Luke Mortell I don't know what the term car guy means, but maybe I'm not, but I own a BMW X5M 2015 and my dad owns a 7 series '16 and we for sure always use the turn signals
I own 3 used BMW's. The cost of long term ownership is about the same as any other luxury car. 2003 745i: owned since 2007, brake job and one battery. 2005 330CIC: owned since 2006, 2 batteries and brake job after 2 track days. 2008 535 xi wagon: owned since 2014, nothing other than oil changes. All of these cars are low mileage, garaged, and inspected before purchase. The smile on your face as you enjoy driving these cars: Priceless!!
Agreed, bought a 2011 320d late last year. The first week of driving it I couldn't get over the sheer quality and driving pleasure it handed to me. Even the entry level vehicles as these were, are impressive to say the least. It's also hard to wipe the smile off your face when overtaking with seemingly no effort at all on the cars part...and the mileage...wow. When driving new toyotas, nissans and Hondas as I sometimes have to do, it's like going backwards or something..the engines strain and I feel like pulling out a whip or something.
In 1997 I bought a 2.5 year old 325iS with 67,000 km on it for ~$30K that I had for 9 years until it was written off at 328,000 km when rear ended by the ubiquitous white van. The insurance company gave me $11K as write off value . . . so depreciation of ~$2K/year for a car that was incredibly fun to own and drive. Can't beat that.
+Jagshemasher 'Losing' 2000$ a year is indeed not bad. And that's why I bought a BMW 5 last week. My previous car was a Saab.... Paid 25.000$ for it, 4 years ago. And I was lucky to sell it for 3.000$.... So, depreciation of 5.500$ a year... That hurts...
+Justin Buice That's cause he bought a proper car... an audi! :pVery good video though always good to have some idea of what and how to look for things
Justin Buice Hey Justin thanks for the video, very eye opening!!! as you've said if a 'price is to good to be true' it's a red flag. could you pls share your thoughts. driversselect.com/Used-2015-BMW-328i-Dallas-TX/vd/43309302
This one is an E90. I have an E46. I have owned it for a few years with hardly any trouble. Service centres will charge heaps for parts, but you can buy them cheap online. There are mechanics that will sting you for services and repairs because they think it's European, I have a right to charge more. I found a mechanic that told me they are no different to work on than any other modern car. They are a very nice car to drive though. :-)
You tell the truth, Catweasle. My son just gave me his 2009 328i E-93 N-51 S-6 standard suspension BMW because he deemed the car to be worth less than its repairs. I began with a PPI (prepurchase inspection) that sells in Atlanta for $75 to $150. From the list of recommended repairs, I selected the most expensive (front struts). I researched the cost of the needed parts from sources such as FCP Euro, Turner, Carid. Then I went to 4 BMW shops, 1 Atlanta dealer, and 3 generic shops for their prices. The total repair prices (without taxes and shop supplies) ranged from about $750 to about $1,500. The retail parts ranged from about 150% to 200% of wholesale. The labor ranged from about 3.3 to about 4.5 hours (ie, some shops double-charge, once for the strut work and once for the spring removal that is already part of the strut estimate). One ethnic-centric shop was about the best in online reviews, the lowest in parts' markup, and the most honest in labor hours. I have the car there now to fix the PPI problems.
Don't buy a BMW blindfolded, !Ike any car there are inherent faults. I've owned BMW's for the last eight years, what I would suggest, is read up on the common faults for the particular model you're considering, and if you think they are too difficult for you to fix yourself buy a different brand. BMW's are not any more difficult to repair than any other car, but once you've had one, you won't want anything else. Just read up on common problems and you won't regret having one.
all i gotta say is, you get what you pay for. i'm a trained BMW tech & a owner of a '10 E60 528i for 3 years now & its been by far the best car iv ever owned out of the 16 cars iv gone through lol. however, maintenance is the biggest key to maintain these ultimate driving machines. these N52 motors (same in the E90) are very very delicate motors (electric water pump, dual vanos w/vvl, aluminum/magnesium block so special cooling must be considered, plastic cooling parts, starter is crap (had to go through 3 of them) etc) but overall its an excellent package that actually uses previous racing technology for the streets. do extensive research & find what suits you. IMO, the N54 twin power models (535i or 335i) have more issues then the N52 due to their faulty High pressure direct injection fuel pumps & injectors. with that being said, the base models are miles more reliable then the turbo models. just make sure the car has been properly recalled & you'll love your new investment.
+Christian Castro What do you think of the previous version 5 series like the 530i or 540i? I always liked the styling of those. Seems like a great road trip car.
+johnnnewmex They're good as well. just be on the look out for the cooling system on the early models. these cars are really solid for the long highway road trips, as long the maintnance are up to date & kept to OEM specs (ride gets ruined if the car has thin tires)
+johnnnewmex I have 2003 530i with 209,000 miles and I love it. 5-speed manual sport package with original clutch and no oil leaks. As long as you keep the coolant system well maintained, air intake hoses and other old worn out parts like DISA valve, PCV system "oil seperator", clean idle valve, replace fuel filter, etc., and take care of the normal wear & tear items like suspension components, brakes, etc. it's the best car you'll ever have. It's all about the maintenance as Christian eluded to. I hope you find a well maintained one.
+Christian Castro Would you recommend these cars to non-BMW techs who just want to look good, but have very little a idea how to fix it if something does go wrong? I ask because you seem very well versed on these cars, and definitely a lot of money DIY most of the problems.
Bmws most common problems that can happen before 100,000km are Valve cover leaks, oil filter housing leaks, electric water pump going bad, etc.. The new ones are even worse, the turbos seem to go bad on them. But I prefer them over audis, as they are the worst luxury car with the most problems
BMW, Mercedes and Audi are excellent for leasing purposes. If you don't have deep pockets and plan to buy a used luxury vehicle for long term, then stick with Lexus, Infiniti and Acura etc.
BMWs are not money pits... Some earlier BMWs like e46(98-06) are very reliable. As long as previous owners maintained their cars properly, it should not be too much of a headache: same thing goes for most of the vehicles out there i suppose. Also, DIY is a way to go. When I first got my car, I didn't even know how to change oil myself but now I know how to install performance headers, change spark plugs, install LSD, troubleshoot vaccum leak. flush brake fluid......etc all in one year of ownership. TH-cam is your friend for BMW DIYers. Buy nicely maintained BMW for decent amount of money even though the mileage is high. Mileage doesn't matter because that means the vehicle has been maintained to even be running after all these miles.
+Leif Johansson No matter what vehicle you own, you will invest a great amount of your pay check into. You need to pay fluids like gas and engine oil. You will need to replace tires and suspension components if they are damaged early due to bad roads. I bought 4 brand new tires for my AWD car and in less than 3 months I already had a bulge in the sidewall and now need to change out both front tires. It cost me $800 to replace 4 tires and now I need to do it again, probably 1/2 the price this time at least. -My mom pays the car loan but I have to pay for everything else. If I were to ever buy a vehicle, I would buy a sport bike.
+Jason Lee Oh I used to own a E46 they were not at all reliable so many electrical gremlins. Sure there wasn't any major mechanical issues with it but those electrical problems are annoying they range from window motors failing to power door lock actuators failing to the radio failing and not to mention those parts are expensive as heck too. But for all those problems it sure made you forget it when you drove it best driving cars ever made. I regret selling it so much now.
Himmel Weint Yeah, I've heard electrical problems and interior wear are the only issues with Euro cars. The engines are very reliable. The only issue is the BS price increase people who repair your car will make you pay. It's like the video were a mechanic charged a Lamborghini driver like $300 just to change the brake fluid.
These are all great points and really. Any used car you buy, these tips can work for. Except the service notifications, not available on many other non luxury cars.
I hate people who complain about bmw reliability it's not for people who can't afford to maintain it, it's for people who want a luxurious driving machine. Also I would say never buy a used bmw unless the mileage is low and the wear is minimal.
Great informative video. I bought a used 335i 2010 model with 54k miles and went through a long battle with the dealership over a valve cover gasket leak. Be sure to check for this as it is a common issue with these cars! You may not be able to spot it on the bottom plastic splash guards and instead see it on the side of the motor.
flava4u i just bought an 08 535i and its telling me that the left reverse light is malfunctioning, its just a tiny rectangular backlight, just wondering if its expensive to replace
Here's something anyone buying a used BMW or Mercedes Benz. Bring it to a BMW dealer cause trust me if there's anything wrong they wanna make money on it. Listen new car dealers make a ton of money on the service department.
Too bad the owner/ dealer won't let you just take it to the dealership to get it checked out. The whole goal is to make you sign the papers and take the keys after that it's your problem and you're gonna hate your life trying to make them take the car back.
The best would be to have the car checked out including diagnostics with a BMW shop and ask them to give you a printout of findings before you purchase a used BMW, Most places charge around $150.
I’m looking to buy A E93. After months of looking at bmw’s I found the perfect car for me a 2011 328i M gray with black interior with 70,000 miles on it For $13,000. When I called to make an appointment the car had just been sold. Now every car I look at doesn’t compare and I’m getting Frustrated. I watch your videos to learn as much as I can. thank you for what you’re doing I’ve learned a lot.
What if the car I’m looking at is a 2007 BMW 330i it only has 89,000 miles on it. It says in the description 2007 BMW 300i Motor & transmission is perfect No leaks Cold A/C Clean title in hand Asking $5,000 obo Make offer. Do you think it’s to good to be true?
one time, a listing said there were brand new tires. I go to check the car out, tires had no tread on them whatsoever. i asked him about it. he responded with "They're drag slicks"
You f_____g nailed it. I just bought a 330i and replaced valve cover gasket $1300. oil filter gasket $800. computer module $1150. got the car well under book value. with these repairs still $2000 below book. great car but if i had seen this video before hand i would have saved by making them fix it. great info for the public.
Money pits..bmw is realy for rich people so they can keep pumping money into it for new parts that breaks every month,stop complaining and buy a car you can afford .simple
Bought one with low miles, full service history, recent service completed, and still had to have repair after repair done, the garages advice on BMWs, only buy with a warranty, there great for the firs couple years, but after that? ( deep pockets)
I am totally in love with BMW, but know so very little about what to look for in quality for the price. My boyfriend has a bmw sport bike k1300s and the quality of his bike is epic. Hence my reason to start looking into pre owned BMW vehicles. I refuse to buy new anymore for the obvious reasons. So, mainly I just wanted to thank you for your time and effort to help people like me feel confident in their purchase. I tend to get all geeked at shiny things and head right on into an impulse buy. I will research, apply your tips to find the best deal. Patience will go a long way in finding something perfect for the money I work so hard for. Thanks again!
I had a 2011 BMW X5, it's a pretty good car when it works but had issues with cooling system-radiator (4x), spark plugs (2x), ignition coil (3x) and the final straw was the timing belt with gave up around 55k miles and ruined the engine. And yes, I took care of the car with regular maintenance. Couple of people I know have said that BMW cars always has issues with the cooling system. I would never buy another BMW.
I don't know how it's in the US, but here in Europe BMW dealership keeps a history of repairs done on the car in its workshops based on VIN, so you would be well advised to take the prospective car to the dealership for check. Not only you'll know what was done on the car while it was on warranty (for example if you have any service actions pending) or any post-warranty repairs done in authorised workshops but also they do a real torough check of the car (it takes a few hours). The check contains among others: the lacquer coating, the suspension, the car's onboard computer, leaks and so on. Now IDK how much that would cost in the US but here in Poland it costs about $125-$150 (and that includes our +23% VAT tax) so the best option for buying a luxury car which has a hefty price tag compared to a used civic ;-) is to take it to the dealership for check.
If your looking for a 2000 to 2005 3 series check the CV joint rubber boots on the front axels. These boots crack and let dust and debris in then the bearings go. Replace the water pump with a metal blade pump. The original pump has a tbf of around 60k miles. Replace the fluids and filters in all places. Check the sun roof for full range travel. Bmw uses a plastic guide on both sides of the sun roof track. These guides crack or snap off causing alignment issues. Note the transmission in most cars in this age range will need flushed and a new filter put in. By the way, the transmission is from GM and don't take the lifetime fluid speal as fact from bmw. I am sure I am missing some stuff but I got the majority of what to check out before you buy. I bought my car new in 2004 and still have it and it runs like a champ with power and torque like it was new. I follow the bmw clubs maintenance plan and have been lucky enough to do my own maintenance. If you can't or do not want to do the maintenance yourself find a good mechanic or independent garage thAt can do the work for you at much lower costs than a BMW service center. Hope this info. Helps.
+Viren S lexus is a piece of shit stealing everything from design to technology from bmw,audi,mercedes. So yeah, keep your toyota with fake leather seats
1. asian design sucks. Ugly as fuck. These zig zack design is truly for people with yellow skin. 2. Lexus aka toyoto with fake leather seats has LEDs that Audi had in 2007 hahaha 3. Front grill completely stolen from Audi. 4. Tail lamps completely stolen from BMW. 5. Performance wise slower than any German car. To sum it up. It's garbage. A wanna be Audi from the front, a wanna be BMW from the back, a wanna be Mercedes from the inside. A toyota with fake leather seats. JUNK.
german cars spend more time in the mechanic shop then on the road, ive had bmw,mercedes, american cars, the whole market... nothing drives better, is smoother, more luxurious than a lexus, not being bias, this is off personal experience... facts are facts sorry
Here is how you buy a BMW......You lease a brand new BMW over 3 years, on full maintenance . After 3 years you finance the residual and extend your warranty and maintenance plan. Get rid at 6 years when she starts costing money. Other than that , I would be very hesitant to take on someone else's troubles.
SENGVIN definitely not safe with their money though lol they're throwing money away just to look good for a certain amount of time, it makes sense if you are rich, but most people who do this are your average joes. I would only do this if i were making some real good money, and all i cared about is looking good, i can see why, you get a new car, dont bother with maintenance, once it get older, you lease another one, the cycle continues, sure you never own anything, but you look good with new cars, nobody knows if you own or lease
SENGVIN same thing could be said about renting an apartment, especially an expensive one, you are pissing money away, just like the car, you get to use it, and receive the status symbol that comes with it, but it will never be yours
You are correct in that BMW E46s have these problems - both of mine are good examples. What you missed is that these problems are not difficult or expensive to fix. For example, the window regulators are only $175 or so and can be fixed as a DIY in about 45 minutes. I have made all of the repairs on my two E46s and the cars look great. The awesome handling of an E46 cannot be overstated. The problems you mentioned are quite minor compared to the tremendous satisfaction that comes with driving this vehicle. I will probably always keep one E46 around for this reason alone. The E46 is indeed a benchmark for handling.
thanks for all the videos and everything man, I've been looking at a used z4 and you've really opened up my mind to what its like and i think I'm ready to get a bmw now. i was really nervous and skeptical at first but all the videos like your oil vid and the reasons to buy one have all helped.
M5 for ten grand on craiglist. Whether you get robbed/killed in this transaction or you actually get lucky and buy it, you deserve whatever happens to you. smh
i recently bought a 2004 325ci , for 3600. 148k miles. runs great. the one nice thing about bmws its the steptronic transmission. automatic, sport and 5 speed manual. id recommend buying one. 6 cylinder too btw. average mpg in city is 18mpg but determines on how u drive id estimate i get 23mpg
I was looking for something different regarding BMW and came across this video. I just wanna say, “ excellent advice “ this video points out things that most people will overlook. Well done.
I searched for a year for the e46 that i have now. And the wait was worth the wait, it's in perfect condition. Owned it for 2 years and repairs have cost only like 500€. Reading other bmw owners comments, make me think, that i am a guy that got lucky. :D
Yea I had one that would randomly burn out the window motor on the driver door and when it was burned out it would lose the function of operating rear or side passenger Windows from the driver door. The engine is poorly built as well vanos garbage
Bought a new 2015 328d xdrive wagon. Loads of fun, but I've already had one leak in the A/C, serious alignment issue, and the infotainment stuff was very difficult to get turned all the way on. Fun to drive, but an overall disappointment. :(
THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO! GOOD ADVICE. I love my BMW X1 that I bought straight from Austria but will be looking at a used X3. I am ofcourse terrified that something will break but the mileages is below 20K.
I've had my 2006 X3 3.0 for 4 years before it got expensive to own. The only thing I've had to do was get new tires and do the massive 100,000 mile tune up until this year. My driveshaft and U joints had to be replaced, Mass airflow sensor (did myself), oil filter mount gasket (to the block) and rear coil springs all had to be done in the past 4 months. I don't owe on it so fixing it isn't a problem and the engine and trans are solid. Hoping it holds up strong for another 2-3 years. The exterior and interior are mint but the value is starting to tank.
Hey Justin thanks for the video I wish I had found this a few years ago as it would of saved me a lot of time at inexperienced auto shops! 😂 do you have any advice for maintaining the grey interiors along the door jam arm rests and centre console, mines flaming badly?!
+MossenKoti i prefer a more "analogue" drive feeling and anything after e46 and e39 doesn't deliver it to my preference, if you prefer a modern driving feel that's okay too. these thing belong to the category "taste" and taste is something one can't argue about. what we can argue about on the other hand is the reliability and maintenance of the cars. i know people who bought a e90 and f10 brand new and had multiple enginefailures within the first 24 months of owning. of course the fix of these was covered by warranty, but still, not a good thing. some of the modern bmw's don't even have an oildipstick, so how would find out if you have to refill oil? the electric sensor can fail, and if it works, it would tell you to fill up when it's alraedy running on minimum level which isn't a good thing as well. sorry for spelling or grammar mistakes, i'm not a native english speaker.
+TheWolvesCurse You can check oil level from drive computer in newer BMW's. Also when you have brand new car, you dont need to be checking oil levels every week and so on. I have no experience of the F10 (5-series) But i can tell that the F30 (3-series) is reliable car.
+TheWolvesCurse You can check oil level from drive computer in newer BMW's. Also when you have brand new car, you dont need to be checking oil levels every week and so on. I have no experience of the F10 (5-series) But i can tell that the F30 (3-series) is reliable car.
+TheWolvesCurse Also if u know how to manage cars, you can change oil of the BMW car regularly if you wont trust the electric sensors which are very advanced right now.
...my first experience with a BMW was when i drove a 325i e36 5 speed manual, which looked like sh*t but boy did it drive well, i loved it to bits, the sound and the torque was just astonishing, any gear acceleration was a marvel, it just kept begging me to press. The second encounter was in a 530d e39 manual 5 speed, it felt sluggish at take off but i got used to it and the steering felt heavier than normal. Right now I'm interested in a 525i e39
The other two major items is lack of coolant temperature gauge in the instrument panel. Add this with a Electric Water pump you pretty much have no idea that the Engine is overheating until possibility it is too late and damage is already done. If buying used try to see any records especially dealers make sure maintenance is being complied with to avoid a major headache at gate pull time m
l own a 2008 X3 BMW 3.0 si with 50.000 miles and l love her. she's 4x4 medium size suv very powerful engine excellent fuel economy while cruising on the highway. lots of room. no complaints so far. three negative things so far. No heated seats No Bluetooth No remote starter. my winter tires were about 500 bucks. brand new. the guy is right where l live they want 200 bucks for a brand new key... overall I'm happy or lucky with it.
Lots of good advice here. I would add that if you are about to drop $25-40K on a used BMW (3 series . . . . a lot more for a used M5) the spend $250-$350 and have a reputable shop/BMW dealership thoroughly check it out for you or ask the person selling the car if they are willing to let you do this before you purchase it. If the person/dealership selling you the car is unwilling to let you do this then this is a "BIG RED FLAG" and go else where . . . .if they have nothing to hide then they wonlt be worried by this. Make sure the vehicle has a full service history. My only caveat here is that in North America BMW is now including "scheduled" maintenance in the purchase price BUT the oil change intervals they include are are a lot longer than even the BMW dealerships would recommend. I change the oil in my 335d twice as frequently as BMW recommend but after 6 years and 118,000 km (70,000 miles) the car burns zero oil between changes - 10,000 km (6000 miles) and the engine is silky smooth. Also I would recommend checking out the various BMW forums that exist on the car model you are considering buying as they are a good source of information on what can and does go wrong. . . and also how to fix it cost effectively.
Very clear. I live in Panamá. Many people here complaining about the high cost of repairing a BMW. I have a fantastic 10 years old Lexus rx330. Never had a better finished and reliable car in my life.
Good video. I immediately replaced the run flats on my 2015 335i lease return that I bought in 2018. I put on summer tires (where we live, there's no reason for anything else) . . . and we just rely on AAA for towing should something happen. In other words, no spare. I have a 2012 Mustang GT500, and it also has no spare. We have a Jeep with a spare and a pickup truck with a spare for those times when we might possibly be out of AAA range (which is extremely rare). We have had four vehicles for 15 years (not necessarily the same ones) and we have never had a flat that made the car inoperable. We DO carry a flat fix-it kit in the BMW and the Mustang.
if you get an 335i with an n54 engine double get the rocker cover gasket. usually leaks oil at the rear left side. also problematic for the n54's is the wsste gate actuators on the turbos as well as wastegate rattle.
i have the 2007 model with the N54 engine. its extremely tunable and puts out more power than the n55 in the later models. but they are temperamental hence why im selling mine
+Xan Millar The N54 also has a problem where the valve cover cracks on the inner portion where the coils and injectors are, on the intake side of the cover and just behind the oil fill cap. If you're looking at one, bring a 5mm Allen, remove the front boots that hold the engine cover on and inspect that area for a crack.
You forgot too mention that when checking the tires too check the inside of the tire because they run very inline and pretty much all the wear is on the inside
+George Morley There are BMWs all over the place where I live so I have to admit they are very popular cars. They have a loyal following of repeat costumers. Having never had the chance to drive one or even ride in one, I can only imagine how rewarding they are. They consistently are rated No. 1 drivers car by respected automotive magazines.
CP240sx By blind chance my first car was a BMW when I bought it from a neighbour who was an old paratrooper who wanted to get rid and buy a peugeot(!) He had only put 60,000 on it in 13 years so it was barely run in. I put another 80,000 on it. I loved that car. I went through two of the worst winters in recent history with that car and it never missed a beat. It looked after my wife while I was on deployment for 6 months. It took us on honeymoon around scotland. When I bought my new one I scrapped it. I nearly cried.
Hi Justin, I'm about to buy a 2006 530i M Sport with 98000 kms. Your tips greatly helped me! Thanks, much appreciated, keep up the great work ! Regards Paul from Sydney Australia
Thanks...I have just brought an E39 M Sport and used your comments as a guide...I picked up a couple of minor things but got it anyway because it is as you say, tremendous value for money...
Very god info, I am buying a 2004 BMW with 150000 miles that is in very good condition. I tested drive it and loved it. Your info gave me the tools on how and what to Check on car. Thank you
Private sellers wont let you drive the car for 20-30 minutes, tires and breaks really dont matter when you buy a car as is, unless its certified, you cant buy a perfect used car most the time, specially when its cheap
they will usually let you take a used car home to your mechanic if you ask. also if someone is good at negotiating, new breaks and calipers are easy to get.
+Dane Croucher New brake calipers are not easy to get nor should they be replaced like pads or rotors. Sure they are not a real hassle to install and replace, however, if it isn't leaking or seized there is no point in replacing them.
spot on. next time mention to check that all the body panels align. this is to see if the car was in an accident or has been repaired on. look for missaligning front or rear lights. (to see if those were replaced). also the type of owner. if he has sporty cars or he likes to race or work on cars. beware. you might be buying his problem. if its not from a dealer.
Heck, forget these German cars. The amount of planned obsolescence that goes into them, the unnecessary electronics, plastic car parts under the bonnet. Not to mention the cost to fix or replace broken parts and break they do.
Qasim Mir trust me it's not as bad as you think, the people you see complaining about these cars are the ones who think they should drive a car without maintenance, BMW is fun.
You kind of expect some more quality from cars like BMW, Mercedes and Audi. They break/face similar problems as much as a cheaper car would do, and cost a lot more to repair. I bought a 9 year old E46 as my first car. In the 4 years I've owned it, I had the following issues: -bracket from the sunroof broke off -both front window mechanisms replaced -rear parking brake got stuck halfway through -even after replaceing the rear discs and a parking brake kit, the parking brake never really worked like it should have -6+ different oil leaks from the engine -broken coil -broken resistor for climate controll -DME starting to fail The DME made me sell my car and buy a new car. It would randomly prevent the fuel pump from starting (pump was fine) and the part was €1000+ to replace... Don't get me wrong, it was a really fun car to drive with (the handeling and feel is something you can't find on modern cars anymore in that pricerange), but there was just too much stuff breaking all the time, and repairs weren't cheap.
DenHond next time invest into a nice extended warranty plan, BMW are premium cars, they are not like Honda Lexus Toyota, and always keep in mind that BMW problems varies from different models, some people think these cars should be driven like race cars every time they put the keys in the ignition, the harder you drive it the more you should have money ready for parts replacements, it's a 9 year old car depending on your climate condition, plus maintenance history over the course of that time frame, of course it's gonna fall apart, BMW is like a super model high maintenance girlfriend if you don't give her high octane gasoline and keep her on a warranty plan she will cause you a very expensive break up, she only goes long term with a man that puts her on a routine maintenance plan,with a every 3 months oil change no matter the mileage because short term trips and weather conditions builds up moisture in the engine, only drive her hard when your on highways, round city trips cruise her like a baby.
Jeffrey Franco I have a BMW X6 and ownership experience will differ from models, and if it was used and abused before you bought it, and not to mention that bmw has a recall on some of their vehicles, to say all bmw is trash is an understatement because I experience good quality with my vehicle, I cannot speak for the rest.
266k on my WRX pushing 17lbs on stock internals. Pulls like a champ, getting rid of it for an Infiniti G35. Had an Audi S4, miss it but it was horrible to keep on the road
I bought a 2006 BMW 530i for $3200 and it drives very smoothly and didn’t noticed any leaks. Interior looks 8/10 outside 8/10 noticed trunk, roof and hood the paint was a little faded. No dents or deep scratches. It came with complete tool kit, manual and two set of keys. Although one key is not working. So what do you think? What should I look for? Thanks. It’s my first BMW.
NEVER buy a BMW new, used, leased. I owned a $78,000 740iL. All the vehicle did was break. Windows, moonroof, water pump, dual climate control, loose grill, and many other things. Nearly all BMW repairs must be done at the dealership. The BMW computer, certain specialized tools and tech knowledge is proprietary, only the dealership can properly repair the car. A widow driver is $750, water pump repair over $1800, electrical problems, labor is $250 per hour! If you cannot buy a BMW new, and under warranty, you will never be able to afford repairs on a used one out of warranty. Don't be fooled by the reasonable price tag used beamers can be purchased for. You will pay dearly and often if you make the mistake of thinking these cars are reliable. ..they are cool and prestigious, but they are a money pit Be FORWARNED!!!
Thats a bit harsh, Not all of them are Trash and ur Experience isnt an Fact for the car Brand being shit, My dad had his BMW 318 Touring for over 9 Years i think and just 2 month ago we had to Fix the First issue, The gears and thats it. So i can only speak positive about BMW But yeah thats my Experience doesnt mean shit in total about the brand
@@richardsteiner1729 The cars have a conventional motor, and a part called a "driver" I believe, that regulares and assists the the window motor. A window motor would be even more expensive. The techs at BMW of Newport, R.I. all drive Toyotas and Hondas as their personal vehicles despite BMW'S employee purchase/lease program. What does that tell you?
I can vouch for the window motors breaking down , the ones that lower and raise the windows. One broke at 80k miles and the right rear passenger broke at 130k. miles. My 2006 330i was fun to drive, but at times, it was a bit of a headache. Anyway, that was my experience with the car.
I'm turned 18 today and I'm going down to look at a 2008 335xi tomorrow and I didn't even know you could see leaks and such from the engine bay. I had an x5 for 7 months and that never occurred to me at all. Good info good video
Check some of the ergonomics of the design. Two good examples are in the cabin. 1. Cup holders are NOT in the center console. They are a flip out push button tray on the passenger side instrument panel. Two major drawbacks to this design. 1 reaching across the vehicle to grab your whatever, mocha latte, coffee, ice tea etc.... even though milliseconds your Hand is away from a major control surface and that millisecond of reaction time can. make the difference between crash and NO crash. Along those lines if you are in an accident especially front impact the coffee cup will probably be a missile/FOD hazard and probably the weakest point. That weakness eventually goes down the road of whatever beverage going flying around the vehicle either on the overhead or floor but also chance of a hot beverage going all over your legs, or worse, your face, hands any other body part that may or may not be resistant to hot beverages as originally thought. After you check for injuries you will have a dry cleaning bill in addition to any other costs from the accident.
Getting a car with low mileage has multiple benefits. First, less wear and tear means better reliability and less servicing costs. Second your car value will hold stronger if you keep the mileage down so you get a better return later on resale. Finally, low mileage also means someone probably took care of the car, not driving hard or long distances between services and delaying service. The only disadvantage to look out for is on diesels, they need to get up to fast speeds occasionally to burn off particles in the engine. But its easy to do that just by doing a run on the expressway or motorway. Also, always see if there are receipts for service history, you'll see how well someone took care of the car for sure.
+itsadamnjoke lol they aren't reliable really no euro is my family has had multiple even dealer maintained they break a lot but I still think they're worth it
+Clayton Boyd I don't know man because my e46 M3 has been a dream with me. Hasn't asked for anything besides for an oil change, battery, headlight bulbs and the occasional brakes but I've had mine for 30k, bought it at 68k it has like 99,566 at the moment and it's been as reliable as can be. Maybe it depends on the old owners how they took care of the car or maybe true what you said or luck of the person
+itsadamnjoke Ya there's definitely some and the e46 usually isn't too bad excpet the sub frame issue but my family has had some other models that were dreadful
Nothing but aggro..Stay away from a used BMW and this is from a Motor Trader. I buy and sell so many different makes of vehicles.VWs Volvos,Lexus and more but i always start dreading when i come accros a BMW. 3 Series common and world famous EML issues and whatever you do it wont be cured.Misfiring issues, Convertible Hydrolic,Wiring problems its endless..5 series Gearbox sump no matter what will cause problems, needs replacing because the sump tray bends,crack..Replacement is not over the top expensive but ZF Box tranmission fluid will cost you more than the Sump tray. BMW charges £189 for the fluid alone.Again 5 series manifold,Turbo seal problems are rife, Alternators pack up regularly due to Brushes wear off quickly . X3 has so many issues starting from window motors,Plastic parts with transmission,Clutch break. X5 so many maintenance issues will cost you non stop. RUN FLAT tryes are £1000 a set which equals to $1350..BMW as a used car is a waste of money..Buy a nice and reliable Mercedes VW Lexus,Volvo and enjoy your life..BMWs and( AUDIs) are nightmare..I dont know why people even like them either.
Double-O $¢rilla Let's put it this way..There are more lemons than gems out there with a BMW badge..Buy a Merc,Volvo, Lexus..cars with simpler to deal with equipment. BMW messed it all up with more than even they can handle electronics..in the name of sophistication. 4 cylinder engines are disaster even at a low mileage and with superb service history and maintenance record. 318 CI SE 49000 genuine miles 1 owner absolutely superb condition..guess what?? idling problem,Roof problem,Electric mirrors problem, EML Light is on too..Which is the death of a BMW basically..Once the EML light is on even BMW main dealers can't resolve it..Idling problem I personally went as far as the BMW factory and They couldn't find a fault..They can't fix a problem of an engine they built:):):) And it's not a one off case almost every 318i I came across has the Idling misfiring issue..almost without a fail..320i , 325i aren't any different..disgraceful is the word. 5 series to be fair are a lot easier to fix but cost wise they just kill your budget. So stay away is the best policy..
check the timing chain isn't rattling with a veh over 65000 m , it's a new engine if it snaps , the antenna on the 3 series fails and the radio struggles to pick up a signal, (rear screen antenna ).
Hi , I have a question for you . I'm looking for a 6 series and would you buy the older model or the new one lie 2010 or 2012 ??? Some say the older is going to be easier on maintenance specially the engine . What say thee ??? Thank you ...
www.justinbuice.com/
2:20 why do you need to make sure that the turn signals work? It's a BMW
hahahahaha
Because BMW's are still cars and they are required to use their turn signals.
+Untitled Name you clearly aren't a car guy
the only time your bmw is required to have working turn signals is when you go and do your yearly car inspection^^
Luke Mortell I don't know what the term car guy means, but maybe I'm not, but I own a BMW X5M 2015 and my dad owns a 7 series '16 and we for sure always use the turn signals
I own 3 used BMW's. The cost of long term ownership is about the same as any other luxury car. 2003 745i: owned since 2007, brake job and one battery. 2005 330CIC: owned since 2006, 2 batteries and brake job after 2 track days. 2008 535 xi wagon: owned since 2014, nothing other than oil changes. All of these cars are low mileage, garaged, and inspected before purchase. The smile on your face as you enjoy driving these cars: Priceless!!
Agreed, bought a 2011 320d late last year. The first week of driving it I couldn't get over the sheer quality and driving pleasure it handed to me. Even the entry level vehicles as these were, are impressive to say the least. It's also hard to wipe the smile off your face when overtaking with seemingly no effort at all on the cars part...and the mileage...wow. When driving new toyotas, nissans and Hondas as I sometimes have to do, it's like going backwards or something..the engines strain and I feel like pulling out a whip or something.
In 1997 I bought a 2.5 year old 325iS with 67,000 km on it for ~$30K that I had for 9 years until it was written off at 328,000 km when rear ended by the ubiquitous white van. The insurance company gave me $11K as write off value . . . so depreciation of ~$2K/year for a car that was incredibly fun to own and drive. Can't beat that.
Brother you nailed it. If you are a DIY kind of man and take care of your stuff, these are awesome cars!
Damn! You lucked out man. Awesome story.
+Jagshemasher 'Losing' 2000$ a year is indeed not bad. And that's why I bought a BMW 5 last week. My previous car was a Saab.... Paid 25.000$ for it, 4 years ago. And I was lucky to sell it for 3.000$.... So, depreciation of 5.500$ a year... That hurts...
Bought a 2013 X5 35i as my first BMW and also first ever car. Very proud!
thank you Eminem
+SShorsepower I wrote you but you still ain't callin'
+Justin Buice That's cause he bought a proper car... an audi! :pVery good video though always good to have some idea of what and how to look for things
Justin Buice
Hey Justin thanks for the video, very eye opening!!! as you've said if a 'price is to good to be true' it's a red flag. could you pls share your thoughts. driversselect.com/Used-2015-BMW-328i-Dallas-TX/vd/43309302
Lol
Brilliant
This one is an E90. I have an E46. I have owned it for a few years with hardly any trouble. Service centres will charge heaps for parts, but you can buy them cheap online. There are mechanics that will sting you for services and repairs because they think it's European, I have a right to charge more. I found a mechanic that told me they are no different to work on than any other modern car. They are a very nice car to drive though. :-)
You tell the truth, Catweasle. My son just gave me his 2009 328i E-93 N-51 S-6 standard suspension BMW because he deemed the car to be worth less than its repairs. I began with a PPI (prepurchase inspection) that sells in Atlanta for $75 to $150. From the list of recommended repairs, I selected the most expensive (front struts). I researched the cost of the needed parts from sources such as FCP Euro, Turner, Carid. Then I went to 4 BMW shops, 1 Atlanta dealer, and 3 generic shops for their prices. The total repair prices (without taxes and shop supplies) ranged from about $750 to about $1,500. The retail parts ranged from about 150% to 200% of wholesale. The labor ranged from about 3.3 to about 4.5 hours (ie, some shops double-charge, once for the strut work and once for the spring removal that is already part of the strut estimate). One ethnic-centric shop was about the best in online reviews, the lowest in parts' markup, and the most honest in labor hours. I have the car there now to fix the PPI problems.
Don't buy a BMW blindfolded, !Ike any car there are inherent faults. I've owned BMW's for the last eight years, what I would suggest, is read up on the common faults for the particular model you're considering, and if you think they are too difficult for you to fix yourself buy a different brand. BMW's are not any more difficult to repair than any other car, but once you've had one, you won't want anything else. Just read up on common problems and you won't regret having one.
all i gotta say is, you get what you pay for. i'm a trained BMW tech & a owner of a '10 E60 528i for 3 years now & its been by far the best car iv ever owned out of the 16 cars iv gone through lol. however, maintenance is the biggest key to maintain these ultimate driving machines. these N52 motors (same in the E90) are very very delicate motors (electric water pump, dual vanos w/vvl, aluminum/magnesium block so special cooling must be considered, plastic cooling parts, starter is crap (had to go through 3 of them) etc) but overall its an excellent package that actually uses previous racing technology for the streets. do extensive research & find what suits you. IMO, the N54 twin power models (535i or 335i) have more issues then the N52 due to their faulty High pressure direct injection fuel pumps & injectors. with that being said, the base models are miles more reliable then the turbo models. just make sure the car has been properly recalled & you'll love your new investment.
+Christian Castro What do you think of the previous version 5 series like the 530i or 540i? I always liked the styling of those. Seems like a great road trip car.
+johnnnewmex They're good as well. just be on the look out for the cooling system on the early models. these cars are really solid for the long highway road trips, as long the maintnance are up to date & kept to OEM specs (ride gets ruined if the car has thin tires)
+Christian Castro thanks!
+johnnnewmex I have 2003 530i with 209,000 miles and I love it. 5-speed manual sport package with original clutch and no oil leaks. As long as you keep the coolant system well maintained, air intake hoses and other old worn out parts like DISA valve, PCV system "oil seperator", clean idle valve, replace fuel filter, etc., and take care of the normal wear & tear items like suspension components, brakes, etc. it's the best car you'll ever have. It's all about the maintenance as Christian eluded to. I hope you find a well maintained one.
+Christian Castro Would you recommend these cars to non-BMW techs who just want to look good, but have very little a idea how to fix it if something does go wrong? I ask because you seem very well versed on these cars, and definitely a lot of money DIY most of the problems.
Bmws most common problems that can happen before 100,000km are Valve cover leaks, oil filter housing leaks, electric water pump going bad, etc.. The new ones are even worse, the turbos seem to go bad on them. But I prefer them over audis, as they are the worst luxury car with the most problems
BMW, Mercedes and Audi are excellent for leasing purposes. If you don't have deep pockets and plan to buy a used luxury vehicle for long term, then stick with Lexus, Infiniti and Acura etc.
luxury acura... never heard of it.
lol! but lexus is same class as acura
cataxo444 nope
That E55 AMG dude yeah it is
cataxo444 acura is a honda. lexus is a toyota.
Great advice!
That said, my e90 330d broke 2 engines in the span of 2 years, ridiculous
reading comments like this make me just not even want to try with bmw
BMWs are not money pits... Some earlier BMWs like e46(98-06) are very reliable. As long as previous owners maintained their cars properly, it should not be too much of a headache: same thing goes for most of the vehicles out there i suppose.
Also, DIY is a way to go. When I first got my car, I didn't even know how to change oil myself but now I know how to install performance headers, change spark plugs, install LSD, troubleshoot vaccum leak. flush brake fluid......etc all in one year of ownership. TH-cam is your friend for BMW DIYers.
Buy nicely maintained BMW for decent amount of money even though the mileage is high. Mileage doesn't matter because that means the vehicle has been maintained to even be running after all these miles.
+Jason Lee i would say that all cars are money pits in the long run.
+Leif Johansson No matter what vehicle you own, you will invest a great amount of your pay check into. You need to pay fluids like gas and engine oil. You will need to replace tires and suspension components if they are damaged early due to bad roads.
I bought 4 brand new tires for my AWD car and in less than 3 months I already had a bulge in the sidewall and now need to change out both front tires. It cost me $800 to replace 4 tires and now I need to do it again, probably 1/2 the price this time at least.
-My mom pays the car loan but I have to pay for everything else. If I were to ever buy a vehicle, I would buy a sport bike.
+Jason Lee Oh I used to own a E46 they were not at all reliable so many electrical gremlins. Sure there wasn't any major mechanical issues with it but those electrical problems are annoying they range from window motors failing to power door lock actuators failing to the radio failing and not to mention those parts are expensive as heck too. But for all those problems it sure made you forget it when you drove it best driving cars ever made. I regret selling it so much now.
Himmel Weint
Yeah, I've heard electrical problems and interior wear are the only issues with Euro cars. The engines are very reliable.
The only issue is the BS price increase people who repair your car will make you pay. It's like the video were a mechanic charged a Lamborghini driver like $300 just to change the brake fluid.
Are range Rover good to maintain?
These are all great points and really. Any used car you buy, these tips can work for. Except the service notifications, not available on many other non luxury cars.
Thanks for these good advices. Gasket leaking is a problem for BMW, careful for the stains of engine oil.
Hot running engine - rubber = hardens and leaks
if money is a problem to you, don't buy a bmw, period.
here in germany some bmw are cheaper to run and maintain than a ford fiesta xD
+TheWolvesCurse thats bs no chance that a bmw is cheaper to maintain then a ford fiesta...
Stéphane Mpore makes sence :p
+CarPassion it actually is true, because parts there are made in Germany so it's cheap
I hate people who complain about bmw reliability it's not for people who can't afford to maintain it, it's for people who want a luxurious driving machine. Also I would say never buy a used bmw unless the mileage is low and the wear is minimal.
This is not going to stop me from buying a BMW
Goerge Ibrahim loooool me neither
Me neither mates
Then don't come back here, crying to us, if or when problems occur.
Facts I want an m4 😫😫
But the BMW you buy will stop you buying a second BMW.
Great informative video. I bought a used 335i 2010 model with 54k miles and went through a long battle with the dealership over a valve cover gasket leak. Be sure to check for this as it is a common issue with these cars! You may not be able to spot it on the bottom plastic splash guards and instead see it on the side of the motor.
love BMW awesome cars you just have too maintain them,and also put money aside for back up. ultimate driving machine! so true
+flava4u i love mine
flava4u yup BMW are the addictive machines drive it once and your hooked like a feen.
flava4u i just bought an 08 535i and its telling me that the left reverse light is malfunctioning, its just a tiny rectangular backlight, just wondering if its expensive to replace
Agreed, had som fun with my e46 330i today
Didn’t think I would like BMW until I owned one....
you are so calming to listen to
Here's something anyone buying a used BMW or Mercedes Benz. Bring it to a BMW dealer cause trust me if there's anything wrong they wanna make money on it. Listen new car dealers make a ton of money on the service department.
lol yes
Thats what i did with my 2007 525i e60, they even checked if the meter was fake or not
Too bad the owner/ dealer won't let you just take it to the dealership to get it checked out. The whole goal is to make you sign the papers and take the keys after that it's your problem and you're gonna hate your life trying to make them take the car back.
If the owner refuse to take it to the dealership then he is trying to hide something so don't buy it, is as simple as that
Sooo BMW dealerships check out used BMW's for free?
The best would be to have the car checked out including diagnostics with a BMW shop and ask them to give you a printout of findings before you purchase a used BMW, Most places charge around $150.
+Zarik Parsanian that's a good idea. I bought mine at a Chevy dealership. they could hardly figure out how to turn it on
I’m looking to buy A E93. After months of looking at bmw’s I found the perfect car for me a 2011 328i M gray with black interior with 70,000 miles on it For $13,000. When I called to make an appointment the car had just been sold. Now every car I look at doesn’t compare and I’m getting Frustrated. I watch your videos to learn as much as I can. thank you for what you’re doing I’ve learned a lot.
Also never ever check a car you want to buy at night time
..always in bright sunlight to show every imperfection in the paint..👍
Thank you Gabe from The Office that was very thorough!
+SoundgardenMan LMAO! :')
+SoundgardenMan That guy fucks!
Hells yeah!
Lmao!!!
SoundgardenMan hahahhaha
What if the car I’m looking at is a 2007 BMW 330i it only has 89,000 miles on it. It says in the description 2007 BMW 300i
Motor & transmission is perfect
No leaks
Cold A/C
Clean title in hand
Asking $5,000 obo
Make offer. Do you think it’s to good to be true?
I always get a good deal because I pull out my gun and steal the car then I go and sell it to the Yakuza then I buy a new bmw
and I have a Cretan shepherd's crook and I use it in your head
Arnold Myers 😂😂😂
Arnold Myers nice bro
Hey cousin wanna go bowling?
Too much GTA, bro....
one time, a listing said there were brand new tires. I go to check the car out, tires had no tread on them whatsoever. i asked him about it. he responded with "They're drag slicks"
You f_____g nailed it. I just bought a 330i and replaced valve cover gasket $1300. oil filter gasket $800. computer module $1150. got the car well under book value. with these repairs still $2000 below book. great car but if i had seen this video before hand i would have saved by making them fix it. great info for the public.
Money pits..bmw is realy for rich people so they can keep pumping money into it for new parts that breaks every month,stop complaining and buy a car you can afford .simple
Bought one with low miles, full service history, recent service completed, and still had to have repair after repair done, the garages advice on BMWs, only buy with a warranty, there great for the firs couple years, but after that? ( deep pockets)
I am totally in love with BMW, but know so very little about what to look for in quality for the price. My boyfriend has a bmw sport bike k1300s and the quality of his bike is epic. Hence my reason to start looking into pre owned BMW vehicles. I refuse to buy new anymore for the obvious reasons. So, mainly I just wanted to thank you for your time and effort to help people like me feel confident in their purchase. I tend to get all geeked at shiny things and head right on into an impulse buy. I will research, apply your tips to find the best deal. Patience will go a long way in finding something perfect for the money I work so hard for. Thanks again!
I had a 2011 BMW X5, it's a pretty good car when it works but had issues with cooling system-radiator (4x), spark plugs (2x), ignition coil (3x) and the final straw was the timing belt with gave up around 55k miles and ruined the engine. And yes, I took care of the car with regular maintenance. Couple of people I know have said that BMW cars always has issues with the cooling system. I would never buy another BMW.
+1lecher they are not made like in the past. Now it's all about getting more money sucked out of you. Sad.
+1lecher how could you not tell your fucking timing belt was fucked up? thats your own problem for it ruining the engine. be more aware idiot
+1lecher I had a 2010 X5 which was a nightmare. The vanos was the final straw for me. I have a e93 now that's world's better.
No current bmw engine has a timing belt lol.
Nico Castronuevo -- Timing chain.
So do you recommend me buying a 2001-2004 BMW 3 series?
I don't know how it's in the US, but here in Europe BMW dealership keeps a history of repairs done on the car in its workshops based on VIN, so you would be well advised to take the prospective car to the dealership for check. Not only you'll know what was done on the car while it was on warranty (for example if you have any service actions pending) or any post-warranty repairs done in authorised workshops but also they do a real torough check of the car (it takes a few hours). The check contains among others: the lacquer coating, the suspension, the car's onboard computer, leaks and so on. Now IDK how much that would cost in the US but here in Poland it costs about $125-$150 (and that includes our +23% VAT tax) so the best option for buying a luxury car which has a hefty price tag compared to a used civic ;-) is to take it to the dealership for check.
I’m glad you have a great following ! U deserve it! Thank you for your time In making these vids🤟
Only people who can't afford a new BMW have problems because they wanna roll like a hotshot and only end up paying for first buyers neglects.
Thank you :)
Enjoying my X5M '15 and my dad's '16 750Li
Lol
Cool dude
Meaning?
If your looking for a 2000 to 2005 3 series check the CV joint rubber boots on the front axels. These boots crack and let dust and debris in then the bearings go. Replace the water pump with a metal blade pump. The original pump has a tbf of around 60k miles. Replace the fluids and filters in all places. Check the sun roof for full range travel. Bmw uses a plastic guide on both sides of the sun roof track. These guides crack or snap off causing alignment issues. Note the transmission in most cars in this age range will need flushed and a new filter put in. By the way, the transmission is from GM and don't take the lifetime fluid speal as fact from bmw. I am sure I am missing some stuff but I got the majority of what to check out before you buy. I bought my car new in 2004 and still have it and it runs like a champ with power and torque like it was new. I follow the bmw clubs maintenance plan and have been lucky enough to do my own maintenance. If you can't or do not want to do the maintenance yourself find a good mechanic or independent garage thAt can do the work for you at much lower costs than a BMW service center. Hope this info. Helps.
or you can just get a lexus and don't have to worry about any of these things
+Viren S lexus is a piece of shit stealing everything from design to technology from bmw,audi,mercedes. So yeah, keep your toyota with fake leather seats
1. asian design sucks. Ugly as fuck. These zig zack design is truly for people with yellow skin. 2. Lexus aka toyoto with fake leather seats has LEDs that Audi had in 2007 hahaha 3. Front grill completely stolen from Audi. 4. Tail lamps completely stolen from BMW. 5. Performance wise slower than any German car. To sum it up. It's garbage. A wanna be Audi from the front, a wanna be BMW from the back, a wanna be Mercedes from the inside. A toyota with fake leather seats. JUNK.
you clearly never drove a lexus, i have nothing to say
Usdiuadn Njsknadk Sorry, Toyota is not my class. German cars yes.
german cars spend more time in the mechanic shop then on the road, ive had bmw,mercedes, american cars, the whole market... nothing drives better, is smoother, more luxurious than a lexus, not being bias, this is off personal experience... facts are facts sorry
Here is how you buy a BMW......You lease a brand new BMW over 3 years, on full maintenance . After 3 years you finance the residual and extend your warranty and maintenance plan. Get rid at 6 years when she starts costing money. Other than that , I would be very hesitant to take on someone else's troubles.
lots of idiots leasing bmws trying to look rich
+Latin Lover well maybe but at last they are playing safe game
SENGVIN definitely not safe with their money though lol they're throwing money away just to look good for a certain amount of time, it makes sense if you are rich, but most people who do this are your average joes. I would only do this if i were making some real good money, and all i cared about is looking good, i can see why, you get a new car, dont bother with maintenance, once it get older, you lease another one, the cycle continues, sure you never own anything, but you look good with new cars, nobody knows if you own or lease
+Latin Lover right it is kind of pissing money away
SENGVIN same thing could be said about renting an apartment, especially an expensive one, you are pissing money away, just like the car, you get to use it, and receive the status symbol that comes with it, but it will never be yours
You are correct in that BMW E46s have these problems - both of mine are good examples. What you missed is that these problems are not difficult or expensive to fix. For example, the window regulators are only $175 or so and can be fixed as a DIY in about 45 minutes. I have made all of the repairs on my two E46s and the cars look great. The awesome handling of an E46 cannot be overstated. The problems you mentioned are quite minor compared to the tremendous satisfaction that comes with driving this vehicle. I will probably always keep one E46 around for this reason alone. The E46 is indeed a benchmark for handling.
thanks for all the videos and everything man, I've been looking at a used z4 and you've really opened up my mind to what its like and i think I'm ready to get a bmw now. i was really nervous and skeptical at first but all the videos like your oil vid and the reasons to buy one have all helped.
+Zach Bart awesome! Im glad I could help!
M5 for ten grand on craiglist. Whether you get robbed/killed in this transaction or you actually get lucky and buy it, you deserve whatever happens to you. smh
LOL, Thanks D Armstrong
Lmao
i recently bought a 2004 325ci , for 3600. 148k miles. runs great. the one nice thing about bmws its the steptronic transmission. automatic, sport and 5 speed manual. id recommend buying one. 6 cylinder too btw. average mpg in city is 18mpg but determines on how u drive id estimate i get 23mpg
Great advice, thanks for the video.
+AirAmerica Thanks!
I was looking for something different regarding BMW and came across this video. I just wanna say, “ excellent advice “ this video points out things that most people will overlook. Well done.
I searched for a year for the e46 that i have now. And the wait was worth the wait, it's in perfect condition. Owned it for 2 years and repairs have cost only like 500€. Reading other bmw owners comments, make me think, that i am a guy that got lucky. :D
I had a 2008 528i, nothing but problems. Worst car I ever owned. Leaks all over.
Yea I had one that would randomly burn out the window motor on the driver door and when it was burned out it would lose the function of operating rear or side passenger Windows from the driver door. The engine is poorly built as well vanos garbage
same with 320i 2007. shit car
Bought a new 2015 328d xdrive wagon. Loads of fun, but I've already had one leak in the A/C, serious alignment issue, and the infotainment stuff was very difficult to get turned all the way on. Fun to drive, but an overall disappointment. :(
+Paul Shultz get an Acura next time it Audi,or Lexus
+the Asus pro Mac is a lie skip audi or volkswagen there trash
THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO! GOOD ADVICE. I love my BMW X1 that I bought straight from Austria but will be looking at a used X3. I am ofcourse terrified that something will break but the mileages is below 20K.
I've had my 2006 X3 3.0 for 4 years before it got expensive to own. The only thing I've had to do was get new tires and do the massive 100,000 mile tune up until this year. My driveshaft and U joints had to be replaced, Mass airflow sensor (did myself), oil filter mount gasket (to the block) and rear coil springs all had to be done in the past 4 months. I don't owe on it so fixing it isn't a problem and the engine and trans are solid. Hoping it holds up strong for another 2-3 years. The exterior and interior are mint but the value is starting to tank.
Planning on buying a BMW? These are some of the tools that I use most frequently when working on my car bit.ly/2Hcp2cE
Justin Buice I made a comment asking for info and never got a reply bro
Hi justin
Am interested in buying used BMW F10 530i-535i 2011-2013 used
I need your advice please
Hey Justin thanks for the video I wish I had found this a few years ago as it would of saved me a lot of time at inexperienced auto shops! 😂 do you have any advice for maintaining the grey interiors along the door jam arm rests and centre console, mines flaming badly?!
I've bought used BMW F10 523i
Took your advice
It's so smooth
Love the ride
Bought it less than 10 thousand dollars
Restore it with 2 thousand dollars
Great tips
simple, just don't buy any bmw that's newer than a e46/e39
+TheWolvesCurse So after E46 all BMW's are shit? Well in my opinion, the E46 is shit to drive, compared to E90 and F30.
+MossenKoti i prefer a more "analogue" drive feeling and anything after e46 and e39 doesn't deliver it to my preference, if you prefer a modern driving feel that's okay too. these thing belong to the category "taste" and taste is something one can't argue about. what we can argue about on the other hand is the reliability and maintenance of the cars. i know people who bought a e90 and f10 brand new and had multiple enginefailures within the first 24 months of owning. of course the fix of these was covered by warranty, but still, not a good thing. some of the modern bmw's don't even have an oildipstick, so how would find out if you have to refill oil? the electric sensor can fail, and if it works, it would tell you to fill up when it's alraedy running on minimum level which isn't a good thing as well. sorry for spelling or grammar mistakes, i'm not a native english speaker.
+TheWolvesCurse You can check oil level from drive computer in newer BMW's. Also when you have brand new car, you dont need to be checking oil levels every week and so on. I have no experience of the F10 (5-series) But i can tell that the F30 (3-series) is reliable car.
+TheWolvesCurse You can check oil level from drive computer in newer BMW's. Also when you have brand new car, you dont need to be checking oil levels every week and so on. I have no experience of the F10 (5-series) But i can tell that the F30 (3-series) is reliable car.
+TheWolvesCurse Also if u know how to manage cars, you can change oil of the BMW car regularly if you wont trust the electric sensors which are very advanced right now.
...my first experience with a BMW was when i drove a 325i e36 5 speed manual, which looked like sh*t but boy did it drive well, i loved it to bits, the sound and the torque was just astonishing, any gear acceleration was a marvel, it just kept begging me to press. The second encounter was in a 530d e39 manual 5 speed, it felt sluggish at take off but i got used to it and the steering felt heavier than normal. Right now I'm interested in a 525i e39
“Don’t watch this before you buy BMW”
great advice, I owned five BMW's and that is some of the issues I found also
That’s kool bro
What bmws have you had
The other two major items is lack of coolant temperature gauge in the instrument panel. Add this with a Electric Water pump you pretty much have no idea that the Engine is overheating until possibility it is too late and damage is already done. If buying used try to see any records especially dealers make sure maintenance is being complied with to avoid a major headache at gate pull time m
I'll stick to buying an e30! more fun and awesome!
Back again for a third time! Support your favorite channels!
l own a 2008 X3 BMW 3.0 si
with 50.000 miles and l love her. she's 4x4 medium size suv very powerful engine excellent fuel economy while cruising on the highway. lots of room. no complaints so far. three negative things so far.
No heated seats
No Bluetooth
No remote starter.
my winter tires were about 500 bucks. brand new. the guy is right where l live they want 200 bucks for a brand new key...
overall I'm happy or lucky with it.
Lots of good advice here. I would add that if you are about to drop $25-40K on a used BMW (3 series . . . . a lot more for a used M5) the spend $250-$350 and have a reputable shop/BMW dealership thoroughly check it out for you or ask the person selling the car if they are willing to let you do this before you purchase it. If the person/dealership selling you the car is unwilling to let you do this then this is a "BIG RED FLAG" and go else where . . . .if they have nothing to hide then they wonlt be worried by this. Make sure the vehicle has a full service history. My only caveat here is that in North America BMW is now including "scheduled" maintenance in the purchase price BUT the oil change intervals they include are are a lot longer than even the BMW dealerships would recommend. I change the oil in my 335d twice as frequently as BMW recommend but after 6 years and 118,000 km (70,000 miles) the car burns zero oil between changes - 10,000 km (6000 miles) and the engine is silky smooth. Also I would recommend checking out the various BMW forums that exist on the car model you are considering buying as they are a good source of information on what can and does go wrong. . . and also how to fix it cost effectively.
thanks, very clear, logical and useful. well done.
Thank you!
Very clear. I live in Panamá. Many people here complaining about the high cost of repairing a BMW. I have a fantastic 10 years old Lexus rx330. Never had a better finished and reliable car in my life.
Good video. I immediately replaced the run flats on my 2015 335i lease return that I bought in 2018. I put on summer tires (where we live, there's no reason for anything else) . . . and we just rely on AAA for towing should something happen. In other words, no spare. I have a 2012 Mustang GT500, and it also has no spare. We have a Jeep with a spare and a pickup truck with a spare for those times when we might possibly be out of AAA range (which is extremely rare). We have had four vehicles for 15 years (not necessarily the same ones) and we have never had a flat that made the car inoperable. We DO carry a flat fix-it kit in the BMW and the Mustang.
if you get an 335i with an n54 engine double get the rocker cover gasket. usually leaks oil at the rear left side. also problematic for the n54's is the wsste gate actuators on the turbos as well as wastegate rattle.
Thank you for the information sir
Thx Xan! I'm definitely NOT getting the older 335i ;-)
i have the 2007 model with the N54 engine. its extremely tunable and puts out more power than the n55 in the later models. but they are temperamental hence why im selling mine
+Xan Millar The N54 also has a problem where the valve cover cracks on the inner portion where the coils and injectors are, on the intake side of the cover and just behind the oil fill cap. If you're looking at one, bring a 5mm Allen, remove the front boots that hold the engine cover on and inspect that area for a crack.
+dknollRX7 yeah i replace the gasket 2 weeks ago. here in Australia it cost 800
Dude! Your videos are so insightful :)
You forgot too mention that when checking the tires too check the inside of the tire because they run very inline and pretty much all the wear is on the inside
Tip for buying an used luxury car:
Go to the reliable dealer
Not true. I got mine from a certified dealer and the car broke every 3 months
Got a car from a dealer certified, 5km down the road, it lit up like a christmas tree.
Don’t buy a used luxury car in the first place
If you have the money to maintain one too. You’ll be straight.
Buy a Lexus. It may not be as nice but it is more well rounded and you actually get to have your car in your driveway rather than the shop
The reason you can pick up a used one so cheaply is because they are made out of plastic and plastic breaks when it gets old.
Oh I see. You're just popping up on every comment to have your expert say on BMW. Do you own one? Have you ever owned one? I'd actually like to know.
+George Morley There are BMWs all over the place where I live so I have to admit they are very popular cars. They have a loyal following of repeat costumers. Having never had the chance to drive one or even ride in one, I can only imagine how rewarding they are. They consistently are rated No. 1 drivers car by respected automotive magazines.
CP240sx By blind chance my first car was a BMW when I bought it from a neighbour who was an old paratrooper who wanted to get rid and buy a peugeot(!) He had only put 60,000 on it in 13 years so it was barely run in. I put another 80,000 on it. I loved that car. I went through two of the worst winters in recent history with that car and it never missed a beat. It looked after my wife while I was on deployment for 6 months. It took us on honeymoon around scotland. When I bought my new one I scrapped it. I nearly cried.
Hi Justin, I'm about to buy a 2006 530i M Sport with 98000 kms. Your tips greatly helped me! Thanks, much appreciated, keep up the great work ! Regards Paul from Sydney Australia
BMW = BREAK MY WALLET Lol
elpechu HAhahahaha
Lol
BMW = Brings Me Women
GTduzIt Flip yea😎
So funny you are, you've clearly never owned a bmw
Who's here after today's video? 😂
🙏🏻
Yup!
Me too!
yep :D !
Had to rewatch, TH-cam pshhh. Least we could do for the man.
Thanks...I have just brought an E39 M Sport and used your comments as a guide...I picked up a couple of minor things but got it anyway because it is as you say, tremendous value for money...
OCD buyers buying pre-owned...
Congrats on 1m views. This is the video that made me subscribe
+Nour Hummadi thanks and thats awesome!
@@justinbuice My wife watches this Justin because she likes his style, not because she needs his BMW advice for her Toyota.
Very god info, I am buying a 2004 BMW with 150000 miles that is in very good condition. I tested drive it and loved it. Your info gave me the tools on how and what to Check on car. Thank you
Private sellers wont let you drive the car for 20-30 minutes, tires and breaks really dont matter when you buy a car as is, unless its certified, you cant buy a perfect used car most the time, specially when its cheap
they will usually let you take a used car home to your mechanic if you ask. also if someone is good at negotiating, new breaks and calipers are easy to get.
+Dane Croucher New brake calipers are not easy to get nor should they be replaced like pads or rotors. Sure they are not a real hassle to install and replace, however, if it isn't leaking or seized there is no point in replacing them.
+Alex Keller lol you cant buy a perfect new car either. Not these days...
+Himmel Weint i meant rotors.
+Dane Croucher shit i didnt read the private seller part either. but dealers usually let u take it out
335i are good cars but have to many half power problems
Since the 335 is turbocharged, there are more parts that can potentially break. Thats why i went with the 330
+Justin Buice just got rid of mine love the car but hate not having full power.
+Justin Buice just got rid of mine love the car but hate not having full power.
They r not good then
+RB25luv get one from the dealership if you get one and get the extend warranty. sparkplug, injectors fuel pumps can I'll give you I have power light.
spot on. next time mention to check that all the body panels align. this is to see if the car was in an accident or has been repaired on. look for missaligning front or rear lights. (to see if those were replaced). also the type of owner. if he has sporty cars or he likes to race or work on cars. beware. you might be buying his problem. if its not from a dealer.
i have an e28 forget new cars they all suck.
+Sirtokesalot47 Couldn't agree more, I've had a 525e and an M535i and loved both.
Try searching in the gumtree adds in South Africa. The older BMWs are still plenty in SA and parts are easy to come by.
I'll just stick to my E12/8. Very nice car.
That's possibly over-generalising a bit.
i want a e28 :3
Heck, forget these German cars. The amount of planned obsolescence that goes into them, the unnecessary electronics, plastic car parts under the bonnet. Not to mention the cost to fix or replace broken parts and break they do.
Qasim Mir trust me it's not as bad as you think, the people you see complaining about these cars are the ones who think they should drive a car without maintenance, BMW is fun.
You kind of expect some more quality from cars like BMW, Mercedes and Audi. They break/face similar problems as much as a cheaper car would do, and cost a lot more to repair.
I bought a 9 year old E46 as my first car. In the 4 years I've owned it, I had the following issues:
-bracket from the sunroof broke off
-both front window mechanisms replaced
-rear parking brake got stuck halfway through
-even after replaceing the rear discs and a parking brake kit, the parking brake never really worked like it should have
-6+ different oil leaks from the engine
-broken coil
-broken resistor for climate controll
-DME starting to fail
The DME made me sell my car and buy a new car. It would randomly prevent the fuel pump from starting (pump was fine) and the part was €1000+ to replace...
Don't get me wrong, it was a really fun car to drive with (the handeling and feel is something you can't find on modern cars anymore in that pricerange), but there was just too much stuff breaking all the time, and repairs weren't cheap.
DenHond next time invest into a nice extended warranty plan, BMW are premium cars, they are not like Honda Lexus Toyota, and always keep in mind that BMW problems varies from different models, some people think these cars should be driven like race cars every time they put the keys in the ignition, the harder you drive it the more you should have money ready for parts replacements, it's a 9 year old car depending on your climate condition, plus maintenance history over the course of that time frame, of course it's gonna fall apart, BMW is like a super model high maintenance girlfriend if you don't give her high octane gasoline and keep her on a warranty plan she will cause you a very expensive break up, she only goes long term with a man that puts her on a routine maintenance plan,with a every 3 months oil change no matter the mileage because short term trips and weather conditions builds up moisture in the engine, only drive her hard when your on highways, round city trips cruise her like a baby.
@@mcgyverb1664 You OBVIOUSLY never owned a BMW. The cars are unreliable trash.
Jeffrey Franco I have a BMW X6 and ownership experience will differ from models, and if it was used and abused before you bought it, and not to mention that bmw has a recall on some of their vehicles, to say all bmw is trash is an understatement because I experience good quality with my vehicle, I cannot speak for the rest.
266k on my WRX pushing 17lbs on stock internals. Pulls like a champ, getting rid of it for an Infiniti G35. Had an Audi S4, miss it but it was horrible to keep on the road
who's here from the ad video? :0
Man needs paying
Taking this once for all.
BMW= Best Machines Worldwide.
I bought a 2006 BMW 530i for $3200 and it drives very smoothly and didn’t noticed any leaks. Interior looks 8/10 outside 8/10 noticed trunk, roof and hood the paint was a little faded. No dents or deep scratches. It came with complete tool kit, manual and two set of keys. Although one key is not working. So what do you think? What should I look for? Thanks. It’s my first BMW.
Title should be DON'T BUY A BMW.
NEVER buy a BMW new, used, leased. I owned a $78,000 740iL. All the vehicle did was break. Windows, moonroof, water pump, dual climate control, loose grill, and many other things. Nearly all BMW repairs must be done at the dealership. The BMW computer, certain specialized tools and tech knowledge is proprietary, only the dealership can properly repair the car. A widow driver is $750, water pump repair over $1800, electrical problems, labor is $250 per hour! If you cannot buy a BMW new, and under warranty, you will never be able to afford repairs on a used one out of warranty. Don't be fooled by the reasonable price tag used beamers can be purchased for. You will pay dearly and often if you make the mistake of thinking these cars are reliable. ..they are cool and prestigious, but they are a money pit Be FORWARNED!!!
Thats a bit harsh, Not all of them are Trash and ur Experience isnt an Fact for the car Brand being shit, My dad had his BMW 318 Touring for over 9 Years i think and just 2 month ago we had to Fix the First issue, The gears and thats it. So i can only speak positive about BMW But yeah thats my Experience doesnt mean shit in total about the brand
A "widow driver?" Now that's an interesting concept.
@@richardsteiner1729 The cars have a conventional motor, and a part called a "driver" I believe, that regulares and assists the the window motor. A window motor would be even more expensive. The techs at BMW of Newport, R.I. all drive Toyotas and Hondas as their personal vehicles despite BMW'S employee purchase/lease program. What does that tell you?
I can vouch for the window motors breaking down , the ones that lower and raise the windows. One broke at 80k miles and the right rear passenger broke at 130k. miles. My 2006 330i was fun to drive, but at times, it was a bit of a headache. Anyway, that was my experience with the car.
I'm turned 18 today and I'm going down to look at a 2008 335xi tomorrow and I didn't even know you could see leaks and such from the engine bay. I had an x5 for 7 months and that never occurred to me at all. Good info good video
“So that you get a good reliable car”
If that’s what you want then don’t buy a beamer
Bimmer *
what to do after buying your BMW?
buying your second one
I just got my first car a 07 BMW 328i for 5,400 with 156k miles. Haven't had any issues with it so far.
Leo you still got it?
Back here to help with the lost earnings
Hey is your car consider sports car for your insurance ?
+Sebastian Morales no
Check some of the ergonomics of the design. Two good examples are in the cabin. 1. Cup holders are NOT in the center console. They are a flip out push button tray on the passenger side instrument panel. Two major drawbacks to this design. 1 reaching across the vehicle to grab your whatever, mocha latte, coffee, ice tea etc.... even though milliseconds your Hand is away from a major control surface and that millisecond of reaction time can. make the difference between crash and NO crash. Along those lines if you are in an accident especially front impact the coffee cup will probably be a missile/FOD hazard and probably the weakest point. That weakness eventually goes down the road of whatever beverage going flying around the vehicle either on the overhead or floor but also chance of a hot beverage going all over your legs, or worse, your face, hands any other body part that may or may not be resistant to hot beverages as originally thought. After you check for injuries you will have a dry cleaning bill in addition to any other costs from the accident.
BMW and the word reliable do not go together
lol I know from experience right Dave
Ive had mine 55,000 miles. It has never broken down, left me stranded, or failed to start. Fingers crossed!!! Lol
+Justin Buice oh. my e36's radiator blew up along with the fan and fan clutch
Damn. What year?
Justin Buice 93 so shit is starting to break from just wear
BMW 330CI MSPORT e46 '01.....enough said.
i agree forget m3. or 320. 323.....just 330i m s...looks like m3 half the cost ....still fast enough .....better steering ...
yupp!
Or get yourself a 335. Beat bang for your buck. Now while they cost a good amount more. They pull way harder.
E46 compact. the sharpest steering of all the E46's, basically an chopped 330ci and different lights
the BMW's from 98 to 02 are the worst. Expensive to maintain, break down a lot. And just google e46 subframe-- yep the subframe cracks
Getting a car with low mileage has multiple benefits. First, less wear and tear means better reliability and less servicing costs. Second your car value will hold stronger if you keep the mileage down so you get a better return later on resale. Finally, low mileage also means someone probably took care of the car, not driving hard or long distances between services and delaying service. The only disadvantage to look out for is on diesels, they need to get up to fast speeds occasionally to burn off particles in the engine. But its easy to do that just by doing a run on the expressway or motorway. Also, always see if there are receipts for service history, you'll see how well someone took care of the car for sure.
Dreadful unreliable cars ! They break all the time
Really? That's why E30s run forever
That's because you don't take care of them or never owned one
+itsadamnjoke lol they aren't reliable really no euro is my family has had multiple even dealer maintained they break a lot but I still think they're worth it
+Clayton Boyd
I don't know man because my e46 M3 has been a dream with me. Hasn't asked for anything besides for an oil change, battery, headlight bulbs and the occasional brakes but I've had mine for 30k, bought it at 68k it has like 99,566 at the moment and it's been as reliable as can be. Maybe it depends on the old owners how they took care of the car or maybe true what you said or luck of the person
+itsadamnjoke Ya there's definitely some and the e46 usually isn't too bad excpet the sub frame issue but my family has had some other models that were dreadful
So is a used bmw reliable?
+Double-O $¢rilla yeah, but find one with extremely low miles and follow the exact maintenance schedule in the manual.
Nothing but aggro..Stay away from a used BMW and this is from a Motor Trader. I buy and sell so many different makes of vehicles.VWs Volvos,Lexus and more but i always start dreading when i come accros a BMW. 3 Series common and world famous EML issues and whatever you do it wont be cured.Misfiring issues, Convertible Hydrolic,Wiring problems its endless..5 series Gearbox sump no matter what will cause problems, needs replacing because the sump tray bends,crack..Replacement is not over the top expensive but ZF Box tranmission fluid will cost you more than the Sump tray. BMW charges £189 for the fluid alone.Again 5 series manifold,Turbo seal problems are rife, Alternators pack up regularly due to Brushes wear off quickly . X3 has so many issues starting from window motors,Plastic parts with transmission,Clutch break. X5 so many maintenance issues will cost you non stop. RUN FLAT tryes are £1000 a set which equals to $1350..BMW as a used car is a waste of money..Buy a nice and reliable Mercedes VW Lexus,Volvo and enjoy your life..BMWs and( AUDIs) are nightmare..I dont know why people even like them either.
lnr243 cool good to know, i felt like the prices were to good to be true
dave amer seems like its hit or miss with bmws either you get a lemon or u get lucky and don't
Double-O $¢rilla Let's put it this way..There are more lemons than gems out there with a BMW badge..Buy a Merc,Volvo, Lexus..cars with simpler to deal with equipment.
BMW messed it all up with more than even they can handle electronics..in the name of sophistication.
4 cylinder engines are disaster even at a low mileage and with superb service history and maintenance record.
318 CI SE 49000 genuine miles 1 owner absolutely superb condition..guess what?? idling problem,Roof problem,Electric mirrors problem, EML Light is on too..Which is the death of a BMW basically..Once the EML light is on even BMW main dealers can't resolve it..Idling problem I personally went as far as the BMW factory and They couldn't find a fault..They can't fix a problem of an engine they built:):):)
And it's not a one off case almost every 318i I came across has the Idling misfiring issue..almost without a fail..320i , 325i aren't any different..disgraceful is the word.
5 series to be fair are a lot easier to fix but cost wise they just kill your budget.
So stay away is the best policy..
check the timing chain isn't rattling with a veh over 65000 m , it's a new engine if it snaps , the antenna on the 3 series fails and the radio struggles to pick up a signal, (rear screen antenna ).
Wow thanks bro for the heads up I'm in jamaica and I'm buying a BMW just like that but didn't know about all these things
German enginering was only good from 1940 untill 1945
Ah, yes, the Howitzer years!
No it was ford
Hi , I have a question for you . I'm looking for a 6 series and would you buy the older model or the new one lie 2010 or 2012 ??? Some say the older is going to be easier on maintenance specially the engine . What say thee ??? Thank you ...