When you buy a BMW, maintenance is another issue that will be on your mind. Owning an automobile requires regular maintenance. It implies that you won’t have to spend as much money on repairs and that the automobile will keep a decent resale value in the event that you decide to sell it.
Due to their higher original cost, BMWs will inevitably cost more to maintain than, say, a Nissan. Their repair work could be more challenging and their parts are more expensive. This may increase the cost of maintenance.
Let’s see how the BMW models compare to the average repair costs provided by ReliabilityIndex for a variety of makes and models;
We might conclude that maintaining a BMW is pretty pricey. But that’s because they are pricey automobiles. Particularly if you need someone to fix your performance M3, the parts and labor are likely more expensive.
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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.
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According to the research, the Fiat Punto is the least expensive car to maintain, costing just PS255 year. However, this vehicle recently received a dismal zero-star rating from the Euro NCAP test.
According to the WhoCanFixMyCar data, the Peugeot 206 (PS283) came in second, followed by the Mercedes A-Class (PS289), the Citroen C4 (PS293), and the Renault Megane (PS310), rounding out the top five.
The BMW 5 Series, which costs PS585, came in last on the list of most expensive vehicles to maintain.
With prices of PS518 and PS486 respectively, the 1 Series and 3 Series take the fourth and fifth ranks in the list of the most expensive vehicles to maintain alongside it.
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.
Which BMW model do you own?
The true surprise lies here. The cost of maintenance will be pretty minimal if you own an ancient BMW that was popular back in the day, like an E30 3 Series, for instance. It’s not a sophisticated automobile, so there aren’t many electronics or speciality parts, and since it was a widely sold model, replacement parts are easy to get and labor costs aren’t too high.
However, if you have a brand-new BMW 7 Series, it will cost much more because its parts are more expensive and high-tech. It is also much more complex, which means there are more potential problems and you must rely on more expensive specialists to work on it.
Therefore, when commentators and YouTubers make generalizations about how expensive it is to sustain any business, they are merely selling you clickbait.
Of course, certain BMWs cost a lot to maintain because they are difficult to repair and unreliable, like the E65 BMW 7 Series, which is a complete nightmare. However, some vehicles, like an E46 BMW 3 Series or an E39 BMW 5 Series, are manageably simple and affordable to maintain when done correctly.
Why BMW maintenance costs so much
Because it’s a German car with specialized parts and technology, maintaining a BMW is pricey. BMW is not only a vehicle to move passengers from point A to point B; it is designed for driving aficionados. BMW’s advanced technology calls a specialized certification to be repaired correctly. A skilled BMW mechanic will possess the knowledge necessary for a thorough and effective repair.
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.
Are genuine BMW parts 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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Are repairs on BMWs expensive?
This German automaker has grown to become one of the most well-known automobile brands globally since 1916. Due to their extensive appeal, BMW’s range of high-end luxury vehicles is appreciated by everyone from regular drivers to celebrities and even the most well-known spy in the world. In fact, just between January 1 and October 1, 2021, the U.S. experienced 243,613 BMW sales!
BMW offers up to 16 different vehicle designs in total, ranging from the sporty BMW M series to the compact X1 series. BMWs will cost more to maintain and repair than other makes and models because they are luxury cars. BMW owners should budget upwards of $1,000 to $1,700 annually for maintenance and repairs.
Are UK Audi components pricey?
The short answer is that yes, in general, Audi parts are somewhat pricey. Audi cars can really be notoriously expensive to fix in large part due to the cost and sporadic shortage of these parts. Audi owners frequently discover that this is true for even the most regular tasks, such as steering and suspension work, battery replacement, brake and exhaust system maintenance, and electrical component repair (including infotainment systems).
For drivers, the gearbox can be a particularly pricey problem because even a simple car gearbox repair might cost more than PS400. A reconditioned gearbox will cost a driver an outrageous PS700, and that rises up to more than PS500 for manual gearbox repairs.
Due to all of this, MOT inspections and regular maintenance for Audi vehicles may end up being significantly more expensive than their equivalents for less expensive brands, like Renault or Peugeot. Audi is one of the most expensive automobile brands to maintain, even more so than other premium brands like Mercedes and BMW, which is maybe not unexpected.
It’s important to keep in mind, though, that the value you receive from car repairs is significantly determined by the vehicle’s overall reliability in addition to the cost of the repairs itself. If those same repairs need to be done more frequently, any savings you first realize from cheaper repairs may start to soon become insignificant. In these kinds of situations, the more costly repairs for the more expensive car could initially appear like the less preferable alternative, but if those repairs need to be made less frequently, it may end up giving you the best value over time.
Due to their high quality standards and perhaps exclusive design for certain models, Audi parts can frequently be more expensive. This may ultimately result in their having a longer operational lifespan and offering drivers a better value. It’s not a strict rule, of course, but that’s only one of the difficulties in selecting a new car.
How much does a BMW require in maintenance?
Remove the Band-Aid now. Every 10,000 miles, BMW owners may anticipate paying between $150 and $400 per service. A significant service may cost up to $3,000 or more. In the end, owners spend more on maintenance and repairs than most brands, between $1,000 and $1,700 annually.
You may always purchase an extended warranty, either directly from BMW or through a third-party service contract, if you’re concerned about future ownership costs. Standard BMW maintenance expenditures are not covered by a car warranty, but it will cover pricey items that are more prone to break over time.
We’ve combed the market and selected a handful of the top third-party extended vehicle warranty companies because there are many possibilities for extended coverage. These are businesses who did well in regards to things like price, standing, and customer support.
To help you reduce your out-of-pocket vehicle ownership costs, compare the best BMW extended warranty packages above.
Why are used BMWs so inexpensive?
The oversupply of BMWs on the used market is one factor contributing to their low price. Similar to other products, when there is a surplus and a decrease in demand, the price of the commodity falls. If you’ve ever looked at a new BMW, you’ll note that practically every model has excellent lease offers. But what takes place when those vehicles are rented, returned, and then traded in?
BMW lease returns are normally either sold at auction or offered for sale as certified pre-owned vehicles on dealer lots. Additionally, when dealer lots are overflowing with CPO vehicles, it lowers the cost of the vehicles not just for dealerships but also for individual sellers. And whether you’re a dealer or an individual selling a car on the street, you must price the vehicle you’re selling in accordance with the going rates in the market in order to maintain a competitive edge.
Which vehicles cost the most to repair in the UK?
The study compared the costs of annual maintenance, MOTs, and unforeseen repairs for the 50 most prevalent models on UK roads. It used more than five million bids from the Whocanfixmycar website to examine vehicles from new to fifteen years old and calculate an average annual cost.
While reasonable expenses were topped by modest mainstream models like the Punto and 206, premium cars unexpectedly turned out to have the highest repair prices.
The Mercedes C-Class and BMW 5 Series were the most expensive models, with an average yearly maintenance cost of PS585 for each (PS557). The third-placed VW Passat was followed by two other BMWs, the 1 and 3 Series, in the list of the top five most costly vehicles.
- PS585 BMW 5 Series (per year)
- PS557 Mercedes C Class
- PS543 for the Volkswagen Passat
- PS518 BMW 1 Series
- PS486 for the BMW 3 Series
However, Mercedes’ A-Class was actually among the least expensive to maintain, with an average yearly cost of PS289, slightly below the Peugeot 206.