I sold the last BMW I will ever own last year. BMW can't spell quality any more. Over complication, cost cutting, chinesuim, cheese timing chains and zero out of warranty customer service finally woke me up. My advice to any victim with an out of warranty Broke-My-Wallet is to sell it fast.
what engine do u have it with? i m looking to buy an old bmw..idk if i should get an e36/ e39/ e38. i am a huge e38 fan, but i want a manual Bmw and i m afraid the e38 it s too difficult to drive manual
Proud owner of two e39s, a 528i and a 540i both manuals. The 6 cyl has 300k and the 540 200k, only thing is it likes to eat rear tires while sideways... 😊
@@Kwalk8808 The vanos solenoids and hydraulic lifters are the problems with that N52 3.0i engine other than that they run strong just make sure you change your oil at least 3,500 to 4,000 you gotta pay to play ⏯️▶️ Keep that oil clean and you can clean the solenoids but it's doesn't last long.
The b38 is very reliable too it won international engine of the year award and best new engine so if it won the awards then must be reliable or it won’t of won plus can re map the bmw 118i b38 from 134bhp to 190bhp on one remap that is amazing
I had an '85 M535i with the M30 engine. Absolutely rock solid. I also had a 6 cylinder E36 and that put up with all the abuse I could possibly throw at it.
If you want a newer car or something more powerful the N55 and B58 are damn solid for modern motors. I've seen tons of N55's pushing 200k and so far the B58 is looking just as reliable. Not to mention Toyota was confident enough in the motor to put it in the Supra.
My dad had a Granite Silver ‘92 E34 520i with the M50 engine and that did 385k miles on the original engine before cylinder number 3 let go and then it was swapped for a 525i engine and went on to almost 450k miles before he sadly scrapped the car. It had loads of stone chips on the bonnet from motorway miles but zero rust on the body or underside and was still running sweet as a nut when it was taken away. Hardly did any maintenance on it either and it just ate up the miles day after day. I have no doubt it would still be running to this day if he kept it, the thing was a tank.
I’m surprised you left out the M20. Simple, dependable, easy and fun to work on. M20’s can easily go 300,000 miles with proper oil changes and periodic timing belt services.
I'm a fan of the little 6, m20. They are simple, smooth, takes boost pretty well and are numerous since they get swapped a lot. That SOHC sound makes me grin, too.
@@paulvarrieur976 easy or not I don’t want to do it. the timing chain on n52 last the entire cars life span which can range from 150,000 to 350,000 miles
What about the E34? I had a 535i which I drove hard for 350 000 miles and 21 years. The only unusual expenses was a cracked radiator header tank, CV joints and 3x rubber drive cushions on the gearbox. Oh and several replacements of rear bushes on the front control arms until I replaced them with the 750i parts (never any further trouble)
Had a girlfriend back in the 90s who drove a 1988 528e. Had 220k miles on it when she sold it and it still ran great. Super reliable. Wouldn't mind driving it now. Loved that car.
As a German I love that kind of BMW-Bashing here. Being a BMW- and US-V8-Car-Fan and being confronted with a lot of US-Car-Bashing here in Germany it is just funny to read it.
I'm about to purchase a f20 m135i 8 speed. Was happy to hear the n55 is a good engine. I was blown away by the power on the test drive and the automatic transmission was fantastic.
I'm just saying the N52 straight inline 6 is a pretty damn reliable engine. I've had 2 of em first I sold it with 170,000 miles on motor no issues at all just a small valve cover oil leak. 2nd I had to about 145,000 and got a truck but both were the N52 inline 6 and if you ask around people will agree like the 25 that liked my comment it is one of the most reliable BMW engines.. this is just this guy's opinion look at some more vids here on RUclips l. I've seen a lot saying that is one of the best too. Have a good one man!
@@stayvigilant7856it might be good but I’m still gonna trust the guy with experience over you. You have any experience with the engines he mentioned? If not kindly keep the chirping to yourself thanks much
n52s had issues with the vanos bolts stripping their heads in the engine and the valvetronic locking up which junked the engines. I have had both of these happen to me on different cars.
The 1.9L in-line 4 cylinder Austrian engine in my 1997 E36 Z3 is a great naturally aspirated engine and was the last BMW engine to have a metal valve cover and metal intake manifold.
I had that in my 2000 e46 and that engine is great.Only problem is lack of power and fucking coolant system on the almost every bmw.I was overheated my e46 from nothing.But engine was survive that.
@@emmanuel2692 A good bit - it is a 20+ year old car.... It now has 304+K miles on it and I have had to do a good bit of rust work as it is a daily and outside too much. Fuel pump/filter, shocks/struts, rotors, DISA valve, upper/lower intake boots, valve cover, alternator, headliner, window regulators, final state resistors, headlight covers, driveshaft, O2 sensor, center support bearing/guibo,, at 247K miles - replaced the entire cooling system (it was been done when I got the car at 149K miles, all fluids on a regular basis (no such thing as a "lifetime" fluid), belts, and it is also a manual trasmission but as far as I know - original clutch/flywheel. E46's suspension - especially the front - are known for worn bushings and replacing them every 50-70K miles.
Did u have to change any lifters or chain guides or oil pump or still original mine is coming upto 200k do u recommend to replace anything in the engine
My wife's father bought a E39 523iA new in 1996, he had it as a company car and then bought it to him self and my wife received it in 2001 as her first car. We retired it in 2014 when it had 275000km on the odometer, it was always serviced at the dealer who sold it as new and before we retired it it went for a full service and the whole car also got sandblasted and repainted with the original glacier blue color. Now it looks brand new and we only use it during the summer. The E39 is the best 5-series ever made, still oldskool but yet so modern that it dont feel old and the design is timeless. And boy is it fuel efficcient, I have owned several Mercedes-Benz E classes that have been similarly powerful and they consumed a lot more fuel, and I wont even mention my Caprice Classic and Mercury Grand Marquis and their fuel economy with the sort of same horsepower :D
My E39 540 has been a super reliable car, despite accusations to the contrary. Converting the cooling system to waterless coolant (lowers the pressure in the system) was a game changer. Still running the original TC guides at 140k miles, replacing the tensioner cut the startup rattle that kills them to almost nothing. All the rubber things have been replaced (gaskets and suspension) and a few other body items like door lock actuators, but these are not unreasonable to have to change in 20 years. It's also been garaged its whole life, out of the rain/snow; I understand this is where the electrical problems come from. It's really been a champ, nothing like what I was expecting.
I sold my E39 540i manual M-Sport with 236,000 miles on it. Solid car! So fun to drive and felt like a feather to drive. Miss her everyday. Leather looked new at the mileage.
Never heard of running waterless coolant. My 540i has only ever had BMW blue and distilled water 50/50 mix and I have never had any issues with the cooling system at 165k miles so far, knock on wood. I have already replaced the radiator and water pump, plus a few other hoses and the o-rings for the pipes under the intake manifold in the front and the back. No leaks. Never overheats. Good car and engine 👍
I have an M54 in my 2004 e60. It is a fantastic engine. Burns and leaks a little oil, but I look past that as it starts up everytime with zero issues. BMW builds the best N/A straight 6's
Probably oil filter housing gasket. Look it up! My 05 530i was leaking from that. Thought it was oil pan gasket for the longest time. Changed the OFHG boom no more oil leak. Also change your vanos seals if you haven't! You'll notice way better power delivery.
The E90 M3 is pretty robust and solid. That high strung V8 not provides the amazing soundtrack for your driving experience but also they faired so much better than their early twin turbo V8s in terms of reliability.
I keep telling my dad the same thing. He wants an BMW touring estate/wagon but he doesnt want to get stung by the ongoing maintenance costs or bad engines. Theres a lot of preventative maintenance that can be done and that costs money but once its done, you are pretty much completely sorted for a long time so long as you keep up with the oil changes. Unfortunately he ended up getting a good deal on a low mileage 3rd gen skoda (I think it was 2019 model with 10-13k on the clock...) but there isnt a moment that he doesnt regret not going for a BMW when he's sitting inside the skoda. The trim just isnt on the same level.
I've got an E32 with an auto, got about 235k miles on it. The gearbox is fine. The rest of the car is rusty and off the road, but the gearbox is ok! :-)
Inline 6 but yea I know what you meant. I have an E90 330i with 173k miles and it’s going strong and smooth like butter. Never even throws a check engine light on me or fails to start smoothly. Like new in how it performs. The N52 engine is a bulletproof jewel and I can’t fathom how ninja left it off this list. I’ve had better experiences with N52s than the M54s in the E39s and E46s that he put on the list, while all are great engines. My E90 is so good that I eventually bought an E60 530i with the same engine to add to my collection.
@@jaymum23 Thanks for the correction. Inline 6 for sure. Love my 330xi. AWD. Tons of power. Honestly I prefer to drive it over my Carrera, for the mundane city tasks. Maybe Ninja left the B52 off the list because he does not work on them often enough to remember them.
@@jaymum23 Mines at 270, the check engine light is always on tho. Its either got a wiring issue to one of the O2 sensors or a bad DME. All I know is its got no ground going to it to close the circuit, I have to check the ground wire from the sensor to the DME to see if its intact, if it is then its the DME that's faulty. But I'm just too lazy. Still gets 25mpg cruising at 100mph I could care less about a random cel.
Not as desirable or fast, but my 1997’ 1.9L M44B2 inline 4 cylinder on my e36 Z3 roadster is still going strong after 27 years and 170,000 miles. Cheaper to fix as well, since it’s less parts, less oil, and has much more room in the bay to work on the car. Most major front jobs have been done with only the ram air duct removed. I’ve had it for 8 years now with no plans on selling it. Change the radio receiver to a Bluetooth unit, you’ll be surprised how much you’ll love a Z3 with the top down slow cruising.
Any manual m30 powered car is bullet proof. There’s dudes with 250k mile blocks who turbo them and make 400+ whp for years. OEM blocks just an upgraded head gasket and head studs. M20 and m30 cars are by far BMWs most simple stout design
The older na 4.4 v8 in the e39 or the 7 series are great until the damn cam guides go out. Prepare to cough up some dough to fix that one. I had a 2001 e39 m sport. I loved that car. Then, I got the dreaded code for cam sensor. It wasn't worth the cost to fix it. Thats why you don't see many of those v8 e39 cars on the roads anymore.
What I’ve noticed about BMW and cars/trucks in general, they could have a very good engine, with exterior, interior, wiring that is falling apart.. you can have a bullet proof engine with a weak transmission and rear end. You can have a car that’s mostly nice with a crap engine. My uncle had an e36, that broke down every other week no matter how nice it was up kept and babied.
Maybe the automatics, but I’ve never had an issue or been left stranded by a BMW and I’ve purchased some pretty questionable cars. Nothing drives like them either
I have an E36 from 1994 and been such a fantastic reliable car, love it to bits and has been a delight to own and drive. I have owned since it was five years old and only one owner before me. 170k plus virtually trouble free motoring. Thanks for the heads up Car Ninja.
238,000 miles on my partially stock 99 bmw 323i manual. Only major job was subframe reinforcement…. Other than that she turns right on and moves! Original motor, trans, etc
The E46 is not that good either. Experienced coolant leaks after around 3.5 years 60,000kms as those plastic pipes becomes brital in the intense tropical heat. Good thing that a manufacturer from Taiwan had a complete brass replacement kit that solved this issue
B58 should be up there too… It’s won so many awards… And so many companies actually want that engine from BMW in their cars. Even the Toyota Supra has a B58 and also the Grenadier 4x4…
I had an M50 E34 it was the most reliable car I ever had, just drank too much fuel for my European self. Now I'm running a N57 E91, I think the money I'm saving on fuel saves more than the extra repairs cost
'99 e38 with the v8 went nearly 300k with minor maintenance, just oil, one coil, and spark plugs once. Sad we got rid of it, needed suspension but we got a '01 740i instead and it was a piece of garbage.
Fortunate to have owned the top three! 99 m3 coupe sold at 298k miles, 01 M3 hard top convertible still running strong at 89k miles.. And my fave but departed 02 540i v8 with 144k.. Had to let the e39 go because the timing chain guides broke and was going to cost over $4k to fix :(
Regular people with regular bmws tend to make more visits to shops. Bmw enthusiasts not so much because they actually stay on top of their cars. Ive had people come to the shop im at asking if we could check their oil because the cars running funny EVEN though theres warning light telling them the oil level is low. Last week one needed a whole 3.5 quartz of oil. Man that was painful to see
I have to say if you drive an E36 M3 in a spirited manner you will replace brakes quite a bit. The S52 also has a habit of burning a lot of oil. BMW has a TSB saying that one quart of oil burned per 1500 miles was acceptable which is insane to me. I will say the clutch is very strong and the car never failed to start. But a lot of stuff is plastic under the hood and it breaks down over time.
I've got an E39 3.0l Had it for over 8 years with 0 engine issues, just had a faulty module in the auto box a while back but thats about it. Its hard not to like a BMW straight 6 they are excellent lumps
Pleasee helpp, im between a E46 330i 2004, E60 530i 2004 or a E39 523i 1998. I like the 5 serieas casue its more confortable and spacey but which one u recommend or anyone else can respond please
The most reliable BMW is anything with an N/A straight 6...
The n55 is a turbo 6. Great engine.
@@KinariCuzz N55 isn't the worst when it comes to reliability, but naturally aspirated BMW 6 cylinders are usually better...
I sold the last BMW I will ever own last year. BMW can't spell quality any more. Over complication, cost cutting, chinesuim, cheese timing chains and zero out of warranty customer service finally woke me up. My advice to any victim with an out of warranty Broke-My-Wallet is to sell it fast.
@@raycollington4310 What BMW did you have?
@@MartinJones123 F11 530D 2017.
I've had my e36 for almost 22 years. Still my favorite BMW.
what engine do u have it with? i m looking to buy an old bmw..idk if i should get an e36/ e39/ e38. i am a huge e38 fan, but i want a manual
Bmw and i m afraid the e38 it s too difficult to drive manual
e46 owner here and its pushin 380k miles shes perfect too nun wrong wit er
Found e36 with m50b20 swap with 300k kms for 4k
@@Ultixanope unless u tryna go turbo find at least m50b25 manual for that price trust me
@@teiaaxyz9669mine has the 2.5 inline 6 witch is a really good engine
The amount of beat up 200000+ mile e36 I have seen is insane the 90s was the best area for bmw
You said it same thing with allot of the Mercedes-Benz as well with those naturally aspirated V6 and V8 engines.
@@elliottpalumbo7407the Mercedes Benz’s that are super reliable like the E36 are I6s, the V6s are the problem ones.
@@initialyeet3951 The modern V6s that is not the old 3.2L V6s. But the old 5.0L V8 was the best gas engine Mercedes-Benz ever made.
my m50 is still going strong at 209k so far 🫡
I literally just bought one, runs amazing
Still daily drive my 04 E46, 243000 miles! One of the best cars I ever owned. Just keep up with the maintenance.
Loved mine until on the hottest day of the year the heater turned on and it just won’t turn off.
Everything original?
@@repairvehicle Mostly, couple sets of front control arms, two cooling systems. Clutch is original!
@@AJGreen-cn8kk these are maintenance items that go bad on every brand including Lexus.
@@AJGreen-cn8kk how often do you change your oil?
Proud owner of two e39s, a 528i and a 540i both manuals. The 6 cyl has 300k and the 540 200k, only thing is it likes to eat rear tires while sideways... 😊
528i how many miles?
Still have my 740i which I've owned since 2001. Love it and would never think of selling it. Recently started getting it back to showroom level.
Had had the n55 engine for years now, 120k miles not a single issue, just replace things ahead of time and dont drive like a 20yr old all the time
The M54 engine straight 6 with a E53 chassis great engine with some of those engines reaching up to 500,000 miles and still running.
I have 1 for several years. Bullet proof
Isn’t that also the same case for the N52?
@@Kwalk8808 The vanos solenoids and hydraulic lifters are the problems with that N52 3.0i engine other than that they run strong just make sure you change your oil at least 3,500 to 4,000 you gotta pay to play ⏯️▶️
Keep that oil clean and you can clean the solenoids but it's doesn't last long.
I have a 94 e36 325is. About to cross 400k miles with original motor and transmission still drives and shifts like a dream
I was shocked even before watching the video that a list of the most reliable BMW's is almost a whole minute long !!! :)
The list is also full of 20-30 year old models lol
The b38 is very reliable too it won international engine of the year award and best new engine so if it won the awards then must be reliable or it won’t of won plus can re map the bmw 118i b38 from 134bhp to 190bhp on one remap that is amazing
I agree with him on the M30 Engines. They are bulletproof! You can boost those on stock internals with just MLS HeadGasket and ARP Headstuds.
I had an '85 M535i with the M30 engine. Absolutely rock solid. I also had a 6 cylinder E36 and that put up with all the abuse I could possibly throw at it.
15 years of ownership of my E39 525i Sport I'm pretty happy (apart from rust issues) here in the UK.
If you want a newer car or something more powerful the N55 and B58 are damn solid for modern motors. I've seen tons of N55's pushing 200k and so far the B58 is looking just as reliable. Not to mention Toyota was confident enough in the motor to put it in the Supra.
My dad had a Granite Silver ‘92 E34 520i with the M50 engine and that did 385k miles on the original engine before cylinder number 3 let go and then it was swapped for a 525i engine and went on to almost 450k miles before he sadly scrapped the car.
It had loads of stone chips on the bonnet from motorway miles but zero rust on the body or underside and was still running sweet as a nut when it was taken away. Hardly did any maintenance on it either and it just ate up the miles day after day. I have no doubt it would still be running to this day if he kept it, the thing was a tank.
talk about a waste
I’m surprised you left out the M20. Simple, dependable, easy and fun to work on. M20’s can easily go 300,000 miles with proper oil changes and periodic timing belt services.
lol he said belt ...
I'm a fan of the little 6, m20. They are simple, smooth, takes boost pretty well and are numerous since they get swapped a lot. That SOHC sound makes me grin, too.
@@sipmeister3611 The belt service on the M20 is very easy.
@@paulvarrieur976 easy or not I don’t want to do it. the timing chain on n52 last the entire cars life span which can range from 150,000 to 350,000 miles
@@sipmeister3611 I understand
What about the E34?
I had a 535i which I drove hard for 350 000 miles and 21 years. The only unusual expenses was a cracked radiator header tank, CV joints and 3x rubber drive cushions on the gearbox.
Oh and several replacements of rear bushes on the front control arms until I replaced them with the 750i parts (never any further trouble)
E34 530 and 535i both had M30 engines. I had the opportunity to buy a triple black 535i from a police impound lot, I still think about that car.
Had a girlfriend back in the 90s who drove a 1988 528e. Had 220k miles on it when she sold it and it still ran great. Super reliable. Wouldn't mind driving it now. Loved that car.
Why is the N52 not on this list?! Plenty of 250k+ mile N52 cars out there!
right?!?! its probably cuz it has a lot more dumb issues with the plastics than the other ones but the engine is solid af. I got an 2011 n52 e90
The expensive electric water pump and the weak belt tensioner make it a little more expensive to mantain.
nah my n52 was dogshit. It had fuel issues at 106k and wouldn’t start half the time. Even after changing the fuel pump.
do a little more research
@@kylehamburgh309was probably neglected
As a German I love that kind of BMW-Bashing here.
Being a BMW- and US-V8-Car-Fan and being confronted with a lot of US-Car-Bashing here in Germany it is just funny to read it.
Ultimate maintenance machine= BMW😂
E30 - durable engine and car 👍
I'm about to purchase a f20 m135i 8 speed. Was happy to hear the n55 is a good engine. I was blown away by the power on the test drive and the automatic transmission was fantastic.
How the hell is he not gonna put the N52 straight 6 in top 3 or least top 4 thats to me is maybe the best engine bmw made
I am going to trust you over guy who is a great mechanic and has done more work on BMW’s, than you have even looked at.
I'm just saying the N52 straight inline 6 is a pretty damn reliable engine. I've had 2 of em first I sold it with 170,000 miles on motor no issues at all just a small valve cover oil leak. 2nd I had to about 145,000 and got a truck but both were the N52 inline 6 and if you ask around people will agree like the 25 that liked my comment it is one of the most reliable BMW engines.. this is just this guy's opinion look at some more vids here on RUclips l. I've seen a lot saying that is one of the best too. Have a good one man!
@@stayvigilant7856it might be good but I’m still gonna trust the guy with experience over you. You have any experience with the engines he mentioned? If not kindly keep the chirping to yourself thanks much
n52s had issues with the vanos bolts stripping their heads in the engine and the valvetronic locking up which junked the engines. I have had both of these happen to me on different cars.
Fact
The 1.9L in-line 4 cylinder Austrian engine in my 1997 E36 Z3 is a great naturally aspirated engine and was the last BMW engine to have a metal valve cover and metal intake manifold.
My 06' 330xi has metal vavle covers...
I had that in my 2000 e46 and that engine is great.Only problem is lack of power and fucking coolant system on the almost every bmw.I was overheated my e46 from nothing.But engine was survive that.
Those engines can blow a head gasket. It happened on Top Gear UK when Clarkson, May, and Hammond were in Iraq.
Magnesium you mean
@@picklemetimbers3003 magnesium
My dad had an 84 533i manual. An absolute blast to drive.
Yep won’t lie the E46 if you can address the cooling system and gaskets in time you’ll never have to do it again and the engine will last you for ages
Which e46 engine though?
@@zeuss1353m54b30
N55 here. Glad to see mentioned.
Love my E46 330i - I got it with 150K miles and it now has 298,890+ miles on it.
What maintenance have you done to it? i’m looking forward to getting one
@@emmanuel2692 A good bit - it is a 20+ year old car....
It now has 304+K miles on it and I have had to do a good bit of rust work as it is a daily and outside too much.
Fuel pump/filter, shocks/struts, rotors, DISA valve, upper/lower intake boots, valve cover, alternator, headliner, window regulators, final state resistors, headlight covers, driveshaft, O2 sensor, center support bearing/guibo,, at 247K miles - replaced the entire cooling system (it was been done when I got the car at 149K miles, all fluids on a regular basis (no such thing as a "lifetime" fluid), belts, and it is also a manual trasmission but as far as I know - original clutch/flywheel.
E46's suspension - especially the front - are known for worn bushings and replacing them every 50-70K miles.
Did u have to change any lifters or chain guides or oil pump or still original mine is coming upto 200k do u recommend to replace anything in the engine
@@mannabatth4092 Nothing internal to the engine should need to be changed unless severely abused.
M57 is one of the best BMW motors ever made, seen many on 200k+ miles and a couple approaching 400k.
M57 is great but later they added dpf, egr, swirlflaps etc that get issues as with all diesel cars from 2006 - recent
E90 328i is the best reliable car
Yes sir
Yes it is I am driving since last 12 years, without single issues.
botn n52 and n55 needs expensive maintenance, seals etc. M57 is wayyy better engine
@@leodoingthings1706 driven 165000 until now only gasket seals changed 1 time
The e90 NA are very reliable too
The 320i N46 engine gets smokey due to work stem seals
@@Jack-qn4vtAmerica got n52/n51 only.
@@Jack-qn4vt think he means the 6 cylinder ones
Aside from the valvetronic system
6 cylinders yea.
My wife's father bought a E39 523iA new in 1996, he had it as a company car and then bought it to him self and my wife received it in 2001 as her first car. We retired it in 2014 when it had 275000km on the odometer, it was always serviced at the dealer who sold it as new and before we retired it it went for a full service and the whole car also got sandblasted and repainted with the original glacier blue color. Now it looks brand new and we only use it during the summer. The E39 is the best 5-series ever made, still oldskool but yet so modern that it dont feel old and the design is timeless.
And boy is it fuel efficcient, I have owned several Mercedes-Benz E classes that have been similarly powerful and they consumed a lot more fuel, and I wont even mention my Caprice Classic and Mercury Grand Marquis and their fuel economy with the sort of same horsepower :D
My E39 540 has been a super reliable car, despite accusations to the contrary. Converting the cooling system to waterless coolant (lowers the pressure in the system) was a game changer.
Still running the original TC guides at 140k miles, replacing the tensioner cut the startup rattle that kills them to almost nothing.
All the rubber things have been replaced (gaskets and suspension) and a few other body items like door lock actuators, but these are not unreasonable to have to change in 20 years.
It's also been garaged its whole life, out of the rain/snow; I understand this is where the electrical problems come from.
It's really been a champ, nothing like what I was expecting.
I sold my E39 540i manual M-Sport with 236,000 miles on it. Solid car! So fun to drive and felt like a feather to drive. Miss her everyday. Leather looked new at the mileage.
Never heard of running waterless coolant. My 540i has only ever had BMW blue and distilled water 50/50 mix and I have never had any issues with the cooling system at 165k miles so far, knock on wood. I have already replaced the radiator and water pump, plus a few other hoses and the o-rings for the pipes under the intake manifold in the front and the back. No leaks. Never overheats. Good car and engine 👍
I have to say my 1989 750il has to be one as well car has been the best bmw I've ever owned
E36 goes back to 92. I had one with 277k on the ticker. My son had a 90 E34 with over 300k, didn't use a drop of oil.
U mean burn? Oil?
Yes I have a 92 325i
91
@@pri0r_t0_a_weekago...fukwi48 burn or leak
My man speaks the truth. I have two cars w an S52 engine (USA M). Car pulls hard, very quiet and ultra reliable. Not a single engine issue!
I have an M54 in my 2004 e60. It is a fantastic engine. Burns and leaks a little oil, but I look past that as it starts up everytime with zero issues. BMW builds the best N/A straight 6's
Probably oil filter housing gasket. Look it up! My 05 530i was leaking from that. Thought it was oil pan gasket for the longest time. Changed the OFHG boom no more oil leak. Also change your vanos seals if you haven't! You'll notice way better power delivery.
The E90 M3 is pretty robust and solid. That high strung V8 not provides the amazing soundtrack for your driving experience but also they faired so much better than their early twin turbo V8s in terms of reliability.
I keep telling my dad the same thing. He wants an BMW touring estate/wagon but he doesnt want to get stung by the ongoing maintenance costs or bad engines.
Theres a lot of preventative maintenance that can be done and that costs money but once its done, you are pretty much completely sorted for a long time so long as you keep up with the oil changes.
Unfortunately he ended up getting a good deal on a low mileage 3rd gen skoda (I think it was 2019 model with 10-13k on the clock...) but there isnt a moment that he doesnt regret not going for a BMW when he's sitting inside the skoda. The trim just isnt on the same level.
N55 E90 🔥🔥
This dude gets around, he sure knows his vehicles ,a fantastic MECHANIC and TECHNICALLY proficient 🇬🇧🤠🤘🇺🇸🙏
don’t forget the e30s and the m20 and m10 engines
Any BMW on that list with a manual transmission but can't get one on the E38 in the US. Europe is lucky on that one
I've got an E32 with an auto, got about 235k miles on it. The gearbox is fine. The rest of the car is rusty and off the road, but the gearbox is ok! :-)
Whats wrong with the automatic? They use ZF trannys. A clutch replacement in a manual wouldn't be fun
calling the n55 more reliable than the n52 is wicked
Basically BMW's golden age lol
He forgot about the N52 because it’s so reliable he hasn’t seen it much
My favorite was the E36 M51 6 cylinder Turbo Diesel with the Intercooler. I miss her 🙁😢😭. A lovely engine
The e34 e39 , e38 and e83 are good cars and reliable too.
I had an N55 for 5 years M135i Lci and I miss it. Right now i have the B58 M240i and Im having a vanos problem less than a year later.
I was going to cry if you didn't mention the M30, as an E24 owner.
e23 Here too i love It better than my e46 Which loves pissing my coolant away sadly I lost the key recently so I can’t drive it :(
Surprised the e90 wasn't mentioned Mines got 125k miles and run strong. NA V6
Inline 6 but yea I know what you meant. I have an E90 330i with 173k miles and it’s going strong and smooth like butter. Never even throws a check engine light on me or fails to start smoothly. Like new in how it performs. The N52 engine is a bulletproof jewel and I can’t fathom how ninja left it off this list. I’ve had better experiences with N52s than the M54s in the E39s and E46s that he put on the list, while all are great engines. My E90 is so good that I eventually bought an E60 530i with the same engine to add to my collection.
@@jaymum23 Thanks for the correction. Inline 6 for sure. Love my 330xi. AWD. Tons of power. Honestly I prefer to drive it over my Carrera, for the mundane city tasks. Maybe Ninja left the B52 off the list because he does not work on them often enough to remember them.
@@jaymum23 Mines at 270, the check engine light is always on tho. Its either got a wiring issue to one of the O2 sensors or a bad DME. All I know is its got no ground going to it to close the circuit, I have to check the ground wire from the sensor to the DME to see if its intact, if it is then its the DME that's faulty. But I'm just too lazy. Still gets 25mpg cruising at 100mph I could care less about a random cel.
The M30 is kinda forgotten. But from what I can gather it was the go to swap for power before the m5x swaps.
I have a 86 735i, great car
E30 325i/320i M20 ?? no electronics , good engine
its just sketchy getting cars that old tho, unless youre dropping 10k+ you're not getting one worth driving without dozens of hours of work lol
He forgot the M57
True my dad has an e39 530d and it has around a million km (600k miles) and no big problems
Love my N55 in my X5
Not as desirable or fast, but my 1997’ 1.9L M44B2 inline 4 cylinder on my e36 Z3 roadster is still going strong after 27 years and 170,000 miles.
Cheaper to fix as well, since it’s less parts, less oil, and has much more room in the bay to work on the car. Most major front jobs have been done with only the ram air duct removed. I’ve had it for 8 years now with no plans on selling it. Change the radio receiver to a Bluetooth unit, you’ll be surprised how much you’ll love a Z3 with the top down slow cruising.
M54b30 is also a great motor by BMW
well tbf he did say the E46 3 series which has the M54 in 2 of the 3 trims.
Any manual m30 powered car is bullet proof. There’s dudes with 250k mile blocks who turbo them and make 400+ whp for years. OEM blocks just an upgraded head gasket and head studs. M20 and m30 cars are by far BMWs most simple stout design
My man, had e36 m42, e39 m52 the golden era for bmw, now in a e53 4.4🙈
The older na 4.4 v8 in the e39 or the 7 series are great until the damn cam guides go out. Prepare to cough up some dough to fix that one. I had a 2001 e39 m sport. I loved that car. Then, I got the dreaded code for cam sensor. It wasn't worth the cost to fix it. Thats why you don't see many of those v8 e39 cars on the roads anymore.
What I’ve noticed about BMW and cars/trucks in general, they could have a very good engine, with exterior, interior, wiring that is falling apart.. you can have a bullet proof engine with a weak transmission and rear end. You can have a car that’s mostly nice with a crap engine.
My uncle had an e36, that broke down every other week no matter how nice it was up kept and babied.
Maybe the automatics, but I’ve never had an issue or been left stranded by a BMW and I’ve purchased some pretty questionable cars. Nothing drives like them either
I have an E36 from 1994 and been such a fantastic reliable car, love it to bits and has been a delight to own and drive. I have owned since it was five years old and only one owner before me.
170k plus virtually trouble free motoring. Thanks for the heads up Car Ninja.
None!!! Buy a Mercedes!! But if I had a BMW, Only Johnny will work on it.
Yo carwizard ❤
238,000 miles on my partially stock 99 bmw 323i manual. Only major job was subframe reinforcement…. Other than that she turns right on and moves! Original motor, trans, etc
So much knowledge in such a short time. Thanks ninja!
M30 and M20. M20 with getrag 260 and limited slip diff 3.91 ratio 👌🏻 m20 is 27 years in my possession as a daily car in my family.
The E46 is not that good either. Experienced coolant leaks after around 3.5 years 60,000kms as those plastic pipes becomes brital in the intense tropical heat. Good thing that a manufacturer from Taiwan had a complete brass replacement kit that solved this issue
I've got a 1990 535i M30 car with a quarter of a million miles and it's strong
Yes
Still have my 91 318i with over 270k miles!
I just got a low mileage '01 e46 convertible from my fiancé. Love this car! My first car was a '76 2002. I miss that '02 soo bad🥺
B58 should be up there too… It’s won so many awards… And so many companies actually want that engine from BMW in their cars. Even the Toyota Supra has a B58 and also the Grenadier 4x4…
N52 has been the most reliable for me
I had an M50 E34 it was the most reliable car I ever had, just drank too much fuel for my European self.
Now I'm running a N57 E91, I think the money I'm saving on fuel saves more than the extra repairs cost
The most reliable BMW mechanic, in my opinion, is Jonny from German Motor Works
For sure he is a beast!!
'99 e38 with the v8 went nearly 300k with minor maintenance, just oil, one coil, and spark plugs once. Sad we got rid of it, needed suspension but we got a '01 740i instead and it was a piece of garbage.
What about E53 X5?
I have E36 318is coupe and Z3 with same engine. Both are coming to museum age and original engines and work same way as 30 years ago.
B58 and n55 are the most reliable inline 6 cylinder turbo engines bmw makes excluding M engines.
dont forget all of the Z3s and Z4s from 93-06 with the same motor and trans as the 3 series lol
N55 good with a aluminium charge pipe, all the older 3.0 straight six lumps were pretty bullet proof. Wish my S54 was 🤦🏻♂️
Until running across your channel by accident today I did not know that you had a channel. I definitely hit the subscribe button.
I have N55, no major issues
Love my n57 and m57 would say they are some of the best engines bmw has
Thank Ninja for your educated opinion. Always loved the 3 series, 7 series not so much seems experimental
N55 💪💪💪💪💪
The Rover 75 and the MG zt used the BMW diesel M47 engine, bullet proof!
E90 N52 FTW
X3 FTW
Fortunate to have owned the top three! 99 m3 coupe sold at 298k miles, 01 M3 hard top convertible still running strong at 89k miles.. And my fave but departed 02 540i v8 with 144k.. Had to let the e39 go because the timing chain guides broke and was going to cost over $4k to fix :(
Regular people with regular bmws tend to make more visits to shops. Bmw enthusiasts not so much because they actually stay on top of their cars. Ive had people come to the shop im at asking if we could check their oil because the cars running funny EVEN though theres warning light telling them the oil level is low. Last week one needed a whole 3.5 quartz of oil. Man that was painful to see
I have to say if you drive an E36 M3 in a spirited manner you will replace brakes quite a bit. The S52 also has a habit of burning a lot of oil. BMW has a TSB saying that one quart of oil burned per 1500 miles was acceptable which is insane to me. I will say the clutch is very strong and the car never failed to start. But a lot of stuff is plastic under the hood and it breaks down over time.
Spot on Johnny!
Also the best driving and most fun!
I've got an E39 3.0l
Had it for over 8 years with 0 engine issues, just had a faulty module in the auto box a while back but thats about it.
Its hard not to like a BMW straight 6 they are excellent lumps
I only had diesel engines and they are all really reliable
I personally like the BMW 2002.
Absolutely
I currently own a E39 540it and the only thing about the motors are the dang chain guides lol.
All new BMWs that are not made for high performance are pretty reliable. High performance sports cars will need extra care for all brands of cars
M20 has to be one of the best sounding inline 6 engines :P
Pleasee helpp, im between a E46 330i 2004, E60 530i 2004 or a E39 523i 1998. I like the 5 serieas casue its more confortable and spacey but which one u recommend or anyone else can respond please