I have a 2014 750Li with 140k miles. It runs like a champ and I like it quite a lot. That said, I spent probably 14 hours replacing the valve cover gasket, PCV system, fuel injectors, spark plugs, ignition coils, water pump, thermostat and several hoses. Then I spent another 10 hours replacing motor mounts and transmission mounts. But at least it's good to go for another 5k miles.
BMW owners seem to always enjoy their vehicles whenever they are operational. If they could figure out durability like the Japanese, they'd probably retain colossal resale value.
@@FreiherrDinkelackerOkay I took that one too personally… 😆 screw it, no, I’m okay with it because I know why I’m a dipstick. At least I’m a self aware dipstick 🧐
@@0x8080 I lived in Germany for two years. I love the old Bimmers. I have always wanted a 633CSI or an 850 12 cylinder. I am now a retired teacher and retired military officer. I am a mechanic in retirement and I don't think much of any new cars. BMW should get back to the basics and get rid of most of the technology on their cars. Project539 does a great channel on the complexity of newer Bimmers. He is based in Frankfurt, Germany.
Absolutely correct...our techs would come in on the weekends and work on them non flagged just to match flat rate time...bmw saw that they could match the time and reduced the labor...
I see young people (teens, and twenties) buy used BMWs all the time in my neighborhood. You see them out there working on it when it first shows up. Then after a while, it never moves again.
As a mechanic, it’s frustrating keeping them going. Let alone a person that has to pay for repairs. Friend has one, I fixed it 4 times in 2 months. All different problems 😂
@@mph5896everyone essentially is telling me I am crazy for wanting a 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 to fix up, but I think it’s more crazy on top of a gamble buying any modern BMW. A BMW uses very sophisticated and complex tech, when it breaks, it’ll cost arm and leg to fix. It’ll tolerate the occasional tune-up, but a simple repair on a modern BMW that’ll cost thousands? I don’t think so.
@@seana806 they get stupid when they break. Last repair I did, car would not crank and made a bunch of clicking under the hood. The car could not even be placed in neutral to roll it without jacking it up and removing underbody covers. Flat bed dragged it on with skates and had to shake it off.
@@mph5896 sounds like a nightmare. Kind of pitiful for a modern vehicle to only make it past 100,000 miles, looked at a ‘66 Ford Galaxie 500 in December of 2022 (looked at several), not sure what the actual mileage was but judging by the amount of wear on the driver’s side of the bench seat along with the transmission, had to have at least 162,000 miles on it, even more pitiful when a car from the 1960’s (an era where they supposedly “didn’t make it past 100,000 miles) can outlive something from the modern era. Truly is the worst era of cars ever, people can tell me until they are blue in the face on how modern vehicles are better etc, but don’t really believe it anymore. Saw this coming back as far as 10 years ago, now here we are. With the way vehicles are these days, has shown me what their true colors are. Modern vehicles may save in one area, but nickels and dimes you in others. Doesn’t make sense to save in one area, but will end up having to be spent elsewhere.
I work in a shop that specializes in Mercedes and BMW vehicles...when something comes in with this engine our lead tech just pops the hood and takes a quick look at certain things before even inspecting the rest of the vehicle...he's got such a good eye that he's saved a lot of people a lot of frustration with this engine...especially with pre-purchase inspections. This engine is just a nightmare into itself.
The real glory years for BMW ended in 2005 when the E46 chassis was put out to pasture. 3-series and 5-series cars from the late 1980s up until early-to-mid 2000s are some of their best BMWs to drive and very simple to work on. If you have one of these older BMWs, hang on to it and keep them going strong. They represent and era of cars that will never return.
Honestly, my 2006 330i sport pack was one of the best cars I ever owned. First year of the E90 chassis, but last year you could get the N/A 3.0L straight six N52 before they went to the early N54 turbo motors. Six speed manual and RWD - handled great.
I got an e39 540 and a e60 M5 v10. love the V10 growl and high revving nature. Just did the rod bearings at 140k. If it were an e39 M5, it would be double the price I paid
No brand has fallen further from their glory days than BMW. It’s like a terrible auto accident you come upon on the road and you just can’t turn away from.
E46's were kind of junky to - they interiors were cheap (only marginally better than a E36 in terms of build quality) - also E36 - E46 - rear subframe mount points tear on the chassis .... even the E46 M3 wasn't spared from that issue... IMO the hayday of BMW was the E30/E34 (solid cars). My E70 x5 35d has over 180k miles on it all original running gear and is phenomenal - so the diesels are awesome (unless you get a N47/N57 then you have to worry about CP4 failures and timing chains....) yeah so if you want a reliable modern BMW - a deleted M57 is the way to go imo or a N52 if you want a gas engine... anything else is awesome to drive terrible to own/work on. I'd put up with a S63 X5M or M5 just because they are cool - but would need a regular maintenance regiment that is strictly adhered to. Moral of the story - if you want a german car - buy a Mercedes Benz (even those are not fool proof - but at least not complete write off's after 100k miles).
It's just mind blowing that an auto manufacturer makes such an expensive car and 10-14 years down the road it's scrap. Nothing more, nothing less. Nice.
@@Maserati7200 The previous gen 550i with the last NA V8 was relatively OK though. Although nowadays those are all well up there in age, so also not recomended.
Die hard BMW fan boy here, so it really pains me to say this, but you are absolutely right. BMW V8s are a nightmare. Even if you did replace the motor, it will just go pop again (probably soon). Pity, that 750 really is gorgeous.
I have an E34 with the original M60. It is nothing at all like this spaghetti monster. The only thing that's hard to reach is the PCV system on the back of the engine and even though its a poor design they still last longer than your average N63 nonTU.
Remember that the M60 had a chemical reaction with gasoline that ate out the cylinder wall. So, even the M60 is a little suspect. Yes, I understand every vehicle that had that problem had been crushed two decades ago. I simply try to avoid any BMW V8. If it's a BMW inline six, you know, it's going to be one of the best engines in the world. ( And as soon as I type that, I remember the n54 and 55 some reliability issues. Aka injectors)
@@LegacyUser Working on my previous car, a 2003 Acura TL, made me thankful I never chose to become a mechanic. That's an easy car to work on too and I had very few problems out of it. I can't imagine how frustrating an old BMW would be, let alone servicing them day in and day out as a career!
@@Elrond_Hubbard1 I'm still living with my first financial mistake after 15 years but I can currently sell it for my purchase price(e39 m5). I figure a 30% inflation difference on 2010 vs 2024 money so yeah it's still an L. that being said, I love the car to death.
I own 2 BMW'S but I chose the models and the year carefully. Choosing the wrong model/engine is a disaster. I wanted a sports car so Z3 with 40k miles in perfect condition. No problems after 10 years. The X5 2005 model was cheap because it had been kept going instead of being correctly maintained. I knew what needed doing and did it. Now it is brilliant. Maintained by BMW Specialists (Not Dealers) is the answer. Great video.
I have this car bought it in March 2021, for $7k with 65k miles on it. Car was in outstanding condition, a wealthy guy in Virginia just wanted to get rid of it Found it on Facebook Marketplace lol, took the bus 6 hours to get it. Long story short he said it just needed the vanos solenoids replaced I replaced all 4 solenoids, and had one engine code left. It was something with the Exhaust Camshaft, couldn’t figure it out… So I took it to the dealer, to see if I could get the warranty work done. Since it has such low miles, they robbed me & said I was 1 year too late…told me the car had a stretched timing chain Didn’t believe them so scanned the car with ISTA, said check camshaft bolts. Bought a new exhaust camshaft, had a BMW expert install it for $750 And the car ran brand new, still have it to this day. And it’s a joy to drive, upgraded the interior screen & dash to digital. Heat & bad oil kills these engines, you have to make sure you have good oil And I heated wrapped all the lines in the engine
I’m a mechanic familiar with turbocharged engines. I found a “good deal” on a 750, then looked up how much parts cost. Brake rotor - 6 years ago - was $750.00 US…and that ended that nightmare before it began.
The Ultimate Driving Machine....that you can't drive for more than 5 years.....let's see...$85,000 divided by..... plus normal gas at 16mpg for 105000 mile equals...HOLY CRAP BATMAN!!!!!!
I have two n55 engine BMWs that are 9 years old … doing great. Seriously not an oil leak in sight. SAY IT WITH ME NOOOOO DEFERRED MAINTENANCE! Don’t buy these cars if they’ve had deferred maintenance or you are going to do deferred maintenance… 😅 that’s the key.
Had a 750i M sport. Best driving car I've ever had. Almost 500hp, and fun. Best seats ever! Worst part was the fear that one single repair could be more than the cars value. Had it for 3 years before I sold it. No other car has come close to it's performance.
A buddy of mine just bought a 2012 650i without getting my opinion first (I've owned a fair few BMWs). I died a little inside when he told me. It's already broken.
A friend of mine had a mint condition mid 2000's black 750i When it reached about 12 years old it was getting to the point that as soon as she got it back from the dealer for one problem some other random little thing would break plus it was starting to leak oil. When she traded it for a new BMW the dealer only gave her $2500 for what had been a 70K car. They said nobody would want it because it was so expensive to fix.
that's not unique to BMW's. Lots of vehicles suffer exactly the same thing. New cars are the biggest money sucking racket against consumers ever devised by mankind. Taxes, registration, finance charges, dealer fees, the mandatory comprehensive insurance required by lenders before they will finance the vehicle. Lastly, depreciation, where the vehicle loses value as soon as you drive it off the lot.
Two of my friends had different vehicles. The first one had a BMW 750L with the V8 engine, and we always liked it. He was a lot richer than some of us, and has a successful business that he runs. However, one day he never showed up with the car. He told us that the car blew up its engine. After that, he bought himself a Toyota Land Cruiser. He told me he learned his lesson after buying that stupid BMW. The other friend I have has a 2008 Toyota Camry which he bought brand new. We kind of laughed at it but we understood it. He works in an office as an IT technician and isn't much of a car guy. He still has that Toyota. According to him, he has over 200,000 miles on the car and it still runs like a champ. You may notice that both men now have Toyotas. In fact, almost every friend I know has a Toyota nowadays.
The best 750i are the V12 ones anyway (E39 especially). Watch the 3 videos Hédi (Smells Like Gasoline channel on YT) made about his 750 iL. It was abandonned in a garage for 10 years, outside, by the sea, with 2 broken windows, and broken left front spring, He managed to drive it home along 600 miles. Now, less than a year later it looks like brand new. He did all by himself, in his garden, installing used parts. His conclusion : he's surprised to have had so little problems to fix it (apart from a alternator on fire in the episode 2), all the electronics worked even before he did anything to it as soon as he turn the contact key on. He charged the battery a bit and the engine came back to life. Yes, after 10 years of silence..
Amen! Any company that won't even supply their customers (victims) with a simple means (dipstick) to check something vital like engine oil level is assuming that their products are purchased by morons..... And mostly, they're right IMHO.
@PH-md8xp I would disagree with that although what's enjoyable for everyone is going to be different. I drove a 2011 BMW 335D for around 150,000 miles. It was quick, and it got good fuel economy, but I thought it was too quiet inside for my taste. Couldn't hear anything that was going on. No feedback in the steering whatsoever, yet it was still heavy for power steering. The seats were hard and uncomfortable. And the steering wheel was not centered with the seat. I've never seen a single other car where that was the case that was not a BMW. It wasn't my car though. Just my father's car that I drove more than him because he was always out on business trips. I drive a 79 Subaru DL (engine swapped) and that is a lot closer to what I'd say is most enjoyable to drive. If it was rear wheel drive it would be perfect. Lightweight, high revving engine, manual transmission, good weight distribution, not overly sound insulated, and good fuel economy. I think my perfect car would be a 75 or 76 Chevy Cosworth Vega. For the same reasons, but being rear wheel drive.
@@theodorgiosan2570 Yes, I’m sure the perfect car varies from person to person. I’ve just enjoyed BMWs for many decades including a 328i, a 335i hard top convertible, the i8, a M4, and an X3. Loved them all.
The advice that i've always given when someone talks about buying a BMW, Mercedes, etc is that they are 2 or 3 times more expensive to have repairs done and parts are about 2X higher than parts for GM, Ford or Dodge so you need to have wealth to buy it and to get it repaired. About the only thing you can get done for the same price of American cars is an oil and filter change, everything else is expensive.
As an owner of a 2013 X5M, I am planning on repairing the oil return block, which is leaking. It’s a daunting project, but, I will not be deterred! If the book says 19 hours, well it will take me 30. Plunging forward into the abyss!
Thank you. I have leaned more in the past few years watching you take apart bad engines. I also have learned what not to buy. Thanks for the great channel.
Hopefully someone who is hard working and wants a cool used luxury car sees this video. Spending money and getting a car that has a catastrophic failure soon after can really change the course of someones life, and cause major financial ruin. Imagine how many of these things are sitting on buy here pay here lots across the country. Love the channel.
I think we've come to the point of diminishing returns when it comes to modern cars, especially luxury ones. Dozens of modules, gadgets and options - own one long enough, nothing but troubles.
I've felt this for along time. Cars aren't getting better anymore, they're getting worse by incremental cost cutting. Sit in a 90s merc and try a 2024 model and it becomes very apparent.
@@Syncopia they are becoming weaker and slower too it's all down to zero emission mandates and cost cutting to fund the doomed to fail EVs, for 20 years I bought the latest fun car drove it 4-5y then bought the new one but since 2020 there are no new better one to buy they are all worse and slower and pollute more (because they completely dropped the ball on ICE and even hybrid for their trash EVs) for more money ! explain to me how Ford can sell a fwd Focus ST for more money than my awd RS with 70hp less and somehow pollutes more than my car 1 gen older ? that's insane one example but it's everywhere I checked Mercedes BMW and most of theirs are energy rated G or F (meaning huge emission taxes in europe) how can this be my 350hp awd car from 2016 is E and does 26mpg
Eric, you ain't lying. I have the 2014 X50i. It's a beast. I had the valve stem seals replaced w/Elring seals at an Indie shop. The transfer cases are iffy because of the staggered tires. 97Kmi. We shall see when we need to do the walnut shell blasting of the intake valves.
This is why I only leased, and never bought, German cars for years. Great when new. My last Mercedes S class started burning oil, needing a valve job at only 50K miles because of overheating due to radiator blockage since new not discovered by the dealer. A local mechanic found the problem in my radiator. Drove it to the end of my lease and refused to lease another. I then got Lexus LS versions and never had a problem.
German craftsmanship in their automobiles have launched many a TH-cam channel, no one wants to believe how unreliable a $100,000 German luxury car is and it's funny how people will justify buying and owning one of these. The worst part is the manufacturer knows this and takes advantage of this and people's vanity and make a ton of money
Honestly as far as $100k and up luxury cars go, most are like this nowadays, with potential exception of Lexus (and even those aren't without problems anymore).
The sad part is, it wasn’t always that way. Before 2000, German cars were expensive to buy and parts weren’t cheap, but at least they were pretty durable and could last a couple hundred thousand of miles and more. Since then, the quality of parts has significantly declined, yet people still pay big bucks for the vanity value.
Everybody makes excuses for these cars because most of the owners are influencial people and they don't want to be embarrassed by getting dupped into buying a poorly designed car so they take advantage of that and never fix the problems.
I've seen several of these on Craigslist and always thought about trying to fix one. Thanks for talking me out of it! Now, this Miata on the other hand...
I really appreciate this video! I am the type of person who would buy that car. Thank you for the warning. I'll stop looking. I actually did buy a 2001 BMW 740i 10 years ago that had a lot of blue smoke. Living in non-emission Wyoming, I thought I didn't care. Sheesh, that was a fast and luxurious car! However, it would burn at least 2 quarts of oil for every tank of fuel. I parked it as far away from other cars as possible because of the blue cloud that surrounded it when it first started. I sold it within 6 months at a small loss. Fast Forward to the 2010 Lexus LS460 AWD 180k miles that I bought earlier this year. After replacing every component in the front suspension, I'd put it in direct comparison against any new car that costs $50k or less. It is smooth, fast (5.2 seconds 0-60), quiet, and feels like it will last 400k miles. Everything in the car still works perfectly. It has that automatic retracting rear window shade, air suspension, heated/cooled seats, amazing Mark Levinson sound system. No engine check lights. It still runs As New. 6500 rpm overhead cam V8. It is what Cadillac wanted to do with the Northstar V8.
So has/will this car be scrapped? I’m guessing so if it was sold for parts. I’m not a die hard BMW fan but the thought of this getting crushed still makes me wince. 🙁
German Engineering ... Das War Einmal! All German cars are expensive JUNK now. BMW, Mercedes, whatever! Drove Volkswagen for years. It only got more complicated and expensive. Switched to Toyota for 5 years. Now driving KIA. Zero problems!
Up here in the rust belt, its even more grim. Most any euro up here with 80k on it is "on borrowed time" and I will warn customers that after a couple warm-up repairs of simpler items, the heavy hits are gonna start coming & they're not gonna stop.
@@3fekt273 and what year S600 would have a V8 in it, exactly? They're all V12, no way you're in the market for a '24 Brabus-modded S600 with a built V8 complaining about maintenance... 🤣
I had an 09 328i I bought myself as my first car. Got a crazy deal on it and it was really reliable for the 2 years I had it, no maintenance other than oil changes and a coolant flush I did just because I wanted to. Low miles I was the second owner and visually it was stunning, perfect interior and exterior not a stain or scratch anywhere not even on the floor mats. I ended up totaling it after falling asleep while driving home from work one day. Thankfully no one else was involved. I look back on it and while I miss the car, I’m extremely thankful it was gone before I ever had to do any major repairs. One day I replaced all the spark plugs and a couple ignition coils to get rid of a intermittent misfire, it took 2 hours just to get access to the plugs because of all the covers and stuff I had to remove. I knew from that day on I would never own another BMW.
@@mediocreman2 Having had two LS400's, the 460 doesn't seem too bad, some similar issues in fact to the LS400 stuff I dealt with, but I hear you, 380hp though, mmmmm. A shame the BMW\Audi\Mercs Big cars are such troublemakers, well at least certain generations.
Good on you Eric, speaking up against BMW when we all know you love them so so much. Keep up the great content, I always look forward to something new from you because the engine teardown videos are starting to seem all the same now, not because of you, just the same thing for the most part is all.
Right there with you man, I got rid of my hot cars and bought a townhome. Just have a little Hyundai accent and might pick up a used Prius pretty soon here.
216th! Eric, I’ve always wanted a BMW since I saw a 633i in the 1980s. And a 7 series in the 90s. But after taking to a mechanic or two, I changed my mind. I went S class Mercedes instead. I’ve had nothing but great cars that didn’t and don’t cost much more than a Ford or a Chevrolet to own and drive. All you have to do with any car is check the oil religiously and have preventative maintenance done two or three times a year after it goes off warranty. Love your videos. Roger in Pierre South Dakota
A friend of mine bought a cheap used Audi A6 Avant. Exterior? Beautiful. Interior? A bit worn but fine. Drivetrain? Multiple gaskets/seals were flat out rotten and it puked oil. Barely lasted 3 months.
Choosing this video for the random glaze comment: Thanks for all the content. I've learned so much about just engines in general, what can and will go wrong, and how to not have that happen to you from these. My crappy chevy econobox has got 100k miles on it the 2.5 years since I got it and functions better than it ever did simply by paying attention and addressing issues when they first show up. For the cost of a couple hundred bucks in parts and a few weekends of my extremely unskilled labor, I have a beater that by all indications should last me several more years. On top of that, any vehicle I get in the future will benefit from the same approach.
I heard that the 4th version of the N63 (TU3) V8 was vastly improved reliability-wise (and power-wise). Been on forums and people are pretty happy with the engine. Guess being sued almost to oblivion really got BMW to design a reliable V8 engine.
Seriously… I had Audis most of my adult life and finally jumped ship after my 2016 S5 kept having recurring issues with the coolant system and the valve covers. I stayed on top of the recommended maintenance and spend a fortune getting issues repaired but they KEPT creeping up and this car was in the shop longer than I’ve had any other car in the shop. Eventually got a $13k invoice for repairs, sold it quickly to a dealership and bought a Lexus. Haven’t looked back. Shame because the supercharger was a blast to listen to. But the peace of mind is priceless.
@@lololmao7 "But the peace of mind is priceless" Amen I have to have my car work reliably as a daily driver. I have to go to work pick up the kids for a dozen different things a week. I could not afford the down time and the worry of " What was that noise?" every time I started it. It would drive me crazy. I see so many BMWs that look great but are junked for reasons like this. I have some wear on my drivers seat in my Accord with 174,000 miles and im looking up where to find replacement leather for it because I know I have another 100,000 miles left in her.
Saw some commenters noting "just need to keep on maintenance, and make sure timing chains are maintained.." eww the requirement of tearing into an engine for regular maintenance. Be on the lookout post timing chain adjustment wow. Makes sense why BMW donates heavily to the US car rating/safety people....
Eric dunking on N62/63 equipped BringMoreWallet's gives me life. Always surprised when he doesn't mention the Medusa's head of a wiring harness on those nightmares
@I_Do_Cars 1000% this. Ive been a BMW tech for 20 years and have condemned MANY of these over the years. People don't realize that a new N63 from BMW is upwards of $60k Canadian, before labour and extra parts. When people say "its only 25 hours to R+R" they don't consider that the used boat anchor.... uh... N63 you're installing ALSO needs guides, chains, pan gaskets, drain block, PCV hoses, injectors, rear coolant cover and likely turbos and valve stem seals. Thats EASILY $15K in additional parts and labour just to make the replacement used engine reliable. To do this job properly, even with a used engine, EASILY out values the car. I've had customers pay for many engine jobs over the years, but NEVER an N63. They're junk. Its not worth it. Save the $20-30k and buy a 4Runner lol.
Yeah right it’s not 60k Canadian. You can get a remanufactured n63 for 4k with another 2k for labor to install it. I checked with a bmw shop and they told me they have replaced those engines with a remanned engine for 8000 usd.
Remanufactured by who? A reman n63 from bmw Canada is $37668. Plus (very likely) 8 injectors at a grand each since they’re probably all seized and another $5k in other parts and bits. Plus labour. I’ve worked with the brand for 20 years. There is no way you get a rebuilt n64 at a bmw dealer in Canada for what you’re saying. If you’re talking used, then sure $4k is pretty normal for a used one…. Which is just going to blow up anyways without $10-15k in work (at a dealer) They’re very VERY expensive boat anchors.
@@aaronjudt1487 you’re ripping people off. There are TH-cam channels of people replacing those for 8k usd. The shop I’m talking about has very good reviews and yeah they really do swap those engines with remanned engines for 8k total. I’m in the US though not n Canada. Plus you might be thinking of the m5 engine the s63
The part where you said it’s 60k Canadian dollars before labor is such a lie. That’s scamming people if you’re doing that. It’s an old engine too, not a brand new one. Are you referring to a new 2024 n63 with all the updates? That might make some sense. There’s no way an old 2011 model n63 costs that much. Because the car in the video has the old first iteration n63 from 2011
Fun fact, the last modern BMW engine with a dipstick is the diesel powered N47 in my 2014 BMW 328d. I think the last year of the 328d was 2018, and up until the end it had a dipstick. It still has the stupid electronic measurement from the iDrive screen, but it’s nice that I don’t have to use it when changing my oil. Especially since you can’t read the oil level until the engine is warm and as you may know, diesels take much longer to warm up than gasoline powered cars.
Really enjoyed this "video essay" of sorts and all the snark and jokes packed within! These engines are wild to me - how was something so obsurdly problematic allowes to continue as long as it did? I tell everyone to run from them as quickly as they see them 😂
I have a 2013 X50i, the valve stem seals were replaced by a dealer covered by the campaign, I replaced turbo oil return housing and lines myself, the 2 repairs solved the oil consumption issue and the car runs great.
The best is when a new replacement engine blows up quickly because the oil cooler was never cleaned out! We refuse to work on early N63 at the shop as it will just end in heart break. Its a disaster even with continuous technical updates they are still crap. Rod bearings are still a thing, the coolant lines to the turbo are a popular item.
Not a normal video- not a problem. I appreciate your variety of subjects, type of videos, and your comments are all worth my time. Besides, I have learned a lot!
I have a personal rule, and that is to not buy European cars. They are expensive to buy, expensive to fix and they break down, I have purchased Japanese cars since 1985 and I have never been let down. They run and run, and they hold their value. I had Hondas from 1985 to 1991, Since then I have had four Lexus LS. Love them. They are not cheap, but I don't have problems with them and they hold their value. I know, an old man's car, but then, I'm an old man,
Same here, except I'll admit that the Mercedes dealer that is 2 hrs from the tiny town where I live has very excellent service that will loan you a car so you can go to Costco while your MB is getting an oil change. The local Ford & Toyota dealer really ticked me off a few years ago, didn't apologize, and I'll hold that grudge forever. It is a good thing my old Lexus LS460 never needs repairs!
@@DavidHaile_profile Excellent service used to be the MB way. As well as excellent cars all around. They deserved the slightly higher prices they got. Safety also. And prestige. Those were good days. Hope they can get there again. Definitely not as bad as VW cheating customers.
Thank you for sharing this video. I am so glad you put up these videos in your channel, for me this is the way to know which vehicle brands I will avoid entirely!
Both of those lasted about as long as BMW intended. Out of warranty. After that, a working used car is competition against a new car, and BMW doesn't make any money on used car sales.
This is why consumer reports says to never buy a used German car, unless a classic VW. Cars you can rebuild the engine in a couple of hours. Simple is better! Currently fighting with an O2 sensor connector that I can't reach- tempted to cut the damn wire and just put in a new O2 sensor. Changing an entire engine wiring harness on a modern car is a nightmare!
Do you hear that sound? The LS swap parrots have arrived! They are a very resilient creature with a seemingly unbreakable spirit. Though some have succeeded in turning their dreams into reality, many will never know the glory of following through on the words they preach. Even so, I have full confidence that this species will flourish over many centuries and continue to spread their gospel. A thousand years from now, there will be a video posted of a light speed capable spacecraft, and just like clockwork there will be multiple comments posted suggesting that an LS swap could be completed in less than 15 minutes for a total cost of $100.
BwacK! How dare you say I'm a parrot?! I, and my feathered flock refute you, unless you have crackers. P.S. We're tight with the Pigeons and we know where you park, if you get my drift...
OK, so what am I supposed to do with my Ford 302 rebuild? None of the gaskets or seals will ever leak, guaranteed! I used extra RTV sealer. (The species is doomed)
@@scubasteve06 hahaha I'm one of the guys that suggested an LS swap... In all seriousness, what's your point of view with this specific case, what would you do If you absolutely have to make this 7 series run for cheap again? I just don't like the idea of "there's nothing to do with this car anymore" I know there are some extreme exceptions but I enjoy thinking about possible actual viable solutions.
I have a 2014 BMW ALPINA B7 with 103k miles… it’s super solid… within the next couple of months I’m going to do my timing chain and 6 months after that, knockout my rod bearings… A lot of the problems people have with their BMWs is that they do very little of preventative maintenance besides the oil change and sometimes they slack on even dong that… (owner error) I’m at peace… Change your oil frequently, don’t rag out your car, properly warn up your engine before driving hard, if not , you’re destroying your rod bearings… if you have a direct injection engine, add an oil catch can… and yes, the timing chain do explain and stretches out over time and the timing chain guides do break because of high mileage and a hot engine, the plastic overheats and gets brittle… But with all cars if you treat them like crap, it will turn into crap…
Suddenly....my 2009 Honda Accord is looking pretty good! 237k miles and it runs almost perfectly. It is a rotten shame that such a beautiful car isn't worth fixing.
Not providing an engine oil dipstick is crazy but a monitoring system that's even more unreliable is something else 😳 Such a shame that an otherwise nice car is just not worth fixing though.
A visiting nurse I know (my wife was her patient) wanted a really comfortable, good handling car because she drives over one hundred miles a day. She mention loving the BMW 5 series and that a local dealer had one with low miles at a great price. I suggested that she RUN the other way, and explained why. Fast forward about two years and the nurse once again has my wife as a patient. Said nurse bought a Mini Cooper, new, instead of the BMW. The car has 120,000 miles on it and is on its SECOND replacement engine. I said, you do realize that Mini is a BMW. She said, yes, unfortunately. Bearing failures due to oiling issues killed both engines..
I have always loved BMWs. The pinnacle of "driving experience." I own and drive Hondas and Toyotas. You read between the lines. My "ricers" are boring as all hell, but they never tear up.
BMWs pride and joy is the inline six cylinder motor, period. Usually 3 litres of displacement 225 to 255 bhp. If they want to bore and stroke it out 4 litres, fine. But if you even look at their twin turbo anything, you are asking for it! You have been warned. Their best motor to this day is called the M54, 1998 - 2003. Their best model is the 530i.
You're so right about that, I have owned BMWS since 2008, the naturally aspirated ones are the best. My m54 320i e46 manual tranny has been with me for 11 years with no issue, now I just bought the e90 with no dipstick and electric water pump gives me the runaround but still reliable though, I avoid turbocharged motors, it puts strain on the engines, fast, yet but lotsa trouble.
i have a 2008 535i. Spent many 10 hours total, and around 4k in repair parts. It has 190k miles and still runs. I know my reverse sol is going out and i need to replace my motor/tranny mounts, but Its starting to come down to "is it worth my time". This car has been a real trooper. I recently bought a 2022 M550i because of how well my 08 treated me. But that being said. I feel alot of the issues that happens is because of bad drivers. Or should i say operators. When something went wrong or i thought something was going wrong in my car, heck all my cars. I fixed it right away. I didn't sit on it just to hope it went away. I think the problem is that alot of operators are not car people much less mechanically inclined. So when they buy something as complicated as a BMW they just don't know there might be an actual issue when something "weird" happens.
A recipe for financial disaster, a high tech German V8 with twin turbos nestled in the valley in a cramped engine bay surrounded by lots of plastic bits and pieces, what could go wrong? That is NOT good engineering.
I've had a couple N63 non tu 750s, my last was a 2009 F01 with every imaginable package aside from extended leather.. Active sway bars, night vision, silky smooth active suspension, etc. I don't regret owning any N63 car a bit. I did the smart thing and bought it being an incredibly well maintained car. Oil changes since new every 4-5k miles, transmission service done (at the dealer?!), and so much more. Just a super meticulous last owner. Weirder enough, they kept the original engine aside from MAFs, Injectors, and a total reseal during the CCP "recall". I drove it till 155(?),000 miles with 0 issues. It burned about a quart of oil per 5,000 - I never had a CEL, I did need to replace one of the active shocks, but I went low mileage used for $100. Total maintenance and repair cost for it over maybe 50,000 miles was under $1000. My other one grenaded at 70,000 miles..dueee to oil pan damage. Hah, got you. New $3800 long block FROM BMW!! and about a days worth of labour and it was as nice as the other, little more to do in the suspension but still. Both cars were under $6000 [each] in total. N63 cars really aren't as bad as people say if you find one that *Has Been Taken Care Of*. Which is rare, especially with BMW's stupid service recommendations and general cost of parts and labour hour.
Upscale German cars are built to be expensive. They are expensive to buy, insure, run, AND maintain. Only Stellantis products are actively worse to own.
My uncle started driving BMW's in the early 1980's 535. Then he stepped up to the 750's with the 12 cylinder engines. He passed away in 2008 and still had his 1999/2000 750 I don't recall him ever having any real issues with any of them. I think that was back when BMW was a lot better car. I tried talking him into buying a Mercedes as this was what I was driving or what I bought my wife to drive and it was probably the best car I've ever owned.
A friend of mine has several V12s in his yard . I asked why and he replied that his idea is put one in his Miura!!!! He says the lambo is not reliable enough and would rather it remain in his house as an ornament than have it die in the road ..😢😅😅
BMW and other German cars had higher quality parts back then. Nowadays, they use a lot of plastic parts where they should really be using metal, such as with couplers and flanges.
I bought a 2011 550ix a few years ago with 90k miles, I’m at 130k miles. Recently had to fix the entire front end, both front axles, and sure enough right after that I needed to replace an injector which was $400 😭 my engine had the “CCP” done at 50k miles, so that’s… something? Haha, I absolutely love this car when it works. When it doesn’t, it’s horribly scary and annoying. I’ve gone through PCV valves left and right. Oh, and if you need to do valve cleaning, good luck! As soon as these start having misfires, the ECU will cut your injectors and make a nightmare for you. Then you’ll be spraying GDI cleaner into a horribly finicky car and crossing your fingers 😭 thank god I got the car for $10k and don’t have to care if it blows up. Oh, and yeah the hose leaks, don’t get me started. I have put about 500 hose clamps and replaced the turbo coolant lines with fuel hose. Screw it, it’ll outlast the rest of the engine hahaha! Oh, edit, I forgot to mention that the hardware for the waste gate actuator is all wallowed out and jingles around. I’m not getting a low boost code… yet. Lmao. And oh, you better be good with computers too and obtaining the proper software, just in case you want to read from any of the 24 or 26 modules. And if you like getting into your car when it’s 10 degrees F outside, good luck. My driver door handle will not budge when it gets too cold outside, so I jump over the center console all winter. Car makes great power and is a blast in the winter, totally a 8/10 right? 😭💸 I think I’ve realized that I just like pain idk tldr: no, don’t buy one, I agree
You bought an F10, one of the worst 5-series ever made and certainly the ugliest one (in my opinion). Drives the worst too, more like an E-class Mercedes Benz than a real 5-series BMW. E39, E60, G30 and G60 are way better. Also BMW has always made really good 6-cylinder inline engines and they still do (B58 is probably the best modern inline 6 engine). BMW's diesel engines have always been great, with the N47 being an exception, but that's an inline 4-cylinder. If your door doesn't open when its cold, you need to change the cable for the door handle, it freezes and jams because moisture has gotten into it over time. My advice would be to get rid of that 550ix and replace it with a B58-engine G30 or G20.
“Found a trash bag but it’s not big enough to put the whole car in it” 😂😂😂
so mean lol
I thought it was a body bag for a second.
I have a 2014 750Li with 140k miles. It runs like a champ and I like it quite a lot. That said, I spent probably 14 hours replacing the valve cover gasket, PCV system, fuel injectors, spark plugs, ignition coils, water pump, thermostat and several hoses. Then I spent another 10 hours replacing motor mounts and transmission mounts. But at least it's good to go for another 5k miles.
Better get the timing system done soon!
If you got an acura or Lexus you wouldn't know what to do with your free time.
BMW owners seem to always enjoy their vehicles whenever they are operational. If they could figure out durability like the Japanese, they'd probably retain colossal resale value.
@@DuaneBroskyOr any other older BMW or Mercedes. I'm sorry, but Lexus makes very boring cars, and they're not the only reliable cars out there.
😂😂😂
Anything to avoid installing a dipstick
all the power plant engineers should never sleep knowing what they've done to people
@@FreiherrDinkelackerOkay I took that one too personally… 😆 screw it, no, I’m okay with it because I know why I’m a dipstick. At least I’m a self aware dipstick 🧐
@@0x8080 I lived in Germany for two years. I love the old Bimmers. I have always wanted a 633CSI or an 850 12 cylinder. I am now a retired teacher and retired military officer. I am a mechanic in retirement and I don't think much of any new cars. BMW should get back to the basics and get rid of most of the technology on their cars. Project539 does a great channel on the complexity of newer Bimmers. He is based in Frankfurt, Germany.
Was not enough room.
I won't buy cars without dip stick.
36 hrs. I know. Did one and WILL NOT do another. Talk about a nightmare!!!!
Absolutely correct...our techs would come in on the weekends and work on them non flagged just to match flat rate time...bmw saw that they could match the time and reduced the labor...
@@chrisbrown3925flat rate is a serious scam
I see young people (teens, and twenties) buy used BMWs all the time in my neighborhood. You see them out there working on it when it first shows up. Then after a while, it never moves again.
As a mechanic, it’s frustrating keeping them going. Let alone a person that has to pay for repairs. Friend has one, I fixed it 4 times in 2 months. All different problems 😂
Tell them to buy a Lexus.
@@mph5896everyone essentially is telling me I am crazy for wanting a 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 to fix up, but I think it’s more crazy on top of a gamble buying any modern BMW. A BMW uses very sophisticated and complex tech, when it breaks, it’ll cost arm and leg to fix. It’ll tolerate the occasional tune-up, but a simple repair on a modern BMW that’ll cost thousands? I don’t think so.
@@seana806 they get stupid when they break. Last repair I did, car would not crank and made a bunch of clicking under the hood. The car could not even be placed in neutral to roll it without jacking it up and removing underbody covers. Flat bed dragged it on with skates and had to shake it off.
@@mph5896 sounds like a nightmare. Kind of pitiful for a modern vehicle to only make it past 100,000 miles, looked at a ‘66 Ford Galaxie 500 in December of 2022 (looked at several), not sure what the actual mileage was but judging by the amount of wear on the driver’s side of the bench seat along with the transmission, had to have at least 162,000 miles on it, even more pitiful when a car from the 1960’s (an era where they supposedly “didn’t make it past 100,000 miles) can outlive something from the modern era. Truly is the worst era of cars ever, people can tell me until they are blue in the face on how modern vehicles are better etc, but don’t really believe it anymore. Saw this coming back as far as 10 years ago, now here we are. With the way vehicles are these days, has shown me what their true colors are. Modern vehicles may save in one area, but nickels and dimes you in others. Doesn’t make sense to save in one area, but will end up having to be spent elsewhere.
I work in a shop that specializes in Mercedes and BMW vehicles...when something comes in with this engine our lead tech just pops the hood and takes a quick look at certain things before even inspecting the rest of the vehicle...he's got such a good eye that he's saved a lot of people a lot of frustration with this engine...especially with pre-purchase inspections. This engine is just a nightmare into itself.
Would you trust MB cars more than the BMWs?
The real glory years for BMW ended in 2005 when the E46 chassis was put out to pasture. 3-series and 5-series cars from the late 1980s up until early-to-mid 2000s are some of their best BMWs to drive and very simple to work on. If you have one of these older BMWs, hang on to it and keep them going strong. They represent and era of cars that will never return.
Honestly, my 2006 330i sport pack was one of the best cars I ever owned. First year of the E90 chassis, but last year you could get the N/A 3.0L straight six N52 before they went to the early N54 turbo motors. Six speed manual and RWD - handled great.
I got an e39 540 and a e60 M5 v10. love the V10 growl and high revving nature. Just did the rod bearings at 140k. If it were an e39 M5, it would be double the price I paid
No brand has fallen further from their glory days than BMW. It’s like a terrible auto accident you come upon on the road and you just can’t turn away from.
@@jagtem You could get the n52 up until 2013 man
E46's were kind of junky to - they interiors were cheap (only marginally better than a E36 in terms of build quality) - also E36 - E46 - rear subframe mount points tear on the chassis .... even the E46 M3 wasn't spared from that issue... IMO the hayday of BMW was the E30/E34 (solid cars). My E70 x5 35d has over 180k miles on it all original running gear and is phenomenal - so the diesels are awesome (unless you get a N47/N57 then you have to worry about CP4 failures and timing chains....) yeah so if you want a reliable modern BMW - a deleted M57 is the way to go imo or a N52 if you want a gas engine... anything else is awesome to drive terrible to own/work on. I'd put up with a S63 X5M or M5 just because they are cool - but would need a regular maintenance regiment that is strictly adhered to. Moral of the story - if you want a german car - buy a Mercedes Benz (even those are not fool proof - but at least not complete write off's after 100k miles).
This is not your normal type of video, but an excellent video.
It's just mind blowing that an auto manufacturer makes such an expensive car and 10-14 years down the road it's scrap. Nothing more, nothing less. Nice.
some people put 100,000 mile in one year
Whenever I see a car I considered buying but didn't, show up on one of these types of videos, I feel like a genius.
Yes you are. And Mr. Toyoda.
I was so tempted to buy a 2011 BMW 550i with a manual back in 2019. So glad I didn't lmao. Bought a Lexus ISF instead.
Even just considering buying something like this honestly disqualifies one from the genius label...😂😂
@@Maserati7200 The previous gen 550i with the last NA V8 was relatively OK though. Although nowadays those are all well up there in age, so also not recomended.
@@HenrySomeone The 550i was always the turbo V8. The 545i was the NA V8, and that was the generation before (E60). The F10 only had the 550i.
Die hard BMW fan boy here, so it really pains me to say this, but you are absolutely right. BMW V8s are a nightmare. Even if you did replace the motor, it will just go pop again (probably soon). Pity, that 750 really is gorgeous.
I have an E34 with the original M60. It is nothing at all like this spaghetti monster. The only thing that's hard to reach is the PCV system on the back of the engine and even though its a poor design they still last longer than your average N63 nonTU.
@@greebj Even the M62 isn't a bad call IMHO
BMW makes the world's finest I6.
V8..... Ehhhhh....
Remember that the M60 had a chemical reaction with gasoline that ate out the cylinder wall. So, even the M60 is a little suspect. Yes, I understand every vehicle that had that problem had been crushed two decades ago.
I simply try to avoid any BMW V8.
If it's a BMW inline six, you know, it's going to be one of the best engines in the world.
( And as soon as I type that, I remember the n54 and 55 some reliability issues. Aka injectors)
@@MrJamesshipman Naturally aspired BMW's V8s are good, sound good and are cool. They deserve to live.
Donate it to a technical college or high school automotive department. The students will learn alot!!!!!
That's true
Gather round kids. Let me show you
I am afraid it might scare them away from never wanting to work on a car again
@@hoedenbestellerit’s like a manual, learn on the hard cars and everything else will be easy
It's never good to crush a kid's soul to the point of giving up in despair.
Can't be an I do cars video without a broken bmw 7 series.😂
It''s fukkenbrokken... Or is it farfromwerkin?
If it weren't for used BMWs and other high-end luxury cars, teenagers wouldn't learn their first major financial mistake.
Donate cars like this to highschool auto shops, when I was in highschool there were too many “cheap” fixable cars sacrificed for that purpose
@snackler6102 Honestly, that is a brilliant idea. These cars will make you a mechanic or crush the desire right out of you lol.
😭😭😭
@@LegacyUser Working on my previous car, a 2003 Acura TL, made me thankful I never chose to become a mechanic. That's an easy car to work on too and I had very few problems out of it. I can't imagine how frustrating an old BMW would be, let alone servicing them day in and day out as a career!
@@Elrond_Hubbard1 I'm still living with my first financial mistake after 15 years but I can currently sell it for my purchase price(e39 m5).
I figure a 30% inflation difference on 2010 vs 2024 money so yeah it's still an L.
that being said, I love the car to death.
I own 2 BMW'S but I chose the models and the year carefully. Choosing the wrong model/engine is a disaster. I wanted a sports car so Z3 with 40k miles in perfect condition. No problems after 10 years. The X5 2005 model was cheap because it had been kept going instead of being correctly maintained. I knew what needed doing and did it. Now it is brilliant. Maintained by BMW Specialists (Not Dealers) is the answer. Great video.
I have this car bought it in March 2021, for $7k with 65k miles on it. Car was in outstanding condition, a wealthy guy in Virginia just wanted to get rid of it
Found it on Facebook Marketplace lol, took the bus 6 hours to get it. Long story short he said it just needed the vanos solenoids replaced
I replaced all 4 solenoids, and had one engine code left. It was something with the Exhaust Camshaft, couldn’t figure it out…
So I took it to the dealer, to see if I could get the warranty work done. Since it has such low miles, they robbed me & said I was 1 year too late…told me the car had a stretched timing chain
Didn’t believe them so scanned the car with ISTA, said check camshaft bolts. Bought a new exhaust camshaft, had a BMW expert install it for $750
And the car ran brand new, still have it to this day. And it’s a joy to drive, upgraded the interior screen & dash to digital. Heat & bad oil kills these engines, you have to make sure you have good oil
And I heated wrapped all the lines in the engine
I’m a mechanic familiar with turbocharged engines. I found a “good deal” on a 750, then looked up how much parts cost. Brake rotor - 6 years ago - was $750.00 US…and that ended that nightmare before it began.
The Ultimate Driving Machine....that you can't drive for more than 5 years.....let's see...$85,000 divided by..... plus normal gas at 16mpg for 105000 mile equals...HOLY CRAP BATMAN!!!!!!
normal gas? premium gas.
263k here 2009 335
@@juniorechavarria7512That isn't the least bit anomalous.
equals ...Priceless (Master Card)
I have two n55 engine BMWs that are 9 years old … doing great. Seriously not an oil leak in sight.
SAY IT WITH ME NOOOOO DEFERRED MAINTENANCE! Don’t buy these cars if they’ve had deferred maintenance or you are going to do deferred maintenance… 😅 that’s the key.
I do not miss working on these cars. Retired, and GLAD of it!!!!!
Had a 750i M sport. Best driving car I've ever had. Almost 500hp, and fun. Best seats ever! Worst part was the fear that one single repair could be more than the cars value. Had it for 3 years before I sold it. No other car has come close to it's performance.
A buddy of mine just bought a 2012 650i without getting my opinion first (I've owned a fair few BMWs). I died a little inside when he told me. It's already broken.
A friend of mine had a mint condition mid 2000's black 750i When it reached about 12 years old it was getting to the point that as soon as she got it back from the dealer for one problem some other random little thing would break plus it was starting to leak oil. When she traded it for a new BMW the dealer only gave her $2500 for what had been a 70K car. They said nobody would want it because it was so expensive to fix.
And that was still the previous gen right? With the last NA V8 that was relatively reliable. This thing would never last a decade!
that's not unique to BMW's. Lots of vehicles suffer exactly the same thing. New cars are the biggest money sucking racket against consumers ever devised by mankind. Taxes, registration, finance charges, dealer fees, the mandatory comprehensive insurance required by lenders before they will finance the vehicle. Lastly, depreciation, where the vehicle loses value as soon as you drive it off the lot.
Two of my friends had different vehicles. The first one had a BMW 750L with the V8 engine, and we always liked it. He was a lot richer than some of us, and has a successful business that he runs. However, one day he never showed up with the car. He told us that the car blew up its engine. After that, he bought himself a Toyota Land Cruiser. He told me he learned his lesson after buying that stupid BMW. The other friend I have has a 2008 Toyota Camry which he bought brand new. We kind of laughed at it but we understood it. He works in an office as an IT technician and isn't much of a car guy. He still has that Toyota. According to him, he has over 200,000 miles on the car and it still runs like a champ. You may notice that both men now have Toyotas. In fact, almost every friend I know has a Toyota nowadays.
The best 750i are the V12 ones anyway (E39 especially). Watch the 3 videos Hédi (Smells Like Gasoline channel on YT) made about his 750 iL. It was abandonned in a garage for 10 years, outside, by the sea, with 2 broken windows, and broken left front spring, He managed to drive it home along 600 miles. Now, less than a year later it looks like brand new. He did all by himself, in his garden, installing used parts. His conclusion : he's surprised to have had so little problems to fix it (apart from a alternator on fire in the episode 2), all the electronics worked even before he did anything to it as soon as he turn the contact key on. He charged the battery a bit and the engine came back to life. Yes, after 10 years of silence..
Amen! Any company that won't even supply their customers (victims) with a simple means (dipstick) to check something vital like engine oil level is assuming that their products are purchased by morons..... And mostly, they're right IMHO.
Victims 💀
One could flex their IQ by not buying a car engine with no dipstick.
That’s bs. The trick to owning a BMW is to enjoy it until about 75K miles, then get a different BMW at under 30K. Most enjoyable cars to drive!
@PH-md8xp I would disagree with that although what's enjoyable for everyone is going to be different. I drove a 2011 BMW 335D for around 150,000 miles. It was quick, and it got good fuel economy, but I thought it was too quiet inside for my taste. Couldn't hear anything that was going on. No feedback in the steering whatsoever, yet it was still heavy for power steering. The seats were hard and uncomfortable. And the steering wheel was not centered with the seat. I've never seen a single other car where that was the case that was not a BMW. It wasn't my car though. Just my father's car that I drove more than him because he was always out on business trips. I drive a 79 Subaru DL (engine swapped) and that is a lot closer to what I'd say is most enjoyable to drive. If it was rear wheel drive it would be perfect. Lightweight, high revving engine, manual transmission, good weight distribution, not overly sound insulated, and good fuel economy. I think my perfect car would be a 75 or 76 Chevy Cosworth Vega. For the same reasons, but being rear wheel drive.
@@theodorgiosan2570 Yes, I’m sure the perfect car varies from person to person. I’ve just enjoyed BMWs for many decades including a 328i, a 335i hard top convertible, the i8, a M4, and an X3. Loved them all.
The advice that i've always given when someone talks about buying a BMW, Mercedes, etc is that they are 2 or 3 times more expensive to have repairs done and parts are about 2X higher than parts for GM, Ford or Dodge so you need to have wealth to buy it and to get it repaired. About the only thing you can get done for the same price of American cars is an oil and filter change, everything else is expensive.
As an owner of a 2013 X5M, I am planning on repairing the oil return block, which is leaking. It’s a daunting project, but, I will not be deterred! If the book says 19 hours, well it will take me 30. Plunging forward into the abyss!
Germans really are into Sadomasochism!
Thank you. I have leaned more in the past few years watching you take apart bad engines. I also have learned what not to buy. Thanks for the great channel.
Hopefully someone who is hard working and wants a cool used luxury car sees this video. Spending money and getting a car that has a catastrophic failure soon after can really change the course of someones life, and cause major financial ruin. Imagine how many of these things are sitting on buy here pay here lots across the country. Love the channel.
That’s why I call them Break My Wallet.
Or Big Money Wasted
Or Broken Most Weekends
Not all BMWs are trash. The BMW's that aren't trash are the BMW's BMW didn't make in the last 25 years.
Wow! Look at all that room underneath the hood! A dream to work on! You'd be a fool not to do a complete rebuild of this engine!
I think we've come to the point of diminishing returns when it comes to modern cars, especially luxury ones. Dozens of modules, gadgets and options - own one long enough, nothing but troubles.
I've felt this for along time. Cars aren't getting better anymore, they're getting worse by incremental cost cutting. Sit in a 90s merc and try a 2024 model and it becomes very apparent.
@@Syncopia they are becoming weaker and slower too it's all down to zero emission mandates and cost cutting to fund the doomed to fail EVs, for 20 years I bought the latest fun car drove it 4-5y then bought the new one but since 2020 there are no new better one to buy they are all worse and slower and pollute more (because they completely dropped the ball on ICE and even hybrid for their trash EVs) for more money ! explain to me how Ford can sell a fwd Focus ST for more money than my awd RS with 70hp less and somehow pollutes more than my car 1 gen older ? that's insane one example but it's everywhere I checked Mercedes BMW and most of theirs are energy rated G or F (meaning huge emission taxes in europe) how can this be my 350hp awd car from 2016 is E and does 26mpg
Eric, you ain't lying. I have the 2014 X50i. It's a beast. I had the valve stem seals replaced w/Elring seals at an Indie shop. The transfer cases are iffy because of the staggered tires. 97Kmi. We shall see when we need to do the walnut shell blasting of the intake valves.
ERIC, YOU ARE A RIGHTEOUS DUDE !
This is why I only leased, and never bought, German cars for years. Great when new. My last Mercedes S class started burning oil, needing a valve job at only 50K miles because of overheating due to radiator blockage since new not discovered by the dealer. A local mechanic found the problem in my radiator. Drove it to the end of my lease and refused to lease another. I then got Lexus LS versions and never had a problem.
German craftsmanship in their automobiles have launched many a TH-cam channel, no one wants to believe how unreliable a $100,000 German luxury car is and it's funny how people will justify buying and owning one of these. The worst part is the manufacturer knows this and takes advantage of this and people's vanity and make a ton of money
Honestly as far as $100k and up luxury cars go, most are like this nowadays, with potential exception of Lexus (and even those aren't without problems anymore).
The sad part is, it wasn’t always that way. Before 2000, German cars were expensive to buy and parts weren’t cheap, but at least they were pretty durable and could last a couple hundred thousand of miles and more. Since then, the quality of parts has significantly declined, yet people still pay big bucks for the vanity value.
@@JBM425true. I had a 1988 325i and it was bulletproof. I put 300K miles on it before I gave it to my son when he left for college in 2003
these bmw V8`s have been fine for more or less 5 years
Everybody makes excuses for these cars because most of the owners are influencial people and they don't want to be embarrassed by getting dupped into buying a poorly designed car so they take advantage of that and never fix the problems.
I've seen several of these on Craigslist and always thought about trying to fix one. Thanks for talking me out of it! Now, this Miata on the other hand...
What a car manufacturing strategy , build nice cars that don't last, then sell parts to fix them, like a get payed twice strategy.
it works fine on the us market
@@srenlund-hansen6883 I typed "Nice Cars" not cars.
@@GlorifiedG-z9c good for you
I really appreciate this video! I am the type of person who would buy that car. Thank you for the warning. I'll stop looking. I actually did buy a 2001 BMW 740i 10 years ago that had a lot of blue smoke. Living in non-emission Wyoming, I thought I didn't care. Sheesh, that was a fast and luxurious car! However, it would burn at least 2 quarts of oil for every tank of fuel. I parked it as far away from other cars as possible because of the blue cloud that surrounded it when it first started. I sold it within 6 months at a small loss. Fast Forward to the 2010 Lexus LS460 AWD 180k miles that I bought earlier this year. After replacing every component in the front suspension, I'd put it in direct comparison against any new car that costs $50k or less. It is smooth, fast (5.2 seconds 0-60), quiet, and feels like it will last 400k miles. Everything in the car still works perfectly. It has that automatic retracting rear window shade, air suspension, heated/cooled seats, amazing Mark Levinson sound system. No engine check lights. It still runs As New. 6500 rpm overhead cam V8. It is what Cadillac wanted to do with the Northstar V8.
So has/will this car be scrapped? I’m guessing so if it was sold for parts.
I’m not a die hard BMW fan but the thought of this getting crushed still makes me wince. 🙁
I bet you thought your iPhone 6 was really great at one time. Thats what these cars have become.
Pretty good analogy @@benjaminlusskin3211
I daily drive a MB 1985 W126 300SD- 5 Cyl Turbo Diesel w/ 323,000 Mi- runs very strong- Change Oil every 2500Mi w/ Liqui Molly Syn Oil for diesels. 😊
German Engineering ... Das War Einmal!
All German cars are expensive JUNK now. BMW, Mercedes, whatever!
Drove Volkswagen for years. It only got more complicated and expensive.
Switched to Toyota for 5 years. Now driving KIA.
Zero problems!
Yay! Bowel Movement Wheels!!
Eric, you have plenty of LS's lurking about, let's shoehorn one in that 750 and make it haul ass!
According to the VIN it's a 2009 and last sold for $12,999 with 98,322 miles on 2-20-2021
Still a lot less depreciation than the average beamer, but you would only get half that for it in Australia. No one wants a used 7 series.
They added a 9 at the end of the price there
Up here in the rust belt, its even more grim. Most any euro up here with 80k on it is "on borrowed time" and I will warn customers that after a couple warm-up repairs of simpler items, the heavy hits are gonna start coming & they're not gonna stop.
The high powered v8 Mercedes have similar issues which sucks because they're such powerful and fast cars
Which ones? Genuinely.
Curious because I've seen a 13 CLS550 and a 05ML 500 hit 300K
@@poshweevil2960 Agree with you. I'd take a MB over a BMW or Audi any day. I owned 2 E350's, and they were both super reliable
@@poshweevil2960 tried to buy an s600 the maintenance on everything is incredibly time consuming and expensive
@@3fekt273 and what year S600 would have a V8 in it, exactly? They're all V12, no way you're in the market for a '24 Brabus-modded S600 with a built V8 complaining about maintenance... 🤣
@@3fekt273i dont think you know what you are talking about based on what you wrote
I had an 09 328i I bought myself as my first car. Got a crazy deal on it and it was really reliable for the 2 years I had it, no maintenance other than oil changes and a coolant flush I did just because I wanted to. Low miles I was the second owner and visually it was stunning, perfect interior and exterior not a stain or scratch anywhere not even on the floor mats. I ended up totaling it after falling asleep while driving home from work one day. Thankfully no one else was involved. I look back on it and while I miss the car, I’m extremely thankful it was gone before I ever had to do any major repairs. One day I replaced all the spark plugs and a couple ignition coils to get rid of a intermittent misfire, it took 2 hours just to get access to the plugs because of all the covers and stuff I had to remove. I knew from that day on I would never own another BMW.
LS460 it is!
Yes but they have their own list of issues. Least reliable LS unfortunately.
LS460 is grabage. LS430 is best
@@mediocreman2 Having had two LS400's, the 460 doesn't seem too bad, some similar issues in fact to the LS400 stuff I dealt with, but I hear you, 380hp though, mmmmm. A shame the BMW\Audi\Mercs Big cars are such troublemakers, well at least certain generations.
Good on you Eric, speaking up against BMW when we all know you love them so so much.
Keep up the great content, I always look forward to something new from you because the engine teardown videos are starting to seem all the same now, not because of you, just the same thing for the most part is all.
I'm starting to feel this way towards almost anything newer than a 2000. Beemer or not.
It's why I still drive a 99 suburban c2500 7.4l
Same. Which is why I have a 97 7.3 powerstroke that I'm fixing up.
Right there with you have a 2015 ram 1500 5.7 alternator 750 not from dealer from Autozmone😊
My 92 RamCharger is a daily
Right there with you man, I got rid of my hot cars and bought a townhome. Just have a little Hyundai accent and might pick up a used Prius pretty soon here.
216th! Eric, I’ve always wanted a BMW since I saw a 633i in the 1980s. And a 7 series in the 90s. But after taking to a mechanic or two, I changed my mind. I went S class Mercedes instead. I’ve had nothing but great cars that didn’t and don’t cost much more than a Ford or a Chevrolet to own and drive. All you have to do with any car is check the oil religiously and have preventative maintenance done two or three times a year after it goes off warranty. Love your videos. Roger in Pierre South Dakota
Rule of Thumb: Never buy a used Cheap Luxury Car!!
A friend of mine bought a cheap used Audi A6 Avant. Exterior? Beautiful. Interior? A bit worn but fine. Drivetrain? Multiple gaskets/seals were flat out rotten and it puked oil. Barely lasted 3 months.
I am hoping my 2013 Cayenne Turbo with 37k miles lasts. But I am always dreading starting it up in the odd case something goes wrong.
There are handfuls of Acuras and Lexus' that are worth buying, although Lexus does tend to not be cheap
I got 380K miles on my 2006 Mercedes still runs like new. Original engine trans even starter and alternator
Yep. A friend was gifted a Jag. I helped him get it running, and then told him all of the stuff that *would* go wrong in the near future.
Choosing this video for the random glaze comment: Thanks for all the content. I've learned so much about just engines in general, what can and will go wrong, and how to not have that happen to you from these. My crappy chevy econobox has got 100k miles on it the 2.5 years since I got it and functions better than it ever did simply by paying attention and addressing issues when they first show up. For the cost of a couple hundred bucks in parts and a few weekends of my extremely unskilled labor, I have a beater that by all indications should last me several more years. On top of that, any vehicle I get in the future will benefit from the same approach.
That labor time is WAYYYYYY low, did an F10 n63, that job was right under 50 hours book time
that was literally my original estimate before he started looking at book time lol
I heard that the 4th version of the N63 (TU3) V8 was vastly improved reliability-wise (and power-wise). Been on forums and people are pretty happy with the engine. Guess being sued almost to oblivion really got BMW to design a reliable V8 engine.
“Endless money pits.”
-Scotty Kilmer
Scotty Kilmer dosn't know jack sh!t about non American cars. He's also a w@nker in general
Seriously… I had Audis most of my adult life and finally jumped ship after my 2016 S5 kept having recurring issues with the coolant system and the valve covers. I stayed on top of the recommended maintenance and spend a fortune getting issues repaired but they KEPT creeping up and this car was in the shop longer than I’ve had any other car in the shop. Eventually got a $13k invoice for repairs, sold it quickly to a dealership and bought a Lexus. Haven’t looked back. Shame because the supercharger was a blast to listen to. But the peace of mind is priceless.
@@lololmao7 "But the peace of mind is priceless" Amen I have to have my car work reliably as a daily driver. I have to go to work pick up the kids for a dozen different things a week. I could not afford the down time and the worry of " What was that noise?" every time I started it. It would drive me crazy. I see so many BMWs that look great but are junked for reasons like this. I have some wear on my drivers seat in my Accord with 174,000 miles and im looking up where to find replacement leather for it because I know I have another 100,000 miles left in her.
Saw some commenters noting "just need to keep on maintenance, and make sure timing chains are maintained.." eww the requirement of tearing into an engine for regular maintenance. Be on the lookout post timing chain adjustment wow. Makes sense why BMW donates heavily to the US car rating/safety people....
would be so cool if there was a way of swapping an LS for cheap into one of these
@@scottchadbourne4759LS > Modular
No, it really wouldn't 😂
The only thing is that the engine electronics are so intertwined with the rest of the car that’s nearly impossible
I know someone that put a turbo ls into a x5m and calls it the German Tahoe, it's also pretty rowdy and is for sale
It's been done in a 5 series. The 7 series doesn't make as much sense because they are too heavy to drag race.
Eric dunking on N62/63 equipped BringMoreWallet's gives me life. Always surprised when he doesn't mention the Medusa's head of a wiring harness on those nightmares
Honestly you could do another video on all the things wrong with this engine. It's a masterpiece of bad engineering.
YOU and CQA have convinced me to keep mu 04' K24 alive and kicking. Thanks!
@I_Do_Cars 1000% this. Ive been a BMW tech for 20 years and have condemned MANY of these over the years. People don't realize that a new N63 from BMW is upwards of $60k Canadian, before labour and extra parts. When people say "its only 25 hours to R+R" they don't consider that the used boat anchor.... uh... N63 you're installing ALSO needs guides, chains, pan gaskets, drain block, PCV hoses, injectors, rear coolant cover and likely turbos and valve stem seals. Thats EASILY $15K in additional parts and labour just to make the replacement used engine reliable.
To do this job properly, even with a used engine, EASILY out values the car.
I've had customers pay for many engine jobs over the years, but NEVER an N63.
They're junk. Its not worth it. Save the $20-30k and buy a 4Runner lol.
How are the revised tu versions holding up?
Yeah right it’s not 60k Canadian. You can get a remanufactured n63 for 4k with another 2k for labor to install it. I checked with a bmw shop and they told me they have replaced those engines with a remanned engine for 8000 usd.
Remanufactured by who? A reman n63 from bmw Canada is $37668.
Plus (very likely) 8 injectors at a grand each since they’re probably all seized and another $5k in other parts and bits. Plus labour.
I’ve worked with the brand for 20 years. There is no way you get a rebuilt n64 at a bmw dealer in Canada for what you’re saying.
If you’re talking used, then sure $4k is pretty normal for a used one…. Which is just going to blow up anyways without $10-15k in work (at a dealer)
They’re very VERY expensive boat anchors.
@@aaronjudt1487 you’re ripping people off. There are TH-cam channels of people replacing those for 8k usd. The shop I’m talking about has very good reviews and yeah they really do swap those engines with remanned engines for 8k total. I’m in the US though not n Canada. Plus you might be thinking of the m5 engine the s63
The part where you said it’s 60k Canadian dollars before labor is such a lie. That’s scamming people if you’re doing that. It’s an old engine too, not a brand new one. Are you referring to a new 2024 n63 with all the updates? That might make some sense. There’s no way an old 2011 model n63 costs that much. Because the car in the video has the old first iteration n63 from 2011
Fun fact, the last modern BMW engine with a dipstick is the diesel powered N47 in my 2014 BMW 328d. I think the last year of the 328d was 2018, and up until the end it had a dipstick. It still has the stupid electronic measurement from the iDrive screen, but it’s nice that I don’t have to use it when changing my oil. Especially since you can’t read the oil level until the engine is warm and as you may know, diesels take much longer to warm up than gasoline powered cars.
As the 1 year owner of a barn find 2008 E60 550i I can relate. My electronic dipstick is 2 dots down... trying not to panic.
B47 (successor of N47 still has it, at least in my F11
@@sebastiendebuisson5380 Same, and they're a piece of piss to work on. Great engine.
Such a shame, a high price used to mean quality and value. BMW living off their glory years. Customers will wake up eventually you'd think.
Really enjoyed this "video essay" of sorts and all the snark and jokes packed within! These engines are wild to me - how was something so obsurdly problematic allowes to continue as long as it did? I tell everyone to run from them as quickly as they see them 😂
"If you can't afford a new BMW, you definitely can't afford a used BMW."
I had never heard this and literally lol'd as I'm looking at used E90s
I have a 2013 X50i, the valve stem seals were replaced by a dealer covered by the campaign, I replaced turbo oil return housing and lines myself, the 2 repairs solved the oil consumption issue and the car runs great.
The best is when a new replacement engine blows up quickly because the oil cooler was never cleaned out!
We refuse to work on early N63 at the shop as it will just end in heart break. Its a disaster even with continuous technical updates they are still crap. Rod bearings are still a thing, the coolant lines to the turbo are a popular item.
Not a normal video- not a problem. I appreciate your variety of subjects, type of videos, and your comments are all worth my time. Besides, I have learned a lot!
I have a personal rule, and that is to not buy European cars. They are expensive to buy, expensive to fix and they break down, I have purchased Japanese cars since 1985 and I have never been let down. They run and run, and they hold their value. I had Hondas from 1985 to 1991, Since then I have had four Lexus LS. Love them. They are not cheap, but I don't have problems with them and they hold their value. I know, an old man's car, but then, I'm an old man,
🎉
An entirely better way to live!
Same here, except I'll admit that the Mercedes dealer that is 2 hrs from the tiny town where I live has very excellent service that will loan you a car so you can go to Costco while your MB is getting an oil change. The local Ford & Toyota dealer really ticked me off a few years ago, didn't apologize, and I'll hold that grudge forever. It is a good thing my old Lexus LS460 never needs repairs!
@@DavidHaile_profile Excellent service used to be the MB way. As well as excellent cars all around. They deserved the slightly higher prices they got. Safety also. And prestige. Those were good days. Hope they can get there again. Definitely not as bad as VW cheating customers.
...but Japanese cars don't look good.
Thank you for sharing this video.
I am so glad you put up these videos in your channel, for me this is the way to know which vehicle brands I will avoid entirely!
Both of those lasted about as long as BMW intended. Out of warranty.
After that, a working used car is competition against a new car, and BMW doesn't make any money on used car sales.
I like all of the content, especially using your knowledge to help the rest of us out! Thanks!
This is why consumer reports says to never buy a used German car, unless a classic VW. Cars you can rebuild the engine in a couple of hours. Simple is better! Currently fighting with an O2 sensor connector that I can't reach- tempted to cut the damn wire and just put in a new O2 sensor. Changing an entire engine wiring harness on a modern car is a nightmare!
I like the tow hook in front. Very practical.
Do you hear that sound? The LS swap parrots have arrived! They are a very resilient creature with a seemingly unbreakable spirit. Though some have succeeded in turning their dreams into reality, many will never know the glory of following through on the words they preach. Even so, I have full confidence that this species will flourish over many centuries and continue to spread their gospel. A thousand years from now, there will be a video posted of a light speed capable spacecraft, and just like clockwork there will be multiple comments posted suggesting that an LS swap could be completed in less than 15 minutes for a total cost of $100.
BwacK! How dare you say I'm a parrot?! I, and my feathered flock refute you, unless you have crackers.
P.S. We're tight with the Pigeons and we know where you park, if you get my drift...
OK, so what am I supposed to do with my Ford 302 rebuild? None of the gaskets or seals
will ever leak, guaranteed! I used extra RTV sealer. (The species is doomed)
@@scubasteve06 hahaha I'm one of the guys that suggested an LS swap...
In all seriousness, what's your point of view with this specific case, what would you do If you absolutely have to make this 7 series run for cheap again?
I just don't like the idea of "there's nothing to do with this car anymore" I know there are some extreme exceptions but I enjoy thinking about possible actual viable solutions.
Nah, K swap it
spoilsport. I came here and was about to say the same thing. 😑
I have a 2014 BMW ALPINA B7 with 103k miles… it’s super solid… within the next couple of months I’m going to do my timing chain and 6 months after that, knockout my rod bearings…
A lot of the problems people have with their BMWs is that they do very little of preventative maintenance besides the oil change and sometimes they slack on even dong that… (owner error)
I’m at peace…
Change your oil frequently, don’t rag out your car, properly warn up your engine before driving hard, if not , you’re destroying your rod bearings… if you have a direct injection engine, add an oil catch can… and yes, the timing chain do explain and stretches out over time and the timing chain guides do break because of high mileage and a hot engine, the plastic overheats and gets brittle…
But with all cars if you treat them like crap, it will turn into crap…
Suddenly....my 2009 Honda Accord is looking pretty good! 237k miles and it runs almost perfectly.
It is a rotten shame that such a beautiful car isn't worth fixing.
Not providing an engine oil dipstick is crazy but a monitoring system that's even more unreliable is something else 😳 Such a shame that an otherwise nice car is just not worth fixing though.
A visiting nurse I know (my wife was her patient) wanted a really comfortable, good handling car because she drives over one hundred miles a day. She mention loving the BMW 5 series and that a local dealer had one with low miles at a great price. I suggested that she RUN the other way, and explained why. Fast forward about two years and the nurse once again has my wife as a patient. Said nurse bought a Mini Cooper, new, instead of the BMW. The car has 120,000 miles on it and is on its SECOND replacement engine. I said, you do realize that Mini is a BMW. She said, yes, unfortunately. Bearing failures due to oiling issues killed both engines..
😂run towards Honda
She wants something comfy and she buys a Mini cooper? Weird lol She should bought a Lexus ES350 or GS350 and call it a day!
Bet she stuck to bmw service schedule as well….
Thanks! [3 BMW family, but 6s and no engine issues.]
Just replace this engine with a Harbor Freight V2 engine :)
ya about 10 of them. and then bolt on turbos and then...
Robot cantina reference?
@@Justgreen89925 :)
Love this video format and content even more than your normal one! Keep up the innovation. ❤
The only thing more expensive than a new BMW is a used one.
I changed my bmw hood plate to P.O.S. peace of shit. 2009 328.i
I have always loved BMWs. The pinnacle of "driving experience." I own and drive Hondas and Toyotas. You read between the lines. My "ricers" are boring as all hell, but they never tear up.
BMWs pride and joy is the inline six cylinder motor, period. Usually 3 litres of displacement 225 to 255 bhp. If they want to bore and stroke it out 4 litres, fine. But if you even look at their twin turbo anything, you are asking for it! You have been warned. Their best motor to this day is called the M54, 1998 - 2003. Their best model is the 530i.
Exactly
Twin turbos aren't necessarily the problem because the M57 is twin turbo and it's much more reliable.
Their first gen V8s back in the 90s were pretty good though.
You're so right about that, I have owned BMWS since 2008, the naturally aspirated ones are the best. My m54 320i e46 manual tranny has been with me for 11 years with no issue, now I just bought the e90 with no dipstick and electric water pump gives me the runaround but still reliable though, I avoid turbocharged motors, it puts strain on the engines, fast, yet but lotsa trouble.
@@Autilorizzgoneee The turbo 6 cylinder ones are still sort of OK, the V8s is where the most problems lie.
i have a 2008 535i. Spent many 10 hours total, and around 4k in repair parts. It has 190k miles and still runs. I know my reverse sol is going out and i need to replace my motor/tranny mounts, but Its starting to come down to "is it worth my time". This car has been a real trooper. I recently bought a 2022 M550i because of how well my 08 treated me. But that being said. I feel alot of the issues that happens is because of bad drivers. Or should i say operators. When something went wrong or i thought something was going wrong in my car, heck all my cars. I fixed it right away. I didn't sit on it just to hope it went away. I think the problem is that alot of operators are not car people much less mechanically inclined. So when they buy something as complicated as a BMW they just don't know there might be an actual issue when something "weird" happens.
A recipe for financial disaster, a high tech German V8 with twin turbos nestled in the valley
in a cramped engine bay surrounded by lots of plastic bits and pieces, what could go wrong? That is NOT good engineering.
I call it German intellectual masturbation
BMW hasn't had anything that was good engineering in the past 20 years, and made some really terrible decisions for the last 30 years.
Turbos in the valley..yet koniggsegg figured out how to do it properly for 2 million
@@kurtjammer9568 $2 million eh? About the running costs to keep a German car on the road.
@@ouch1011 Yeah, sounds about right. The old M30 engine was incredibly reliable; everything after that...not so much.
I've had a couple N63 non tu 750s, my last was a 2009 F01 with every imaginable package aside from extended leather.. Active sway bars, night vision, silky smooth active suspension, etc. I don't regret owning any N63 car a bit. I did the smart thing and bought it being an incredibly well maintained car. Oil changes since new every 4-5k miles, transmission service done (at the dealer?!), and so much more. Just a super meticulous last owner. Weirder enough, they kept the original engine aside from MAFs, Injectors, and a total reseal during the CCP "recall". I drove it till 155(?),000 miles with 0 issues. It burned about a quart of oil per 5,000 - I never had a CEL, I did need to replace one of the active shocks, but I went low mileage used for $100. Total maintenance and repair cost for it over maybe 50,000 miles was under $1000.
My other one grenaded at 70,000 miles..dueee to oil pan damage. Hah, got you. New $3800 long block FROM BMW!! and about a days worth of labour and it was as nice as the other, little more to do in the suspension but still.
Both cars were under $6000 [each] in total. N63 cars really aren't as bad as people say if you find one that *Has Been Taken Care Of*. Which is rare, especially with BMW's stupid service recommendations and general cost of parts and labour hour.
Upscale German cars are built to be expensive. They are expensive to buy, insure, run, AND maintain. Only Stellantis products are actively worse to own.
I own a DS 7 from 2019 with 102.000km. It’s like a new car, no rattles,everything works and the engine runs smoothly.
I had a Mercedes E350 Bluetec turbodiesel. The first time I took the beauty cover off it was so complicated that it looked like a jet engine on a 747.
It IS indeed as complicated, trust me.
I'm watching this while im literally living in my BMW, which I've been living in for 9 months now
I used to have a cashmere silver 740d. Such a lovely car.
For that type of car, that interior is filthy and was obviously owned by someone who didn’t give a shit about it.
I just got a 2020 X5 M50i I’m going to be doing preventative maintenance on it this weekend. It’s only got 60k on it and it’s a really nice ride.
My uncle started driving BMW's in the early 1980's 535. Then he stepped up to the 750's with the 12 cylinder engines. He passed away in 2008 and still had his 1999/2000 750 I don't recall him ever having any real issues with any of them. I think that was back when BMW was a lot better car. I tried talking him into buying a Mercedes as this was what I was driving or what I bought my wife to drive and it was probably the best car I've ever owned.
A friend of mine has several V12s in his yard . I asked why and he replied that his idea is put one in his Miura!!!! He says the lambo is not reliable enough and would rather it remain in his house as an ornament than have it die in the road ..😢😅😅
BMW and other German cars had higher quality parts back then. Nowadays, they use a lot of plastic parts where they should really be using metal, such as with couplers and flanges.
The M73 isn’t a bad motor. That V12 is pretty reliable if kept in good order. But it just doesn’t have a lot of power. But it is very smooth.
I liked the video. I love finding out the good and bad with these types of automobiles..
Tinted windshield tells you who owned it. Lack of maintenance didn't help.
who would that be?
@@uknterror508😂anyone in a sunny state
@@uknterror508Some colorful individuals
@@wills5482 That makes no sense, neither comment
Usual suspects
I've had two BMW; both with multiple electrical gremlins and busted by about 120,000 miles. love em, but only any good from new/nearly new.
I bought a 2011 550ix a few years ago with 90k miles, I’m at 130k miles. Recently had to fix the entire front end, both front axles, and sure enough right after that I needed to replace an injector which was $400 😭 my engine had the “CCP” done at 50k miles, so that’s… something? Haha, I absolutely love this car when it works. When it doesn’t, it’s horribly scary and annoying. I’ve gone through PCV valves left and right. Oh, and if you need to do valve cleaning, good luck! As soon as these start having misfires, the ECU will cut your injectors and make a nightmare for you. Then you’ll be spraying GDI cleaner into a horribly finicky car and crossing your fingers 😭 thank god I got the car for $10k and don’t have to care if it blows up. Oh, and yeah the hose leaks, don’t get me started. I have put about 500 hose clamps and replaced the turbo coolant lines with fuel hose. Screw it, it’ll outlast the rest of the engine hahaha! Oh, edit, I forgot to mention that the hardware for the waste gate actuator is all wallowed out and jingles around. I’m not getting a low boost code… yet. Lmao. And oh, you better be good with computers too and obtaining the proper software, just in case you want to read from any of the 24 or 26 modules. And if you like getting into your car when it’s 10 degrees F outside, good luck. My driver door handle will not budge when it gets too cold outside, so I jump over the center console all winter. Car makes great power and is a blast in the winter, totally a 8/10 right? 😭💸 I think I’ve realized that I just like pain idk
tldr: no, don’t buy one, I agree
You bought an F10, one of the worst 5-series ever made and certainly the ugliest one (in my opinion). Drives the worst too, more like an E-class Mercedes Benz than a real 5-series BMW. E39, E60, G30 and G60 are way better. Also BMW has always made really good 6-cylinder inline engines and they still do (B58 is probably the best modern inline 6 engine). BMW's diesel engines have always been great, with the N47 being an exception, but that's an inline 4-cylinder.
If your door doesn't open when its cold, you need to change the cable for the door handle, it freezes and jams because moisture has gotten into it over time.
My advice would be to get rid of that 550ix and replace it with a B58-engine G30 or G20.