BMW repair cost questions

[Sanguinius]

Yo everyone :P I've been a fan of bimmers for so very long, and for so very very much longer have not been able to afford one. I've been saving for a down payment on a new car for a while now and finally am ready to buy something new or slightly used. I want a BMW so very bad, but people have told me they're expensive to fix. How expensive are they to keep up compared to other cars? I'm probably looking at a new to 3 year old 3-series or maybe a bit older 5-series. And are there any models to look out for as far as reliability problems? This is going to be my only car and the one I use to commute, so I can't have it breakin' all de time. Any answers are appreciated greatly!

Thanks for your help

[ryder_23]

If its fairly new, you shouldnt have a big problem with it breaking down. Try and get something possibly still under warranty. But eventually you might run into problems, u'll prolly have cash saved up again by then :thumbsup:

[Sanguinius]

True, unless my car payments ate it up

What have repair jobs cost you and did you have it done at a shop or did you do it yourself?

[Agaru_Vala]

well here it is, when you buy a used BMW it might need some bring up to speed on repairs, that could get into the thousands like may 1500 depending on the shape of the car, after that if you keep it up it will keep you cash up out of the car and in your pocket, but you let it go bad again and it cost you in the end, the more you keep it up after you bring it up to speed the more you save.

I have had 3 used bimmers, went through the same thing on all of them the "bring up to speed on repairs" phase.

[Sanguinius]

What types of things went wrong on your used bimmers and how much did each cost (just ballpark)

and again any models to look out for? I know some of the pre 96 "Nikasil" engines had problems with american gasoline. Just stuff like that would be good to know.

Thanks for your info Agaru

[Dios]

ive had my 98 323is for almost 2 years and the only repairs ive had done to it was a new battery... changed some light bulbs... and the o2 sensors total cost like 400 bucks in 2 yrs (not including oil changes and tires but thats standard stuff with every car) and i did all the work myself it was real easy... but believe it or not the dealers around me charge 85 bucks and hour which is the average price for labor... i know the mercedes dealer charges 99... and some private shops charge 85 so thats not to bad if u need stuff fixed. You shouldnt have to many problems with a newer car

[Scorp965]

Originally posted by Sanguinius
Yo everyone :P I've been a fan of bimmers for so very long, and for so very very much longer have not been able to afford one. I've been saving for a down payment on a new car for a while now and finally am ready to buy something new or slightly used. I want a BMW so very bad, but people have told me they're expensive to fix. How expensive are they to keep up compared to other cars? I'm probably looking at a new to 3 year old 3-series or maybe a bit older 5-series. And are there any models to look out for as far as reliability problems? This is going to be my only car and the one I use to commute, so I can't have it breakin' all de time. Any answers are appreciated greatly!

Thanks for your help

BMW's are some of the most reliable cars, provided you do not skimp on the preventative maint....

basically it goes like this:

With a dodge, toyota, etc. you drive the car until it breaks, then you take it to get repaired.

With a BMW you get the oil changed, you get it inspected, you have all the minor issues addressed, you take it into the shop when it is not broken and you keep it perfect. If you do this when it eventually does break it will only cost you about the same amount in repair as a toyota/dodge - if you do not do the routine maint then it will cost you significantly more.

Be good to your bimmer and it will be good to you...

[Agaru_Vala]

I have had a 525i that went for 250k and still running -sold
I think the only think that happen to E36, that could cost you alot is what happen on the 525i and the 325i, 525 was a 90 and 325 was a 95, they had the plastic water pu,p arm, overheated and on the 325i the radiator blew.

But on the 325is 94, it need like hmm and oil filter, or somthing related to it, a very cheap part but killed me in labor like 600 total
cause 3 total unrelated parts had to be removed to get to this oil thing lol

they might cost you a little at first or alot depending if the last owner of the car took care of it, a good newer car will have it owners book in the lather cases, with all the mile marks inpection stamps, like the brake in period stamp, the 50,000 mile stamp

not alot of dealers do it , i think but someone told me to check on that.

you have to have the car inspected before you buy it, it may cost you 350 for a inpection, but it might save you alot later on

hoses are one big thing too, if the hoses in the car are old or trashed, it will cost you about 700-800 to get all the hoses repleaced, DO NOT replaces the hoses with non OEM hoses even 8 year old hoses will do better than brand new non oem hoses, why

cause if you feel a BMW hoses it is modeled for that place in that car and the angel and shape of that hoses and feel semi hard.

a nonOEM hose is soft like clothing and has no shape, they are ment to be fitted into a shapre and rip and tear easy., this as my first big mistake

any more questions?

over all I think the 1994 325is took about 1000 to get into top running shape, and a bit more to replace just old parts with new ones for looks and newness, but was not needed bought at 94k

the 325i took a little less with 55k on it, but need the radiator done cause it blew, but my dealer covered that, cause it happen within 30 days of the sale, I had buyer choice on it
then it was recommend to change the hoses 700
the other stuff was just tunning for about 150

the 525i we took it from 0 to 250k with some minor and one major repair, overall it was not really cared for, because I was not as educated about BMW as I'm now, but it still runs strong.

If you take care of it it takes care of you like he said, FIRST thing you do is get a per buy inpection then you spend the rest of the moeny getting it to TOP running codition , then it just keepin ghe car in good shape oil changes here and there.

don't be afraid of the repair cost just get a bimmer that was cared for if not then tell the buyer hey lower the price the car need repairs
make sure that you know what you are doing so you come off as a BMW god to the dealer or seller so that they know they can't get something buy you, just ask them straight up what needs work.

[Sanguinius]

Hey thanks again Just what I was looking for.

One more thing, how often do you take your bimmer in to have it looked at?

Thanks guys!

[Agaru_Vala]

hmmm about every 3000 miels for a oil change, my service guy ( not the dealer) only works on BMWs and he will send me a lettle remind me if I'm do for a check up lol.

at the 3000 mile oil change things are looked at for wear, but about every 5-10k miles i have it in for a tune up.

[mikeyz325]

I spent $10,000 on a 92 325i a few years ago. Since then I have spend nearly that much in repair costs. However, I can't believe that everyone has as bad luck with their car as me, or BMW would out of buisness.

On the bright side, there is not much left to go wrong on my car, and it will likely last a long time to come.

See list below for past repairs, add to that recent replacement parts: head gasket, water pump, theromstat, fan clutch. BMW parts ARE more expensive because usually the only place to get them (aside from routine maintence type things) is thru the dealer, and there isn't much way to make that cheap. And labor costs are a b1tch.

BUT, I plan to always own a BMW because all the extra cost is worth it in the end.