Maintaining and making repairs on a secondhand BMW is continual. The more mileage a used car gets, the more wear and tear you should take into account. A used BMW could cost more than other pre-owned vehicles. But you can also end up paying extra due to the expense of replacement parts and the servicing they require.
Rear-wheel drive and a powerful engine are hallmarks of BMW vehicles. Finding a used BMW car is simple, which can help you prevent the depreciation that happens as soon as a new car leaves the lot. The best choice may be to purchase a used BMW that is five or six years old from a financial standpoint.
Having the resources you require can assist you in finding the car that best suits your requirements, extending its lifespan, and lowering the overall cost of ownership a BMW. The following are the fundamentals you should be aware of when purchasing a secondhand BMW.
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Objections To Purchasing A Used BMW
BMW is renowned for producing some of the best driving machines the world has ever seen, yet the majority of mechanics will advise you to steer clear of pre-owned models.
Once upon a time, BMW was a renowned automaker, a premium German brand with a lengthy history and an amazing collection of vehicles crisscrossing the globe. Sadly, though, circumstances are now different for the employees at the Bavarian Motor Works. The brand has been permanently damaged with prior owners and do-it-yourselfers due to an emphasis on producing mass-market automobiles that don’t age well.
August 2021 revision: You’ll be delighted to know that we’ve updated this post and go into more detail about the many issues a Bavarian automobile owner may run into if they decide to purchase a used BMW. This should assist you in making the greatest choice for your upcoming automobile purchase.
The majority of knowledgeable owners and mechanics will advise you to avoid used BMWs, especially those manufactured within the previous 20 years or so. Simply put, they are not worth the money you will undoubtedly have to invest in them. They are expensive to repair, have expensive replacement parts, and require a lot of labor.
They certainly have a cool appearance and a certain charm. But when you force personal checks to pour in at the neighborhood Euro repair shop, that beautiful siren tune will finally hit a string of unfavorable notes. Here are 15 compelling arguments against buying a used BMW.
Observations to make when purchasing a used BMW
We advise choosing a non-turbo engine because it will be easier and less expensive to maintain than a turbo engine. The same is true for four-wheel drive: if you don’t require it, a rear-wheel drive vehicle will cost less to fix.
When inspecting a used BMW, make sure you thoroughly test all the equipment, such as the Bluetooth, Bluetooth, stereo system, power seats, and windows.
Power locks need to be thoroughly examined as well because they frequently have issues.
Carefully inspect the heater and air conditioner. A loud blower motor should be avoided. Verify that the blower motor is operational at all speeds. Consider air pockets in the cooling system if there is a lack of heat coming from the vents at idling but good heat when driving or revving the engine. This could indicate more serious issues.
Since water is the enemy of electronics, look for water damage and corrosion under the carpet, including in the trunk. Make sure the key in a newer automobile fits snugly in the key holder.
A Be wary if the tires are low on air because there have been reports of hairline cracks in the alloy rims that are responsible for air leakage. The flaws are quite minute and difficult to spot.
Keep an eye out for coolant smells and leaks behind the hood. If the coolant level is low or it appears as though coolant was splashing out of the expansion reservoir, as in this picture, be wary. Was the engine hot enough? Avoid using engines that are too hot.
Keep an eye out for burnt oil odors beneath the hood and thoroughly inspect for oil leaks. It’s not a good omen that the 3-series in the picture below has a significant oil leak.
Because the seals and gaskets in overheated engines grow hard and brittle, they are more likely to have oil leaks.
When the N54 engine (335i, 535i) is started cold, a long crank and a choppy idle typically signify a failed high pressure fuel pump.
Check to see if the tires are run-flat. Run-flat tires cost a lot of money to replace. Many owners use standard tires and store a spare or tire repair kit in the trunk.
Watch out for jerky shifts in the transmission and clunks in the drivetrain during the test drive.
If the car has a manual transmission, all of the gears ought should engage without any grinding. Suspect a worn out clutch disc if the clutch engages closer to the top of the clutch pedal travel.
Check to see if the 4WD system engages and disengages if the vehicle has 4WD. It would be beneficial to be able to test the 4WD system in slick terrain.
Be alert for warning signals and lights. Before making a purchase, any caution light must be carefully investigated. Also see: What to test for when buying a used automobile.
The mechanical condition of a used BMW is far more significant when purchasing one than its age or mileage. Avoid driving in vehicles with accident history or ones whose engines have experienced excessive heat. Look at the history report for a used car. Have the automobile thoroughly evaluated by a mechanic who specializes in BMW before you sign the contract.
Is it wise to purchase a pre-owned BMW?
Like other premium automakers, BMW loses value more quickly than brands from the general market. When purchased brand-new, they are expensive but substantially less costly when resold. In reality, a survey reveals that used luxury cars typically cost between 30 and 40% less than new ones.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class, a popular used Mercedes model, was 34.5% less expensive secondhand, or nearly $23,000 less. The Lincoln MKZ was comparable, costing $14,328 and 33.7%.
The top 10 cars to purchase new versus used didn’t include any BMW vehicles, but considering how luxurious they are, they’d be right there. According to the report, businesses and people were leasing BMWs before upgrading to newer models, which caused the poor resale value.
Because they take into account the cost of premium car upkeep, luxury cars like BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche sometimes have low resale values. Parts for less well-known cars like Toyotas and Hondas can be hard to come by. Although this would have been a problem in the past, dealers now have more readily available parts and accessories.
Compared to high-resale economy versions, these luxury vehicles have a poor resale value. Only 8.9% less was paid for the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited when it was purchased used. Among the top 10 are primarily Hyundai, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan.
Why does this matter? Luxury cars, including BMW models, make excellent second-hand car purchases. By eliminating the early depreciation that occurs when you purchase one brand-new, you will save money. When you do sell it, you’ll also be a little bit closer to making a profit.
Why do consumers choose BMWs?
Simply said, drivers have practically endless reasons to choose a BMW over a car from another manufacturer since BMW offers the highest performance, safety, and quality out of any luxury automobile brand. After purchasing your first BMW, you won’t ever want to purchase another car from any other manufacturer.
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.
Are used BMW maintenance costs expensive?
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.
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.
Is a vintage BMW dependable?
When examining whether or not BMWs are reliable, the subject of age is crucial. It is frequently discovered that older BMWs—generally those produced in the late 1990s and early 2000s—are more dependable than newer BMWs. Though not always the case, take note. This applies to the majority of other brands as well, not only BMW. Early automobiles from the era have rudimentary engineering and construction. There is less of a possibility that something could go wrong because of the simplicity of the mechanical or electronic components.
Even if they do, correcting them won’t be that expensive. Newer cars, on the other hand, are quite high-tech. The iDrive entertainment system, external safety sensors, as well as the extensive web of wiring, computers, and electrics running throughout the full length of the car, are just a few of the many electrical components found in BMWs in particular. The modern engineering of newer BMWs can make them more prone to problems. Not to mention pricey, particularly once the warranty expires.
In reality, the majority of the components and labor needed to maintain and repair BMWs are identical to those for other models. Certain parts inevitably need to be replaced. The same issues might arise with a regular Honda or Toyota, but BMW’s high-performance parts will cost more just for the raw materials. In addition, labor costs are greater for BMWs because they require more time from mechanics than the ordinary vehicle. In general, you can easily expect your BMW repair price to be $1,000 or more.