There are a few things that likely come to mind when you think about BMW, one is that they are a prestigious brand that, like other German manufacturers (Audi, Mercedes) is considered luxury and therefore expensive. BMW is one of the most sought-after premium brands in the world, the vehicles blend power and performance with sporty appeal. They are also sophisticated, classy and everything that you could want in a car when seeking to make a good impression.
Of course, it’s not all wine and roses with a BMW. You will no doubt have heard about the brand’s unfortunate reputation; that the drivers are the ‘worst’ when it came to following traffic regulations. This reputation was one that was established following a very limited study carried out by the Institute of Personality and Social Research at Berkeley. Only 500 drivers participated in this research and therefore, though it was something that made the rounds in the press and on social media for a while, it was such a small test sample.
Despite being such a small data sample, this reputation was further perpetuated by a survey carried out by the website Car Throttle when it carried out a poll and 41% of 7,500 respondents stated that BMW drivers were the most disliked.
Once you get past the unfair reputation which has likely been built on a false impression from a study that has since been disproved, BMW is considered a prestigious manufacturer. Unfortunately, there is one thing that the manufacturer struggles with is reliability.
Reliability has haunted BMW, and other German brands for some time. It’s also one of the most common questions that we get asked by customers who are looking to get a new vehicle.
If you can’t depend on your car to get you from A to B on a daily basis then it can be a major headache that ends up costing you a lot of money.
In this article, we’re going to look at whether BMW lives up to its reputation of producing unreliable vehicles, and how they fare in consumer reports.
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Is BMW reliable?
It’s been a considerable period of time (2007) since BMW scored an above-average score in reliability reports published by Consumer Reports. In fact, in 2012, the BMW 3 Series Convertible was awarded first place in a list of the least reliable cars, the BMW 5 Series came third. That all having been said, these reports are looking at older models. Many of the BMW ranges have been updated, so the question is, what is reliability like when considering these newer models?
When researching the reliability of BMW multiple reports and surveys were looked at, including the popular and well-respected Which? Car Reliability Consumer Survey (which analyses data from over 55,000 vehicle owners and drivers), data from ReliabilityIndex which is provided by vehicle warranty company Warranty Direct and the annual WhatCar? Reliability survey, which looks at data from over 18,000 UK drivers.
According to data from the 2020 Which? Consumer Report, BMW is still ranking as an average manufacturer. It earned three-stars out of five for both new (0-3 year) and older (3-8 year) models. According to responses from BMW owners, they felt their experience with the brand was mediocre over the 12 months leading up to participation in the survey.
Overall, 25% of BMW owners with a vehicle younger than three years reported that they found it necessary to take it to a garage for repairs. Common issues across the different models in the survey include problems with non-engine electrics, vehicle software, lighting and dashboard displays. None of these issues could be considered serious and don’t cause a complete vehicle breakdown. However, they are frustrating enough to owners who reported them, that Which? felt the star rating for new BMWs should be only average.
As with most things when they get older, they have more problems. This is no different for BMWs that are between 3 and 8 years old. When asked, 40% of owners who participated in the survey, stated that they had experienced at least one issue with their vehicle.
Exhaust/emission problems were the most commonly reported, with 13% of owners needing to get these repaired. However, this figure was slightly skewed by a recall from BMW for this specific problem.
Recalls can, and do, damage the reputation of a brand. Though they don’t have a hugely detrimental effect on the brand’s reliability score. Owners whose vehicles are recalled will experience inconvenience when they’re without their vehicle and it can reduce confidence in the brand if it is forced to recall a model.
Unfortunately, older BMW models appear to have a problem with suspension. According to responses from owners, 5% had this problem, some were serious enough that they were unable to drive their vehicles due to safety concerns.
Another area that caused concern for all BMW drivers was the average amount of time they were without their vehicles when they were being repaired. Across all manufacturers in the survey, the average is two and a half days off the road for repairs. However, the average, if you have a problem with a BMW, is four and a half days off the road, another thing that contributes towards its less than stellar reliability score from Which?.
Data from ReliabilityIndex can be seen as incredibly negative, but as we mentioned in our article about Audi it’s impossible to determine the manufacturer reliability based on its position in the chart of 40 different brands, with Daihatsu in the top spot with a reliability score of 2 and Maserati in 40th place with 774.
On the ReliabilityIndex table of manufacturers for 2020, BMW is in 31st place with a score of 177. It is just one place below Mercedes and Jeep (they both have a score of 173) and one place above SsangYong (which earned a score of 179 in 2020).
As we’ve already mentioned, 31 out of 40 sounds incredibly bad. However, when you look at the huge jump in scores between the cars in 35th and 36th place (Chrysler and Land Rover respectively) you can see the scores increase rather dramatically. Chrysler (35) was awarded a reliability score of 206 and Land Rover (36) has a reliability score of 308. At the lower end of the scale – where the manufacturers considered less reliable are placed – the scores earned tend to increase quite dramatically. The perfect example of this is the 244-point jump between Bentley and Maserati.
According to data from the ReliabilityIndex annual report, BMW is not at the lower end of the spectrum when it comes to repair costs, with an average bill of £539.43, though it is still less than 50% of the repair costs if you own a Maserati (£1,128.28).
What are the most common BMW problems?
Every vehicle, no matter how well it is produced, will experience some problems during its lifetime. As with most manufacturers, there are common issues that many BMW owners will encounter with their cars, however, many will not happen until the car is a little older. This is an advantage for those who choose to lease their vehicle and also ensure that they aren’t liable for high repair costs by adding on the maintenance option in their agreement.
Restraint system failure
The error light for passenger seatbelts and airbags can fail. This is often caused by a fault with the clock spring or the seat weight sensor. So, it either registers that someone is sitting in a seat when there is no one there, or doesn’t register that there is someone in the seat when it is occupied.
Cooling system failure
This particular fault is often caused by the fact that multiple components in the cooling system are made with plastic. Due to the fact that these pieces get heated and cooled on a regular basis (being in the heating and cooling system), they have a tendency to get brittle and therefore are prone to failure as the car ages.
The Battery Safety Terminal (BST)
The BST (as it is more commonly known) was introduced by BMW in the early 2000s. The purpose of this terminal is to prevent the car from combusting if you are in an accident. It does this by disconnecting the positive cables on impact during a crash. Unfortunately, while the intention is good, it can prevent the car from starting after a minor prang (e.g. into the kerb) as it disconnects the alternator and starter (both of which are plugged into the BST).
Locking system issues
The auto-lock and unlock facilities provided by your key fob depend on the fob and car sensor being synchronised. Sometimes the two can unsync and then the car sensor will fail. This means that when you press the button on your key fob, to lock, or unlock your vehicle it will not work.
Unfortunately, there is no way to fix a key fob once the synchronisation has failed, the only option is to order a new key from the dealership.
Which BMWs are the most reliable?
While BMW’s are generally average in terms of reliability, there are some that score higher than the rest.
It should be noted that these vehicles are all included in this list based on scores awarded from Which? or ReliabilityIndex in 2020.
- BMW i3
- BMW Z4
- BMW X1
According to owners who participated in the 2020 Which? consumer survey, new (0-3 years old) BMW i3 models scored well enough that they were awarded four-stars this year, the strongest performing BMW that was ranked.
Which BMWs are the least reliable?
As with almost everything, where there is good, there is bad. So below we have listed a number of the vehicles that were awarded low reliability scores in the 2020 ReliabilityIndex data or a less than average star rating by Which?.
- BMW 7 Series
- BMW X5
- BMW X3
How reliable is the BMW 1 Series?
The BMW 1 Series actually fares rather well when it comes to reliability, according to data from Warranty Direct (through ReliabilityIndex). In comparison with many of the other BMW models, the average price of repair is an estimated £544.56.
Even better, if you’re someone who doesn’t like waiting around for hours when something relatively easy to repair goes wrong, it’s not going to be up on a hoist for weeks at a time. In fact, on average, for basic repairs, the BMW 1 Series will only spend just under 3 hours at the garage.
Many of the newer BMW models have an issue with the suspension, however, the most common problem that meant people had to take their 1 Series to the garage was actually the engine. A total of 30.46% of BMW 1 Series owners in Warranty Direct’s data found it necessary to have a fault with their engine repaired.
Information from 2020’s Which? Car reliability survey shows that there is a difference between the diesel and petrol versions of the 1 Series, not only in reliability but also when it comes to what goes wrong. According to the report from Which?, only 20% of petrol 1 Series owners who participated reported experiencing any issues in the year running up to the survey while over 33% of diesel drivers needed to get their vehicles repaired during the same period.
That said, 5% of petrol model owners, where the vehicles were between 3 and 8 years old, found themselves without a car for more than four full days when they broke down completely. The most common problem that meant these cars were off the road was related to the petrol engine turbo.
Diesel 1 Series models were reported as having more issues, with most being related to the diesel fuel system or the diesel emissions system.
The BMW 1 Series is the most average of average when it comes to vehicles in the Which? Consumer survey. It’s for this reason, it was given a score of three stars out of five for both new (0-3 years) and old (3-8 years).
Is the BMW X5 reliable?
When it comes to measuring the reliability of the X5 it’s a tale of two very different results.
According to the data from ReliabilityIndex BMW’s bulky SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) is at the higher end when it comes to repair costs, and also seems to suffer from the issues that were reported as common among a large number of BMW models when it comes to suspension.
If you’re looking for a vehicle with a luxurious and comfortable interior but an exterior that bears some resemblance to the boxy and domineering Rolls Royce Cullinan (is this intentional as they are both owned by the same parent company?) then the X5 could be exactly what you’re looking for.
Though data from ReliabilityIndex gives the impression that the X5 is a less than desirable vehicle if you’re seeking something that is going to be dependable, the data is incredibly mixed.
According to ReliabilityIndex, who gave the vehicle a score of 254, the average cost of repairs is almost £70 more expensive to repair than the 1 Series, at £611.61. Over 34% of reported issues were with the axle and suspension, and parts are clearly the most expensive element of every repair given the average time off the road for a basic problem is just under three hours (less time than the 1 Series).
The results for the X5, according to owners who participated in the 2020 Which? consumer report are far more positive. Just 1 in 5 owners of new models (21%) experienced any faults with their vehicles and they were also lucky as their cars spent a lot less time off the road being repaired. Another positive is seen when it comes to the breakdown rate. Only 3.3% of drivers who experienced faults found they were bad enough that they were unable to drive their X5. The average breakdown percentage in new vehicles (across all manufacturers) is 5.5%, so the X5 performs incredibly well in this category.
Of course, when the X5 gets older, as with many other vehicles, reliability drops. Unfortunately, 43% of drivers who own an X5 that is between 3-8 years old reported that they’d experienced issues, in some cases these meant that they were without their vehicles for up to four days.
In older models, the most common faults that were reported were with the exhaust/emissions system. 17% of owners reported that this had been the cause of their garage visit. A further 7% experienced problems with vehicle suspension.
Taking all of this into account, the BMW X5 was awarded four stars out of five for newer models, while vehicles between 3 and 8 years were awarded a very average three stars.
How reliable is the BMW i3?
The i3 is the only electric BMW in this report, however, it is also the only fully electric vehicle that BMW had available in 2019, the first mass-produced electric vehicle to come out of Germany. In 2021 the manufacturer will be releasing several new electric models, including the BMW ix3.
Though there are over 17,000 of these vehicles on UK roads, there wasn’t enough data provided to ReliabilityIndex for them to produce an accurate report on its performance.
Over 55,000 people participated in the Which? consumer reliability report and with this amount of data there was enough data from owners of the BMW i3 to form a clear picture of the vehicle’s reliability.
Newer cars have an impressively low fault rate of just 16% (which, in comparison with other BMW models and other brands, is good). They are also rather quick to be repaired when they do have issues, with the average amount of time that the i3 spent off the road in the 12 months prior to the survey being just one and a half days.
Though the fault rate is way below average (which is good), the number of cars that experienced a fault so bad they were off the road completely was 4.4%. This is higher than the average for newer electric vehicles but as with all data-based reports the total percentage needs to be looked at as a number. The breakdown rate is actually 4.4% of the 16% total faults reported, meaning that, in reality, less than 1% of the total number of new BMW i3 owners are affected.
The most common faults that are experienced by owners of the newer i3 include serious motor faults which in some cases cause a complete motor failure and issues with the ventilation system.
If you drive an older i3 (between 3 and 8 years old), according to the data collected by Which?, 36% of owners reported that they had experienced a fault with their vehicle. 7.4% of owners were unable to start their vehicles. Though many older vehicles take considerably longer to repair than their newer counterparts, this is not the case with the i3. Where it was necessary to take the vehicle in to get repairs carried out, owners were without their car for an average of two days (only half a day longer than when their vehicles were new).
The biggest issue that owners experienced with an older model i3 was with the engine electrics. 15% of owners who had an issue found that this to be the cause. A very small number of owners reported that they had battery charging faults.
Overall, the i3 is a reliable electric vehicle, according to the data gathered from current owners by Which?. It is for this reason that the newer model was awarded four stars out of five in the 2020 consumer report. The older models were not considered as reliable, with the number of breakdowns and issues felt to be more serious and they were not felt to be as desirable, earning just two stars out of five.
If you are considering going electric and the i3 is a model that you are considering, the reliability of the new vehicle makes it a very attractive prospect for leasing. Especially when taking the vast difference in reliability between the new and older models into account.
Should I buy, lease, or hire a BMW?
As you can see from the results above, reliability results for BMW are a mixed bag. Some models are reliable from the start and others have unimpressive scores, especially as the vehicles age.
The manufacturer has a strong reputation amongst loyal BMW drivers and is always producing new vehicles (we have already mentioned that the brand has announced several new models being released in 2021, including a few new 100% electric vehicles).
If you’re thinking about buying, leasing, or hiring a car for personal or business use, then a BMW will help you to make a very professional and stylish first impression.
If high repair costs are a concern when you start to think about your new vehicle then leasing is a fantastic option, especially with the addition of a maintenance package that will remove any worries you may have. This will cover the cost of any repairs that could come up throughout the duration of your lease agreement.
Conclusion: How reliable is BMW?
BMW manufactures a number of different models; saloons, citycars, sporty convertibles, sleek coupes, and sturdy-looking SUVs, and each one comes with both good and bad points. In this article, we have looked at some of the models available and mentioned the more common issues you may encounter.
It isn’t the most reliable brand on the market, experiencing issues with their engines, fuel system, non-electrical systems and the axle and suspension. Though many will report these issues, there are also a lot of owners that will state they have had their vehicles for several years and experienced any problems.
When it comes to scores from ReliabilityIndex and the average rating awarded by Which? BMW, like fellow German manufacturers, Audi, and Mercedes, is a brand that is in the middle. It’s not up there in reliability with manufacturers like Lexus, but it also isn’t right at the bottom of the scale with brands like Land Rover and Maserati.
At the end, it’s down to you as an individual to determine what factors are the most important when you come to purchase, lease, or hire your new vehicle.
Ultimately, BMWs aren’t necessarily considered the most reliable cars on the market. But the brand is still loved by many, and the fact that the score it was awarded for reliability is average rather than much lower, shows that the design, quality, and performance offsets the fact that the company doesn’t produce the most dependable vehicles on the market.
Citations
- ReliabilityIndex
- Which?
- Wikipedia
- Car Throttle
- BMWblog.com
- BMW.co.uk
typical victim of german over-engineering – expect 1000+ yearly in repair after 3-4 years – around 100k kilometers. plus, the wanna be successful people love them but the cant afford to maintain the thing – plus insurance is high= end up in junk yard beside 83 chevettes and pintos…..lol
In my 84 years of life I have owned 78 different cars the worst was a 73 Volvo maybe the current 2008 BMW 535i is gaining on the Volvo real fast, this superior “ultimate driving machine” is a piece of crap. Like plastic thermostat and other plastic coolant parts. Hidden secrets….Like Victoria’s Secrets on the gear selector that you can lift up place the key in and make an adjustment to drive train…they should forget about that and tighten the bolt in the engine to correct torque to keep the engine from turning into confetti! boy am I disappointed in my choice of a BMW. Unbelievable!!!!! The car is in the shop now for failing rack and pinion failure appox. $700.00 does BM stand for BIG MONEY on Repairs..Move over Volvo here comes BMW. [email protected]
Volvo has come a long way since 1973, no comparison moving from boxy looking cars you really did not want to be seen in, to now leaders, have a look at our reliability review. You are right about BMW, Mercedes and Audi are not as well built as they were 20 years ago, however, all cars are now so technically advanced problems do arise, which is what you are experiencing which we are sorry to hear.
Hey 96SSEi. 1983 corvette doesn’t exist. Goes from 82 to 84.
Took GM 2 years to redesign the 84 vette.
Todd – 95SSEi spoke of 83 Chevette’s – not Corvette’s
Two BMW’s one with 160’000 miles and one with 65’000 miles and not one ! Problem. Oh sorry yes, one broken light at the numberplate. The funny thing is that when you look at hard facts over “how people feel” then BMW is on top That’s the only thing I care fore. I found the complex rear wheel drive and ZF gearbox in the one series more important than the cupholders in the A3. Its all about driver-IQ.. Talking about hard facts, german statistics show another view (use google translate) https://www.focus.de/auto/ratgeber/kosten/adac-pannen-statistik-2016-ein-deutscher-hersteller-patzt-diese-autos-haben-die-meisten-pannen_id_5466410.html BMW is totally on top.
Thank you for sharing your views, it’s not uncommon for research to show different results, not just in the motor industry but in any. We did use various reliable resources for our article, but we are very appreciative of your feedback which will assist our readers.
Hy all, i am a second owner of a bmw gran touring 2002 3 series e46, engine n42, 1.8 petrol, i did had until now few minor problems with small parts but not with the engine itself. Has already 304000 km. and i am seeing forward to bring it to 400.000km, its all about maintance and the driving skill. Have all a nice day !
Yes, you are totally right, it is wise especially with higher mileage cars to increase the intervals of filter and oil changes. Thank you for your valuable feedback, and we hope you have a nice day 🙂
And thus enter the obligatory comments from offended BMW fans about how whenever you keep fixing a car over and over again, it will keep running.. Well, that’s sort of a no brainer, you can keep a Yugo on the road with that sort of “maintenence”..
I’m glad you got the miles you mention but what does “driving skills” have to do with water pump failure? Or a trunk failing to lock?
I bought a certified preowned 2008 in 2010. 528. I loved that car and cared for it and maintained it so I was certain to have for over 200,000 miles like my 240 Volvo (1992) that I kept for 19 years. But nope. One day it was running a but rough. Then it shut down in me. I had towed. The engine crankshaft had cracked and the motor mounts were cracked, alternator blown, overall needs new engine. After 111,000 miles? BMW is dead in my mind. They have lost it. Too bad it was great fun to drive and beautiful.
Sorry to hear about the BMW, you are right they are lovely to drive, but often don’t have the legs of a Volvo or a Mercedes for example, what have you got now?
I have an 08 335xi sedan that I bought used in 2015 with 30k on the odometer. It’s been fairly reliable, but did have to change the ignition coils and plugs, and had the infamous water pump failure at 36k (this should have been a recall). As noted, cheaper materials were used in the pump, using a plastic shaft in place of a metal shaft. This aged and cracked.
I chose this particular car because it has 300+ hp, a manual transmission, all wheel drive, 4 doors (for the family), and not owned by kids who beat the hell out of them. This is a rare combination. If the Ford Fusion Sport had a manual transmission or the Mustang GT had all wheel drive I’d probably be driving a Ford.
Thank you for your comments, Andy.
How is reliability separate from quality as a category? I think this represents the same thing. If its not reliable how is it high quality? Answer: It isn’t. I have a 2010 X5 that I purchased in 2016 and just spent $4,500 on it in repairs. Never again. I’ll go Nissan Murano next time. That car scores 4 out of 5 instead of 1 out of 5 in reliability/quality.
Great question, for us reliability is all around, all those moving and electronic parts demonstrating ongoing reliability in the actions or tasks they do, so a lot of this comes down to design and development. Quality for us is how it feels, the quality of the leather, dash or the sound of the doors closing for example. You are right the Nissan will probably be far more reliable. Thanks for your question, we appreciate it.
Bought a 2009 335i convertible in 2015 with 27000 miles on it. It has now 60000. Problems so far:
. A/C stopped working (live in florida)
. Had to replace the entire interior front light section as some areas were melted. Not designed for florida weather?
.Oil leak
. Trunk not closing/locking
. It is automatic but the manual shift option stopped working
. Had to towed on the road: water pump was out
At least I bought an extended warranty at Carmax but still had to pay the $250 deductible for each time plus the hassle to bring and pick up the car and be without it for the time the repair takes place. For the A/C problem it took 1.5 weeks.
No, not going with german cars anymore. Driving it 1 more year until extended warranty expires and going for an used Infiniti Q50 sport, maybe the red sport that has 400 HP.
Done with the BMW
Thxs
Bought one at 93k miles. 2008 BMW E90 328i. Up to 96k miles in 7 months, had a radiator hose go bad and the infamous CCV whistle. Guess what, the radiator hose was a common problem with a Youtube video having 50k views on it. The whistle from the CCV had many more views and should be $20 to fix just like the engines from the last generation but BMW made it integrated with the valve cover costing $450 for the OEM part.
Been driving a BMW for the last 7 years. A 120d from new in 2011, then a 2 year old 430d xDrive in 2016 and changed to a 2 year old 435d xDrive in March this year.
Granted the 120d was from new, and the two 4 series were both brought from BMW dealerships as “Approved Used”.
I honestly haven’t had to spend a penny on anything that wasn’t standard wear and tear (tyres, wiper blades, fluids etc.). Sailed through MOT’s, nothing other than the normal basic costs for servicing etc. Only real expense was a new windscreen that had a large chip in it. Enquired about a genuine BMW screen fitted by the dealer and it was going to be over £4800*!!! Clearly opted for an insurance claim and was more than happy to pay the £120 excess! 😀
*(Apparently it was super expensive as it had a heads-up display so used some sort of magical glass)
Hi Steve,
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and the positive experience you had with BMWs. I am sure that our readers will find this information helpful.
We have had a two BMW’s, both of which were the Ultimate Break Down Machine instead of the “Ultimate Driving Machine”. The problem is… BMW uses too much cheap plastics under the hood that constantly break. We have neighbors and friends that have had one in the past as well and their experiences were the same as ours. Never again!
BMW’s are meant to be lease cars and were not designed to last the long haul. BMW’s are designed to extract as much as cash from owners as humanely possible. God help anyone who owns one of these out of warranty.
Hi Dan,
Thank you for sharing your experience with the BMW and I am sorry to read that it wasn’t more positive. I am sure that our readers will find this information helpful.
Choose Lexus or Toyota!
Hello Liang,
Thank you for sharing alternative cars for people to consider. I am sure that our readers will find this useful when making their choice.
I bought a 2008 535i new and have had quite a few problems with it. The tally includes several water pumps, a fuel pump, two sets of injectors, leaking hoses, turbo problems, the remote trunk release stopped working, etc. As much as I enjoyed driving the car, I’ll never buy another BMW.
Hi Marco,
Thank you for your comment. Sorry to hear that you had so many issues with your BMW. I hope that you have more luck with your next vehicle.
I have a 2012 BMW 335 i X drive coupe. I have to stand up for BMW here. That car is amazing. It’s fast, handles like a dream, and looks great. The car sounds wonderful and I have had only one issue that was very minor. The tire sensor for the tire pressure had to be replaced. My experience has been very good and I consider it one of the most reliable and high performing cars I have ever owned.
Hello Remi,
Thank you for posting your opinion. I am sure that people will find it helpful when they come to making a decision about their new vehicle.
Had a 2007 Z4 that I just traded in. Got 140,000 miles + out of it, engine was still sound, but lots of little stuff started breaking down, like the horns, for goodness sake! The steering was also starting to have a mind of its own, so I figured I was heading for a very expensive repair.
I can’t think of a year that I didn’t pour over a grand into it, and I did keep up with maintenance, at the local BMW dealerships.
Hi Pete,
Sorry to hear that you didn’t have the cheapest experiences with your Z4, though it sounds as though it lasted a considerable period of time. I hope that you have luck with your next vehicle. If you are based in the UK and looking for a new car our team would be happy to help you.
I have a 2011 328i with 69,000 miles. I love driving the car, but for the past four years every time I have gone any distance from home, a sensor goes out. I”ve had no other problems, and the repairs have rin between $500 and $1000, not terribly expensive. But I am tired of being several hundred miles from home wothout cruise control. The cruise goes out when these sensors malfunction (one sensor per wheel, all now replaced, one just yesterday). That’s not too bad really, but I’ve driven Toyotas much further without any repair at all, and even my Chevy pickup has required less maintenance. I’m thinking about selling mine now. Looking at a 2019 BMW M240i, but also at a Camry hybrid.
Mark,
Thank you for your feedback on the BMW. It sounds as though reliability is a huge issue for you when it comes to the particular model you have been driving and I know that our US readers will be interested in your experience. I hope that you have luck in finding a new vehicle that fits your lifestyle.
I have has BMW cars for over 20 years, all purchased second hand. I’ve had 3 series, a couple of touring models, they were great, some 5 series that were amazing with only MOTs and yearly service driving costs. I had. 2003 coupe, on my that was brilliant, cost barely anything just MOTs and expecting no servicing. Then I bought my ultimate BMW, or so I thought, 3 series convertible hard top. It was amazing, to drive, to look at, clean everything. I thought I was in heaven. I’ve had it 2 years and now, when it’s been repaired yet again, I will be getting shut of it very quick. The question is, will I buy BMW again. The convertible has had all coil packs replaced, a catalytic converter, and most recently it’s been in local garage for 3 weeks whilst they source a used ecu. I’m extremely disappointed, never thought I’d have anything but a BMW, but now I’m thinking again,,,,, maybe.
Hi Ruth,
Thank you for your comment. I am happy to hear that you have always previously had positive experiences with the BMW brand, it’s unfortunate that the car you are currently driving is not proving as reliable as your past vehicles. I hope that things improve and you find another BMW you enjoy…
Serial short-term BMW owner here. I’ve leased two (330ZHP, 330i) and financed two (335d which I sold at year 5) and current 435i which is over 4 yrs old.
The E46 330ZHP was fun to drive but I had an oil sensor issue and the subsequent owner had to have the transmission mount replaced at 45k miles.
The E90 330 had to have the cylinder head replaced because of the ridiculous valve tap. Thankfully that was under warranty.
The E90 335d, I bought an extended warranty which came in useful. During year 4 the vehicle, on and off, was in the shop because the DEF system was not functioning correctly. Over the course of 10 months I had the entire SCR system replaced as well as all the sensors. It was a fantastic drive.
The 435i. Well this one has been problem free. The N55 has been very reliable and BMW shortened the OCI to 10k miles starting around 2012 or so. I WANT to keep this car, I love the way it drives but I’m scared to death of owning it without a warranty so regrettably I have to sell it. For the past 6 months I’ve hardly driven it so I can keep the miles down and help with resale.
Hi JC,
It certainly sounds as though you are a very loyal BMW owner, with that many in your car history. I hope that you can find another one you enjoy as much as the 435i you are currently carefully driving.
I have a 2011 X5 35d. I want to call it the best SUV on the road. It’s beautiful, drives great, and helps get me and my toys to the mountains. However, at only 66,000 I have had the entire SCR tank replaced, a fuel injector replaced, 3 alternators, and now another undiagnosed issue. In addition, my rear cam malfunctions in hot conditions. I want to sell it but it won’t run long enough to sell it privately in good conscience. I keep up with all maintenance at the local BMW dealerships. What is most telling is that the head foreman at BMW dealerships as well as other BMW technicians refuse to stand behind the vehicle and suggest I sell it.
Hi HB,
Sorry to hear that you’ve had issues with a car that you enjoy the experience of driving. I hope that you are able to find a vehicle which has all the features that you clearly love about this one which doesn’t suffer the same glitches.
I have a 2002 330i, which admittedly is quite elderly. It’s true though; I have had literally a ton of problems with this car. The problems I’ve had primarily stem from the cooling system, which as mentioned, has a lot of parts made from plastic. The plastic gets brittle over time and cracks, meaning I’ve had numerous coolant leaks to deal with. Other than continuous cooling problems, they’ve all been electrical. My alternator cooked my battery which created a terrible smell, the outside temperature sensor use to short in the rain, resulting in the car thinking it was -40° outside and turning the A/C off when it was 90° outside (gotta love Florida). If I didn’t have the means or know-how to do all of this work myself, this car would have been long gone. I’m able to afford it because I can fix things, which is why I can confirm the accuracy of this article. The problems I’ve encountered are either electrical, or caused by plastic being used in place of where metal obviously should have been. The upside is that BMWs are truly the ultimate driving machines. I have zero regrets about spending money if it means I get to drive it again. Plus it’s true what the article says about the engine. At 162,000 miles, the engine has been flawless. I bought the car from the original owner, my aunt, at 125,000 miles. Since I therefore know it’s history, I can confirm that if you keep the oil changed the engine will last forever. But probably not much else.
Hi Eamon,
Thank you for your comment. Information like this is always really useful, especially for people who are looking at a specific model and want to find out more about it. I do not envy you the issues with the temperature sensor given your climate. I wish you continued luck with your car.
I own a 2008 black on black 550 woth the m5 wheels. I love the looks of this car as wll as how it handles and performs. Even though i have babied this car it has been nothing but a money pit. From the engine beig on…to motor mounts busted…blue smoke coming out of the exhaust…several engine leaks…vacuum pump replacement etc etc…i do not recommend a bmw to anyone. The other day a saw a brand new bnw 750 …a $100,000 car with blue smoke coming out of the exhaust. Either German engineers dont know what they are doing or they purposley design the cars to fail so they can make millions on replacement parts and service.
Hi Tony,
Sorry to hear that you’ve had such a negative experience with your vehicles. We wish you the best of luck with whatever vehicle you decide to purchase or lease in the future. We keep our articles as unbiased as possible, using data from multiple sources to ensure that all the information we publish is balanced and up-to-date.
I am retired and hoping to leave London and return to my roots in the north west next year. I’m not a millionaire but by trading down on my house I might have around £200,000 to spare. I set my heart on the BMW 840d. That would be around £85k with extras. At that price I expect whatever I buy to be utterly reliable, like those Mercs from the sixties you read about that are still running with half a million miles. OK, I won’t live long enough to see that but I do not want to end up taking out a mortgage to keep the car running. What I have read here has left me rather shaken. Perhaps a Lexus would be the better choice, in fact I know it would be, but I hate the front view of their cars. Do BMW sell extended warranties, way beyond the first three years? Otherwise it’s goodbye to my dream.
Hi Ian,
It sounds as though you have your dream car firmly in mind. I know that our vehicle experts would be able to answer any of the questions and concerns that you have about BMW (and other manufacturers). If you would like to talk with someone who can help, please contact Amanda on 01903 223391 and she will be able to put you through to one of our experts.
Same here, BMW is the real car I truly desire but I don’t wanna hate myself every time I take the car in for maintenance or repairs. So my rational mind says”Lexus “ but like you say the front of the cars is just not attractive.
Pretty cars, with lots of performance but poor reliability…..hmmm
This business model is being held up across industries as the model to follow. Decadence of the west? It seems so. We had to have Toyota showed a very different business model (that does not worship the god of quick Money) that attempts to serve their customers…how revealing!!! For reference and for all of you not convinced of wasting your money on this pretty cars, listen to what mechanics say about these pieces of junk (google Scotty Kilmer for instance. For they are the ones that attempt to fix these pretty performance cars and they know the brands that are reliable (Hint it is not BMW)
Hi Otrebla,
Thank you for your comment. There are indeed many reliable manufacturers out there, and BMW also has some models that are more reliable than others that they produce. The way that people drive and obtain their vehicles has changed a great deal over the last 15-20 years, and continues to do so, therefore the way that cars are produced is also changing.
Toyota, Lexus and other manufacturers are guiding the way, but they are being followed closely by other manufacturers who are looking to up their game.
Just sold my E60 and I absolutely loved the handling, I do all my own troubleshooting and mechanical work on the car, so parts on the used market are relatively inexpensive, parts install straightforward, and well put together. Sometimes frustrating how many things you have to remove to gain access to things, but that is typical of many newer vehicles, however, scanning the car for electrical issues seems to be where I am challenged. I used a PC with Inpa and a Foxwell NT 530 to extract all the fault codes on mine, and I had 7 pages worth of faults. I managed to get them cleared and repaired one by one, however, something simple like a low battery can cause faults lodged in the transmission module, and airbag modules….but all are doable, so if you turn your own wrench its not that expensive of a car to own, that is if you pay yourself $1 an hr /labor….I sold the car and have my eyes on a Lexus GS350…
Hi Todd,
This is the way it was when cars were less technology-focused. The introduction of more tech in cars is welcomed for many reasons, however, it has made it much more complicated for the everyday motorist to repair something that was previously straightforward. Unfortunately, not everyone has the equipment or the capability to repair their own vehicle.
I think most of the problems people have with BMWs are caused by lack of preventative maintenance. And I understand why, the bosch spark plugs at OEM grade can cost you $75CAD for 6 of them. A synthetic oil change costs double of regular. All the replacement parts are in fact more expensive (although for niggling interior issues, you can usually get them for cents on the dollar from an auto wrecker – the dealership will charge you your first born child for something as simple as a door handle cover).
The key to maintaining a BMW in a reliable fashion is to get it inspected BEFORE something breaks, regularly. It may seem like a waste of money to pay a mechanic to go over your car when nothing is wrong. BMW charges $60 for a 52 point inspection and gives you 2 years of roadside assistance for your troubles, well worth the price considering that’s at the dealership.
Unfortunately, people are cheap and there is often more month at the end of the money and saving $60 on the oil change or $40 on a plug change when the engine runs fine and skipping out on coolant etc. etc. means you are going to drive your high performance car using low performance supplies, so you are bound for trouble. Buying premium high octane fuel is another one that every fill up can seem like a dirty secret to save a bundle that you don’t tell anyone about. Keeping the gas tank full all the time is another; getting water in your tank, gas, and fuel system due to condensation- why not just keep running it and keep the money in your pocket, you’ll end up buying some later – but you drive that high performance car to near empty and you end up with sediment sloshing around getting into your fuel lines and clogging injectors. I could go on forever.
You are buying a well tuned high performance car, and you have to treat it to the preventative maintenance it deserves.
The window regulators are definitely a problem on sub 2002 models, at least with power windows. How BMW made such a fine performance car and managed to get something with the window regulator so wrong is beyond me. I’ve had warped regulator bars, rollers that have broken off (remember this is inside the bloody door), and the hatch lock somehow (???) malfunction due to a faulty spring (????). The latter of which leads to a cascade with the car thinking the door is always open which means without disconnecting the battery the interior lights will stay on perpetually until the battery dies.
But… it’s worth it. The thing grips the road like an Addidas shoe accellerates to 90Km/h in one block, and the engine sound is so sweet I keep the stereo down so I can hear it. The only problem I have driving the car is it’s just *so damned easy* to speed. My 318ti can take a right hand turn at 60Km/H which is over the limit on its own, with no oversteer.
If you want rock solid reliability, get a Toyota. You can drive those things into the ground with bunk gas and crappy oil. But as like most other Japanese vehicles, they have timed everything to fail at the same time, so once you get one moderate problem all of the other systems are soon to follow. Bimmers can last for decades, if you treat them right.
My 2c
Hi Taylor,
Many thanks for your extensive comments on the reliability you have experienced with your BMW vehicles. We are looking at the cars from a UK owner perspective and the data we have access to (and have included in the article) is from UK-based sources.
I can say exactly the same as you regarding Alfa Romeo, even thought everybody thinks they are unreliable which ARE NOT , its a mith. and problems are average. I have have 5 bikes and always the one that has problemas is the BMW and never the Yamaha nor the Honda
Hi Sebastian,
Thank you for your comment about the reliability of Alfa Romeo. We are currently looking at updating all our reliability articles with the latest information. However, we are referring to the UK market, and only looking at cars rather than their motorcycles.
WOW…reading these BMW stories is soothing to my soul. I too fell in love with a BMW! A beautiful used 2008 Champaign Platinum 335i convertible 45,000 miles a perfect retirement car for some fun in the Florida sun. What a bad decision…I’ve regretted every minute of ownership. Oil leak into the radiator, battery and coding issues, false codes, starter failure, windshield washer reservoir/pump replacement, light LED failure, now another engine oil leak. I’ve driven the car less than 20,000 miles and have over $5,000 in towing and repair expenses. The BMW brand truly earns it’s reputation of “Unreliable”. With a lifespan of maybe 70,000 miles even if you baby the car…I’ve been sick for days for not doing my homework and researching the BMW brand before purchasing.
Hi Don,
Thank you for your comment. We put together these articles so that people can make an informed decision about their lease or purchase.
There is more to why BMW are unreliable – they are ingeniously designed to fail after a few years say 5 yrs. Replaced myself the broken driver’s door mechanism. Other than being VERY complex, the part that fail, a die cast hinge, had a ‘neck’ creating a weak point. And this is from where it failed. In other words, it’s been designed to fail. Same story with the top radiator hose; this has a junction made in a very weak fashion. And it fails from there. German engineering at its best for designing limited life motor cars.
Hi John,
Thank you for your comment on the reliability of BMW in Australia. In this report we focus on vehicles available for the UK market, looking at consumer reports compiled from data provided by UK warranty companies and consumer surveys.
We have had four BMW cars. A 2004 BMW 3, a 2014 BMW 3, a 2016 bmw2, and most recently a 2017 BMW x1. All are maintained by the book and none have had any issues that matter. On the 2004, which wrecked at 146k we replaced the brakes, clutch, tires as needed. The clutch went 120k the brakes more than 80k. The only real mechanicals were two window regulators. 2014 had only one problem when it had to be towed for an ignition coil issue. Other than that nothing. The cars ware built solidly.
Hi James,
Thank you for your comment on your experiences with your various BMW models.
I believe my 1996 540i is a lot less reliable than the E34 series, and a lot more reliable than the modern ones. BMW is not the same company it once was. They are coasting on brand status and doing diabolical things like putting small engines in big cars and turbocharging the crap out of them, undermining brilliant chassis design with those abominable run-flat tires, and sticking “M” on everything. And then there are the oil leaks that won’t stay fixed and the plastic cooling system components that keep failing over and over.
BMW cars used to be aimed at enthusiasts. Now they are aimed at affluent mugs. There is still some engineering heritage present, but I despair that they may never return to their former glory as a solid driver’s car.
I also kick myself for not researching car , also had two oil leaks fixed, starter, shocks, windshield cracked in cold weather, the washer fluid motor stopped working, the idrive display screen blinking off and restarting, it is a real money pit just a pretty car 2010 328xi so much buyers remorse.
My wife just bought a used BMW X3 iseries. 3 years old when bought and 30000miles. After driving it for < 1000 miles the drive train went. Will never buy a BMW again – Ill stay with my 2011 Lexus RX350( never had any serious problems and now 100,000 miles!)
Hi Horace,
The Lexus has been voted an incredibly reliable vehicle across multiple consumer reports and surveys over the last few years.
I am the owner of a BMW E38 750IL with 155000 miles. It has been maintained well with regular servicing. I have had no issues and have to say that it is a solidly built vehicle. The car has been very dependable and reliable throughout my ownership and from what I can deduce from the service history. I wouldn’t say it is any worse than any other luxury car manufacturer.
I have three BMW’s, a 1991 bmw 525i with 233,000 plus miles, 1994 BMW 530I with 260,000 plus miles, and a 1999 bmw 740Il with 211,000 plus miles and if you maintain them, they will last you a long time. I had a friend purchase a 2003 lexus with 136,000 miles and fewmonths later his transmission went out and he paid a lot of money to get it repaired.
never had any problems with mine, BMW 3 series 2013, done 80000 miles so far and 0 problems, just the consumers
Hi Adrian,
Thank you for your comment. The information we obtain is from various sources, including warranty companies and consumer reports. One reason that the cars are listed as unrealible is the amount of time they take to repair, coupled with the cost of repairs. We are not saying that all BMW are unreliable.
I own a 2012 BMW F30 3 series 328i with 100,000 Kms on the clock and only thing witch had to be replaced outside the usual scheduled maintenance was an O2 sensor! Also just for the record by car is stage 2 tuned and sees redline in the RPM a lot more than usual!!!!
Since 1994 I have owned the following BMW models:1 x 316, 1 x 525d, 3 x 530d, 3 x X5 30d. I have travelled many thousands of miles in these cars and I have never experienced any significant issues. As as I am concerned, their reliability is excellent.
Hi Roy,
Thank you for your comment. When writing these articles we compile data from multiple sources. The purpose of these articles is to provide a balanced view and give people the chance to make a purchase or lease a vehicle from an informed perspective.
Hi , thank you for this interesting article, I searched a lot about reliability of German cars as I was thinking of buying one. I think these cars to be more comfortable, luxurious, with higher performance and with the most advanced technology it will be more sophisticated and with more technology, therefore these things are associated with more technical problems than other cars which concentrate on durability of the car!
So It depend on what you want ie the driver , do you want performance and quality of driving or just a car !!!!
Driving experience and quality when you drive German is different compared to others, thanks
My 2010 BMW X-5 had to have a new water pump and thermostat replaced, cost was $1900.00 dollars. This happened at 83,000 miles. New battery cost 550.00 dollars installed, this happened at 35,000 miles. I believe that BMW’s are overrated and that is sad.
I own a 2010 BMW X5 and a 2012 Lexus RX350. The Lexus RX350 is a more reliable vehicle. The 2010 BMW X5 has left me stranded on the side of the road, not a very good feeling. The 2012 Lexus RX350 has never left me stranded at this point in time. For my money the 2012 Lexus RX350 is more reliable then my 2010 BMW X5. I personally would never ever purchase BMW vehicle again. I enjoy getting to my destination rather then being stranded on the side of the road. I am the original owner of the 2010 BMW X5, and never will I take it further then 10 miles from my residence, for fear of it breaking down again and leaving me stranded. The Lexus RX350 I have total confidence in and will drive it hundreds of miles away from my residence. Both vehicles are serviced and are in a garage for protection from the weather.
Hello Bill, thank you for sharing your experience with BMW and Lexus vehicles. I’m sure our readers will find this information useful towards their vehicle buying decision.
BMW, is as reliable as Politicians promise …!
Every person I know that’s owned one, has had their bank account drained in a very short space of time, and the car lights up like a Christmas tree, with failing tech, if the tech even works.
Every German brand i’ve encountered (family and friends because I’m not stupid enough to buy German) has been a financial disaster. My family inventory past and present includes:
1 x VW Continental GT (it’s not a Bentley!!!!!!!!!!)
2 x VW Golf
2 x Porsche – 911 and Cayenne
2 x BMW
1 x Merc
1 x Strange Rover (BMW Edition)
And I only drive Lexus/Toyota, and I have fewer problems @ 200,000+ than the rest of them @ 20-30,000 miles, yet my family will look you dead in the face and tell you their German tat is reliable. Don’t believe it!