Beyond the sticker price, a car’s true cost of ownership is higher. For instance, maintenance costs might mount up significantly over time. Your mileage will change, though, depending on the vehicle.
We at YourMechanic have a sizable database on the make, model, and type of maintenance performed on the vehicles we have serviced. We made the decision to use our data to identify the vehicles with the greatest maintenance expenses and the most frequent breakdowns. First, we investigated which well-known brands had the highest maintenance costs throughout the first ten years of a car’s lifespan. To determine their average cost by brand, we categorized all model years by brand. We discovered the amount spent on every two oil changes in order to estimate annual maintenance expenditures (as oil changes are generally done every six months).
Their research showed that BMWs were by far the most expensive to maintain, costing $US17,800 ($23,930) over a 10-year period. They discovered that luxury brands were generally the most expensive, but many affordable cars still performed well.
According to the list, Toyota had the greatest value for maintenance. The second and third most affordable brands, respectively, were Scion and Lexus (both are part of the Toyota group).
Check out the chart below for maintenance expenses for all the brands. Even if the prices are shown in US dollars, you can still get a decent idea of which automobiles in Australia require the most maintenance by looking at the list.
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FAQ: BMW Repair Prices
Yes, BMW servicing is more expensive than many other manufacturers, whether they are premium or not, once the warranty expires. Over a ten-year period, a BMW may cost $12,000 more to maintain than a Toyota and $5,000 more than a Mercedes-Benz.
Because it’s a German car with specialized parts and technology, maintaining a BMW is pricey. It’s not merely a car to get people from point A to point B; it was designed for driving aficionados. A $400 battery replacement, for instance, might be necessary because the mechanic must register the battery with the engine control module. If not, the battery risk of an early demise since the vehicle won’t “know” how to charge it.
Additionally, the Digital Motor Electronics (DME) system in cars connects countless sensors and controls. A BMW may require a sophisticated method for a simple repair on another vehicle, which increases labor expenses.
Yes, a 3-Series BMW requires pricey maintenance once the manufacturer or certified pre-owned warranty has expired. A used BMW 3-Series typically costs $1,000 to $1,700 per year in maintenance and repairs.
A BMW 328i oil change can cost between $149 and $174, according to RepairPal. Nevertheless, depending on your area and BMW model, you can pay more than that.
BMWs are expensive to maintain.
BMWs are by far the most expensive car manufacturer to repair, claims Your Mechanic. The competition is not even close. With an average maintenance cost of $17,800 over ten years, BMW comes in #1. Mercedes-Benz came in second with an average maintenance cost of $12,900 during a 10-year period. In contrast, the typical Toyota only cost $5,500 to maintain during a 10-year period because they are recognized for requiring less maintenance.
According to Your Mechanic, such high maintenance costs are usual in German premium vehicles. Audi comes in sixth with an average $12,400 maintenance expense over a 10-year period. This is primarily a result of the pricey, high-end parts that these luxury vehicles require. Naturally, it will cost a lot of money to fix those pieces when they break or need maintenance.
However, while being premium vehicles, they also have ongoing problems. For instance, according to Your Mechanic, a BMW is four times more likely to not start than a typical automobile. It was ranked seventh overall as a result. Additionally, the window regulator on the BMW required replacement 18 times more frequently than the window regulator on the ordinary car.
Where do the additional expenditures for European autos originate from?
The dealership tax comes first. As we mentioned before, it is nearly always more expensive to get your automobile serviced at the dealership. However, automobile owners may be reluctant to take their vehicles elsewhere, particularly when using a European car service. The engines in automobiles vary from one another, but until recently, European cars and their technologies were very dissimilar. Modern European vehicles typically feature slightly more advanced engines. Therefore, if your technician is unfamiliar with the brand completely, labor expenses may be greater (though this shouldn’t be a significant amount).
The pieces are the real catch, though. The cost of parts for European cars is higher than that of other cars. First off, unlike with Hyundai spare parts, many workshops won’t keep stock of European auto parts. Therefore, they frequently need to order the parts. Second, even without special ordering and delivery, European auto components are typically more expensive because of their greater quality.
Do BMWs cost a lot in Australia?
While a BMW M8 Competition costs more than $235,000 in Australia, on this side of the Atlantic, the Coupe and Gran Coupe cost just $146,000 and $146,000, respectively. This represents a price difference of more than $90,000 for what is essentially the identical vehicle. But is it?
There are many vehicles that are markedly more expensive in Australia, but the BMW M8 appears to be among the most expensive. However, there are a few extras like extended leather upholstery, electronic sun blinds, and Alcantara accents that help offset the higher price. In addition to the Bowers & Wilkins sound system, BMW is also offering the M Carbon package as standard equipment.
Even while all of these accessories, which are often optional, don’t quite reach the $90,000 level, at least some extra equipment is included in the price. It makes you wonder if the additional power provided by the M8 Competition is actually worth that much to you. You might definitely salvage your marriage while you’re at it by purchasing the BMW M850i.
Robert has always had a passion for cars. At a young age, he began working on vehicles, learning the fundamentals from his father in the family garage on the weekends. Robert’s passion in vehicles grew over time, and at the age of 13, he persuaded his father to give him a driving lesson. Robert continued to work on automobiles in his spare time and studied everything he could about engines, transmissions, and automotive electrical systems. This only piqued his interest further and eventually led him to obtain a bachelor’s degree in automotive technology with a primary focus on engine performance and transmission rebuilding.
Are BMW components pricey?
In a nutshell, yes. Compared to other brands, BMW parts are among the most expensive. Additionally, the cost of the parts increases with the age of the BMW.
BMWs require between $5,000 and $12,000 more in maintenance than the majority of automobiles. This is so because BMWs are German automobiles produced with specialized components, technology, and parts.
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Why is a BMW in Australia so expensive?
In the era of the Internet, comparing the costs paid for popular automobile brands in Australia and the US, or anywhere else for that matter, is incredibly simple.
We are already aware of the stances taken by Mercedes-Benz spokesperson David McCarthy and Audi MD Uwe Hagen, but Scott’s response was a particularly helpful illustration of how a vehicle’s specification may obviously alter the landed cost and the final retail price paid by the customer.
Comparative pricing discussions rarely bring up or take into account product specifications. A automobile that has been modified in Australia will undoubtedly cost more when it leaves the manufacturer than a “stripper” sold in Europe, Asia, or the Americas. This is the fundamental premise of Scott’s answer, which was first presented in a comment on another post on our website.
“According to BMW, our vehicles’ different standard specifications are the primary cause of price discrepancies with other markets. Most BMW automobiles imported into Australia come with high-end standard specifications by international standards.
“The most popular 320d package we sell in Australia is the high volume-selling 320d Exclusive Innovations, which has a price of AU$63,800. The same automobile is available in Germany with substantially lower standard specifications. The starting cost is 34,300 euros. Optional extras of 14,300 Euros were added to the car to bring it up to the same specifications as the Australian model, bringing the final cost to 48,600 Euros.
“This amounts to $67,500 Australian dollars at the current (very expensive) exchange rate of 1 AU$ = 0.72 EUR. Therefore, when specifications are taken into account, the 320d is really CHEAPER in Australia.”
“Australia is distinct from other markets in a few key ways as well. Therefore, other factors contributing to price differences include: Australia’s geographic location, which results in greater transportation expenses; higher finance costs as a result of longer journey times; Australian import levies; and, in some cases, the luxury automobile tax.”
Audi has previously stated that its cars are better equipped here than in other, high-volume markets throughout the world. However, we now know that Scott does not speak for other importers. And if two prestige importers agree that their separate products must deliver more of the luxuries the Australian customer expects, for a reasonable price premium, can their rivals afford to do anything less in this fiercely competitive market?
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Why does a BMW cost so much in Australia?
BMW and Mercedes-Benz blame the government for Australia’s exorbitant prices for luxury vehicles, claiming that new automobiles are subject to several taxes, most notably the luxury car tax (LCT). When the goods and services tax was implemented in 2000, the Howard administration also implemented the LCT (GST)
Are BMWs trustworthy in Australia?
Respondents who purchased and utilized a certain brand of automobiles within the last four years were chosen for this poll.
- Mazda: Of the 187 respondents who purchased a Mazda vehicle in the last four years, 83 of them experienced vehicle issues.
- About 49% of respondents said they had an issue with one of their Honda vehicles.
- Toyota: Of the 197 respondents, about 50 reported having a problem with their Toyota vehicles.
- Suzuki: Of the 47 respondents who owned a Suzuki vehicle, 51% reported having an issue with it.
- Subaru: Of the 59 respondents that purchased a Subaru, 53% had a problem with it.
- Kia: Of the 57 respondents who purchased a Kia vehicle in the previous five years, 31 of them reported an issue with their vehicles.
- Mitsubishi: Of the 110 people who responded, 55% had an issue with their Mitsubishi.
- BMW – Surprisingly, BMW is less dependable than we anticipated.
- 57% of 51 BMW owners reported having an issue with their automobiles, according to the data.
- Hyundai – Of the 168 respondents who owned a Hyundai, 102 (or 61%) reported having an issue with their vehicles.
- 61% of the 104 respondents who owned Nissans reported having an issue with their cars.
The most dependable automaker in Australia is without a doubt Mazda. According to CHOICE, the most often reported issues involved in-vehicle electronics, defective batteries, electrical parts, and interior car design.
According to CHOICE, 73% of new automobile owners during the previous five years were covered by warranty, and the majority of those problems were resolved. There are, however, a sizable percentage of automobile owners who received no assistance at all, with women being more likely to be turned away from finding a solution to their issue.
Here are some factors you should take into account before purchasing a new automobile, such as selecting on the form of finance you’d like to utilize (cash, car loan, or lease), driving the vehicle for multiple test drives, and doing a lot of research.