the ones that don’t run? Blows my mind
Nice
‘Junk’ is a bit strong, I’ve been lucky with mine, my e90 lasted for 15 years with only the injectors coils failing
The only thing to really worry about is the rod bearings and even then it isn’t that bad.
E90 is one of the most reliable BMWs of all the models, it is relatively simple, the common or maintainace issues are likely the engine cover/transmission rubber seals, water pump/thermostat, plastic parts under the hood, ignition/injector coils... well, those are still a lot. If you are not a DIY type of guy, those still will cost you thousand of bucks per job.
I'm curious if a high performance design vehicle that doesn't break frequently... They try to balance weight, cost, performance and design. It's not as easy as it sounds. Lexus is probably more your speed. I'm cool with my BMW but I accept the flaws. I've own Audi, Mercedes, Lexus, Honda, Ford, Jeep, etc and all have problems.
Hi Will, as you see I own an F Type, I have owned Porsche, Lamborghini, Benz, BMWs and many Japanese or American made vehicles through the years and have no issues having some problems as it’s almost implied. It’s really more about the arrogance to correct know issues that run through generations, it’s arrogance at the service counter and it’s even more the over priced parts that are not built to the same quality that’s is charged. Bottom line is I love an exciting drive but it you my linked video you will get the whole perspective.
@@ECPP I get it. My background is 20 years working for automotive manufacturers. The used car market is not on their radar. They make zero money from it. The service center at dealers can survive on preventive maintenance revenue alone. They don't want big repairs. They want $200 30k oil change in inspections.
Parts will always be expensive sure to low volume vehicles. No BMW platform had the volume of a Ford. If you check now, all makes parts are crazy expensive because no manufacturer can make them cheap. Just facts. BMW plastic is horrible but as I said if you check Honda they have plastic disease too. Get what fits your preference. If you buy used BMW, you buy repairs. You'd better be handy or wealthy.
Acura does it pretty well
@@rahimi4762 they do but just replaced radiator and house on my son's... and the plastics nipple broke...I also did the alternator, water pump, belts, window regulator, battery, valve cover gaskets and engine mount in past 2 years. Cars are great but used cars need repairs. Plus Acura has timing belt replacement every 60k.
I was very shocked to hear that from you! I agree on some points, but I am from UK and here we see many old BMW's still on the roads. I think the UK BMWs are more reliable maybe? By the way my dream car is an BMW E60 530D, haha so watching that video made me think twice. But here in UK there is manyyy
He’s not talking bout 80s-mid 90s
its true. also here in europe you see many older BMW from early to mid 200s, and late 90s. probably because european garages know how to work on them. American garages are known that they cant work on european cars because they are to complicated, except for some specialists in the US
Still driving my '95 e34 6 cyl 5 speed. Not junk. Only thing that doesn't work properly is the original radio.
Man,I honestly didn’t know they were that bad,my buddy said they were excellent when purchased new but have Alotta problems once they reach 10 years or more because all the plastic parts start to leak.
If you want to drive one, either lease it and get rid of it after that or be ready to practice your do it yourself skills.
Yeah the past ones, not the newer ones.
I have had my share of bmw”s . They tried to stick me at the bmw dealer on recall item but I did my research, they did an oil change without my permission. The service lady had to scramble for coupons because I declined to pay but I met them in the middle. I was looking at purchasing a Dark blue M3 2018, the new grill on the late model is more than I can bare. Stood in the lot for over an hour and was passed over. It wasn’t my first time dealing with racism at a BMW dealership. Had cash to pay for one I had ordered from Germany but had to find another dealership because again I was passed over for not fitting their profile customer .. I am sitting on 3 current bmw”s. Bought a C300 because of my bad experiences. I wrote Northern Cal bmw with my complaints and never received a response. I love the stance and power of the F80. I would love to just sit in my garage and look at it but I have a love hate relationship with BMW. It’s either another Mercedes’ or a used Porsche for me .. luckily I can work on the BMW but I have been faithful, they have not.
Hi Anthony, thanks so much for your comments and from my experience, you are not alone in any of that. We have tried the C300 and have owned it for over a year. So far so good.
Thanks Mark for the detailed explanation. Maybe Those folks calling maintenance all the time will wake up.
Thanks a lot Moe. Exactly some brands called maintenance a full engine rebuild while others call maintenance an oil change a little else.
@@ECPP Exactly. Well done bravo
I drive a Toyota 4Runner for 10 years now and never has any problems, I am looking forward to drive it another 10 years or more. Thanks for sharing.
If BMW doing this on purpose wonder if a class action lawsuits should be initiated for defrauding their customers among other things. Seems like.if this isn't just plain incompetence but an actual business model to rip off the consumer after the sale it might be worth looking into.
I have 2 E90's a 2010 and 2011 328i sedan if it wasnt for RUclips and me doing my own repairs & maintance i wouldnt have them, other then that they run sweet. Thank you FCP, ECS, Turner motorsports.
That’s really the deal, wrench yourself and that makes it affordable
Fantastic video amigo.
Has definately put the theory of religiously servicing this brand to bed.
Keep it up.
Thank you very much
BMW needs their bell rung on how cheap they make some parts on overpriced cars! I rang your bell. keep it up.
Exactly
Another heartfelt video of pain Mark. Do think it's high performance vehicles in general that suffer constant ills that are exacerbated by poor parts/engineering? A lifetime of personal pain with these vehicles has sent me to both Honda and Toyota where all I know is automotive bliss. I've lived your intro mantra since 1974, but it's soul crushingly expensive.
Great video and I love BMW too 🤦🏾♂️. Some of the issues that you mentioned I know about and some issues I’m like really BMW!!! I have a 16 428i, knock on wood no major major issues yet. I know it’s coming though 😬
Thanks for sharing, and hopefully your car runs great for years
On the upside, owning a BMW you probably can make a lot more repair videos than you would with a Toyota/Lexus. I will admit I have driven two different BMW's and they handled great, but since both were rentals, I had the luxury of just giving the cars back when I was done driving them. And while driving them I found other things that swayed me away from wanting to buy one.
My 2009 Jag is approaching 200k. Still hasn’t broke down yet.
Total maintenance to date…
New air filters
Oil change (annually)
New brakes.
That’s a great run for sure
as for your x5 e70, you should have got a low mileage e53 less electronics than e70. much less to go wrong, and in my opinion much more robust, mines is now 145,000 from new , serviced on time and routine maintenance plus fitting 2 door carriers myself, thou saying that theirs still some cheap plastics in the engine bay , but not to severe, but it has to be a 6 cylinder model, petrol or diesel not v8 as they have there own issues.
That’s fair and the older models are a bit more DIY friendly
Like I said before. High mileage out of warranty bmws valued under $25,000 only should be for people that know how to source parts themself and know how to work on the car themself. Great value cars for the mechanical inclined. Not so much for most normal people that don’t know how to wrench on cars.
The driving experience is overwhelmed with the thought of driving a ticking time bomb, for me. The B-58 engine, arguably, would help alleviate that.
As they say, I'm too old for that sh+t. Ugh! Winter again in Edmonton?
Hi Thomas, I know it seems like this place just does not want to let go of the white stuff. I desperately need some warm weather.
The B58/48 are supposed to be the best new thing for BMW, but what about all the components around it like Mark said? I have an F10 and I changed the timing chain a few months after I got it and the engine runs like a dream......the components around it are a different story so what's so special about the B58 & B48 that makes them that much more reliable?
@@Benny-zo3qh it was designed in partnership with Toyota
@@Benny-zo3qh absolutely correct from that aspect.
@@chubbychicken5585 you're wrong the B58 is 100% all BMW! Toyota couldn't make anything that was as good, because this is German engineering at its best! This is why they decided to slightly tweak the engine for the Supra, and then use the ZF8 tranny with this engine, because it's an incredible combo for reliability, and of course performance! Also the electronics, and the vast majority of the car is from BMW look it up!
From experience with several BMWs, they are junk! Look in the engine, 75% plastic. The last cold snap took out our 550i oil cooler, $600 part. They are such nice cars when running, however. Not sure why they can't seem to make them reliable after 5 years or 60,000 miles. The over-complication of systems is also senseless. iDrive unit also went out, need to reflow the solder on the processors. At least the car is running still, but no radio, no way to check oil, etc. Even if you are even mechanically inclined, run away from these cars if possible. I own two at the moment, one for driving while the other is under repair or waiting parts. Very nice cars when running for sure and styling is unique.
I have been following your for a while and do appreciate your knowledge and experience of the BMW brand. I first admired the older BMW's back in the late 70's and 80's yes I am an old guy who likes cars!
My question is I have been following a new car start up by Ineos they are making the Grenadier to replace the old style Defender which has been discontinued by Land Rover they will be using a BMW straight 6 engine with a ZF Auto transmission. Do you have any predictions on the reliability of this drive train. Thanks!
Not just BMW over charging for parts. I had to replace just one lug nut on my Tundra. The parts counter at the dealer charged me almost $20 for one lug nut! Insane. I should of said no thanks and found an aftermarket lug nut. They are not only charging insane mark ups on vehicles but parts as well. Have to add also a dealer charging a $15k markup on a 4Runner TRD Pro.
There is a market for simple, fun to drive, easy to maintain cars. I was thinking this as i plan my retirement. Love my bimmer, and where u would have more time to work on them, part costs would be crazy and then there is the question of technological obsolescence with the electronics. To many potential issues at that time of life.
Yes there really is
never understood the advantages of a electric parking brake
Too complex
When four wheel disc brakes arrived in cars in the 70s, none of them had a satisfactory parking brake. It simply cannot be engineered into disc calipers, so there was a split in the market: cheap cars went with disc front and drum rear. The rear drum makes a good parking brake. Expensive cars went with disc front and a combined disc/drum at the rear, where the rear drum is solely used for the parking brake. This is expensive. It adds about $1,000 to the price of a new car. The new solution is four wheel discs and an electric parking brake. This uses an electric servo motor to screw a bolt into the inner disc to lock it - much cheaper than the disc/drum combo - while retaining the advantages of four wheel discs.
BMW will argue the fitting came loose with 'wear and tear; it never left the factory like that'. But, yes, as you correctly point out the amount of plastic under the hood of BMW's is staggering. 🙄
Way too much and quality of that is meh…
i worked with a guy ,and we both were making around 14 dollars a hour,,,,and he drove a fairly new looking bmw,,,i thought to myself,,,i hope he knows what he is doing
True
BMW perfection ???, the devil is in the mechanical details and design 🤔🤔Thxs for the research 🇨🇦 enjoy your channel 👍
Thank you very much again for the support. Have a great weekend.
i have had two saabs,,a 9000 turbo and 900S both used in the past,,,,,,would love to have a bimmer or audi to experience them at some point,,,,,,but i know enough about cars to know you want to get something,that even if getting it fixed is hard on your wallet,,,you can afford to fix it,,,the saabs were not to bad as far as that went,,,but yeah,,,i make 17 dollars a hour on my job,,,,,and i know a bmw is out of my reach,here in charlotte NC,there are a lot of used bmw's on used car lots,could have gotten one,,,,,but decided to get a 2016 Malibu Lt,not regretting it,but if i ever strike it rich,,,for sure i would look at a bimmer or merc or audi new of course,they do look like really fun cars
Thanks a lot Gerald for your comment and yes I hear that In these cars can be a bucket list item but I would be careful about anything diesel, or v8 or early turbo cars and more specificay older than 5 years unless you can wrench well.
Agree 100% with you …
Lexus are very reliable BUT THEY CANT claim they are sport SUVs with 235/45/20 whees and tires🤣🤣🤣
Nowadays is very hard to find a very sport SUV with good reliability
Exactly!
I have a Mercedes 240 D. Pure minimalism and built like a tank. It’s a great car.
Are BMW’s junk? No, because life is too short to drive boring cars. If those people can’t afford a BMW, then they’re not a baller. Those types of people are better off leasing an Audi, Acura, or Buick.
Thanks, I believe I can afford these things easily, and balling is not throwing money into toilet and wealthy people did not become wealthy by throwing money away.
Come to realize nothing but a bunch of haters on this channel it's pretty sad!😂
How are you feeling about your c300? Any where near as critical as the BMWs?
So far so good
As a BMW enthusiast I have to say the video was spot on. One reason I buy BMW over Lexus is performance. Lexus is basically the Volvo of Japan. It's nice, pretty reliable, well constructed, and will get you from A to B. The brand is basically as boring as it gets till you are ready to shell out M3, M4 money for their performance model. Their current 2022 RC 350 model is slower than a 07 335i with the N54. For $56k US you can pick up a new 2022 M240xi that performance wise will crush anything in its price range, in the sports luxury sector. That is why BMW is more appealing to the enthusiasts. And let's face it the remainder buy BMWs simply for the badge. These people have no idea what motor is under the hood, and they don't care. This is why the base models are the most common ones on the road.
I absolutely nailed it and I agree to all points. For the hardcore, the M cars provide the driving dynamics that few cars can match other than Porsche or the odd Audi RS, and for people looking for that thrill. The rest, there is really no point to own them if it’s just for a car to drive.
He ain’t mail ish. Volvo always offered performance variants
I have an e90 n47 engine and maybe it's the west that overprices. But here In south Africa it's not that expensive to upkeep.
Out of everything. The ONLY thing that's been an issue was a water reservoir and the footwell module and that was the only major parts I had .
The most irritating thing is that once a month I make a round trip of 600 miles. I could use a BMW (43,000m, 30mpg) or a Toyota truck (147,000m, 17mpg). With the current price of gas, I would prefer to use the Beemer, but it is always going wrong and has twice had to be towed, so I simply do not trust the piece of junk to get me there and back, whereas apart from some O2 sensors, the Tundra never goes wrong and I'm sure it will outlive me.
That is the summary for many people
I think BMW are trying to follow the same model that the US follow for health care. Charge silly money for our of policy treatment and highly discount for policy(warranty) work
Thanks for standing up to BMW they need a good shake up!
Any BMW off warranty should be avoided unless you have an independent or you can fix it yourself. Dealers are not always on their game and will BS you as to what’s wrong with your car in order to fleece you. I speak from experience as a $600 module replaced by dealer turned out to be a broken wire found out by me. Module returned no refund for labour fortunately they refunded the module. I’ll never darken their door again. But still love my e61 M package and Z4 coupe🇨🇦
You have to be able to dig in and fix for yourself or own for the warranty period. That’s it. Thanks for sharing
I mean, I just had to pay $3.5k to replace the ECS module in my junky Hyundai, which is basically the value of the car. I couldn't even get it properly diagnosed at an indy shop bc HYUNDAI is doing dealer codes now...So, my point is just that this can happen across almost all brands these days. Except maybe Toyota bc they never change anything (which will see its fair share of issues in their upcoming updated models I am sure). My wife has a Sienna and that thing is a ROCK (coincidentally also drives like one LOL).
Lol, that’s fair. Thanks a lot for sharing.
Not my E46. Maintenance maintenance and more maintenance! She’s actually fairly cheap to maintain now. She’s been my everyday car and nothing wrong with her. I don’t know much about the new BMW’s but I advise people to buy BMW’s that were produced from 1960’s- 2005.
I would generally agree with you as the older ones certainly are a simpler car from a simpler time and as a result lower cost to run.
I couldn't buy a car that's 17+ years old 😕 ...
@@zsb707 thats your problem then. If you want new get new. If you want a classic old car then get the classic. Either way both options has pros and cons only you can decide what you want.
@@trustyoungpierre9959 You're right. I've always bought new or pre-owned but not older than 5-6 years. That's why now I couldn't splurge on a magnificent S2000 even if I love that roadster ...