I completely agree, I have tried a few used BMW’s over the years, but my 2006 BMW 325i E90 has been the most reliable by far. I have taken it from 70k miles all the way to 163k miles, with no serious issues. If you stick with a non-turbo N52 engine you should be riding in style for years. The worst BMW I have ever owned: 2001 BMW 740iL
@@ERICK-di1yz I’ve never had the 328i, but I would assume they are basically equally reliable. However, the more complicated the machine, the more expensive the maintenance as a general rule.
@@ERICK-di1yz Sounds like a good deal. Have it inspected by a mechanic if you can, once you replace some of the minor parts you should be good for another 100k miles
The fact is,,, as long as people keep buying them for their fun to drive and Luxory car factors, and not for "reliability" ,,, it doesn't matter that they are shit after 10 years. People will keep buying them... I agree with your comment thus why I will never buy a BMW.
They aren't unreliable initially though, they become unreliable over time. You can't use the $90k sticker as a benchmark for the car and call it an unreliable $90k car. By the time they become unreliable they've depreciated to the $20-30k range because people know they are/will become unreliable and the price has adjusted accordingly. The $90k pricetag is for best in class performance and state of the art technology, the ~$25k pricetag is for great performance, newer technology and likely expensive repairs down the road.
I drive a 1992 BMW E34 525i, which I bought new, and now with over 300,000 miles. It's still quiet, clean, and fast enough for me. The key is that I keep it maintained properly, tuned regularly, and when something is broken, it gets fixed before it becomes a major issue. I've had the transmission rebuilt once and had the engine re-sealed twice. Never been in an accident, and my mechanic still cares about it, as much as I do. The only one of this vintage still being maintained in his shop. It still looks clean and mean - black lacquer paint with chrome trim and alloy rims; garaged at home and work. At this point, it still performs better than most current, comparable cars with 2.5 L engines (without turbo boost, of course). A nice leather interior, and great sound system (Alpine speakers with a Pioneer receiver). People have offered to buy it from me, but it would be hard to part with my old friend.
I have a 2000 E39 528i M Sport, I’ve owned it for 10 years, it has 208,000kms on it now and still never misses a beat, plenty of luxury, excellent ride comfort/handling, and with proper regular servicing it’s bulletproof, best 5 series ever!
I bought a 2010 bmw 328i with 60k miles from an action for like $2,300, it was rear ended but I basically just slapped a new rear bumper and it was done. It drives amazing and it seems like previous owner kept maintenance up to the teeth and garage kept it. I had a 2008 335i n54 Engine before this and let me tell you, the 328i is great ! It’s speedy and no turbo lag. In city driving it feels as fast as the 335i but smoother. Very happy with it.
I've read the the fuel is aspirated differently in a 328i compared to the 330i, I was really happy with my 330i even with 150k plus miles I had No real issues... I'm considering trying the 2008 335i coupe I found one for 6k with 120k miles..
I drive a 2007 E92 330i port injection 272 hp since 2013, manual gearbox. I bought it from its fist owner with 100k km on the clock at the time. Now approaching 150k km, about 92k miles. Still looks good for a 13 years old car. No turbo, no carbon buildup, no HPFP issues, no overheating. Yet a very decent 5.9s 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph). Engine noise over 4.5k RPM is sublime. I've got to watch out for the water pump and thermostat. And the ABS pump, and the oil filter housing gasket, oil pan gasket, head gasket, vanos solenoids, coil pack. Other than that... Luckily no problems so far, touch wood. If you want s reliable car, but a Toyota. If you want a fun car, BMW is a good place to start but it will break. Just know someone who can fix them at a reasonable price, avoid the official garage.
This theorem almost always holds true most of the time in any vehicle you buy. The less complicated and more generic the vehicle owned, is directly proportional to more reliability and the least problems and maintenance cost you're going spend, in ownership.
Most people who can afford a BMW just lease for 3 years and then lease a new one every 3 years. Then they don't worry about repairs. I bought a 3 year old 2000 540i. I had a lot of fun with that car and had multiple repairs, like radiator replacement due to plastic radiator plumbing. At one point I paid $3000 for complete suspension replacement. The car felt like a new car after that. A few years later electronic gremlins crept in. Then I traded it in and bought a Honda CRV. The Honda CRV only needed oil changes, one set of tires and a battery, no other repairs even after 70,000 miles.
I own a 01 bmw 540i with 230 thousands miles no problems and running strong changed all 4 struts my self $450 dlls german made water pump valve cover gasket 30 bucks all that is a normal oil changes i only use long life oil
My sweet spot is an E46 3 series. Best tips: low mileage, get a Carfax report and look for good service records, and get a pre-purchase inspection. Good dealers/sellers will let you take the car to an independent shop or have a mobile inspection service look at the car. There isn’t a car out there that requires zero maintenance. Parts will fail. Things like oil and fluids have to be changed. Do some of the work yourself, or find an independent shop that will work with you on price. BMW’s aren’t bulletproof, but with good maintenance they’ll be good to you.
I bought a 2007 328i with the straight inline 6 at a great price and it's been my daily driver for the past 2 years. Its been a joy to drive and I've only done a couple of small regular maintenance repairs myself..I'm really happy with my bimmer.
I've been a BMW fanatic since a child I am rebuilding a 2000 328ci e46 i put 80 000km on it. It went everywhere for me and always started, despite few minor problems , (wipers frozen in cold, bird chirping in blower motor again cold weather -40 celcius) I am in process of purchasing a e92 328xi. Needed some advice other than my opinion about it. This video is perfect it sums it all up and that is exactly what my opinion was on bmw in the reliability sector. This video is very informative in the 13 minutes span
E30, E28, E34 honestly anything pre 2000s, that's when BMWs were meant to be drivers cars, worked on by the owners, and ran forever if maintained. I still love and adore modern BMWs but back then BMWs weren't "Iphones on wheels" they were purely focused on being the true Ultimate Driving Machine.
@@chrisrodgers9564 I've just started watching this guy, seems to know a lot about BM's. aha I only watch Scotty usually, big fan of his, Toyota most reliable car, I got celica Gtr 92 import, but I still fancy Bm.
As a mechanic who has been working on BMWs for 20 years, I go along with Scotty.Today's BMWs are a joke. They are not made to last. Plus, they are very hard to work on. It's true that BMWs are beautiful and fast but they can not stand the test of time. They die before their time.
Love this video Mark, I really like it when you are sitting at your desk having a conversation with us about a particular topic. Keep up the good work!
I drive a 07 328i and I love it. Literally wouldn't drive anything else, since my last 04 530i had 230k miles and drove perfect. Never had 1 problem with it.
BLOCKPARTYVINTAGE I just bought a 07 328i as well and I’m loving it. Just not sure how expensive repairs will be. Hope I don’t have any problems with mine. Good luck with it.
I have a 2007 328i. I love my car. As far as repairs go, I do my own repairs. I order the parts from eBay. Then I lookup what I need to do, then I fix it. Yes I'm a mechanic. I went to school for almost 5 months to fix cars and diesel trucks. When I bought the car I didn't know if the last person kept up the maintenance. So I changed the coil packs and the fuel injectors, brakes, cooling fan, and the power steering fluid reservoir. My car came with an extended warranty. also
The most reliable BMW that I recommend is any BMW that has the M54b25/M54b30 motor mounted to a manual transmission. Hands-down the most solid combination BMW has to offer. I own a 2005 325CI E46, over 300k on the original clutch, transmission and engine. No major issues, everything works like new. I drive a lot too and use the car as my daily driver, even in the winter. My mechanic whose a BMW specialist told me that he had a customer with an E46 325i (with the same engine) with more than 600k on it and the customer was trying to kill the engine, but even after running it dry of oil it just wouldn't give up.
i bought a bmw e46 2002 318i with 111,000 on the clock. no problem just had to add new tyres and replace oil filter housing gasket goes like a dream with no issues i bought it in 2020
Spot on, just wanted to add something. I drive a 98 e46 318i 8v over here ( Lebanon), which is known to be even more reliable than the 16v. In our mountainous terrain, the low geared diff with a manual trans works like a treat. I always wanted a reliable BMW because I enjoy the accurate and weighted steering and manual shift, built quality, the simplicity of this model. The e46 has classic elegant lines, and has been extremely reliable. My 2 cents.
I had an 1997 E39 520i for a few years. Very reliable and the best driving car I ever had. Just needed a bit more power. The two things I had to replace was the water pump and an ABS sensor. Other than that it was really great.
I owned a 1991 750 and it was a good car. Biggest problem a lot of owners face is the inability to ignore dash lights. You will spend thousands trying to get the lights out and they don’t affect the reliability of the car. Drove mine many many miles and it never left me stranded.
I have a 2007 BMW 323i with 209000 km, and I have had nothing but the usual maintenance items that you expect with a vehicle getting up there in mileage. New suspension pieces, worn driveshaft carrier bearing, brakes, and most recently a new water pump and thermostat. It has been utterly reliable in all weather conditions (i live in Ontario) No gasket leaks except for a minor rear main seal that sweats as is expected. Despite living in salt country, there is no rust and the underbody is rust free as well, this with no rustproofing. So , for me, because i can do alot of my own maintenance, this car has been reliable, rust free, and a real pleasure to daily drive.
I have a 2011 328i xdrive with 166,000 miles and it’s been great, granted I’m on top of things that are known to fail by doing as much preventative maintenance as I can.. water pumps, cooling hoses and bushings. It’s soiled and still looks and runs like a newer car.
Same here.. good to know coz I have the sam 2011 328i xfrive.. I have 50k mileage so even after using 100k mileage it would still be great like yours then :)
so I guess you never had the chance to drive a new BMW that's probably you think a 2011 runs like a new!. The world has moved on greatly since 2011. Obama and Trump gone and Biden is in the white house!.
My 1998 328is manual is close to 190k miles and still riding great. Repairs done over the years: replaced cooling system (radiator, water pump, thermostat, etc), power steering reservoir and associated hoses, valve cover gasket, alternator, spark plugs, suspension system, belts, fluids (engine oil, transmission fluid, power steering oil, rear differential oil) and brakes. Next to do is oil filter housing gasket. Reliability is relative to expected miles traveled before any of those services must be done. If a BMW needs more frequent service than a Toyota, then by definition, Toyotas are more reliable. And at a minimum, will cost more in time and money to operate. I would consider my repairs fall under wear and tear and am happy so far.
I just bought a 2009 E90 328i with only 64,000 miles. Man... it drives like a champ! Soooo smooth, plenty of pep, and she’s a looker! I drove over 6 hours to get it - they’re so hard to find in really good condition.
@@seething1361 it’s tough to find them in good shape and for a decent price. Most are +100k miles, needs parts, salvaged title, or it’s in good shape but they want $9k.
@@boy_mamba9907 I paid $6,200. Right now I’m at about 99,000 miles. I drive an hour and a half each way to work, so it adds up fast. All highway miles though. But I’ve had ZERO problems with it so far. It still runs smooth as butter. I just make sure to change the oil frequently and check my fluids often. I’m honestly surprised at the reliability.
Thats great. Its that engine whether in a 5 or 3 series is reliable even though the 5 series cars may have additional system electronics. Sounds like you have a good one. Cheers.
I am enjoying my manual 2002 530i as well. However I wish I was driving a single VANOS 1996-1998 528i like yours as that engine is the best for E39 - iron engine not aluminium one like mine - Plus it has a single mass flywheel which means better reliability and less cost for the clutch, even if the dual mass flywheel - which is on 530i - offers you a smoother riding.
Thanks 4 all your knowledge..just picked up a 2007 328i wagon in Montego blue 2 owner car with extensive maintenance history really clean through out for $6k. It's my first BMW as I was always worried about all the realiablity issues some models are known for . I stuck to all the tips you've mentioned & when I came across this one I was able to make an educated/calculated decision! Way more fun than my 2007 Prius! 😂
I Daily Drive an 86' 325e with 318k miles and she runs almost perfect. Also have a 2000 323ci with 250K miles that was my daily driver for 6 years until I bought my 86' e30.(now she just sits in the garage until further notice) Both are fantastic vehicles with amazing reliability. I also live in Michigan and see salty roads every year and can tell you these cars are far less rusty than my truck that only has 100k miles on it. Hopefully this helps anyone looking to buy a Bimmer.
Most people that buy BMW don't look for simplicity, reliability, and retainability. Their main three priorities of buying a BMW is for performance, luxury and technology.
I don’t understand how BMW is ahead in technology! They don’t even have lane keeping assist as standard feature. I am looking around for a used but recent bmw. What I found was hilarious. Their “Driver Assistance Package” consists of a rear view camera, that’s it! Wow! I installed a rear view camera and much more on my 2009 Sonata myself. How is this even considered as an optional package at a time when Tesla is producing almost self driving cars! Pathetic! Whatever though. Growing above the technology part, I’ll still get a bimmer, not for its technology, but for its ride quality and handling joy. That’s it.
I own what I consider the working mans e46 M3, 330ci m sport convertible manual gearbox, it’s over 15 years old, but I love it, and I’ve got no intentions of trading it in
ExoticCar PlayPlace exactly, I’ve had a few people say to me, oh but y don’t u get a more economical car, well a friend of mine has a 1 litre ecoboost fiesta, on finance, 2 years old, we do pretty much the same mileage, and yes his petrol bill is cheaper, but when u include wot he pays per month for the car lol well it’s pretty much the same as my fuel for the month, and maintenance wise is not an issue for me, so y would I wanna chop my car in for sumin more ‘economical’, it doesn’t pay......
I have a 1999 323i that was a very well maintained single owner car. Although it needs something repaired every few months, it has been the best car I've ever owned (Well, except for my '15 BRZ).
Bmw e30 1989-1991 years are good. The first generation I would'nt buy (1986-87). I have been owning two of them for 6 years. Daily driver cars. That was a joy!
My dad who is a huge Foriegn Car fanatic told me that owning a bmw and benz is okay but always stick to The C class and E Class Benz’s and the 3 and 5 series BMW’s and never buy either make after 2000 cause once it hit the 2000’s these cars were full of electronics and sensors. He also told me that with these used cars it’s all about the owners a lot of people buy these cars and skip oil changes or basic preventive maintenance of the owner did these thing and you follow suit you will be happy with your car and when I bought my 2000 c230 k last year I was shocked how reliable it has been I have owned 3 cars before and it’s been the only one to never leave me stranded and cost the least to repair. I’m looking to get a 3 or 5 series now while my girlfriend drives my c class and I know I will not be disappointedjust get a well taken care of car people who bash bmw’s buy them with 200k miles beaten up then blame the brand
"A lot of technology, a lot of things for failure"..well said....My 316i 1997 is still working hard with 195,000 km..I kept 1000km less from the routine planned maintenance, as such change oil at 4000 km instead of every 5000km. Been doing so when she clicked 75,000km..the rest are fun and safe drives..
bought my 2010 328i coupe 3 years ago with 166,000 miles on it for $8,500. It now has 359,000 miles and It has never broke down. Those are highway and city miles and because it is so peppy and fun to drive I am in the throttle almost all the time. I drive it hard. I myself change the oil every 7,000 miles and changed the transmission fluid when I got it and recently replaced the coils/sparkplugs. Replaced the brakes only once. It is also very easy to work on (contrary to popular belief) because it is engineered so well. Yes, there are lots of strange clips and fastners you run into but all you have to do is watch a video that shows how a certain clip unclips...everything fits a certain way and fits well. Hell it even has water outlet channels designed to collect rain water and drain it below the frame onto the ground. water has never made it under hood and engine still looks new. It burns less than half a quart of oil between oil changes. It is still a FUN car to drive and the non aspirated straight six is such a smooth engine. Have I been lucky? I dont know but so far it has been the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned by far and I have owned a 1978 Toyota corolla, 1983 Datsun 210, 86 Nissan 300z, 1998 Mazda B2300, 2005 Issuzu Rodeo, 2021 Ford Focus, 2010 honda accord, 2013 ford f150, 90 and 92 f350, 82 Honda prelude, 95, 99,and 03 jeep cherokee, 1985 Toyota 1 Ton Pickup, 2004 Toyota Corolla and a 2002 BMW 545 v8.
I went with an E90 335 over an E46 M3 or E90X M3. I’ve changed coils, plugs, Vanos solenoids, walnut blast, vacuum lines and have an aftermarket warranty to cover turbos, HPFP, Water Pump, Injectors. 120k miles no issues so far. If you’re looking at an N54 just buy a warranty.
I lost my 335i in a house fire along with my truck and motorcycle so I needed a cheap car right away. I picked up a 2006 e90 325i for $3500 with 170,000 miles. I had to put brakes and rear tires on it right away but it got me through for a year while my house got rebuilt. Then I had to replace the radiator ($60), spark plugs and coils and then the eccentric shaft sensor ($90 plus $50 for valve cover. Now the car is running awesome and has some pep to it. I decided to just keep it so I just did a transmission fluid change along with filter. The car still had the original transmission fluid and the filter was marked on the inside Feb 05 2006. Car has almost 190,000 miles on it now and it runs like new. I really miss my 335i but the 325i is 3/4 of the car and still looks pretty good.
I had two 328 xdrive 2011 bmw's . Here are some things you can expect to replace at some point if you buy a car that had not had this work done already: thremostat - my went bad at around 70,000 - replaced coils - sometimes go bad and give you misfires - had two replaced so far oil housing gasket - leaked and replaced in both cars at around 80,000 - engine valve cover/gasket - its plastic so tends to go bad after 100,000, i am expecting this in the near future electric water pump - will go bad around 120,000 good to replace as preventative measure as the straight 6's are easy to warp when overheated battery - my lasted 7 years which is pretty awesome I deff recommend to get it from BMW as they last a good amount of time (I know this is regular maintenance duhh) just be aware that bmw batterys are not the same price as the non luxury brands comfort access handle - my driver side went bad from water getting into it (expensive to replace but worth to have this feature as I use it everytime i get into the car) - if you get this feature I would recommend taking the handle of the car on both driver and passenger side's and if you see a hole where the sealant was injected , use some glue and seal it and hopefully it will never fail. Essentric shaft sensor - I think these are hit and miss, but if it fails it will be expensive to replace as the valve cover has to come off, if you do the valve cover might be worth replacing at the same time
@@Ram-rm2gz if you are buying a 328 e90 with 100,000+ that has not had much "main" service done. Like water pump/thermostat, brakes, gaskets and plugs/spark plugs. You are looking at around 2500 CAD for just the parts and then double if not more for the labor. This price is for OEM parts or German parts, cheaping out on these parts is usually just a waste of time because you will do a 2-3 hour job finding out that the cheap Chinese knockoff is causing issues again. These cars are made to be driven and maintained. They are not like corollas and civics where you wait for it to break before fixing it. Skip out on BMW maintenance and you are going to have a baaaaaad time.
I have a e60 06 530i and we'lll.. repair cost are not that high, the engine is running smooth as butter @156k miles, no leaks or anything. It just have the typical passenger restraint message and the bloody adaptative headlight issue which I'm planning to code away. Anything away from that the car is charm to drive and still has a lot of miles to go (or at least I hope so!)
Great stuff brother! I happen to have have a 2011 BMW 335i Msport convertible with the Msport package and premium package! It was a lease car and was maintained very well! Super clean in and out, and fairly low mileage! It's fitted with the N55 motor which, in my opinion, sounds way better than the N54. A lot of tuners and young guys prefer the N54 twin turbo because of the enormous power potential! The twins scroll single turbo is seen as the more reliable motor although they been known to get around 550 to 600hp to the wheels! Which would you prefer? Could you do a video on those particular motors?
4 years ago so I’m wondering how that 335i fairs now? Those cars are notorious for having bad turbos that you need to replace, that’s why the 328 and the 128 were seen as more reliable though they make far far less power
Excellent video. Even though it's been 5 years since this video was made, I'm just gonna say how much I see eye-to-eye with you on BMWs. It's for all the reasons you stated that my #1 choice of BMW would be an '80s 3 series. It would have to be a 2-door with a manual transmission (no automatic). And I don't rule out the mid-70s thru early-80s either. Car Wizard even spoke highly of that generation of 3 series. It may be a little underpowered in stock form but very simple and far more affordable to own. So now it's like you and Car Wizard aren't so different, deep down. The later years are what got Car Wizard started with doing almost a half dozen videos about how he doesn't like BMWs. If I were desperate for a more gutsy BMW, the I'd choose an '80s 5-series with an inline 6. Ms, no more than factory stock '90s M3. And this is all for the sake of reliability and affordability.
I've got an E34 535i with 328k miles on it. Sure, I had to plant another cylinder head on it, but the lower half (block, pistons, etc) are original and it runs excellent. The M30 engines are nearly indestructible.
Perhaps theres something of value for gearheads or shadetree mechanic types? As an almost Audi A6 buyer I found the F10/N55 had the most potential for a family sedan that I can mostly fix. But dont mod the poor thing off the bat. Its tempting to go Stage1 but you'll regret not replacing key components like the charge pipe, water pump, belts/hoses, battery, Cam-seal etc. So far its been an extremely good experience. BMW build quality for 90% of the car is insanely under-rated
I just sold my '98 328i black/black convertible 3 months ago. It broke my heart. I bought it used when it was 5 years old with 45k miles. When I sold it this year (15 years later), it had 130k miles. I really wanted to drive it forever, but it finally got to the point that it was spending more time with my mechanic than it was with me. I hope the owner puts some money into it and enjoys it as much as I did. I replaced it with a 2015 328i Sedan. I love having all the latest bells and whistles, along with the reliability of a newer car, but I so miss my '98. Best car ever...
You have done a great job doing such a detaily summary on these cars. I have a prospect BMW 323 i that I would love to buy and I am looking for serious reviews. Yours is great, however if you asked me how to make it even better, for dummies like me, it would be really nice just to throw some pictures of the series you are talking about for some of us are completely ignorant about which ones you may be talking about. Tks again for your time and sharing. Best wishes.
I will never buy another BMW again. I bought a 2010 BMW x3 for $12,000 and within 2 years I shelled out over 6,000 grand fixing leaks, there were oil leaks, power steering leaks and coolant leaks, belt breaks, window regulator etc.
Same story here. So I begged another friend please bro don’t buy a bmw used. I begged him but the sexines of the gt550 he could not resist. I told him if you must make sure it’s cpo. The car had 40k miles on it. 10 months later and 25k in repairs at bmw expense he couldn’t thank me enough. He just didn’t understand how I was so spot on. Personal experience and same with others. IHe traded it in and he said to me. “Let the next buyer of that car learn a used bmw lesson like I did”. Me; I switch to electric and so far my wallet has thanked me. No more premium or 1500$ yearly maintenance. I make my own fuel off the sun. Bmw are fun cars to drive and sexy looking as hell(that’s how they got me). But you only lease them. Never own one out of warranty. You were warned!!!!
@A A it’s not turbo’d so I can’t comment on that one. But any of the big engine 6s and 8s turbocharged run. Go google the n63 debacle. I see bmw owners pointing at Tesla and laughing at panel gaps. Then they turn around and spend tons of money on drivetrain issues🤷♂️.
My 2010 328i e93 is at 116k miles and still runs the same as when i got her brand new with 13 miles 10 years ago. Never selling the car. Will run it as long as possible!!
My wife has had 3 3 series base coupe. All went over 150000 miles without anything major. Pretty much oil changes and tires. Never left her stranded. She isn’t a shy driver. I can’t say anything bad about any of them
I have had a 91 BMW 525i with no issues until I reached 223,000 miles. I also have a 1999 BMW 740IL with 221,510 miles and I need to replace the time and chain guide which is plastic. I also have a 1994 BMW 530I that had 260,000 miles and electrical issues but the engine and transmission still going.
Sounds like some good runs. The common denominator is older vehiclrs. Step into the world of turbo BMWs and the experience may be somewhat different. Fun and fast. But…..
Bought a 2012 328i m sport. So far I’ve only done brake pads and going to switch out the spark plugs and cabin air filter simply by choice, No because they are bad. 148k miles and going.
I am stuck between keeping my 190k mile e91 or getting a 80-120k mile f10 535. I want to keep my e91, runs good, but I am afraid in the upcoming years that it will probably require expensive replacements (I have already replaced the starter, battery, and important seals such as valve cover, oil pan, rear main, etc)
Owned 750li that car used to brake on a daily basis. One day on the highway all light turned on and off, all electronics went off. Couldn't control car anymore and and car stopped suddenly. Thanks God I pulled away quickly and didn't have an accident
I bought my 2008 BMW 335xi (N54 engine) with 87k miles in 2016, one owner, almost all service records (water pump replaced at 60k). No significant issues except the oil pan gasket but it leaks very little so far, so I still have some time. Changed all fluids immediately (oil, coolant, steering, front diff, rear diff, transfer, ATF with filter), spark plugs, coils. Currently running stage 1 MHD flash, runs great, preparing for stage 2 (downpipes+charge pipe). Some of the issues with n54 I knew before the purchase, some of them I learned after, but so far I was lucky and did get any of them.
@@fn1709 oh wow, this comment was like 4 years ago :) since then, I finally did stage 2 with downpipes and proper flash, and currently running the E30 mix. It's hard to sum up everything, but I'd say somewhere around 2-3k for everything. It's easy to estimate, any part you can install yourself would be $200-$300, like the oil catch can, blowoff, chargepipe. Anything you need a mechanic for and a lift is about $500-$1000, like downpipes, intercooler, etc. Also, the suspension cost me about $1500 (Bilstein B8 + H&R Sport springs). You can go further and replace turbos for about $2k and get up to 500-600 hp.
The most reliable BMW are with the M57 diesel engine, especially the 325d, they usually have extremely high mileage, ive seen alot of them for sale over the years with almost 400k km.
I just needed e60 530xd to my life before I turn 40. So I just got one, and for the Toyota guy this 2008 car is beyond awesome. M57 engine is great and previous owner has fixed all the typical issues what would come a cross. One bad thing is that I don't know do I ever want to go back and buy Toyota, Nissan or Honda. :|
My mom had a 1986 BMW 325es, and it was flawless. It never had a problem, until it was totalled by my brother. Currently, I have a 2011 328i.[N52 engine], no turbo, no all wheel drive. It hasn't had any problems, that has left the car undriveable. But I had to replace a VCT solenoid, a coolant sensor, and thats about it at 120K.
Awesome video man. I've owned a 1984 325e, a 1979 635CSI, and now my 2001 M5. The '84 and '79 we so simple and easy to work on. The M5 is like owning and operating an alien spacecraft in comparison. Of course, it's like an alien spacecraft performance wise compared to those older cars too! When I do replace my daily driver someday - a 1995 Honda Accord that's still strong at 250kmi, and is a blast to beat around in - I may just scour the country for an older E30 again. Really miss that simplicity and more mechanical feel.
@@ECPP Nice! What model? I've haven't owned a Porsche, but I do plan to pick up a 944 Turbo when I have the space. I've always loved that car - another older machine that seems like it would be a lot of fun to own and work on.
I have 06 325 i and it has 206,328 miles on it and it still runs great! Meaning for a 15 yr old car, never had any major problems. And thats my daily driver..
I have a 330 05 n its been very very good to me. The interior looks like new and i do engine flushs with every oil change. Its almost at 300thousand n it will probably go for and 150/200thousand.
Mark I really like your videos watching you from UK ,and don't forget that you are a 😎bmw guy🗽 + there are always new topics about bmw, 🥳that's what we like to hear!🥳😛
Nice video man! I personally have an e46 m3 on my channel it has proven to be fairly reliable for a sports car but the maintenance and repairs are expensive
Thats what im looking for right now 2001-2006 e46 m3 6 speed manual i don't want the smg transmission i think he said it in the video too...its expensive to maintain i found better lucky find replacement 6 speed manual transmission for a decent price the smg thou 😳
As a BMW lover, and owner of several BMW autos, I think this is the best and most simple evaluation I have ever seen or heard. Spot on.
Thanks Richard, and thanks for checking out the video. As a hint, I may be releasing a video shortly on the the least reliable BMW's in history.
But the interior is bad
@@christophecborntofight the suspension and the back seats legroom as well
@@ECPP l
yes, is the bmw x4 35i good?
I completely agree, I have tried a few used BMW’s over the years, but my 2006 BMW 325i E90 has been the most reliable by far. I have taken it from 70k miles all the way to 163k miles, with no serious issues. If you stick with a non-turbo N52 engine you should be riding in style for years.
The worst BMW I have ever owned: 2001 BMW 740iL
Quick question, is there much of a difference in reliability with the 325i vs the 328i?
@@ERICK-di1yz
I’ve never had the 328i, but I would assume they are basically equally reliable. However, the more complicated the machine, the more expensive the maintenance as a general rule.
@@DillonRust thank you, currently looking at a 2008 328i, 96,000 miles asking price is 6,500. Only 2 owners
@@ERICK-di1yz
Sounds like a good deal. Have it inspected by a mechanic if you can, once you replace some of the minor parts you should be good for another 100k miles
What about a 318i and 320i 2010 bimmer with a mileage of 170k km as a student?
No car that expensive should be that unreliable...period!
Jeffrey Franco EXACTLY...I’ve been saying that for years.
Jeffrey Franco tell that to Ferrari
It’s not BMW it’s any car with these characteristics, nature of the beast.
The fact is,,, as long as people keep buying them for their fun to drive and Luxory car factors, and not for "reliability" ,,, it doesn't matter that they are shit after 10 years. People will keep buying them... I agree with your comment thus why I will never buy a BMW.
They aren't unreliable initially though, they become unreliable over time. You can't use the $90k sticker as a benchmark for the car and call it an unreliable $90k car. By the time they become unreliable they've depreciated to the $20-30k range because people know they are/will become unreliable and the price has adjusted accordingly. The $90k pricetag is for best in class performance and state of the art technology, the ~$25k pricetag is for great performance, newer technology and likely expensive repairs down the road.
I have a 2011 BMW 550 and follow the maintenance schedule to a Tee .. Car runs great no problems .. I love this car period.
How many miles did you get out of it? Any major problems?
I drive a 1992 BMW E34 525i, which I bought new, and now with over 300,000 miles. It's still quiet, clean, and fast enough for me. The key is that I keep it maintained properly, tuned regularly, and when something is broken, it gets fixed before it becomes a major issue. I've had the transmission rebuilt once and had the engine re-sealed twice. Never been in an accident, and my mechanic still cares about it, as much as I do. The only one of this vintage still being maintained in his shop. It still looks clean and mean - black lacquer paint with chrome trim and alloy rims; garaged at home and work. At this point, it still performs better than most current, comparable cars with 2.5 L engines (without turbo boost, of course). A nice leather interior, and great sound system (Alpine speakers with a Pioneer receiver). People have offered to buy it from me, but it would be hard to part with my old friend.
Still have it?
I have a 2000 E39 528i M Sport, I’ve owned it for 10 years, it has 208,000kms on it now and still never misses a beat, plenty of luxury, excellent ride comfort/handling, and with proper regular servicing it’s bulletproof, best 5 series ever!
The most reliable BMW you can buy, is a Honda Accord.
Like that
Ahah 😆
Asked the salesperson where the "BMW Accords" are. She was not amused and made me leave.
You're not wrong, some of the speced up Accords are bloody nice
You’re a killer
I drive a 2007 E90 328i, but here’s the thing:
253,300 miles. And no problems aside from a gasket seal cover replacement. Love that car
Thanks for sharing this! Awesome
I have a 2006 325i! 162,365 miles. Not one issue
I’m looking to buy a 328i in a few months, what’s your most expensive repair & anual tab for maintenance/repairs
@@littlegamingchannel yea same i want to kno as well looking at buying a 2011 328i
200 redlined miles on mine only thing wrong is the first gear pops out but it was frow too many clutch dumps not the beams fault
I bought a 2010 bmw 328i with 60k miles from an action for like $2,300, it was rear ended but I basically just slapped a new rear bumper and it was done. It drives amazing and it seems like previous owner kept maintenance up to the teeth and garage kept it. I had a 2008 335i n54 Engine before this and let me tell you, the 328i is great ! It’s speedy and no turbo lag. In city driving it feels as fast as the 335i but smoother. Very happy with it.
I've read the the fuel is aspirated differently in a 328i compared to the 330i, I was really happy with my 330i even with 150k plus miles I had No real issues...
I'm considering trying the 2008 335i coupe I found one for 6k with 120k miles..
I drive a 2007 E92 330i port injection 272 hp since 2013, manual gearbox. I bought it from its fist owner with 100k km on the clock at the time. Now approaching 150k km, about 92k miles. Still looks good for a 13 years old car.
No turbo, no carbon buildup, no HPFP issues, no overheating. Yet a very decent 5.9s 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph). Engine noise over 4.5k RPM is sublime.
I've got to watch out for the water pump and thermostat. And the ABS pump, and the oil filter housing gasket, oil pan gasket, head gasket, vanos solenoids, coil pack. Other than that... Luckily no problems so far, touch wood.
If you want s reliable car, but a Toyota. If you want a fun car, BMW is a good place to start but it will break. Just know someone who can fix them at a reasonable price, avoid the official garage.
You are absolutely right. Lifes too short to drive boring cars.
My first car is still my e90 325i manual, never had any problems with it, 180,000 miles
amen
have the same. also manual
Jeremy Guerrero what year
The one with direct injection and 3 Liter?
Jeremy Guerrero same as you bro
This theorem almost always holds true most of the time in any vehicle you buy. The less complicated and more generic the vehicle owned, is directly proportional to more reliability and the least problems and maintenance cost you're going spend, in ownership.
For sure
100 times more so with BMW...
Just slap some M3 stickers on your 3 series from Wish.
Only if you want to piss off every petrol head you pass on the road xd
That's funny! I actually did similar with a VW Passat. I started swapping VW parts with its brethren Porsche parts! With pretty good results! Lol
Chill
Most people who can afford a BMW just lease for 3 years and then lease a new one every 3 years. Then they don't worry about repairs. I bought a 3 year old 2000 540i. I had a lot of fun with that car and had multiple repairs, like radiator replacement due to plastic radiator plumbing. At one point I paid $3000 for complete suspension replacement. The car felt like a new car after that. A few years later electronic gremlins crept in. Then I traded it in and bought a Honda CRV. The Honda CRV only needed oil changes, one set of tires and a battery, no other repairs even after 70,000 miles.
Leasing is a great way to blow money. Just buy it lightly used with cash
I own a 01 bmw 540i with 230 thousands miles no problems and running strong changed all 4 struts my self $450 dlls german made water pump valve cover gasket 30 bucks all that is a normal oil changes i only use long life oil
but honda crv = no bitches i know cuz i drive one right now😭😭
@@nate7243 You must be very young, my "bitches" as you refer to woman like me for me not my car, lol
Oh boy a Honda CRV
Man! Its about time someone made a valid, legit vid on this subject. May not have caught it when first released but wont miss anymore.
Thanks a lot for watching. Have a great one. Cheers.
I have a 2011 335is and it's approaching 100,000 miles. All I have had to do so far is (1) spark plug change, tires, breaks, and oil changes.
how much is the oil change ?
@@Kevin-on3xv 110
I get mine done for $60
My sweet spot is an E46 3 series.
Best tips: low mileage, get a Carfax report and look for good service records, and get a pre-purchase inspection. Good dealers/sellers will let you take the car to an independent shop or have a mobile inspection service look at the car.
There isn’t a car out there that requires zero maintenance. Parts will fail. Things like oil and fluids have to be changed. Do some of the work yourself, or find an independent shop that will work with you on price. BMW’s aren’t bulletproof, but with good maintenance they’ll be good to you.
I bought a 2007 328i with the straight inline 6 at a great price and it's been my daily driver for the past 2 years. Its been a joy to drive and I've only done a couple of small regular maintenance repairs myself..I'm really happy with my bimmer.
Just Brought One Recently How It’s Going Now ?
@@kgcore_1 yo I just bought one
@@kgcore_1 how’s yours going?
I just got one too...😃
I've been a BMW fanatic since a child I am rebuilding a 2000 328ci e46 i put 80 000km on it. It went everywhere for me and always started, despite few minor problems , (wipers frozen in cold, bird chirping in blower motor again cold weather -40 celcius)
I am in process of purchasing a e92 328xi. Needed some advice other than my opinion about it.
This video is perfect it sums it all up and that is exactly what my opinion was on bmw in the reliability sector.
This video is very informative in the 13 minutes span
Great, thanks for the comments and watching. You sound like you really appreciate a good car, ....BMW. Cheers and have a great one..
E30, E28, E34 honestly anything pre 2000s, that's when BMWs were meant to be drivers cars, worked on by the owners, and ran forever if maintained. I still love and adore modern BMWs but back then BMWs weren't "Iphones on wheels" they were purely focused on being the true Ultimate Driving Machine.
Absolutely ! Cheers.
Nice creamy BMW??? Scotty Kilmer just went mental.
Scott gave the thumbs up to the mid 2000s 760s.
@@chrisrodgers9564 I've just started watching this guy, seems to know a lot about BM's. aha I only watch Scotty usually, big fan of his, Toyota most reliable car, I got celica Gtr 92 import, but I still fancy Bm.
😂😂😂😂 my boy Scotty taught us well
As a mechanic who has been working on BMWs for 20 years, I go along with Scotty.Today's BMWs are a joke. They are not made to last. Plus, they are very hard to work on. It's true that BMWs are beautiful and fast but they can not stand the test of time. They die before their time.
Hey now!
If it’s not Scotty’s Celica forget about it.
Love this video Mark, I really like it when you are sitting at your desk having a conversation with us about a particular topic. Keep up the good work!
I drive a 07 328i and I love it. Literally wouldn't drive anything else, since my last 04 530i had 230k miles and drove perfect. Never had 1 problem with it.
That is a great car and is one of good reliable cars to own.
BLOCKPARTYVINTAGE why did you get that year model I’m looking to that model just can’t decide on the year but no m sport . I was thinking about 2009
BLOCKPARTYVINTAGE I just bought a 07 328i as well and I’m loving it. Just not sure how expensive repairs will be. Hope I don’t have any problems with mine. Good luck with it.
I have a 2007 328i. I love my car. As far as repairs go, I do my own repairs. I order the parts from eBay. Then I lookup what I need to do, then I fix it. Yes I'm a mechanic. I went to school for almost 5 months to fix cars and diesel trucks. When I bought the car I didn't know if the last person kept up the maintenance. So I changed the coil packs and the fuel injectors, brakes, cooling fan, and the power steering fluid reservoir. My car came with an extended warranty. also
Sabrina Williams Wow! Mad props to you! I’m the same way, I try to fix myself! Not as extensive as you but I will try
The most reliable BMW that I recommend is any BMW that has the M54b25/M54b30 motor mounted to a manual transmission. Hands-down the most solid combination BMW has to offer. I own a 2005 325CI E46, over 300k on the original clutch, transmission and engine. No major issues, everything works like new. I drive a lot too and use the car as my daily driver, even in the winter. My mechanic whose a BMW specialist told me that he had a customer with an E46 325i (with the same engine) with more than 600k on it and the customer was trying to kill the engine, but even after running it dry of oil it just wouldn't give up.
Just bought a 328i. Thanks for making me feel better about my purchase.
Thanks
Told me everything I needed to know that the internet couldn’t. Thanks!
You are welcome
i bought a bmw e46 2002 318i with 111,000 on the clock. no problem just had to add new tyres and replace oil filter housing gasket goes like a dream with no issues i bought it in 2020
Sounds like a good experience with one of the older more reliable models
Spot on, just wanted to add something. I drive a 98 e46 318i 8v over here ( Lebanon), which is known to be even more reliable than the 16v. In our mountainous terrain, the low geared diff with a manual trans works like a treat. I always wanted a reliable BMW because I enjoy the accurate and weighted steering and manual shift, built quality, the simplicity of this model. The e46 has classic elegant lines, and has been extremely reliable. My 2 cents.
Cheers
E46 wasn’t 98
I had an 1997 E39 520i for a few years. Very reliable and the best driving car I ever had. Just needed a bit more power. The two things I had to replace was the water pump and an ABS sensor. Other than that it was really great.
I owned a 1991 750 and it was a good car. Biggest problem a lot of owners face is the inability to ignore dash lights. You will spend thousands trying to get the lights out and they don’t affect the reliability of the car. Drove mine many many miles and it never left me stranded.
You still have
Had no issues with mine no engine problems no change engine light total reliable
@@cash2374
No I sold it long ago
@@blakejohnson2862
They were solid cars
I have a 2007 BMW 323i with 209000 km, and I have had nothing but the usual maintenance items that you expect with a vehicle getting up there in mileage. New suspension pieces, worn driveshaft carrier bearing, brakes, and most recently a new water pump and thermostat. It has been utterly reliable in all weather conditions (i live in Ontario) No gasket leaks except for a minor rear main seal that sweats as is expected. Despite living in salt country, there is no rust and the underbody is rust free as well, this with no rustproofing. So , for me, because i can do alot of my own maintenance, this car has been reliable, rust free, and a real pleasure to daily drive.
Some of those cars were solid, but watch out for those n54 engine cars like the 335
I have a 2011 328i xdrive with 166,000 miles and it’s been great, granted I’m on top of things that are known to fail by doing as much preventative maintenance as I can.. water pumps, cooling hoses and bushings. It’s soiled and still looks and runs like a newer car.
Same here.. good to know coz I have the sam 2011 328i xfrive.. I have 50k mileage so even after using 100k mileage it would still be great like yours then :)
I have 2011 328 161000 miles n squeaks gasket blown
so I guess you never had the chance to drive a new BMW that's probably you think a 2011 runs like a new!. The world has moved on greatly since 2011. Obama and Trump gone and Biden is in the white house!.
I gifted my Son a 1997 BMW Z3. The car runs way better than my 2004 X3. The engine on the 97 Z3 is great in my opinion
this is such a great video but i’m a visual learner especially when i know nothing about cars 😄
Glad you enjoyed it!
My 1998 328is manual is close to 190k miles and still riding great. Repairs done over the years: replaced cooling system (radiator, water pump, thermostat, etc), power steering reservoir and associated hoses, valve cover gasket, alternator, spark plugs, suspension system, belts, fluids (engine oil, transmission fluid, power steering oil, rear differential oil) and brakes. Next to do is oil filter housing gasket. Reliability is relative to expected miles traveled before any of those services must be done. If a BMW needs more frequent service than a Toyota, then by definition, Toyotas are more reliable. And at a minimum, will cost more in time and money to operate. I would consider my repairs fall under wear and tear and am happy so far.
I just bought a 2009 E90 328i with only 64,000 miles. Man... it drives like a champ! Soooo smooth, plenty of pep, and she’s a looker! I drove over 6 hours to get it - they’re so hard to find in really good condition.
They are. Tough to find and they are nice cars
Not really as they are common.
@@seething1361 it’s tough to find them in good shape and for a decent price. Most are +100k miles, needs parts, salvaged title, or it’s in good shape but they want $9k.
@@bodybybrody2295 how much did you pay and what mileage are you at right now
@@boy_mamba9907 I paid $6,200. Right now I’m at about 99,000 miles. I drive an hour and a half each way to work, so it adds up fast. All highway miles though. But I’ve had ZERO problems with it so far. It still runs smooth as butter. I just make sure to change the oil frequently and check my fluids often. I’m honestly surprised at the reliability.
Hey Bro 😎 . I love my BMW 1997 528i . I drive it very hard and got 525000 miles the changing oil breaks and tires is all I do most.
Thats great. Its that engine whether in a 5 or 3 series is reliable even though the 5 series cars may have additional system electronics. Sounds like you have a good one. Cheers.
I am planning to go to the east cost on my 97 528i to New York from Texas 😎
I am enjoying my manual 2002 530i as well. However I wish I was driving a single VANOS 1996-1998 528i like yours as that engine is the best for E39 - iron engine not aluminium one like mine - Plus it has a single mass flywheel which means better reliability and less cost for the clutch, even if the dual mass flywheel - which is on 530i - offers you a smoother riding.
Thanks 4 all your knowledge..just picked up a 2007 328i wagon in Montego blue 2 owner car with extensive maintenance history really clean through out for $6k. It's my first BMW as I was always worried about all the realiablity issues some models are known for . I stuck to all the tips you've mentioned & when I came across this one I was able to make an educated/calculated decision! Way more fun than my 2007 Prius! 😂
I Daily Drive an 86' 325e with 318k miles and she runs almost perfect. Also have a 2000 323ci with 250K miles that was my daily driver for 6 years until I bought my 86' e30.(now she just sits in the garage until further notice) Both are fantastic vehicles with amazing reliability. I also live in Michigan and see salty roads every year and can tell you these cars are far less rusty than my truck that only has 100k miles on it. Hopefully this helps anyone looking to buy a Bimmer.
Most people that buy BMW don't look for simplicity, reliability, and retainability. Their main three priorities of buying a BMW is for performance, luxury and technology.
And that’s what really matters
I don’t understand how BMW is ahead in technology! They don’t even have lane keeping assist as standard feature. I am looking around for a used but recent bmw. What I found was hilarious. Their “Driver Assistance Package” consists of a rear view camera, that’s it! Wow! I installed a rear view camera and much more on my 2009 Sonata myself. How is this even considered as an optional package at a time when Tesla is producing almost self driving cars! Pathetic! Whatever though. Growing above the technology part, I’ll still get a bimmer, not for its technology, but for its ride quality and handling joy. That’s it.
I have a 328i 2009 with 280 000 on it and I love this car !
I own what I consider the working mans e46 M3, 330ci m sport convertible manual gearbox, it’s over 15 years old, but I love it, and I’ve got no intentions of trading it in
If it treats you well, no point in getting rid of it.
ExoticCar PlayPlace exactly, I’ve had a few people say to me, oh but y don’t u get a more economical car, well a friend of mine has a 1 litre ecoboost fiesta, on finance, 2 years old, we do pretty much the same mileage, and yes his petrol bill is cheaper, but when u include wot he pays per month for the car lol well it’s pretty much the same as my fuel for the month, and maintenance wise is not an issue for me, so y would I wanna chop my car in for sumin more ‘economical’, it doesn’t pay......
I have a 1999 323i that was a very well maintained single owner car. Although it needs something repaired every few months, it has been the best car I've ever owned (Well, except for my '15 BRZ).
Had a e36 323c manual. God that was a reliable and fun car to cover big distances in.
❤
Bmw e30 1989-1991 years are good. The first generation I would'nt buy (1986-87). I have been owning two of them for 6 years. Daily driver cars. That was a joy!
Just find a gently used e90 328i without navigation. Do the basic maintenance and enjoy the car. Luxury performance for a good price.
exactly what I did follow my car page on ig @stockdemon
Why without nav?
joel perez because the nav becomes outdated, ugly, and slow after a few years. Everyone has a smartphone with maps on it these days.
Ian Collins me personally i just like having a screen with a map. my car has nav and ive used it all about maybe 5 times lol
joel perez i’m about to buy a bmw. is it worth buying one with nav to be able to see the engine info and brakes and all that good stuff
1978 E21 320i Been amazing so far!! 250k miles.
I just bought a 2016 328i with 50k miles. It’s my first BMW I love it and sure hope I have no issues
How’s it been so far?
Update?
You can’t say BMW and reliable in the same sentence ... even the owners know that, myself included...but it beats driving a Camry or Accord
I agree with the drive, the fun factor is far more important than a few reliability points.
My dad who is a huge Foriegn Car fanatic told me that owning a bmw and benz is okay but always stick to The C class and E Class Benz’s and the 3 and 5 series BMW’s and never buy either make after 2000 cause once it hit the 2000’s these cars were full of electronics and sensors. He also told me that with these used cars it’s all about the owners a lot of people buy these cars and skip oil changes or basic preventive maintenance of the owner did these thing and you follow suit you will be happy with your car and when I bought my 2000 c230 k last year I was shocked how reliable it has been I have owned 3 cars before and it’s been the only one to never leave me stranded and cost the least to repair. I’m looking to get a 3 or 5 series now while my girlfriend drives my c class and I know I will not be disappointedjust get a well taken care of car people who bash bmw’s buy them with 200k miles beaten up then blame the brand
I daily a 2000 e46 323 and besides some maintenance it's been very reliable.
Just bought a manual 328i e90, absolutely loving the crap out of it!
Great car the last of the reliable I6 cars
what year?
"A lot of technology, a lot of things for failure"..well said....My 316i 1997 is still working hard with 195,000 km..I kept 1000km less from the routine planned maintenance, as such change oil at 4000 km instead of every 5000km. Been doing so when she clicked 75,000km..the rest are fun and safe drives..
bought my 2010 328i coupe 3 years ago with 166,000 miles on it for $8,500. It now has 359,000 miles and It has never broke down. Those are highway and city miles and because it is so peppy and fun to drive I am in the throttle almost all the time. I drive it hard. I myself change the oil every 7,000 miles and changed the transmission fluid when I got it and recently replaced the coils/sparkplugs. Replaced the brakes only once. It is also very easy to work on (contrary to popular belief) because it is engineered so well. Yes, there are lots of strange clips and fastners you run into but all you have to do is watch a video that shows how a certain clip unclips...everything fits a certain way and fits well. Hell it even has water outlet channels designed to collect rain water and drain it below the frame onto the ground. water has never made it under hood and engine still looks new. It burns less than half a quart of oil between oil changes. It is still a FUN car to drive and the non aspirated straight six is such a smooth engine. Have I been lucky? I dont know but so far it has been the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned by far and I have owned a 1978 Toyota corolla, 1983 Datsun 210, 86 Nissan 300z, 1998 Mazda B2300, 2005 Issuzu Rodeo, 2021 Ford Focus, 2010 honda accord, 2013 ford f150, 90 and 92 f350, 82 Honda prelude, 95, 99,and 03 jeep cherokee, 1985 Toyota 1 Ton Pickup, 2004 Toyota Corolla and a 2002 BMW 545 v8.
Thanks. Very helpful video. I have a e90 320i. One of the simplest BMWs
Thanks Edwin. Cheers.
In love with my '01 E38..... after the timing chain & guide repair, it seems bullet proof.
I went with an E90 335 over an E46 M3 or E90X M3. I’ve changed coils, plugs, Vanos solenoids, walnut blast, vacuum lines and have an aftermarket warranty to cover turbos, HPFP, Water Pump, Injectors. 120k miles no issues so far. If you’re looking at an N54 just buy a warranty.
Yes they have a bit of a reputation. Thanks for watching
Scott The Car Guy I agree man stock the 335i is great! Just get a warranty and your solid from the majority of issues the n54 is plagued with.
Can I still get a warrant buying from a private seller? How does this work? I’m totally into the 335i I can buy it but is it worth maintaining cost?
I lost my 335i in a house fire along with my truck and motorcycle so I needed a cheap car right away. I picked up a 2006 e90 325i for $3500 with 170,000 miles. I had to put brakes and rear tires on it right away but it got me through for a year while my house got rebuilt. Then I had to replace the radiator ($60), spark plugs and coils and then the eccentric shaft sensor ($90 plus $50 for valve cover. Now the car is running awesome and has some pep to it. I decided to just keep it so I just did a transmission fluid change along with filter. The car still had the original transmission fluid and the filter was marked on the inside Feb 05 2006. Car has almost 190,000 miles on it now and it runs like new. I really miss my 335i but the 325i is 3/4 of the car and still looks pretty good.
Great cars, I agree
I had two 328 xdrive 2011 bmw's . Here are some things you can expect to replace at some point if you buy a car that had not had this work done already:
thremostat - my went bad at around 70,000 - replaced
coils - sometimes go bad and give you misfires - had two replaced so far
oil housing gasket - leaked and replaced in both cars at around 80,000 -
engine valve cover/gasket - its plastic so tends to go bad after 100,000, i am expecting this in the near future
electric water pump - will go bad around 120,000 good to replace as preventative measure as the straight 6's are easy to warp when overheated
battery - my lasted 7 years which is pretty awesome I deff recommend to get it from BMW as they last a good amount of time (I know this is regular maintenance duhh) just be aware that bmw batterys are not the same price as the non luxury brands
comfort access handle - my driver side went bad from water getting into it (expensive to replace but worth to have this feature as I use it everytime i get into the car) - if you get this feature I would recommend taking the handle of the car on both driver and passenger side's and if you see a hole where the sealant was injected , use some glue and seal it and hopefully it will never fail.
Essentric shaft sensor - I think these are hit and miss, but if it fails it will be expensive to replace as the valve cover has to come off, if you do the valve cover might be worth replacing at the same time
Alex C how much did you spend on all the repairs
@@Ram-rm2gz which repair?
Alex C in total😂
@@Ram-rm2gz if you are buying a 328 e90 with 100,000+ that has not had much "main" service done. Like water pump/thermostat, brakes, gaskets and plugs/spark plugs. You are looking at around 2500 CAD for just the parts and then double if not more for the labor. This price is for OEM parts or German parts, cheaping out on these parts is usually just a waste of time because you will do a 2-3 hour job finding out that the cheap Chinese knockoff is causing issues again. These cars are made to be driven and maintained. They are not like corollas and civics where you wait for it to break before fixing it. Skip out on BMW maintenance and you are going to have a baaaaaad time.
Alex C ohhh wow thank you so much
The e36 328i Touring - perfect car. Fast, reliable, useful as a family car too. Also the perfect sound of the straight six engine.
Great reliable powertrain.
e90 2008 328i, metallic sparkling graphite, premium-sports package. Beautiful car in luxury & sporty look!
Sounds great.
When editing, add pictures so it’s not just you talking straight into the camera. Make it interesting to watch your vids.
Thanks will do for sure. Thanks for watching.
@@ECPP some videos with no audio would be cool to 👌🏽
Shut up
I have a e60 06 530i and we'lll.. repair cost are not that high, the engine is running smooth as butter @156k miles, no leaks or anything. It just have the typical passenger restraint message and the bloody adaptative headlight issue which I'm planning to code away.
Anything away from that the car is charm to drive and still has a lot of miles to go (or at least I hope so!)
Great video! Excellent words of wisdom! Thank you for your straight forward honesty and calling a spade a spade!
Great stuff brother! I happen to have have a 2011 BMW 335i Msport convertible with the Msport package and premium package! It was a lease car and was maintained very well! Super clean in and out, and fairly low mileage! It's fitted with the N55 motor which, in my opinion, sounds way better than the N54. A lot of tuners and young guys prefer the N54 twin turbo because of the enormous power potential! The twins scroll single turbo is seen as the more reliable motor although they been known to get around 550 to 600hp to the wheels! Which would you prefer? Could you do a video on those particular motors?
4 years ago so I’m wondering how that 335i fairs now? Those cars are notorious for having bad turbos that you need to replace, that’s why the 328 and the 128 were seen as more reliable though they make far far less power
Excellent video. Even though it's been 5 years since this video was made, I'm just gonna say how much I see eye-to-eye with you on BMWs. It's for all the reasons you stated that my #1 choice of BMW would be an '80s 3 series. It would have to be a 2-door with a manual transmission (no automatic). And I don't rule out the mid-70s thru early-80s either. Car Wizard even spoke highly of that generation of 3 series. It may be a little underpowered in stock form but very simple and far more affordable to own. So now it's like you and Car Wizard aren't so different, deep down. The later years are what got Car Wizard started with doing almost a half dozen videos about how he doesn't like BMWs. If I were desperate for a more gutsy BMW, the I'd choose an '80s 5-series with an inline 6. Ms, no more than factory stock '90s M3. And this is all for the sake of reliability and affordability.
I've got an E34 535i with 328k miles on it. Sure, I had to plant another cylinder head on it, but the lower half (block, pistons, etc) are original and it runs excellent. The M30 engines are nearly indestructible.
That’s awesome
Perhaps theres something of value for gearheads or shadetree mechanic types? As an almost Audi A6 buyer I found the F10/N55 had the most potential for a family sedan that I can mostly fix. But dont mod the poor thing off the bat. Its tempting to go Stage1 but you'll regret not replacing key components like the charge pipe, water pump, belts/hoses, battery, Cam-seal etc.
So far its been an extremely good experience. BMW build quality for 90% of the car is insanely under-rated
I just sold my '98 328i black/black convertible 3 months ago. It broke my heart. I bought it used when it was 5 years old with 45k miles. When I sold it this year (15 years later), it had 130k miles. I really wanted to drive it forever, but it finally got to the point that it was spending more time with my mechanic than it was with me. I hope the owner puts some money into it and enjoys it as much as I did. I replaced it with a 2015 328i Sedan. I love having all the latest bells and whistles, along with the reliability of a newer car, but I so miss my '98. Best car ever...
You have done a great job doing such a detaily summary on these cars. I have a prospect BMW 323 i that I would love to buy and I am looking for serious reviews. Yours is great, however if you asked me how to make it even better, for dummies like me, it would be really nice just to throw some pictures of the series you are talking about for some of us are completely ignorant about which ones you may be talking about. Tks again for your time and sharing. Best wishes.
Much appreciated! Have an awesome day.
I will never buy another BMW again. I bought a 2010 BMW x3 for $12,000 and within 2 years I shelled out over 6,000 grand fixing leaks, there were oil leaks, power steering leaks and coolant leaks, belt breaks, window regulator etc.
Ouch
coz your garage is crap..easy as f..k
Well I mean u bought a cheap bmw with probably high mileage so what do u expect and it depends if the first owner took care of it or not
Same story here. So I begged another friend please bro don’t buy a bmw used. I begged him but the sexines of the gt550 he could not resist. I told him if you must make sure it’s cpo. The car had 40k miles on it. 10 months later and 25k in repairs at bmw expense he couldn’t thank me enough. He just didn’t understand how I was so spot on. Personal experience and same with others. IHe traded it in and he said to me. “Let the next buyer of that car learn a used bmw lesson like I did”. Me; I switch to electric and so far my wallet has thanked me. No more premium or 1500$ yearly maintenance. I make my own fuel off the sun. Bmw are fun cars to drive and sexy looking as hell(that’s how they got me). But you only lease them. Never own one out of warranty. You were warned!!!!
@A A it’s not turbo’d so I can’t comment on that one. But any of the big engine 6s and 8s turbocharged run. Go google the n63 debacle. I see bmw owners pointing at Tesla and laughing at panel gaps. Then they turn around and spend tons of money on drivetrain issues🤷♂️.
I have a 24 year old 325 E36 coupe ..still drives like new. 201,000ks .. gives me a thrill and a buzz everytime I drive it ..
Keep enjoying it. They are great.
My 2010 328i e93 is at 116k miles and still runs the same as when i got her brand new with 13 miles 10 years ago.
Never selling the car. Will run it as long as possible!!
My wife has had 3 3 series base coupe. All went over 150000 miles without anything major. Pretty much oil changes and tires. Never left her stranded. She isn’t a shy driver. I can’t say anything bad about any of them
I love the e 46 and e 90 BMW going for over 273k Miles 2007 BMW 328i just with regular maintenance.
I have the same one. Over 313k now :)
I have had a 91 BMW 525i with no issues until I reached 223,000 miles. I also have a 1999 BMW 740IL with 221,510 miles and I need to replace the time and chain guide which is plastic. I also have a 1994 BMW 530I that had 260,000 miles and electrical issues but the engine and transmission still going.
Sounds like some good runs. The common denominator is older vehiclrs. Step into the world of turbo BMWs and the experience may be somewhat different. Fun and fast. But…..
05 330i 6-speed. Simple but very nice and very well built car, very fun to drive and sounds very nice under load
True, can not go wrong with a nice 330, best of 3 series with good blend of power and reliability.
2011 535 190kms just the water pump and head gasket so far and ofc the regular maintenance Love it. take care of it. It’ll take care of yo pocket
probably the best video i have seen on this subject
Bought a 2012 328i m sport. So far I’ve only done brake pads and going to switch out the spark plugs and cabin air filter simply by choice, No because they are bad. 148k miles and going.
Nice
I am stuck between keeping my 190k mile e91 or getting a 80-120k mile f10 535. I want to keep my e91, runs good, but I am afraid in the upcoming years that it will probably require expensive replacements (I have already replaced the starter, battery, and important seals such as valve cover, oil pan, rear main, etc)
Owned 750li that car used to brake on a daily basis. One day on the highway all light turned on and off, all electronics went off. Couldn't control car anymore and and car stopped suddenly. Thanks God I pulled away quickly and didn't have an accident
What about the E34 M5!? Straight 6, naturally aspirated, 350 hp with the right chip, never let me down. Amazing driver. Thanks for the vid!
For sure and thanks for watching.
I bought my 2008 BMW 335xi (N54 engine) with 87k miles in 2016, one owner, almost all service records (water pump replaced at 60k). No significant issues except the oil pan gasket but it leaks very little so far, so I still have some time. Changed all fluids immediately (oil, coolant, steering, front diff, rear diff, transfer, ATF with filter), spark plugs, coils. Currently running stage 1 MHD flash, runs great, preparing for stage 2 (downpipes+charge pipe). Some of the issues with n54 I knew before the purchase, some of them I learned after, but so far I was lucky and did get any of them.
How much did that cost you
@@fn1709 oh wow, this comment was like 4 years ago :) since then, I finally did stage 2 with downpipes and proper flash, and currently running the E30 mix. It's hard to sum up everything, but I'd say somewhere around 2-3k for everything. It's easy to estimate, any part you can install yourself would be $200-$300, like the oil catch can, blowoff, chargepipe. Anything you need a mechanic for and a lift is about $500-$1000, like downpipes, intercooler, etc. Also, the suspension cost me about $1500 (Bilstein B8 + H&R Sport springs). You can go further and replace turbos for about $2k and get up to 500-600 hp.
Start at 6:30 unless you want a 1980 bmw.
thanks
Nah Fr thank u
Thanks i was falling asleep
Just bought a 07 328i manual, it's my 3rd bimmer. I love it!! No issues
The most reliable BMW are with the M57 diesel engine, especially the 325d, they usually have extremely high mileage, ive seen alot of them for sale over the years with almost 400k km.
I just needed e60 530xd to my life before I turn 40. So I just got one, and for the Toyota guy this 2008 car is beyond awesome. M57 engine is great and previous owner has fixed all the typical issues what would come a cross. One bad thing is that I don't know do I ever want to go back and buy Toyota, Nissan or Honda. :|
I didn’t know anything about BMW when I bought it but luckily I bought 2010 E90 325i with straight 6 non-turbo N52B25 engine 😂
That is a safe bet for sure.
ExoticCar p
My mom had a 1986 BMW 325es, and it was flawless. It never had a problem, until it was totalled by my brother. Currently, I have a 2011 328i.[N52 engine], no turbo, no all wheel drive. It hasn't had any problems, that has left the car undriveable. But I had to replace a VCT solenoid, a coolant sensor, and thats about it at 120K.
You have been helpful. I love watching your videos.
Awesome video man. I've owned a 1984 325e, a 1979 635CSI, and now my 2001 M5. The '84 and '79 we so simple and easy to work on. The M5 is like owning and operating an alien spacecraft in comparison. Of course, it's like an alien spacecraft performance wise compared to those older cars too! When I do replace my daily driver someday - a 1995 Honda Accord that's still strong at 250kmi, and is a blast to beat around in - I may just scour the country for an older E30 again. Really miss that simplicity and more mechanical feel.
Some great cars. I may shift back to a Porsche some time as a daily driver. Love the brand and miss my previous cars.
@@ECPP Nice! What model? I've haven't owned a Porsche, but I do plan to pick up a 944 Turbo when I have the space. I've always loved that car - another older machine that seems like it would be a lot of fun to own and work on.
I have 06 325 i and it has 206,328 miles on it and it still runs great! Meaning for a 15 yr old car, never had any major problems. And thats my daily driver..
E60 545i is by far the most reliable BMW I've owned. Should've kept it!
e32 735i big sedan from the late 80s to early 90s. thats my pick!
I have a 330 05 n its been very very good to me. The interior looks like new and i do engine flushs with every oil change. Its almost at 300thousand n it will probably go for and 150/200thousand.
Z4 e85 M54 I6 with 177k kms - engine is still lovely. Maintenance is everything on any car to make it last.
my pick: 2003-2005 BMW 330i ZHP has perfect balance with performance and reliability.
They are great cars. I just mentioned this car in my more recent video of the best 3 series cars.
engine burns oil due to piston rings ,
abelucious most of the time it’s due to bad PCV/CCV system.
Mark I really like your videos watching you from UK ,and don't forget that you are a 😎bmw guy🗽 + there are always new topics about bmw, 🥳that's what we like to hear!🥳😛
Thanks for that! Cheers from Canada. Great to hear from great viewers from across the pond. Cheers
Nice video man! I personally have an e46 m3 on my channel it has proven to be fairly reliable for a sports car but the maintenance and repairs are expensive
Thanks
Thats what im looking for right now 2001-2006 e46 m3 6 speed manual i don't want the smg transmission i think he said it in the video too...its expensive to maintain i found better lucky find replacement 6 speed manual transmission for a decent price the smg thou 😳
I got a e92 coupe 2007 328xi 114,000 miles. love it 😍👌🏽👍🏽