Is Buying a Used BMW Smart Or Are BMW'S Reliability To BAD ???

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[@frankburn6312]

Fixing stuff that breaks is not “maintenance “. Maintenance is changing fluid, filters, belts , pads.

[@derwolfy1730]

Right, I spent 200 dollars on my focus out side of maintenance in 10 years, I'll man up and take the shaker ride.

[@longdonglarry]

@Robert Frank you don't get the point. Toyota and other low tech cars are way more forgiving if you are not exactly on schedule with all that stuff. I know someone who changes the oil only when it's sticking as a pitch-black chewing gum on the dipstick. The car is still running. You can't do that with a BMW or any other German high tech car and that's the point.

[@TheHoth1]

tuvalu A friend of mine had a Corolla. She had no clue about car maintenance. She didn’t even know about oil change until her Corolla had over 100k on it. The mechanic open the oil cap and told her, at that point the engine had become a self sustained Eco system. She better off left it alone;)

[@bentremy]

frank burn fixing things BEFORE they break is maintenance. Fixing things after they break is called repair. There’s a difference.

[@frankburn6312]

Bent Remy you said it yourself in the sentence. : “FIXING”. Fixing is not maintenance , even if done before here is an example of vehicle maintenance. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJu7aGx9qKZ_mpo

[@lavery0365]

You buy a BMW only when money is not a factor, period.

[@drbadzer]

Money can still be a factor, you just have to have enough of it and know how much you need. I own an F10 M5 and I set $10,000 a year for Maintinance. If you have that money to set aside and have the time to make friends with mechanics and learn how to weekly inspect the car on your own (that includes reading both the owner manual and service manual cover to cover), then you’re in good shape. 10,000 a year is still a lot but it’s not an infinite amount of money, just know what you’re getting into ahead of time.

[@Bahle_Gaji]

@@drbadzer fucking well said

[@ntwalipat2]

@@drbadzer 10K per year for maintenance?! That could easily be set aside for another brand new car in as little as 4 years!

[@Alex-fq4qy]

Money isnt a factor. but reliability i need places to be

[@theylive8256]

I appreciate your honesty. Honestly, you have the best bmw channel on KZbin.

[@calibimmerlife6817]

First cars: 2009 Honda Civic SI, 2002 Mazda Millennia, 2002 Jeep Wrangler, all sold/wrecked/discarded, young dumb driver. Wasn't a car mechanic before I bought my first BMW at the age of (23?), heck never even did my own oil changes. Over the years have acquired many tools, and have learned tons online about BMWs with a basic tool, "reading". My 328i is now paid in full end of 2018, and I have not once regret the purchase. Sure I have spent a good amount of money on the car but its been the only car to put a smile on my face every time I drive it. I am not rich, I make less then 40k a year, and work hard for my money. January 2019, looking too buy a newer car, could have bought a new Honda, Toyota, but test driving those cars just didn't fill the void, I was hooked. Ended up picking up a used 2012 BMW E92 335i Twin-Scroll Turbo Charged M-Sport Coupe. Wow what a difference from the 328 and now I'm even more hooked. Now I own two "money pits" and I couldn't be happier! :) Call me crazy, Ive developed an excitement when they "break" its a new adventure. FCP EURO , E90 POST , and Harbor Freight have become my new home. I get to unbox all these fancy new parts (replacing plastic gismos and doohickes with aluminum) *cough "Charge Pipe", get to buy new tools and tear my cars into pieces. 328i - Replaced Valve Cover, o2 Sensors, OFHG, Secondary Air Pump, Belts and Pulleys, Battery, Tail Lights, Shocks, Control arms, Battery, Alternator, Coils and Plugs, Brake Pads. 335i - Replaced Rear Control Arms, Rear Shocks, Charge Pipe, Rotors and Pads, OFHG, Belts and Pulleys. Cant wait to buy and M2 or M3!

[@jankof76]

I just bought a 2005 545i for $900. The lady I bought it from was told she needed a new transmission. It wasn't the transmission, it was a water leak on the battery compartment which sent the car into limp mode. It drives amazing

[@_454_]

you got yourself a DEAL my friend haha

[@ntwalipat2]

Is it still running?!

[@zhqg5202]

$900? U stole it

[@zhqg5202]

@@ntwalipat2 imagine.. yo pat you drive a bmw?

[@YTnights]

I’m watching this 4 years later. I currently own a 2018 BMW 530i with almost 57k miles. I’m trying to learn how to do maintenance on my own car.

[@ShowMeWhatINeedToKnow]

The newer generations of BMWs seem to be a LOT more reliable to me -- like the F30 3-series (2012-2019), for example. There's not a lot of issues on the forums with these cars. They are much improved over even the E90s.

[@PeteRoy]

BMW are unreliable because of "Planned obsolescence, or built-in obsolescence, in industrial design and economics is a policy of planning or designing a product with an artificially limited useful life, so that it becomes obsolete (i.e., unfashionable, or no longer functional) after a certain period of time."

[@charlesrodriguez7984]

Yet people have replied to me saying these are the most reliable cars ever which is plain false. It’s upsetting I have to argue with people about a fact over bs opinions.

[@WayToManyAssassins]

​@charlesrodriguez7984 at consumer reports new bmws had one of the highest satisfaction and lowest amount of issues/recalls in the first year of ownership. They're not too bad these days

[@chris24hdez]

The only used BMW I will ever consider again is one with all the plastic removed from the engine bay and replaced with upgraded simplified hardware

[@timothykeith1367]

just get an E30

[@lirej2307]

@@timothykeith1367 whats good about them? a serious question

[@timothykeith1367]

@@lirej2307 The E30 is as simple as a Datsun 280Z. Unlike current 3 Series they are light and the "luxury" is basic - maybe leather seats is as good as that gets. The M20B25 is about as dependable as a slant six, but it only makes 169 hp. If the timing belt is replaced and the solid lifter valves have correct lash the cast iron block motor can last as long as any Toyota motor. To be honest, many late model KIA cars are quicker than a E30. The M20 responds to a turbo charger if you prefer lots of power, and later BMW motors can also be swapped. The E30 isn't anything special, and yet it is. E30 came on the scene just as many cars were switching to front drive. More than 3 million E30s were built worldwide so there should be support for years to come. You can get a driver that needs lots of maintenance for $2,500 and you can do the repairs yourself. Many of the nice looking $8,000 E30s still need some of the deferred maintenance.

[@radiculus27]

Bmw are beautiful good performing unreliable cars

[@jordanbarton60]

@@radiculus27 lmaooo

[@danf321]

Wow, you’re expecting a lot for people to know how to turn wrenches for owning a BMW. Here in Los Angeles I’d bet 98% of BMW drivers lease and they have no interest in turning wrenches. Drive a lease 3 years, don’t do any maintenance, then trade in the car.

[@michelizappala3009]

Thankyou for the thumbs doc as i was thinking if this man responds to what i have said in a negative way i was going to apologies in respects & leave it at that..

[@paulsz6194]

I thought leases stipulated the car the maintained at a car makers dealership(BMW for BMW cars of course), otherwise you pay a larger balloon (penalty) payment when you return the car.

[@michelizappala3009]

Not saying nothing you dont know still young people getting finance for there 1st car just refuse to comprehend it doesnt stop with the repayments the fact that the vehicle needs constant fuel it needs rego it needs maintenance as the engine is only designed to last if you do the standard maintence let alone if the car brakes. They dont own the car the car owns them. No excuse from when your young you got think smart. Ok it was me that said you should get e39 m5. Ok maybe not such a good idea would be cool though..

[@michelizappala3009]

Really diesel engines are fantastic. Sure you could argue petrol engine is better in aeroplane but besides that like mine same radiator same exhaust the air con recently needed a mere $250 spent on it to get it up to speed again. When i was married I brought a toyota turbo diesel van for the mother of my children it was like there was a man under the seat looking after on the road. Yer her van had turbo & my ute didnt & she would say i was selfish lol..

[@brandoguy3338]

They loose half their value within the first three years for many reasons buddy...people buy Toyota for a reason and their resale value is extremely high for a reason

[@lexrus7786]

@DC Williams might be boring, but more reliable than a bmtroubleyou

[@paulsz6194]

mainky due to the fact they are hideously expensive to maintain outside of warranty. Whereas with Toyota's rarely have problems within the warranty period. Most Maitenance Parts are also cheap.

[@brandoguy3338]

Get a lawyer and sue me

[@brandoguy3338]

Sucks to suck huh

[@6SpeedTA95]

Toyota builds boring cars without a soul. Lexus loses similar or in some cases more than BMW or Audi. Toyota has great resale though, there's no doubt. However you give up a lot with driving them every day. Is that trade off worth it to you? Also you say BMtroubleyou, we've owned several BMW's and several Toyota and Lexus products. The BMWs have proven to be just as reliable, but they are more expensive to maintain. Our X3 had no issues in the period we owned, the N20 pump drive issues did concern me long-term though. My 335i has had no real issues other than a door lock actuator, fixed under warranty. Our Lexus has had a lock actuator and an issue with the catalytic converted vent or something (I can't remember it was an issue right after we bought it) fixed under warranty, common issue but expensive if out of warranty. My sister in-laws have been huge Toyota folks and what I've found with them and others that love Toyota is they dismiss the issues they have as "no car is perfect" despite some of the issue being significant. As an example, my sister in law had an engine grenade in her Rav4 at 104,000 miles. Two friends had similar cars (within a year or two) also had engines eat themselves, turns out that's a fairly common issue...you don't hear much about it unless you prowl the car forums though. My father in law also had numerous issues with his 2006 Tacoma, again dismissed. He now drives a Tundra which has been solid from a reliability perspective but it rattles and it's built fairly poorly inside and all the switch gear feels cheap. My point? Toyota builds a good car, so does BMW. The maintenance standards are different though.

[@Rmmlom]

Yes Sr. Your BMW crew. We love our BMWs. And yes there good cars. But like you say, not all BMWs are reliable. But the ones you want there aren't many good ones to pick from. And yes maintenance is your 300,000 mile ticket. Yes Sr. Fix it yourself. Your very right Nathan if you know what your doing. Say no to the dealership. Recall is still a nightmare. We'll ask them what's wrong and fix it ourselves. Scott should stay to his cats. Anyway Thank You Nathan your channel is the best on BMW.

[@davidj4662]

People can barely afford the payments just trying to look like they’re rich. Dealerships will rob you and competent independents are hard to find. Maintenance gets neglected.

[@michelizappala3009]

By a new reliable toyota & see what makes it so reliable being the scheduled servicing that becomes a close 2nd to your monthly repayments.. As for the price of toyota genuine parts will see you looking for non genuine everytime..

[@davidj4662]

Micheli Zappala I have both BMW and Lexus and the OEM parts are not that expensive if you buy them online as dealership prices for both are up to 100% more. Lexus or Toyota are more reliable because they are designed to last, you just have to look at the resale value of comparable domestic, German or Japanese vehicles to see that.

[@michelizappala3009]

David i own 2003 3.0diesel duel cab Toyota hilux that had 30'000km on it when i brought it in 2005 for $23'000. 15 years later i still have it with now 5015'000km on the clock. They say if you put a toyota badge on a different make of car it will run better. My ute is at the point anything that goes wrong with it you just cant say anything bad about it as its earnt its respects..

[@davidj4662]

Micheli Zappala you’re lucky the diesel option is available where you are, assuming Australia. I live in Canada and we only get the Toyota gas pots, but still the best bang for the buck.

[@nearlyretired7005]

I have a BMW M2 and Lotus Exige.I bought them cash and have plenty of money to run and repair them. Don't buy cars you cannot afford!

[@TheChocolateChamp]

I love your channel man but come on. If you have to be a mechanic to drive a car it's a pos car. They can make them reliable but they WON'T. People don't need to worry if their car will start everytime you get into them lol. I could go on for days but i think you get the point.

[@kidlatazul]

The real profit center at dealerships is the service department. There's no incentive for manufacturers to make reliable, easy-to-service cars. Just the opposite - the more complex and therefore difficult to repair yourself, the more prone to failure, the better for the dealership. This is true for all the manufacturers, but it's especially true for the Germans.

[@micraw714]

My e92 335i puts a smile on my face daily and I love working on it myself 🙂. I can't drive something that's not fun and exhilarating even if it's cheap to maintain. Life's too short for that mess lol

[@greatestever7623]

Tell these people man

[@homerthompson6028]

Got an e90 335i and you're right.

[@ntwalipat2]

There are plenty of fun & more reliable cars though!

[@vadim3045]

I had 04 bmw m3 34k Maintenance was a part time job, some of the parts I replaced I had hard time believing they went bad, then I bought 06 Lexus IS never replaced anything just changed engine oil . ran like champ always. I will never own bmw again ever.

[@kamikazee3071]

M3 is a way different car than a Lexus IS. It was never just a right car for you in the first place if you are looking for a reliable and boring cars

[@ruthlessreid9172]

Modern BMW's will never see 300k they haven't had that kind of longevity since 80s. Lease only folks look at depreciation.

[@frankburn6312]

Reid Plyler I have an e36 and e46 at 300+

[@frankburn6312]

Bill olu Compton because it’s way cheaper.

[@ruthlessreid9172]

@Bill olu Compton my daily 03 chevy Tahoe has 304k still strong. Mainly cause I'm cheap and I love the low end torque.

[@shwndh]

Bill olu Compton Because you’ve paid for it. Pay $80k for a car only to last 100k miles! How do you have time to pay for it when you’re always at the dealer service center when you should be working?

[@saman-iw9tx]

My bmw m5 competition lci 2021 is now 386k I did world tour and know problem accept wheels repair

[@67daltonknox]

In the last 20 years, BMWs have become very unreliable because of the engineers' decisions to save weight. This involves increasing use of plastic parts which unlike the plastics in Japanese cars become brittle because of engine heat and break, and the use of aluminum bolts throughout the engine which stretch resulting in gasket failure and leaks.

[@paulsz6194]

Car manufacturers make larger margins on parts compared to what they make on the car itself (most cars, not all). They only want the parts to last through the warranty period and have you come back to the dealer when the parts fail outside of warranty.

[@glasser2819]

love those stupid single useage only aluminum bolts... over engineered junk 😅

[@bassandtrebleclef]

@@paulsz6194 There are so many 3rd party parts - some even made by the OEM - that you'd have to be a damn fool to buy mfg stamped parts.

[@Jaycuubb]

Would I be able to just buy those parts made with different materials or nah?

[@tedtedness184]

I owned a hobby Audi repair shop, when I closed it down I switched to 100% to Asian cars. I am very happy that I almost never have to touch them. They just don't break.

[@ryanvtec3885]

Buy reliable Japanese and I'm a german

[@glasser2819]

Japanese licence the German designs and factory tools. That's how across the line these days you see the 3.5 V6 and the 2L4Turbo. Germans brands are smart enough to build money pits to keep Japanese busy refining quality.

[@rogerjones3341]

The new Toyota supra uses a bmw engine !!

[@ricksays7133]

roger jones yes and Toyota took it apart so that they can determine its weak points and then told the BMW engineers to redesign the weak components.

[@MSH3423]

@roger jones Toyota did collaboration with Subra on the BRZ and 86. BMW approached Toyota and said do you want to work together. BMW wanted to peak at TOYOTA’s hybrid system. Toyota wanted to play with BMW inline 6 engine. It was technology sharing program.

[@RudolfRelease]

In games I like to drive BMW, but in real life I choose for reliability - Honda

[@BIMMERZEITT]

Always enjoy your uploads Nathan. As they say, you gotta pay to play. Nothing else drives like a BMW, totally worth the cost of ownership for those of us who love cars

[@chewbacag914]

Excellent points on this video! Yes, maintenance is the key. A lot depends on how you drive and you have to be willing to spend some time and a little bit of skill to perform simple maintenance yourself if necessary!

[@BLAZENYCBLACKOPS]

Listen to Nathan, he knows exactly what he’s talking about, the man is BMW wisdom.

[@aamikkalinin6385]

I think people exaggerating about bmw being unreliable. All bmws that I owned never got any serious damage. If you have a good mechanic then car should run flawlessly. I have seen a lot of mechanics who are clueless, sloppy and they make more damage "repairing" them and after that they come to a conclusion that "BMW is unreliable"

[@timboyle3114]

Absolutely 100% true - You need to turn a wrench and do the maintenance yourself. I think its the same with any car really - neglect it and it will die! Had a 99 328 e46 from new! doing close to 100% maintenance myself. just rebuilt the suspension and replaced the interior. No big mystery's or scary stuff once you get stuck in. I just got a really clean (mechanically) E36 convertible 325 (M50 engine) for $1000. Really solid driver - needs new seats and trim repairs but its a blast! Also a great starter car for my boys to learn on. Not worth much and not enough power to get them into serious trouble and handles great if they do to be able to get themselves out of it! Would trust them in that more than some crappy new car.

[@Thudoorr]

Much respect for what you're doin man, we're lucky to have you and the other BMW mechanics that make videos for us, to be honest I actually feel like you and the 50's kid were my mentors in dealing with any issue that i had on my bmw's. I actually need to change a timing change now on my wife's Golf and besides he fact that it s a nightmare compared to BMW's, there's litterately no one that makes videos on deep VW mechanical jobs..or at least for the engine that i'm looking for, I haven't found a single video..

[@Candrews4]

I agree with the comments on what happens to BMWs (and any other cars) when maintenance is neglected and the dealership charges way too much $$. Most people today don't know how a car works, how to do basic work on cars, or even sticking to the maintenance schedule. I was FORTUNATE that my Dad worked on cars and he taught me and I learned how cars work and the importance of keeping to the correct maintenance schedule. The older 1980s BMWs I think were better made cars all around than BMWs today. I owned a 1983 BMW 533i and I bought my Dad's 1988 735i (rare 5-spd manual) and those cars performed well, very reliable, but there was still maintenance required. And with all the BMW forums out there, there is so much more good info out there. Good Channel and Good Info!

[@AtomicBabel]

Said a sad good bye to the e39 540iT this week. Tranny was toast and there were more little and medium issues that I can sanely deal with from the sidewalk. It was a long journey over the last 80k miles. Thanks Nathan for being a part of that journey.

[@reelokated212]

AtomicBabel how many miles did it have?

[@AtomicBabel]

@@reelokated212 mailings. About 160. Very sad as I've replaced every part of the suspension and cooling system myself. Burning the tranny was too much ... feel really bad as replacing the fluid was on the ticket at 150 and I got lazy.

[@reelokated212]

AtomicBabel 160 is brand new, did u never change the atf? How much is a transmission from a junkyard and swap?

[@sudhirkalapala]

@@reelokated212 there are great indi folks who can rebuild trannies. Or yes get one from junk yard

[@vbmb]

A junk yard tranny for that car is 500 dollars. Could have replaced one easily. I used to drive a 540i 6 speed.

[@dboucher26]

Buy used and learn how to work on it. Keep up with the maintenance and drive the hell out of it. I did that with my very first BMW and it’s currently at over 291,000 miles and it was my daily driver until last month, when I ran over a curb and deployed my airbags, but the car still works and is in perfect condition other than that stupid little crash. Now I drive a Lexus, but I’m fixing that BMW and will continue to drive the hell out of it because it’s in PERFECT condition.

[@ryanvtec3885]

That's some high milage for a BMW you got lucky

[@crsantin]

I've got a 2013 328i xdrive. I'm at 102,000 kms right now. Not a single issue so far. I've done my scheduled maintenance on time. I've had the brakes done once. I changed out the stock run flats with a set of Michelin Pilot Sports and they have made a huge difference. My car runs like new so far. No squeaks or rattles. The transmission is fantastic. The 2.0 4 cylinder engine is a good one I think. BMWs don't hold their value though and mine isn't worth a lot now. I didn't buy it new but I've still lost a lot in depreciation. I love my car though and it's a great drive. I don't do my own work , I'm not that capable but honestly, the car isn't that much more expensive to fix than my Hyundai Tucson was. So far so good honestly. It's been the best vehicle I've ever owned and I've owned lots of them.

[@midiman5045]

From what I heard it's not that the BMW has plastic it has cheap expensive plastic. Not like the Japanese competitors.

[@timothykeith1367]

The plastic parts in the cooling system that is supposed to be replaced on schedule isn't very costly if you replace it yourself

[@HyPex808-2]

I’ve owned 2 bimmers and I’ll never buy another. The forced induction bimmers are the worst. The 330 was actually a good car but I had to get rid of it because I got rear ended pretty badly. The 335 I bought afterwards was the biggest POS ever rod knock, replaced 2x turbos, various oil leaks, etc. The problem is finding a good Indy who has the proper tools to fix a BMW ex: scan tool

[@ntwalipat2]

Dang! So not worth the headaches & money! No wonder many people only lease them!

[@charlesrodriguez7984]

But despite this, people pushing the fallacy that they’re the most reliable out there. And Say Toyota Honda and volvo are unreliable…False. German cars are absolute junk.

[@erik149]

Hi, Nathan. Your video provides a lot of valuable information. People thinking of buying a newer BMW should examine the maintenance history. The direct injected petrol engines have many costly issues. First the fuel injectors burn off in the cylinder, which cost like $ 250,- each. The long oil change intervals ruin the engines, first the chain which get too long which then starts destroying the chain guides. Tarring of the valves is another issue resulting from direct fuel injection, the intake channel, valve seats and the valves them selves get covered in thick layers of tar, which makes the engine run bad. This often happens within 100,000 miles. The best is to inspect intake channel and valves with a camera through the spark plug hole before buying it. And when bought, change the oil every 3000-5000 miles to prevent chain damage and disable the valve returning exhaust gases into the engine to keep the sooth out that pollutes the cylinder head.

[@kencorsell8087]

You hit the nail on the head! I had a 2001 330 ci that I saved years to get and it drove like no other car. BMWS are the best driving cars out there, but it has a price. Most people don’t really care about their car or how it drives, it’s just a means to an end and makes them look successful during the trip. They will do the maintenance when it’s free and some even skip that. Most owners will dump the car as soon as it’s warrantee is up and the free maintenance is over to avoid going for more money when maintenance becomes expensive after 50k miles. If their well off they’ll just buy another BMW and start the same cycle over again. If not they’ll look to a competitor like Lexus or Audi because they never knew the BMW was the best to begin with, to them a car is a car and the best deal or lease is more important. Leasing cars also promotes this attitude that we live in a throw away world. That’s why the world is in the shape it’s in. Nobody wants to take responsibility anymore! There are probably 10% out there like you and me that love to work on their cars and love to drive them even more. They wouldn’t think about a lease because they love their car and want it to be theirs alone. They know they’ll never get back the money that they put in their car, but that’s ok they treat their car like part of the family. They find hand washing their car is a joy not a chore. Those are the real people who should own a BMW, but sadly can’t afford to! Even if you can do your own maintenance, the diagnostics needed to trouble shoot problems have put most small garages out of business, so you become a slave to the dealership!

[@larrywhittemore9362]

Yes it's just like dating a Pole-Dancer...it costs alot, but boy it sure looks good...

[@robertheger9048]

I just bought my first BMW, and I am in my fifties. 95` e36 M3 with 302.400 miles on the odometer for $1500.- The previous owner spent $24.000 on maintenance not including tires in the last seven years. Took it for a test drive and had a smile on my face the whole time. Needs repainting as the clear coat is pealing off in big sheets and all the window trim is brittle as glass, but I think I will keep this baby for the long term and spend the money to keep it on the road as all the new cars are just robots to me. I like an analog driver-vehicle interface and this car delivers. I would not want to own one if I had no mechanical skills as the labor for repairs alone will bankrupt you, but like you said, if you know how to wrench the older ones are still pretty easy to service and work on.

[@chadriddle3517]

Robert Heger want to make your $ back real quick? Lol

[@ejsgarage]

I have 3 German cars. Two VWs and one Porsche. I love to do the DIY maintenance myself.

[@mcgavin098]

The new 911 has the highest rated reliability for 2 out of the last 3 years.

[@Solidsnake999]

I owed a black 1992 BMW 535i for 5 years and after that every car that I drove I feel like I’m driving a piece of junk . The problem is When you own a BMW or Mercedes Benz You don’t wanna drive any other car no matter how good it is.

[@yurunning5574]

Yea, your right! I drove a 08 328i coupe for a week amd ot handled like a dream.

[@SilverScarletSpider]

I want a BMW Z3 or Z4 so badly right now. I don’t even want a Nissan 350Z or 370Z anymore.

[@Chris-qc9dj]

I have an 08 e92 m3 with 80k miles and 40k miles it's been supercharged. I've done 5 track days and drive it hard. It's still running great! Handles good, sounds good and drive great!

[@394pjo]

The price of membership to BMW ownership is not cheap, but once you have owned and driven a good one, especially one built between the 80's and the 2000's then any 'regular' car feels like a piece of sh /t by comparison. Keep it coming Nate.

[@michaelfay780]

Scotty kilmer gave a thumbs down

[@TheJerzeyGuy]

I agree with you, I have a e39 with 210k and a e90 with 90k now, both cars run great with regular maintenance and fixing what needs to be fixed, the right way, I'm looking to get ista at this point to do more on my own cars because as you said dealerships are a pain in the ass, I did my LCM on my e39 and took it to get coded at BMW and man was it a pain to get them to do it, luckily I know one of the managers there but still $200 for the coding, this is why I love your channel and 1 other channel because you guys know your stuff, I really appreciate the knowledge you drop here

[@farley9255]

@4:12-4:30 this is very accurate. I know dick about working on cars. My 2006 gti was a headache for even my mechanic and I to do repairs on. And doing it ourselves.. it still cost over $1k to do it correctly. I'm scared to see how much this timing belt is going to cost at a shop since I dont think that's something I should do at home or even attempt. Only driven it a little over 22k miles since 2017 when I picked it up. Its currently at 174k mileage so I know the fun repairs are about to stop popping its head up 🤯

[@AustinShockSS]

I bought my first BMW 3 years ago even after all the issues that people complain about. Always bought Honda or GM all my life. However after driving this 4 series, I was hooked! And the used price was less than half new w/36K miles and a year left in the factory warrant. I’d recommend buying a BMW with a manual transmission (less likely to have issues) and with an engine that is shared across many models.

[@dboucher26]

Manual transmission for the win.

[@Agent_Missouri]

I've been buying, rebuilding, and selling bmws for about 5 years now. As always Nathan you hit the nail on the head. Fantastic cars to drive and own but they aren't toyotas or Hondas. You have to do preventative maintenance not reactive maintenance. I'd rather have my 20 yr old 180k mile e39 v8 Mtech wagon over anything new bmw has to offer or gm or ford for that matter. Germans were 20 years ahead of the game and Americans are finally caught up but still not there really as far as quality and longevity are concerned.

[@BMWDoctor]

Maverick Smith have the USA caught up tho ????? I mean I’m still teaching the USA to stop using cheap scanners on there BMWs they still think there driving a car back in 1996 I mean if you guys had caught up I’m sure you wouldn’t be scared of electronic issues correct ? I mean for me it’s like night and day and breeze bring me any bmw petrol diesel new or old and I will sort it with ease module repair no problem engine repair no problem retrofit no problem If you like bmw you should not shy away from ANY of them, they are a challenge they will throw a curve ball your way then that’s just a learning experience and makes you wiser the next time round When you understand bmw electronics you end up learning the way bmw did it was complete genius and you understand why

[@Mr2pint]

The newer BMW do not have quality or longevity. Those days a long gone. The Plastics used inside BMWs are not of good quality like many other vehicles on the road they're not designed to last rather be disposed of after only a few years.

[@Agent_Missouri]

Mr2pint agreed and that’s a real shame

[@brianandrews7099]

I agree with everything, but I would probably add that even if you have the mechanical knowledge, tools, and space to work on your BMW, if you have very limited time because of family or work obligations, daily driving a used/older BMW might not be right for you. As Nathan has often said/demonstrated, the best deals on parts are usually “mail order” (eBay, Amazon, etc.) and that can typically involved some wait time to get your parts in hand and your car back on the road again. If your car must be ready for work on Monday morning, this can present some obvious problems. Personally, I prefer the older model BMW (around 1997 and older) for their simplicity, affordability, and durability. So my BMW tends to be “second” cars. If its torn apart for longer than expected, no big deal ... I always have a backup to get me around. This works out very well for me. I think old BMW values are getting to be about hitting the age 25 mark. At age 15-20, they just aren’t worth anything but when they get to 25, people start to realize that “you just don’t see them around as much anymore”. If that inspires you to go out and buy one, you next realize how “ragged out” most 25 year old BMWs are! If your looking to stay ahead of the values, buy ahead of age 25 and look for a good solid car with sub 125,000 miles on it. Who cares about baked paint and dirty interior (they are still in the junkyards to pull trim from right now ... but not for much longer) and new parts are cheap online. I want a solid car with good “bones” and the fun is in the bringing it back to life. Yes, your going to be a little upside down on it (money spent fixing it vs. book value) for a few years, but the plan is to make up for that after age 25! On the other side of the work, at least in my case, I own a car that I dreamed of having back when I was in college, I know it “inside and out”, and it runs great because I made it run great! How do you put a value on that?

[@alistrepairs1969]

Much respect for this video, I’m always saying this to my clients

[@lavery0365]

Had the 2013: 750i 4 dr sedan, loved it, HOWEVER whenever it was time for service I felt as if I got banged by a Silvaback Gorilla, which is why I let it go, and am now in a JEEP RUBICON, nice & simple with no surprises, I mean except for the gas mileage, but I didn't buy it for the gas mileage anyway.

[@lavery0365]

@japanwatchconnection I judge products by experience, and as of this day, I've had NO surprises mechanically, not to mention service is very reasonable in comparison & contrast to my previous BMW. Aside from the comfort of the ride of the BMW and obviously the speed, I haven't fell off too much technology wise, I have some suprising amenities on my Jeep that I'd have never thought it would have, but, to each his own right my friend. You want to share with me what vehicle(s) you own?

[@tomcannone8894]

There is a reason that 70% of BMW's are leased. I love the way he explains that if you can't turn a wrench its not for you. Well many many don't own a garage or have a place to service their BMW by themselves, that's why dealer maintained cars are the norm today. I agree they are great cars but the maintaince can be a deal breaker. Today as explained in the video its plastic that is killing the brand. Normal parts that should be metal are cheap plastic. Leaks are also a problem, I have heard horror stories of minor oil leaks that caused the belt to slip and cause catastrophic cam failure. But its the ultimate driving machine....

[@TheTektronik]

The best BMW channel I found thanks, Nathan.

[@mcgyverb1664]

Fully agree with everything you said, especially about not going to the stealers for recall, they are all crooks, pure truth, good video Nathan.

[@a.gordon6077]

Mcgyver B why wouldn’t you take your car to a dealership if it’s a recall issue?

[@mcgyverb1664]

A. Gordon because the dealership is very crooked, their main objective is to upsell you on maintenance labor service, they know you’re vehicle better than anyone else, this doesn’t mean they care about your vehicle, they will try to get as much as they can out of you, I went in for a recall on airbag, they broke my windshield, and have the audacity to call me, and asked me for my insurance information, I told them they better replace my windshield with a bmw factory part, and they also told me I needed new turbos, they pretty much wrote up a bill for $10,500 they had no idea I had my own scan tool, and do my own work, so I told them to put my vehicle back together, and I will pick it up, after getting my vehicle back, I opened up the hood and noticed multiple screws were missing from my engine cover, and certain things wasn’t properly screwed back in, all I needed was a turbo hose replaced, and my valve cover was leaking, that only cost me $250 and my vehicle ran fine for whole year, they are criminals with a license, dealerships are so shady I probably will never buy anymore vehicle from any big major dealerships they are thieves.

[@a.gordon6077]

Mcgyver B Wow, say no more! Thanks for the insight.

[@OzzyTheFerret129]

I got a e53 n62 4.8is with 193k on it runs great and change the oil every 3k they are good cars people are scared of the n62 I love it

[@veganwally]

So well put. I still say next project car your e46 you don't have to buy it you already have it. Still working on my surprise.

[@NathansBMWWorkshop]

Wally Lindberg you are right I have a e46 , currently using it as a mouse hotel / parts car lol

[@nathancoste2192]

i worked on all European car for many years, and what i noticed is that they all fall apart after 7years or 70k on. first thing is the oil leaks and moves on to engine components. all European cars were build to last about 7 years, even the manufacturers said that. thats why their resale value is so low!

[@kaywonderer]

You have to pay me to drive Lexus with that ugly grill.

[@leosorbello7732]

Well justerfied,I have a E46 and all you said is true ,I hope peaple hear you word at least 5 times so they get it .

[@grebeau1]

I have owned BMW and MB. My 3 series is a money pit. The ML Benz did not cost me so much in repairs. I have friends with both cars and the BMWs are always at mechanic.

[@KubanKevin]

Not a bmw guy but I always felt they do not deserve the amount of hate they receive. I’m personally a mopar guy and they have had as many issues as the next bmw especially early 345 HEMIs and 3.6 pentastars. All cars have their quirks and it’s about driving what you love.

[@electrikoptik]

Actually this whole video is trying to justify the fact that BMW are high maintenance and to repair stuff before they break. Replacing parts before they break does not make a car reliable.

[@AbbieHoffmansGhost]

I must have gotten lucky. I bought a 1986 e28 535i in 1996. Not a speck of rust anywhere on the car. And this was in New Hampshire. I think that the car came from Pennsylvania originally. It ran perfectly but the clutch went during the second week that I owned it and the small dealer that I bought from picked it up and put a new clutch, throw out bearing and pressure plate in for free and brought it back to me a few days later. The only thing that I did to that car in the four years that I owned it was I put a new drive shaft and guibo in it. The drive shaft and guibo were $600 which included labor from a local foreign car repair shop. Put it in cold storage inside every winter; too much torque for snowy roads. The interior looked like new and the glasurit paint was like new. The rubber bumper pieces had a couple of humps like they all did. It was one strong motor with great torque. The radio was the only thing that didn't work correctly but I didn't use it and still don't in my current vehicle. I paid $5600 for the car and sold it to a friend for $1500 in the same shape because it was do for tires which were those Michelin metrics that were the only tire available with the original wheels. Brutally expensive. He found other rims at a recycle yard and bought new tires and drove it for a couple of years and made money on the sale. One of the two best cars I've had next to a 1966 Volvo 122s. Wish that I still had it.

[@spencermaiers8322]

Bmw e28 chassis 5 Series from 82 to 88 in USA and basically all the 80s cars from bmw is a different story. Yes maintenance is necessary on them too. But it's metal parts va plastic parts. Paper gaskets vs rubber gaskets that harden to plastic. Classic bmws are desirable, go up in value periodically, lately a lot, so we have to clarify that the 80s was a spectacular time for bmw. They are serviceable forever almost. At this age șeals and weather stripping can be worn. Paint gets shot and worn. You can save major bucks with a parts car or a buddy or two who have spare bits. New bmws are more plastic and more maintenance hungry. But some are still quite good. I don't have a bunch of experience from 2011+ yet as they're not breaking as much yet. I have 6 years of experience working on bmws from 70s to 2010 and just basic maintenance on the post 2011 vehicles as some are not worth fixing due to extreme labor cost and time and learning a whole new chassis and it's normal issues. Its worth spending 2 3 grand in maintaining a 1980s 535i. It may not be worth it at all to maintain a 2011 750i after its smoking pouring oil and modules are crapping out.

[@TheFrenchPug]

I ll tell you. I have an e92 that I love but I put a lot of 3-4 hours into it every 4-6 months if not more, replacing plastic crap or chasing a gremlin. But, it's always been fixable.

[@Nobody-dc8dp]

This guy I work with has a beater BMW he's made into a drift car. He ripped everything out and made it easier to work on. He said don't buy the new ones. Buy cheap and don't bother much, it's a car...

[@thewolf61691]

I disagree on never buy new, leasing with 10% off MSRP plus incentives and base money factor you can pay 500 a mo for a 65k$ msrp car and enjoy every god damn minute of it for 3yrs and get another. That's what I do after buying slightly used cars to avoid the depreciation hit for many years.

[@tomcannone8894]

Fantastic I agree whole heartily,leasing perhaps is not for everyone but great deals are out there .Many leases include maintenance for the life of lease and low or no money down. If it breaks, tell em to get Their Car.....!

[@dwu1127]

for used BMW, it's better to buy on condition rather than mileage invest some tools, keep tracking of your maintenance, preventative maintenance is the key and remember, BMWs are like to be driven

[@greatestever7623]

Exactly they love to be driven FAST too

[@googleface5]

i think of a bmw as a pet, if you’re not willing to take care of it and treat it like it matters, you probably shouldn’t have one.

[@rolandbaron5813]

Yep. Facts! I've had a 1995 325i convertible, i regret letting it go. It's a different feel a whole different experience driving a bmw.

[@chadriddle3517]

Nathan ! Love the brutal honesty! Is why I follow you an Plus you have awesome content. I have to share this with you . My boss at work had a 2008 x3 with n52 I believe. But his wife smell oil . Well after the $198 diagnosis fee the report he brought me to work to look over for him had a total of $8,468 of repairs to get it back to perfect! Lmao like I was telling dean here in USA they have the nickname stealership for reason here. Anyway at best just needs a victor reins gasket .it runs perfectly. Oh well the eccentric shaft sensor grommet needs be replaced. But $8k come on . We own 3 bmws an I agree 100% what you said an I do 100% of the work .

[@NathansBMWWorkshop]

Chad Riddle sounds like it needs a $100 valve cover and about 40 min to install it

[@mcgyverb1664]

Chad Riddle all bmw stealers are thieves, people with no information will fall victims, by bringing their out of warranty bmw directly to the thieves 🙅‍♂️biggest financial mistake, they wrote up a $12k service bill on my brother 2012 X650i and I scanned the vehicle, all it needed was cylinder 5 injector, and a coil, this was in April 2019 now he’s still actively driving the vehicle in December with no issues, those stealers have a license to steal people’s money 💰 they are criminals.

[@chadriddle3517]

Nathan's BMW Workshop I’d say your exactly right !!! Never fails every time I hear anyone going to them it’s the same old story. Sometimes when I do a job to one of our bmws I’ll call an get an estimate from the dealer just to laugh at what it might be ! Lol

[@TheSponge945]

Chad Riddle so what exactly are you trying to say or what was the issue? Your sentence structure sucks and you can’t explain yourself well. If I was your boss, I’d fire you first then proceed to fixing my bmw.

[@chadriddle3517]

Mcgyver B wow ! Good catch, that does not surprise me a bit . I completely agree with you .

[@genekelly8467]

Pretty fair-the gist is: "do not buy a BMW, unless you're rich or able to do the work yourself". As you say, the complexity of these cars means that they become worthless as they age-nothing will ever change that. There is a point where complexity (often needless) makes the parts count so high, the MTBF is measured in weeks.The Germans are unable to make electronic modules at 6-Sigma quality levels, that is why they fail, and replacing them with junkyard parts is a crap shoot. I think that car ownership will soon be a thing of the past-you will lease them.

[@masteryoda498]

BMW: Big Money Wasted, Bill Me Whatever Save your money and a whole lot of grief, buy a Lexus.

[@dmanatan]

I bought an ‘08 X3 in March and I’ve already tapped out. Fixed just about everything that can fail on those and I still can’t do it. Switched over to a TSX Sport Wagon.

[@E_tiBEAMERBOY]

dmanatan noice choice mate the Honda engines hold up and the sport wagon is rare! one of my buddies had a 05 V8 X5 and he was done with it in about 3-4 months😂😂 that shit was always misfiring, enough was enough for him and he ended up getting a Lexus es350 2010

[@drone1028]

@@E_tiBEAMERBOY it must be hard going from an X5 to a es350. I did that in August, just picked up a 340i. The es350 was too floaty for me.

[@E_tiBEAMERBOY]

drone1028 LMAO my thoughts exactly but then again he’s not too much into cars, he just needs something economical and decent enough to daily.

[@curlymyhero]

I own AMG's--another "problem child" in the Euro world unless given maintence--but this man's great ideas run across all cars.

[@bmw.source]

I agree Nathan at 0:45 in North America people don’t maintain their cars properly.

[@greatestever7623]

Exactly!!!!!!!!

[@blueryxfalls7949]

Funny how if you think of buying or not a BMW results in this kind of conversarion and a philosophical debate lmao.

[@irontrev1640]

I am in the 15%. I love both of my Bmws E70 and E90 but as you say it’s a mechanic’s Car, If you can wrench they will last along time. They will not destroy your wallet if you can do your research and find good prices and know where you can skimp. (Stay away from discount stores and dealers unless there is no other choice.. but that will be far and few times. My intro to German engineer was an E46, the first time I wrenched on it I knew this was different. They are well thought out machines that require maintenance to enjoy a pleasurable driving experience. He is 100% correct on the video, buy a toyota if you don’t want to work on it as often.

[@AliKhan-fs3rm]

Good point. Learn to do some of the maintenance yourself!!

[@valentinorossi7771]

If you live from paycheck to paycheck, avoid German cars. Maintenance cost is a rip off. Buy domestic unless you want to show off. My 12 year old cherokee has 207,000 miles and I maintain it regularly. Apart from the power window problem (parts are inexpensive) the car still runs fine.

[@FreelikeaBird999]

I’m here because I’m going to buy a preowned BMW X5. Has 30k miles on it . For 32000 usd . Now I after watching this video and the messages below. I decided to go my other option. A Lexus GX460. I did not choose it and went to X5 was because the gas consumption of GX460 . It’s a v8 engine with 13 MPG ….. but now I think I will put the maintenance and repair money to the gas station for my next month GX 😃.thanks guys

[@Tracer414]

BMW 3 series are truly a nightmare! There is absolutely nothing on these vehicles that simple to repair. Parts are very expensive and most repairs require an expensive professional mechanic. Moreover, these vehicle drastically depreciate within 10 years. Changing an upper radiator hose on most high performance vehicles is a 15-minute job. However the hoses on BMWs are made with plastic couplings that are held on with clips. These hoses are very difficult to remove after they've been on the vehicle for a number of years going through numerous heat cycles. The engineers BMW and all of their wisdom, designed the upper portion of the radiator made also of plastic. It's virtually impossible to remove the upper hose without cracking the plastic housing on the radiator. I'm a professional mechanic and I know how to remove a component without force. But in this instance it's unavoidable unless you're very lucky. It gets worse. You must remove the entire undercarriage and exhaust system just to change and u-joint. Yet another example of poor BMW engineering. In order to replace a starter, (or even see it for that matter) you need to basically remove the entire upper portion of the engine compartment. And I won't even get into the friquent issues with faulty sensors, relays, maf, etc. The interiors are crap. I've seen multiple issues with the electronics harnesses shorting out. I could go on. After working on several of these vehicles, I would strongly advise that you avoid buying any used BMW.

[@TheBlindphleb]

Toyota > BMW. The first job of a car is to run, if I’m under the hood so long it’s not doing it’s primary job.

[@keyboarddancers7751]

A lot of BMWs seem to be like a very, very high maintenance girlfriend.

[@The3358151l]

I love your vid, explanation and your thoroughness you . I only drive Japanese cars. For personal reasons but if you got money to blow, you get the right model at the right time and miles I’d undetsnd buying a used on or one specific for a project car otherwise I couldn’t touch a used or new Beamer bcuz people don’t wildely beleice in preventative maintenance . I love the underdog ness of Japanese cars on top of their made a lot better in my opinion, not saying better engineered Germans are Kong’s of engineering but they’re cars sacrifice certain things for ultimate gains in the sporting dept. nothing wrong wit that just preference

[@dwdrumshdmotorcyclesvirgom7379]

I'd say if you cant maintain BMW's then lease and dump them!

[@jeffdaman6969]

This.

[@BrokeTruckerGyal]

Thank you for the honest insight. I've been wanting an e92 for years now but have been afraid to commit due to how everyone talks down BMW maintenance. At the same time, I just don't know any car I've had as much fun in as I have in driving a BMW. Guess I'll just have to get me a mechanics book. Lol

[@WillPower46]

I agree with you that dealerships are assholes. I do have my BMW serviced every 10 000km by an independent mechanic and the sell my BMW's at 90 000km then get a low mileage used one again < 40 000km. This system works for me.

[@humblebeginnings988]

Explained perfectly, there is nothing on the road that drives like my e90. Ever since I lost my other one (by NOT taking Nathan's advice and bringing it to a shop) I've done nothing but want for another one and I finally got it with my 08 335i. Yeah they're difficult to work on sometimes, and people don't take care of them so you will HAVE to work on it if you buy it used, but there is no car on the planet that puts a smile on my face like my 335.

[@Italianborn]

Following question is I’m about to drive a 2009 x3 , they’re saying only has 140 thousand kms (carfax) we both know that doesn’t count much.. what you think of it ? Unfortunately dealership doesn’t offer warranty and they can do it by law here in canada… thanks for the attention and video !.

[@theamerican7080]

Anything later than 1997 is where the problems begin, especially with the V8 models. Anything later than 2003 will cost you double the purchase price to own. Anything with I-drive just plain sucks. (1997 540i 227,000 miles)

[@lovehelping456]

Love your video and I need your advice. I have $40K and I want to buy a 7 series. Which year is most reliable and should I get a 730Li or 740Li. I want to keep the car for 5 yrs without hassle. I won’t maintain the car myself. All maintenance will be done through a paid garage.

[@stuartbear922]

My old E36, a 318Ti was a very good car. Better than a Honda. Sold it at 233,000 miles and it was 17 yrs old. However, I wouldn't purchase a bimmer nowadays. Electric water pumps? Start-Stop systems? What the heck

[@nature10879]

My co worker's brand new kia Optima the engine went bad in under 36k miles. they replaced it with a brand new engine while he was driving a rental Altima. I was shocked because I thought kias being cheap and simple they would last. Maybe it was just his optima, who knows!

[@tormis1987]

5 days out of the week you may hate it, but for those 2 days when everything is spot on, you will fall in love with your BMW. True story!

[@nysmindnancs6899]

BMW the ultimate disposable machine!!!

[@a.d.c7941]

This video helped me make a wise decision about whether or not to look at getting my first bmw. Thank you Sir.

[@Jewelstravel]

Same here :/

[@a.d.c7941]

@@Jewelstravel A big definite no for me.

[@ignacioromero5014]

"If you're an idiot and can't turn a wrench" hahaha I've owned my E90 fir almost a year, I have a running listr of things I have done and no not muffler tips and fender stretching, real maintenance, I'm up to 34 items. I drive it 100 miles daily and it loves to have it's legs stretched. Happy owner. Some moron commented "take it back" when I bought it. I have proven that guy wrong, its not the car its the owner.

[@thekiller500099]

I agree. But 90% of people just want to turn on their car and go. They have other stuff to worry about. I know people who just hates working on cars. And when their car starting to act up it seems like one thing after another, especially when they take it to a shop. This is why Toyota is king. People that buys supras are willing to work on their car, and they know what they are getting into.

[@mbtadhl]

Always wanted a BMW but reliability is important to me, I wanted an X3 or X5 but the reliability is for shit. Looks like it's a Lexus RX 350 for me.

[@penvon]

mbtadhl Wise choice indeed.

[@mbtadhl]

@@penvon BMW motorcycle is still on my radar screen though..

[@AlmightyKes]

What about a BMW X4 with 120,000 miles but kept up maintenance, looking to buy what you think?

[@juanojeda8069]

That's right obsolescence programed today world. I own before sequoia 2007 For 5 years I travel I lot and comfortable, reliable car

[@auragr]

Can someone explain why anyone who buys a car and wants to keep it won't buy extended warranty? Yes you pay a little more but you have the car running like new. I am not sure how much one is for a BMW but for a $52K Grand Cherokee it's like $2K to extend to 8 years 120K miles. That's the official FCA warranty with a $100 ded. not some unknown third party. I am sure there are more options after that but at that point or better 3 months in advance you basically sell at max price since you have the warranty...transfer it and buy a new car.

[@TassieLorenzo]

How many times are you going to extend the warranty, if you keep the car from new (or 2-3 years old) up to 15 years old? It doesn't sound very economic to keep extending the warranty...

[@auragr]

@@TassieLorenzo LOL who keeps a car for 15 years? No one who doesn't have money should buy expensive cars. By the way FCA had an unlimited miles and years warranty which they've now changed to 8 years. 8 years 120K miles is plenty enough for a Jeep Cherokee. After that I go buy a new car. A friend has a 12 year old car and he keeps fixing it. I have no time or patience for that kind of stuff. Had a Mercedes used...it was about 8 years old when I got it and I spent more time fixing it that actually driving it. In terms of BMW there's no easy answer...extended warranties are expensive and so is service. Best solution is buy a 2 year old BMW and keep it for 3 more years until the warranty runs out and sell it. Would never ever drive a car without a warranty.

[@AnthonyStromDesign]

If you are ocd about cars then bmw is a perfect fit for you!