Quote:
Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour
Comparing the BMW and the Porsche from a reliability standpoint, the BMW will start costing the owner thousands of dollars a year EVERY year after it turns about 7 years old if the owner addresses quick-wear suspension bushings and oil leaks and various other motor bits like coil packs.
I really thought I had experienced the worst when I bought my 9 year old boxster that had been driven hard and neglected, but that was not true. The CPO BMW 550i (2007, bought in 2009 with 15k on the odometer) was hands down the biggest money pit I have ever owned. The day it turned 5 years old and was out of CPO warrant it started costing me big bucks to drive daily. I'm sure Houston heat and humidity and crappy roads contributed, but still... ugh!
The first few years of Boxster ownership were brutal, but it's been smooth sailing since... oil changes and the odd repair here and there.
Do I hate BMWs? No. Amazing cars. Just do not own one outside of a bumper to bumper factory warranty scenario. They just do not make these cars to be dependable and long lasting like they used to make them in the 70s and 80s.
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Sorry to hear you had such bad luck with your Bimmer! But, it also kind of sounds like stealership maintenance. (that is an assumption of course)
A friend of mine took his immaculate e46 330ci in for new air bags recently. The stealership quoted him $700 to replace the front control arm bushings and windshield wipers. I don't know what they charge for wipers, but the bushings run around $150 for the parts.
I have driven BMWs for about 35 years. I have never replaced a coil pack yet. I recently had my 330ci suspension checked by my indi mechanic. No need to replace any bushings. It has 234K miles on it. Sure things wear out and need replacing. I recently replaced the alternator, $240 installed. PS pump, $80, did that myself. I do save a lot as I do most work myself.
In general, I am going to say good quality aftermarket parts for my BMW do cost less than comparable parts for my P car. But that is to be expected as the manufacturing runs are much larger for the BMW parts, driving down the cost. A P car is much more exclusive and parts are just typically going to be more expensive.
I know I will need to do struts and some bushings on my P car before too long. Not looking forward to that at $250 per corner just for the struts. But, that is simply the cost of ownership. And I am willing to pay that in order to drive a car I enjoy very, very much!
I consider a BMW to be a very, very reliable and long lasting car. Will my P car last as long with good maintenance? I hope so, but in reality, I doubt a P car motor will typically last as long as BMW straight 6. They are just different animals.
BTW, I drove my P car to work today. Mostly highway, just there and back. But I enjoyed it all the same.
I am driving it tomorrow too!