What I've Learned from 10 YEARS of BMW Ownership
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- Опубліковано 2 тра 2024
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In this video, I summarize my 10 years of BMW ownership. The good, the bad, as well as some helpful resources for new owners. BMW’s can be incredible cars but can also be incredibly frustrating. If you’re able to do some of the work yourself, it is possible to own a BMW on a budget though!
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#BMW #F30 #e90
00:00 Intro
01:20 Not for Everyone
02:20 The BMW Way
03:51 Resources
05:35 Where to Buy Parts
07:32 My Frustrations
09:00 Advice for Young Buyers
This description contains affiliate links. If you buy a product through my custom link, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Win! - Авто та транспорт
I am an Audi, fanatic myself. I’ve had five Audis, but I have never been able to explain to anyone why they should buy one. I was so dismayed by peoples questions to me of why should I buy an Audi that I went on Twitter and sent the CEO a message telling him Audi has no brand identity. Their PR department tried to counter with oh but we sell a lot of cars. I don’t care how many cars they sell when someone asks you why should I buy an Audi you should be able to rattle off a bunch of reasons right off the bat if not then that’s a problem for them. I was always puzzled by BMW fanaticism. People who love BMWs always say the same thing I love them I refuse to drive anything else, but they are so expensive to own. Over the years, I have played around with the idea of buying one but my father who is a mechanic and a Mercedes fanatic says that BMWs are garbage. I don’t really listen to him because he hates Audis and I’m a 50 year old man and I make my own choices. Since I was always a DIYer I decided to take the plunge and buy a BMW E 39. There was a kid who had one listed on Facebook marketplace, who seemed desperate to get rid of it, and I bought it from him. I live in the Philadelphia area and I have never seen a car stay on there for more than a week no matter how many problems the car had. Somehow this car had been on there for three weeks and so I was curious so I wanted to take a look. Before I wasted my time, I straight up, asked him what was wrong with the car. He literally ran down a list of problems that would have made the average Joe run away screaming, nooooooooo! Instead of doing that, I went on UA-cam and typed in BMW DIY and tons of videos, came up about how to fix all the problems that he named. He only wanted $850 for it so I figured why not? After about six months of wrenching on the car myself and $2500 worth of parts I took my first drive in the car and I see why people love BMWs now. I asked an actual mechanic how much work i did and he said about $8000. I wanted to put some racing brake pads and rotors on the car and while he had it up in the air, I asked him to do an inspection and he said that I did a good job. I hope me and my E39 have many years of trouble free driving.🎉😊
Glad you start to love bmw and the knowledge of diy.. i believe any car enthusiast no matter what brand, they should diy so that they can learn in and out about it.....try alfa romeo and see, if you can diy they are not bad either, they have some identity as well. Enjoy you drive
Thats impressive, well done! How much you reckon was the cost of the instruments needed for all the repairs you've done? And also how do you lift up the car?
i feel this, i LOVED my audi and after i’m done with my bmw x3 i will probably go back. it was just a great car, and i love the style.
@@spartacus2954 I already had the tools to work on the BMW. If you mean the parts, I spent about $2500 on parts. If I stupidly, went to the dealer, they would’ve cost me about $6000. As far as lifting the car up, I have ramps that I bought years ago. When the car was in bad shape, it was still drivable, but when I would take something apart it was fine because I just rolled it on top of the ramps because my driveway is on a downhill slope. When I was finished doing what I wanted to do, I would just start it and back it up.
Sadly, it doesnt.
VAG is the only brand that doesn t transmit anything, like at all. I drove a second gen A8. Great car, but it s so forgetful, its like they are cursed or something.
Good luck with your E39, a true legend.
Justin I think you hit the nail on the head about not buying one before you are financially stable. I mean I guess if you are 16 and dad is making 300 thousand a year and paying all the bills it’s ok. But for most people that is not real life.
Justine is so calm and easy going in his videos and so informative like "Mr. Wizard" .
Or if you're a father and want to teach your kid a lesson (being stuck by the side of the road or as an introduction to 4 figure repair bills). I bought a 2015 228i for my son but when we discovered how involved timing chain guides were to replace we returned it. I'm in that category that could "afford" it but wanted a less expensive "project" for my son and I to wrench on.
@@Scotty_in_Ohio I have heard about that timing chain guide issue on that era of the bmw 4 cylinder. I think they did address the issue and it’s no longer a thing with the newest engines. I suspect that these engines will become bulletproof as they are no longer going to design new ice engines and only improve the current engines until they go full electric(assuming we are headed that way in the near future). But given current reports they are walking back time lines(I thought that would happen because we are no where near being ready for full electric- I am 53 and I don’t think I will see a full electric across the board from all car makers.)
Nah it’s really bc of you you can afford an e36 like me and be 24 still figuring it out. If you want a higher end model again that is YOUR choice you can afford a bmw even tho it’s not your dream car atm.
Don’t bother saying you can’t they’re found in running condition right now for around 1.5-3k
I own 3 BMWs. Love them. I think they are reliable cars. Cost of ownership is higher but once you get use to driving them there’s no going back.
What would you recommend to get first then?
@@Xilent1 a recommendation depends on a whole lot of factors such as age, area, use of vehicle, your preferences, etc.
@@Xilent1 I recommend a BMW 328i xdrive
@@JoRocket77 Thank you. The other guy made way more of this than what I was asking. LOL. I like the 2.8L though. Wasn't as many issues compared to I think the 330 versions
Bmw is not reliable
By far the best review of BMW ownership I have ever seen.
Thanks!
BMWs are all smiles and cries. Well stated facts in your video that I think all of us DIYers and enthusiasts go through.
Oh, man. Yeah, great way to explain it. My car has been all smiles and cries, but I still love it!
You did a great job with this babe! It was well thought out and thorough and very good advice! Proud of you and all your hard work making this!
Got my first E90 335i at age 20. Working as a barista during University. The moment I took possesion of that car, the High pressure fuel pump went. Over the years, I maintained it thoroughly and changed all fluids on time. It got more and more reliable over time.
These are great cars, but I was put in a generous situation in when it broke, I could drive my parents car. If you are young on your own, Justin's advice holds true. These cars are amazing to drive and I had so much fun working on them and driving them however, and when you factor in enjoyment these cars are worth every penny.
Agreed. First thing I noticed when I got my first German car was like "whoa, I can improve this thing by doing work on it." I never got that same feeling with a Honda or American car. Also bmw community reminds me of the vw TDI community where there was a lot of passion and people working on things and posting DIY guides.
@@anon-tk1zgimprove what by working on it?
2017 F30 - No major repairs, no leaks, just routine insurance and change oils. I don't race. I don't push the engine. So far so good.
Nice! Mine is a 2017 as well
BMW propaganda. Nobody fall for this
@@-Plube- You know up to the early 2000s I would actually believe him. Heck I can actually believe him now, there's nothing in it for me. But I feel like the same time BMW started letting go of the N/A i6s lots of other things happened at the same time and quality started to dwindle.
2017 g30 b58 80k miles stage 2+ pushed to the limits I’m a crazy driver no issues with anything other than normal fluid changes
2013 F30 156k miles minimal maintenance all done by myself. Bought at 60k miles. No leaks, just take care of the car and you’ll be fine
I'm a big fan of your channel and love the content you create. You share a very good perspective on owning a BMW. I was a huge Chevy fan since I was kid and now in my forties bought my first BMW last year. I am fixing a lot of issues, but It's an awesome adventure and the community is one of the best I have ever experienced.
Been following you for so many years now, and I think you share an awesome perspective! It’s exactly how I feel about BMW’s, and I hope that the support for these older 3 and 5 series continues as the years go on. Especially with all these plastics being eaten by aging and acidic fluids 😅. Our family 5 series was still my favorite car to drive, and I can’t wait to get back into another
Huge thanks for the guide JB ❤!
Great video as always! I have been following you for years. Your videos on your e90 were one of the deciding factors when I bought mine. I still have mine 6 years later. Since then , my daughter has an e46 and my wife has a mini countryman. I have learned some much about BMWs and cars since getting my e90. Thanks for all your videos. Keep up the good work!
Glad I've been able to help! What are your thoughts on the E46 compared to the E90? I've thought about buying one just to mess around with.
@@justinbuice the e46 has a similar engine, but the water pump and thermostat are easier to replace compared to an e90. It feels a bit smaller which I don’t mind. For how cheap they are I would recommend you get one.
Totally agree with you Justin. For people getting into bmw, maintanance is key. I’m a firm believer in preventative maintenance. Replace the parts that are known to go bad before they go bad. Won’t break down on the road and your experience will be a lot better!
Great video as always. Appreciate your honesty and sharing life lessons. As a BMW owner I agree 100%
You’re videos have been so helpful I appreciate them immensely I’ve only had my 13 f30 for almost a year now but the joy and satisfaction this vehicle brings is immense yes I have run to a few hiccups but that’s to be expected lol
Thank you for the honest advice man.
This video have really good points 👍🏻 Kudos to Justin
as a car enthusiast, BMW lover & owner. I too was in the same position watching videos like these, doing my research on whether to own a BMW etc
Genuine advise from experience, dont get a BMW if you’re not truly financially ready
Especially for used ones, no matter how great the condition of the car when u are purchasing it. it WILL require fixing and a lot of care and maintenance. It can really add up 💸
Another good tip is to have a spare car. Your BMW cannot be the ONLY car you have available, as it will eventually end up in the workshop or be down for awhile.
Even though how troublesome and how much unnecessary stress my BMW brings me. It actually makes it even more rewarding to drive it whenever it’s running in good condition.
They are super great cars to drive, just remember to always prepare for the worst and have a spare car
You helped me with my E90 back in 2013. Switched over between five other cars. Just came back to the fam with a 2021 G20 and I’m happy to see you’re still creating content. Thank you. Seriously, thank you.
Justin - Outstanding video offering a balanced perspective. Love your work. Keep up the great content. Wish you well my friend.
Thank you!
Preventative maintenance is key, changing your oil sooner than the recommended intervals from BMW will help with the cars health in the long run. Changing the oil gasket helps.
Digging the Edifier speakers in the background. Those things sound awesome!! Also, big fan of the channel, please keep up the good work.
Thanks!!
Great video! I bought a 1999 E46 with 125k miles in 2007 just after graduating from college. I spent a lot (like, a LOT) of money early on, before I started going the DIY repair route. It was stressful being at the mercy of a shop and never knowing what that bill was going to be. I drove and maintained the car for 15 years and put 325,000 miles on it, and learned an incredible amount in the process. The car is in need of a transmission, but other than that runs very well. UA-cam channels and forums were my saviors for DIY work. I recently bought a 2014 335i and have had it almost 2 years. I am much further along in my career and financially stable at this point in my life. That, along with the knowledge and skills to do my own work makes this a (mostly) affordable car to own. Most importantly it is an absolute joy to drive. Cheers!
I have an e30 and e39 (the daily) but looking to get a 2015 335i. Excited
@@ma-scalia8629I am super happy with the car and the N55 engine. If I can make a recommendation, try to get a 2016 340i with the B58 engine. They made a ton of improvements with that engine and it’s supposed to be quite a bit more reliable.
What oil did you use?
@@anon-tk1zg Liqui Moly 5w-40, and more recently their Molygen 5w-40
Through your E90 videos you have inspired me to buy one too,it has been 4 years this month and is is already 16 years old,but it still drives fantastic.But it was well maintained by the previous first owner,and that's what I do.
I do things myself and what I cannot do myself I go to a garage(not a BMW dealer😁),which keeps the maintenance costs fairly limited.
Hope to see you soon with a new video.👊🇳🇱🇳🇱
Getting one that was well maintained to begin with is a huge factor in long term reliablity! Sounds like you've got a great car!
I don’t own a bmw nor do I plan on buying one but I often find myself watching your videos because I know the quality is always up there. love the way you narrate and how calming those videos are, you really have your own thing going on and it’s incredible, great video as usual Justin 🥳
Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate that!
this video literally came out at just the right time. Me and a friend just bought our very first BMWs (friend got himself a E46 and I got myself a 220i coupe)
Absolutely the best video on long-term ownership. It is truly a treasure trove of useful information. Coming from the JDM world to an M240i. Can't wait.
I love your content and video quality. I own a CPO 2008 BMW 335i and is still my daily driver. I’m only the second owner and have owned it since 2009. I love driving it but it does cost some money when it comes to service. I did a few mods myself such as replacing the door handles, door lock, and the splicing the wires under the shifter. I take majority my services to the dealership. I’m lucky that I make enough to afford the cost of ownership. But I still love driving it after 15 years of owning it. Good luck with the channel and keep up the good work.
Hi Justin, great content as always and I’ve been following your channel for a while. As Brit living in Germany I’ve owned 14 BMWs over my lifetime and you hit the nail on the head regarding the reliability issues with these cars. The older ones certainly last longer unlike the newer models. The major issues in Europe is the diesel models with swirl flaps or EGR issues, where the USA seem to have a load of issues on the gas models. Anyways not for the faint hearted owning these beautiful cars but so long as you keep on top of the maintenance and don’t drive like you stole them, they will last a lifetime.
oh wow this kind of video is so so so appreciate to see, I came from a boring Camry 18 and happy with my bmw series 528i 2012 BUT
Thank you Justine for your great videos and helping people out with their BMWs issues . You have such a calming manner in your videos just like Mr.Wizard .
Thanks, I appreciate that!
Not only are BMW’s expensive, there are a lot of different nuances to each model and model year as well. If someone is planning on purchasing one, doing extensive research about the series and model year is vitally important. I bought the first gen N63 and I wish I had done way more research than I did about that motor. Now I don’t have any major complaints yet, but I just know that when I get hit with the N63 plague, my pockets are gonna weep green tears lol. But all in all, I’m very satisfied with my F10. Would I go back and buy a newer model, yes. But as long as there’s no rough or hard driving, I think it’ll serve me well for a long while. Great vid bro! BMW owners definitely stick together that’s for sure. Couldn’t be any happier than I am being a part of the Bimmer community
Excellent video. Informative, transparent and honest!
Thank you!
I have owned 2 BMW’s. A 2011 BMW 328i and currently a 2020 M340i. Maintenance can be expensive and won’t be for everyone and you are absolutely right about being a little more stable financially. I get my maintenance almost free because i work at a Honda dealership and one of our used car techs used to work at BMW so he does some maintenance on my car.
2016 F20 and 2013 E84. N20 and N55 in the latter.
Changing fog light bulbs is unnecessarily difficult. I do pretty much everything myself on any car and it’s frustrating not having available repair manuals. Thankfully, between forums and FCP Euro vids, I have most of what I need. Having a general knowledge of how engines work helps greatly.
Thanks for the video. Hits me as well. Bought BMW f31 as a first car recently and wish you made this video earlier) Got a lot of emotions from driving the car but in a same time frustration when went first time to the service and got a list of repairs worth 5k usd. But now, knowing this is the part of experience, I think it’s worth paying if you capable and want to enjoy car you driving, and not just having a car for going from point A to point B.
Taking over a 2009 E90 that’s been parked for a bit. Thanks for the video. Got a feeling I’ll be watching a lot more content in the months to come.
coming from all jdm cars, tons of turbo subarus. I wanted something better on fuel but still fun to drive. Looked into diesel BMWs. Found a 2010 e90 335d for a really good price and knew it needed work just didnt anticipate as much as it needed lol. Lots of little things go wrong and im lucky to know my way around vehicles and havent been too frustrated at the car working on it. Most expensive repair was an injector failing, about 500$ just for the part. But slowly going through the car and fixing all the little things im sure to have a well sorted car at some point. currently at 273,000kms on it and hope to get well into the 300s. So many people make jokes about bmws and dont really understand why until you truly own and drive one. they are amazing cars but not for everyone as you said. Thanks for the video, subscribed!
Good advice Justin. Going into getting my f30 I wasn’t sure if it was a good decision. But the love of BMW pushed me to making it happen and I don’t regret it one bit.
I still love my F30 too! It's been good to me so far, fingers crossed lol
Original owner of a 2008 335i Coupe with the N54 engine. I ordered the car as I wanted a manual transmission and an exterior color other than black, white, or silver. My 335i has been my daily driver since I took delivery in December of 2007 and now has ~91,000 miles on the odometer. I have changed the oil/filter every 5,000 miles (and sent samples of each oil off to Blackstone) since new. My car typically needs new valve cover and oil filter housing gaskets every 5-6 years. The oil pan gasket needed replacement in year 11. The car is on its third water pump/thermostat: the first when it was four years old, the second when it was nine years old; the current pump has lasted 8 years (and counting). In year 14, I did have leaking coolant hoses, specifically some of the plastic hoses and I paid to replace every hose in the cooling system, whether they were leaking or not, as well as the expansion tank as I'd already paid the shop the labor costs to access the entirety of that area. The other high-cost items are the fuel injectors. Prior to going to 'index 12' injectors, there were misfires and occasional check engine lights. However since replacing all six of the injectors with new BMW-branded index 12 injectors in year 13, the fuel system has been perfect. Laughably, one of the most failure-prone items in my car, the high-pressure fuel pump, has never failed, I am still on the factory pump. The only component that has broken that I have not repaired is the Sirius satellite radio module, the rest of the stereo system works fine.
Personally, I budget $3,000 every year for maintenance/repairs. I do not spend $3,000 every year, but there will be years where big-ticket repairs are needed (including replacing wear-and-tear items like tires). I do all of the required fluid swaps (oil, brake, power steering, transmission, differential), air filters, spark plugs/coils, as well as brakes (pads/rotors). I send the car to a local independent shop for things like gasket replacements (or any repair that requires the intake manifold to be removed).
My 335i is a love-hate relationship. When the car is healthy, it is simply awe-inspiring to drive; that N54 engine really is incredible. But the car also requires far more maintenance than most other vehicles on the road. It does get annoying and every time I see some oil seeping from a gasket or the check-engine light comes on I tell my spouse I am selling the car once I get it fixed. But then, once its fixed and healthy, I inevitably fall in love again when I take it out for a spin.
Sounds like a true marriage to me xD People mostly just don't get beyond the fixing stage anymore nowadays hahaha
I've had an E32 735i (1991) for 24 years and have spent around CHF 65,000; purchase and investment. Over the year, that's about 2,700, but I don't work on the car myself. It never occurred to me to want something new. It's a privilege to sit in a car today that doesn't monitor and analyze you, but simply lets you drive. And I had a lot of different brands before that. Today's new cars on lease or with a warranty are okay, but buying and running them for more than 10 years is a bad idea and makes no sense. Too complicated, all parts too expensive, software outdated. Today's cars won't last long, that's clear. But I'll still be driving around in my E32. Technology that can be repaired.
@@swissneutro2648 Saletti xD
Viel Spass mit dim guete alte BMW!
Thanks for this video. I'm lucky I came across this. I've been looking to buy a BMW E39 or a E46. And I was going to do it on a budget. After watching your video, made me realize maybe this isn't the right time for me to go for a bimmer just yet.
Great video, you've earned a Sub, that last advice is really important.
Thanks! Welcome to my channel
Started with an LCI 2009 328i at the age of 16. My dad told me to pick any car I wanted (under 10k) as long as I paid for my own gas and maintenance. I learned a lot to upkeep it and it was worth every penny. Custom ordered a Mustang GT at 19 when my business started taking off, but the car wasn't me despite all the modifications I did with it (FBO E85). I enjoyed the 3 years I had with it but deep down I was missing my 328i that I couldn't get rid of ever since. A new opportunity came and I wound up getting a BMW M3 Competition recently at the age of 21. I couldn't be happier. Had the car for a week now and it's been ceramic coated, got an exhaust, lowering springs, spacers, and cosmetics. BMW is truly a lifestyle.
I can't wait to get my M340i! Thanks for these high quality and info packed videos. --Loyal Nine
Glad I could help and best of luck with your future M340i !
I’ve been a BMW owner for close to 12 years now (age 28-40). When I decided to buy my 2006 E46 330ci ZHP 6MT in 2012, I had made plans to purchase tools to be able to work on it myself. I would not own BMWs if I didn’t do most of the work and maintenance. Total cost since 9/2012 has been about $1100 a year for repairs, maintenance and consumables including tires. I’ve done 90% of the work on it over that time and yet only driven it about 65k miles. It has 125.5K miles. Previous owner had it for 2.5 years and spent 7k in maintenance and repairs taking to a dealer…
My e46 is a garage queen now and my daily is a 2017 f25 X3 xDrive35i I bought in 2021. I certainly wouldnt own it if I didn’t have years of built up knowledge of BMw maintenance needs and repairs. It had 4 months of warranty left on it when I bought it with 29k miles. I had the front brake rotors and pads replaced, leaking oil pan gasket fixed, rear differential replaced, and the bottom seat cover on drivers side replaced under warranty. I work from home so mileage doesn’t go up a ton. It’s at 49k miles now mostly highway miles. Just ordered the 3rd oil change kit (oil changed 4 times since I’ve had it), a drive belt tensioner kit and front and rear wiper blades from FCPEuro. It has a very minor oil leak at the turbo return line that I’m monitoring. I replaced the LCD center display screen after it failed Dec 2022.
The X3 has way more interior rattles than my e46 but the drivetrain, tech, driving dynamics, are so good compared to every other compact SUV I test drove before ending up with yet another BMW. I probably wouldn’t own anything newer than a F chassis BMW out of warranty at this point. For the price I paid for the X3 (27k) which is now less than the average used car price it is a ton of vehicle for the money.
A very useful Video, Justin! I made the bad experience with my first car, a Saab 9-3. Which was cheap to buy, expensive to run, incredibly expensive to keep maintained. The BMWs (2 e60d's) got my finances back on track, actually, as they prooved reliable and long-lasting. But again: By then I had my experiences made and my network set up to get parts cheap and repairs reasonably done. I was still surprised by the low service-bill of a friends yaris... that's just another league which I will never reach... but which i maybe don't want to reach, because I love driving a car that rewards you with a driving experience. It's important to know that that "sporty experience" needs sophisticated tech, which comes at a price.
I bought E90 from germany, did a complete flush and clean of the engine including timing chain etc. (N47 the most "problematic"), and it runs just perfectly even during winter no issues
It's almost as if you maintain something it'll take care of you 🤯 crazy right
Great video! Spot on with everything you said!!!
Thanks!!
As usual Justin, a great video: Very comprehensive!
Thank you!
Thanks JB, very informative and on point. This video should be watched by everyone but it's essential for young adults, first time buyers of pre-owned cars. Before they make a decision on what car to buy. BMW and other brands in that category are not for people with a shoestring budget and who are also not car enthusiasts and don't have the time to do their own diy. They are great cars but they can be expensive and frustrating at times. Toyota and any Japanese car is gonna be 100% more reliable.
Across all my BMW ownership, my most expensive repair has been either AC or thermostat/waterpump/hoses on my E90. Everything else hasn''t been too bad, and I've done all maintenance except AC myself. Tires were my arch nemesis, and that wasn't any fault of BMW but our roads and sheer amount of driving.
2015 X1 xdrive35i - New to 55k (totaled)
2014 X1 xdrive35i - 35k-104k (current)
2009 328i - 115k-190k (sold running in great condition, also the most economical car I've had in a long time)
2016 550i - 33k-60k (current)
2021 X3 M40i - 24k-26k (current)
Your advice is spot on I’ve owned BMW, Porsche and Toyota. I least enjoyed my Toyota but it was the least expensive to own. (All business) Porsche engineers their cars more for enthusiasts and definitely are much easier to work on. I think that comes from their racing and production engineering being tied so closely together. BMW has been the most high maintenance and head scratching “why did they do that?” vehicle for me. I loved my X5 and love the 650i ($15,000 if you choose the dealer for valve stem seal replacement) The one thing BMW does have right is their driving experience is incredible. Great advice! I hope people listen to you.
I started watching these videos 2 years ago because I was looking at buying a e90. I still don’t have a BMW but I still enjoy these videos and have been attending BMW car shows and stuff too.. one day I’ll pull the trigger. I recognized some of the people in B-roll in this video from shows I’ve attended.
I’m happy to say I seen a few of my clients from my videography business in this video as well which is cool.
Owned many over 18 years. Current f25 x3 driven over 100k miles, second owner. O2 sensors and coolant reservoir. They're reliable if you know how to buy them. Prefer ones that are in rougher shape with less maintenance from current owner. They tend to goof things up. I had to replace all the fasteners and fix things that are missing from the previous owner on my e46 m3.
Ive had my 430i for about six months now and its been in the shop twice. Muffler flap broke and made the car sound like dog shit, replaced with Dinan High Flow (no flap) and sounds absolutely amazing now. That was $1300 P&L - Thermostat housing cracked and that was $2600 P&L. I would be laying on the floor crying having to do this at 22 with a 4 year old car. Luckily I am now in a position where I can get by with these bills and the BMW experience makes it worth it for me.
My BMW experience has been mostly with a 2008 335i and your channel saved my -s many times. Just sold it with almost 229k miles and bought a 2023 330i. Can’t stay away from them! BIMMERlife! Lots of lo❤e from Dallas Texas.
Glad I've been able to help! That's a respectable mileage to sell it at, congrats on the new car!
After watching this, I still want a BMW. Watching with love from Ghana.
Totally agree with you. You don't need to be rich to own a BMW, but you should do your homework to know what to expect, make sure you're buying a used one that has been well maintained, and learn how to at least do the basic maintenance yourself. I started with an E90 with N52 engine because it was known for few issues besides oil leaks. Recently added a F30 with B58 engine for the same reasons plus a whole lot more power and fun. Now I have all the basic tools and a lot more knowledge to do a lot of the work myself... some of which was gained from this channel!
Justin, I bought my first bmw in 2020 on a whim. It was an amazing experience driving, but I was hit with all the maintenance. I didn’t let it discourage me. Watching your videos, Kies & a few other guys from the community has helped encourage & educate me, and I went on to buy another F30. Still working on her, but most of what I’ve learned has been from you guys. Thank you!! 🎉
Ps, I’m in detroit, would love to see your build sometime if you’re ever in the area!
Accurate advice. I’ve owned more than a few. The 2012 E91 I’ve had since 2015 is likely the last one I’ll own. It’s a wagon, RWD, that smooth 6, hwy mpg is 30+, little over 70k miles. But like the other BMWs I’ve owned, it’s not without its repair expense even with low miles and well maintained. The best advice is if you want one, lease it.
Sir; New to your channel.
In a world of social media, and tons of Internet influencers, I cannot express the relief my ears hear when you give your honest advice to your young viewers, about the cost of ownership of having a car especially when you’re out of college, or just starting your life on your own.
That is good-sound and honest, financial advice, and very specific direction.
Young kids nowadays do not listen to their own parents…. So, thank you.
God bless you.
Thank you for the kind words! I’m just giving the advice that I wish someone would have gave me.
@justinbuice - Car payments nowadays are the cause of so much stress and anxiety. Car Payments nowadays have been the reason for so much detrimental bad costly financial losses…. Especially for young people and young, married couples. My wife and I have had the same car since 2005 and 2010. Yes, they do need replacement parts because of their age but still we rather pay for the maintenance than to get stuck with these insane car payments nowadays.
You’re very wise beyond your years.
Thank you For your work and service. 👍🏼
BMW requieres a lot of DIY to keep it affordable, 100% true. Had an E90 and now with a F32 I felt bimers are getting more expensive to fix (specially here in Japan) and more prone to break for vehicle cost reduction and weight... aka more plastics. Yet BMW is a great machine, like their stance and noticing people looking at the car and get compliments pays off the efforts 😊
Being following from years and you helped me a lot specially during my e90 time and even motivated me to start a UA-cam channel!
That's awesome, I'll check out your channel! Glad I've been able to help!
I bought my 2009 BMW Z4 35i with the n54 seven years ago and it currently has 145,000 miles on it. It my first BMW and I really didn’t know anything about my Z4 when I bought it. I was looking into hard top convertibles and a local used car dealer had it on the lot that I happened to drive by everyday on my way to/from work. One day as I drove by a guy was getting ready to take it for a test drive so I called and made an appointment for a drive. The car was mine the following day. It’s the coolest car I’ve ever had and it’s so much fun to drive. I have put a lot of Highway miles on it and it’s never let me down. I do all of the maintenance/repairs myself but for me it’s been reliable. I replaced the cracked valve cover 4 years ago, installed index 12 fuel injectors and a Precision Raceworks coil system, Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs. Last summer I replaced the brake rotors/pads front and rear. This summer I’ll replace the water pump/thermostat and all coolant hoses as preventative maintenance. My n54 hasn’t been modded or tuned. It’s fast enough for me and I plan on keeping it until I’m to old to drive. 😀🏁
Bought an e89 last summer and I'm obsessed with it. Looking to change rotors and pads soon and was also thinking of doing injectors and coils in the near future. How much did you pay for those and is it an easy job?
first bmw was a 2011 e90 328i. started watching your videos about 4 years ago when i was considering picking that up. the expansion hose cracked and leaked all the coolant. seemed like a simple fix, but one thing led to another and ended breaking the radiator connection because it was plastic so needed to replace that lol. saw you got an f30 340i and damn that really made me want to upgrade since a m3 or m4 was out of my reach during that time. now have a 2019 f36 440i, picked it up a few months ago. hoping i dont make any big mistakes like the radiator again and working towards in getting a m4
Great video...ty ver much for sharing.
I drive a 200k km 335i e92 with an n54. This car has had less problems then all lexuses and Hondas in my family. It's all about doing maintenence and changing your oil on time. Also being an engineer helps with this.
Great vid! I have 3 of them a E39 540i, E70 X5 and a E91 328xi...I just love Bimmers no matter what!!!
Thanks! Love the e39. I had the chance to drive an M5 a few years ago and it was a solidly built car
Own a E39 dinan 5 love that car. Sometime it's a pain in the ass but love it.
Has 200k , replaced the timing guide and vanos. Was a bit pricey but now it drives like a dream.
I've been owning BMWs for over 20 yrs. Besides normal maintenance never had problems. Replacing the battery is ridiculously expensive these days but that's not something which happens often.
I have a 2018 X1 and it’s been great so far. 67,000 miles. Then again it’s used for commuting to work mostly highway miles.
First car I ever saw that had power windows was an E28 back in the mid 80s. I was enamored! Later my dad had an E34 525 and an E46 316 (which he has owned for 23 years and currently has only ~16k miles). My next door neighbor had an E34 518 and a bunch of my peers drove their parents' E34s and E30s in high school. My uncle also had an E60 525d as soon as those came out. I wanted a BMW for a long time and was finally able to pick up an E90 335i - my first and last BMW for all the reasons stated in this video.
if youre in to diy it can be worth it, my first bmw that made me fall in love with bmw was a 1989 e30 coupe that i regret selling, bought when they were cheep and sold when they were still cheep, got an e36 after that and ended up toatling that car but it did have 328k miles and i hardly did anything to that car and beat the crap out of it every day, got another e36 which i still have, i had to replace the engine after overheating it and warping the head and have basically turned in to a track car, after that i had a 2009 535i i picked up for $1300 bucks, previous owner said a shop diagnosed it as having a bad head gasket. from all the research i did it was unlikely to be a bad head gasket, it ended up being a leaking injector, i swapped the suspect injector to a different cylinder and the misfire followed. this was when index 12's could be bought new for around $1200 bucks. a new set of injectors and i was on my way, not bad for 2500 bucks. i put new tires, brakes, some bilstein shocks and h&r lowering springs. i ended up having a turbo fail on me after a couple of years and parked the car in my garage where it sat, my next bmw was an e46 which i pulled out of a field for $500 bucks, previous owner gave up on replacing the water pump and the car sat, i put some style 400m wheels and nice tires, brakes, swapped out that ugly dove grey interior for a black and peanut butter interior, ended up money shifting that engine and replacing it with a low mileage engine i did some things to while it was out, ended up trading it for my current daily which is a 2010 535i e60, i swapped all the cool parts i had from my 09 on to this one, took everything of value off the 09 and just cut my losses. i figure i had $1300 bucks in to it, it was grey the paint wasnt that great and it had dove grey interior, i drove it for a few years i had my fun with it and got my moneys worth. my current e60 knock on wood has been pretty good, aside from an oil leak im suspecting the oil pan which isnt too bad i have plans and dreams for it, done a bunch of cool things and am in the works for more.
well said bro im driving bmw from e46s e60s for over 25 years and it is the main point on this you need to try do alot of small repairs yourself im now driving 2011 bmw 520d msport f10 chains done engine mounts done oil filter housing gaskets👌👌👌👌👌 done and now on 6 months of ownership and i love this car she is my baby great content bro you said it all stunning content bro love your channel
My first car was a 2014 338i xdrive, I loved that car, customized it and everything. Most of my diys were done watching kies from his first videos. I traded it in 2020 when they told me it needed a new turbo and I wasn’t gonna pay for that. I would love to get back in a bmw, maybe an SUV as my family has grown since then
As a young BMW owner, I have a whole life ahead of me to make money, but short time to enjoy the power of a B58...
I loved my 2006 e90, and found this channel because of it. I got rid of it when I had my first kid for practical reasons.
What are you driving these days?
I have an F20 M135i 2015, I did every type of maintenance/replacement by myself, this is the key for own a bmw without too much pain. I agree with you, the quality on last car generation is lower than the older one.
Big BMW enthusiast here. On my 3rd one now and agree that they use too much plastic for engine components. However, after driving my M340 for a couple minutes I dont care about plastic components anymore. The linear power that comes out of that B58 engine and driving dynamics put a smile on my face every time :)
I've driven BMW for the last 24 years and I always come back to an E46 instead of the M for daily. I've put 360k miles on them in those years and they do require maintenance but manageable. It tolerable, nice to be inside my E46 for 8hr+ road trips.
Aren’t M cars for track racing? Do anyone actually drive an M car as daily?
First car was an e46 330ci, it cost around 3000 dollars in the last three years of ownership in just maintenance (I've done everything myself and this doesn't include oil changes and basic stuff.) what you learn when you take apart older BMW's is all these seals will leak so you might as well replace it while you're in there to save you time and money, one time it left me stranded on the freeway but I still own it, and now I daily drive a 2014 335i and love it. BMWs are problematic but once you get into them it's so incredibly hard to leave, they're truly great cars.
I bought one when I was 18, it was an E90 318i. Their engines are not known for reliability and mine was no different. From things like coolant system issues to oil leaking onto the exhaust, it was a handful. Once it broke down for the last time I decided to cut my losses and sold it, financially it was the right thing to do but it hurt to see it go. It's definately a handful to own one but since I am into BMWs, I will be buying another when the time and money is right. I loved the video, everything you said was completely true and I love that you were 100% honest about your own experience. Thanks, Justin!
What's up J😎
Great video 👍🏿
You're right about everything. We just got our 19 year old son a 2004 E60 530i 6sp for $3k. The kid we bought it off of shouldn't have had it. It has a few issues we need to fix that the owner before us should have known not to have done or to have taken care of sooner.
For your video, I would have added buying from someone mature, well off, or have all service records. My wife and I have own many BMW'S over the decades. Buying from older well off people we've had good experiences. We bought a couple of project/weekend cars that were hit and miss. With those, buying ones that are just bolt ons or "tune in a can" where turning the car back to OEM is a good buy. My 535i has almost $10k of ad ons, but I can change everything back for $2k. I paid $2k over KBB. We have learned to buy BMW'S for a little over KBB, because we let the person know they're never going to get their money back from their mods. So we'll offer high KBB value, if tve miles are low, plus a couple grand more for the mods (like rims, exhaust, drop, tune, ect).
All n All man, you're right. Having a network is the best thing to have when owning a EURO. I've helped my dad that just got a BENZ. Now we're helping our son to not make the same mistakes. His daily is a 2002 4Runner, that helps him keep his insurance low and not have to worry about repairs on the BMW.
Hey Justin great video. If you want something reliable, the magic formula is rwd, manual, naturally aspirated inline 6. With turbos everything becomes more complex as there are a lot more parts to go wrong. My 06 330i is a great compromise making 255hp which is only 50 less than a stock 335 and has been bulletproof.
Solid advice! My 330 was a great car aside from x drive. RWD would have been a better choice 💪
Here's everything I changed on my 2006 rwd, manual, naturally aspirated inline 6 since 2019 to today, 115k to 155k miles
All cooling system with hoses, except heater core (includes waterpump, thermostat, radiator)
battery
starter
alternator (left me stranded)
coils and spark plugs
serpentine belt, pulleys, tensioner
upstream oxygen sensors
valve cover gasket
oil filter housing gasket
control arms
tie rods
brakes and rotors
windshield washer pump
sagging sunroof headliner
all that + oil changes & cosmetics by myself
it's been in the shop for the oil pan gasket
lemon?
Most expensive repair I had to do to my N52 was the water pump and thermostat replacement. Expensive parts and took me four days and nights to do in my driveway. Didn’t have any leverage so it was really hard tryna take the original parts off and put the new ones on.
This is my 6th BMW. My 2017 M2 I picked up was $17,000 and you must be thinking that's crazy cheap and sure, it is, but there were a number of things that needed doing and I knew that going in.
That included the entire cooling and brake system! $5000 later and it's basically completely refreshed but if it wasn't for my mechanical knowledge where I did all of the work and the fact I understand the OE and OEM markets for parts, that number would easily have been $10,000 or more in parts and labor.
That's a great deal for a very cool car. Being able to DIY is such a good skill to have.
For the average DIYer, a bmw is by far the most satisfying car to own. I have had my good share of frustration in the beginning, but after a year I feel super comfortable and satisfied with my purchase.
Most based BMW ownership video. I remember watching your videos years ago Justin! I totally agree... as a youngster, get a cheap reliable vehicle and set up your finances first. I'm financially blessed, but as I transition from college to engineering and medicine, having two cheap project E36's has been a massive stresser. Moving isnt easy with a full garage (totally first world problems).Cheeeeers
Im a mechanic and I changed the upper oil pan gasket on a 14’ 550 x drive.
My summarized experience is that, these cars are very very nice, you can see all the research and technology that goes into making it feel the way it feels.
But all that admiration turns to anger when you realize BMW requires you to drop the subframe, steering rack, sway bar, shocks, requires the sway bar to be bled with a specific procedure (yes the sway bar uses fluid to variate stiffness) to replace a gasket.
I know some of these things are purposely done to induce mistakes to people without first hand dealership procedure information.
A good example is the lack of a dipstick.
With a BMW nothing is straight forward.
When you learn to know them and take care of them you just laugh at those things but; at the very beginning it can be tremendously frustrating, or expensive if you decide to pay someone else to do it (which you should)
This is wild… I followed this guy when he bought his first BMW….. so cool to see him still doing well!
Hey thanks for checking in!!
Ayyyy I seen a clip of you riding in Port Huron !! That’s my hometown!🥳🥳 just bought my first bmw , it is a 07’ 328i e92 , i love it and excited to build this car! Thank you for all the advice Justin
Oh nice! I live in Marysville 😎
I just bought a bmw z3 out of the original owners garage I’m in the process of fixing it up but it was running and driving but I look at it as a fun project I also found a lot people don’t know that a lot of the parts can come from the 3 series
Good video Justin, many fair points. I have a bad habit of picking up BMW’s that need rescuing from terrible owners. I find even some complex repairs pretty straight forward. $60 in parts vs. $1800 at an Independant shop. Most reapers and service can be done with simple tools, just look at Justin’s list. That is 90% of anything you should ever need.
It can be intimidating at first, but very easy access to most things. After you have done it once, you will see how easy it really is. Basic mechanical skill will get you a long way to being a happy owner. Cars mean so much more when you do the work yourself.
I have had BMW for well over twenty years. Never regretted any of it, even the big ticket items; which have been few.
They are wonderful cars to own and drive. A twenty year old BMW is nicer to drive than a new Lexus. If you love to drive, you will love a BMW! Rescue that puppy.
If buying your first one, find a friend with long-history of BMW ownership. Don’t want to gamble on a ‘good deal,’ without good advice from a trusted friend. After you have owned three or four of a model, can you take a risk on that deal.
bought my F31 320d xdrive at 120tkm 6 years ago. now at 275tkm. Broke my transfercase 5t€ fixed. front reaction arms. 1t€. but other than that nothing much. I'm even on the original battery. been servicing it myself. Except transmission oil changes.
Doing your own DIYs help a lot
I am watching this video because I'm thinking of buying my first German car, a Panamera. This is an incredibly helpful video because I have thought about BMW in the past but I'm not ready for them. Porsche seems to have a bit better build quality (subjective of course). You are an awesome presenter and articulate the issues well.
Porsche is definitely more reliable than BMW in my opinion
I bought the bmw 323i 2011, 10 months ago & I've replaced lots of things, cooling systems was soo expensive I'm living in Canada 🇨🇦, it's about 1500$ to replaced all, but I did it by myself for only 300$ , I've changed the footwell module it cost me 300$ & more
I was about to buy a series 1 2013, 88k miles. You convinced me of not doing it, thanks,!!
Hello, I really enjoy ur vids and in this one you mention that by choosing the right model it wouldn't be that costly in the long run, but you never mention which models those would be. I am looking to buy one right now and I can afford it, but still want to keep the costs as low as possible for my first one, so which models would you recommend?
Just had to get my sunroof fixed a month ago and cost around 1500 at an indy.... I've had the car for 7 years and honestly I'm not even phased at this point. I get about half of the repairs done myself or with a friend for cheap and the other half at shops which cost a fortune. I'm giving this car one more major repair and then I'm selling it. It's been a good run, but a no hassle cheap to buy, and cheap to run mitsubishi mirage is definitely on the horizon especially as I'm just starting my career after university.
Thanks!
i own a e90 330xd 2006- trying to keep it on budget , doing most of the stuff myself
Parts are not that expensive but it is an older car
Had an e39 335 sport package. Surprisingly fast. Plan to spend 3-5 a year or so on maintenance. Oil filter housing gasket ect . Must go to dealer or bmw specialist