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Wanted: BMW repair cost horror stories...

A Y

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Originally Posted by JayJay
Recent enough to be still under warranty?

Just out of warranty, but he had an extended warranty, and they're negotiating with the 3rd party provider now.

--Andre
 

spencers

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Never had any major problems with any of the 3-series I've owned in the past (E30, E36) and present (E46).

Originally Posted by maxnharry
I have a 1997 528i and have spent almost nothing on it except for brakes, oil, etc. I am getting ready to replace the clutch and at $2000. It will be my largest expense on the car. The key with BMWs is either a good independent mechanic or doing the wrenching yourself.

Well said.
 

Cavalier

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BimmerDIY.com

You can pretty much do everything yourself if you're so inclined (including an automatic to manual ****** swap for only about $2500 in parts and a weekend of labor). Even independent mechanics are too damn expensive.

I have an out of warranty BMW ('03) and recommend having another car. If the BMW needs some work, I drive the other car until I get time to get around to it. It also keeps less miles on the BMW.

My E46 will cost a 1-2g's a year in maintenance at an indie shop ... it has 118K and I now only drive it around 5-10K annually. Not cheap.
 

Jayhawk1412

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Yikes, I'm very happy someone posted this thread. I am looking for a used car, and this answered a lot of my questions.

My top 3 choices are:

1. 2004+ Acura TL
2. 2003+ Infiniti G35
3. 2003+BMW 3 Series

Looking for somewhat decent maintenance costs, and good gas mileage.

Any thoughts?
 

xpress

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Originally Posted by Jayhawk1412
Yikes, I'm very happy someone posted this thread. I am looking for a used car, and this answered a lot of my questions.

My top 3 choices are:

1. 2004+ Acura TL
2. 2003+ Infiniti G35
3. 2003+BMW 3 Series

Looking for somewhat decent maintenance costs, and good gas mileage.

Any thoughts?


I'd even check out Lexus...

Amazing reliability (If you ignore the recent batch, and CNN) and very luxurious!
 

mdao63

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Back in the day, each trip to the shop:
3 series $300
5 series $500
7 series you get the idea.
The Japanese (and now Korean) autos seem to be commodities in terms of risk/return. For the bimmer, check the used cars very carefully before purchase.
IMO, the bimmers are much more fun to drive.
 

impolyt_one

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any 360 Modena ownership stories?
 

Cavalier

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Originally Posted by mdao63
Back in the day, each trip to the shop:
3 series $300
5 series $500
7 series you get the idea.
The Japanese (and now Korean) autos seem to be commodities in terms of risk/return. For the bimmer, check the used cars very carefully before purchase.
IMO, the bimmers are much more fun to drive.


I want to go to your shop

Watch out for Acuras-- their auto ******* suck.
 

uvmboi13

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I agree with going with a G35 or Lexus IS350. If you go G35, mind as well go coupe.
smile.gif
 

spertia

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Originally Posted by Cavalier
Watch out for Acuras-- their auto ******* suck.

Yep, my wife han an Acura years ago in which the automatic transmission had to be replaced at 20k miles.
 

Rye GB

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I don't know too much about cars so excuse the lingo.

My friends 03 325 Coupe has 38K on the clock and extended his warranty last year for an additional 3 years for $2k.

He had the car serviced at BMW Beverly Hills only 2 months ago. Some kind of bulb had bust in one of the headlights and they tried to claim it wasn't warranty covered, cost to fix $900. I don't know the details but in the end after haggling and begging the warranty covered it.

On Wednesday his car wouldn't start. He had it towed to BMW. After 48 hours of having the car BMW hadn't even looked at it. Yesterday they said his "ignition" I'm sure that's what it is had four leaks and his oil pan was busted and all of the weather stripping around the windows is falling off and the front brakes are caput. He claims if they only just serviced the car how come the ignition and oil pan issue wasn't diagnosed two months ago.
He still doesn't have his car because BMW want the warranty adjuster to come and make an evaluation before doing any of the work.

Sounds ****'n nuts to me!!
 

SpallaCamiccia

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Originally Posted by impolyt_one
same question, but:

-AMG horror stories? particularly the 5.5 s/c'ed cars.
-996 3.6L horror stories? I've heard them about the 3.4L's but how about 3.4's?


Oh the bad name of the worst 911 ever is gone overseas too? Tons of them are for sale with less than 100.000 km due to that.

Back to the bmw , you can get almost all the pieces 2nd hand for cheap and take the car to a mechanic you trust.
 

SpallaCamiccia

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Originally Posted by impolyt_one
any 360 Modena ownership stories?

3 f1 auto gear broken in a row. 30.000 euros bill , radiator broken 5000 and so and so...
 

JohnGalt

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Originally Posted by Jayhawk1412
Yikes, I'm very happy someone posted this thread. I am looking for a used car, and this answered a lot of my questions.

My top 3 choices are:

1. 2004+ Acura TL
2. 2003+ Infiniti G35
3. 2003+BMW 3 Series

Looking for somewhat decent maintenance costs, and good gas mileage.

Any thoughts?


g35
 

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