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.
In This Article...
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.
Superior Parts
It’s usually a good idea to only use genuine OEM components produced by BMW when a repair is necessary. Although there are aftermarket possibilities at the neighborhood auto parts shop, the majority are of lower quality. This implies that you’re much more likely to experience early failure.
Replacement parts for BMW cost more, as one might anticipate. The majority of these parts are produced by prestigious companies like Bosch and Bilstein. You are purchasing premium workmanship. Maintaining high-performance vehicles is considerably more expensive. The BMW M5 is a nice illustration. This powerful sports car has improved brakes, performance tires, and a unique sport suspension.
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 is maintaining a BMW so expensive?
BMWs don’t exactly have the best reputation as being affordable cars. Even when compared to other German luxury vehicles, owners commonly complain that the cost of ownership is abnormally exorbitant. You may find out why BMWs cost so much to maintain here.
The cost of maintaining a BMW depends on a variety of additional elements, not all of which are prohibitively expensive if you’re looking at used cars.
affordable insurance
The annual cost of BMW maintenance is between $950 and $1,000, which is significantly higher than the national average. While your real expenses will vary depending on the type you drive and how you operate it, RepairPal gives BMW a reliability rating of 2.5 out of 5.
BMW is a well-known brand that creates high-end sedans, coupes, and convertibles. The two states with the most BMWs in the nation are California and Florida. So how much does it cost to keep a premium car running? Find out by reading on.
Let’s investigate everything from the most expensive BMW to the different services needed: Do BMWs cost a lot to maintain?
Has BMW ever had maintenance problems?
Searching through the various websites that offer reliability data will undoubtedly confirm that BMWs are unreliable automobiles; many show BMW as below average, costing more in annual repairs, ending up in the shop more frequently, and having a higher likelihood of severe, expensive repairs when compared to other auto brands. While it would be absurd to fully ignore these findings, many BMW owners, including ourselves, do not share the prevalent belief that BMWs are wastes of money.
There are undoubtedly some BMWs that have suffered from expensive, persistent problems. Finding horror stories and complaints about dependability is not difficult. On the other hand, a lot of BMWs also reach 100,000 miles with no problems or only a few minor ones. Our 2008 BMW 535i has had more problems than it should have, although our 2007 335i and 2008 135i have generally been dependable vehicles. Remember that these are all N54 engines, which are notorious for being among the least reliable BMW engines, and are all 12–13 years old. Nevertheless, we have a good reliability experience with 2 of the 3.
Given the limited sample size, two out of three may not seem particularly good. The point we are trying to make is that it is difficult to gauge overall reliability and that it actually depends on the individual circumstances. Another BMW may be meticulously kept but have innumerable problems, another one may be poorly maintained but reach 100,000 miles without any problems. This is not exclusive to BMW; you can find examples of this with any automaker.
What about a BMW after 100,000 miles?
Although the average BMW can travel between 100,000 and 250,000 miles, excessive mileage is actually regarded as being a little less than this. Most dealers won’t carry BMWs with mileage over 100,000, and some even think 60-80,000 is a high mileage range for these vehicles.
Therefore, you’ve reached the high mileage area if you’re looking at BMWs with between 60 and 80,000 miles on the odometer. Keep a watch on this because it demonstrates that there are high mileage BMWs available with vastly different mileage estimates.
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.
How frequently must a BMW be serviced?
About every 5,000 miles, or in a year or two, you’ll bring your model in for maintenance. No matter how long you drive on the roads around Philadelphia, the BMW Maintenance Schedule is designed to keep your car running at its peak.
A BMW can it last 300k miles?
When properly maintained and driven cautiously, the BMW 3 Series can endure between 200,000 and 250,000 miles. It will last roughly 13 to 17 years if you drive 15,000 miles per year before needing pricey and uneconomical maintenance. In some cases, the 3 Series can travel up to 300,000 kilometers.
What are some typical BMW issues?
- Engine Cooling Unit. Overheating is a problem that many BMW owners frequently experience.
- Oil Spills.
- Under Braking, the steering wheel vibrates.
- Tail Lamp Unit
Does owning a BMW make sense?
When BMW began promoting its cars as the “Ultimate Driving Machine” in the 1970s, the company soon grew to become one of the world’s top luxury automobile manufacturers.
BMW has a long history of producing eye-catching vehicles and SUVs that receive high praise from automotive writers.
Both auto fanatics and everyday people who just want the best for their vehicles greatly prize them.
Because they are high-performance luxury vehicles with excellent interiors, a smooth ride, high levels of comfort, and some of the best technological features available, BMWs are a good investment. BMW is a brand that embodies high status, and their cars offer an exceptional driving experience.
How durable are BMW cars typically?
With good care, almost any BMW has the ability to last up to 200,000 or even 250,000 miles, and there will always be outliers that last even longer.
Do wealthy people own BMWs?
When they desire dependability and luxury, discerning high-net-worth drivers also insist on the BMW in addition to the Mercedes-Benz. Therefore, it is not unexpected that owners of some of the wealthiest zip codes in the country prefer the 328 luxury car. One of the most popular vehicles in New Vernon, New Jersey and Century City, California, where people earn an average of $750,000 each year, is the $35,795 BMW 328. It also ranks fourth among the 10274 vehicles in Manhattan.
When they desire dependability and luxury, discerning high-net-worth drivers also insist on the BMW in addition to the Mercedes-Benz. Therefore, it is not unexpected that inhabitants of some of the wealthiest zip codes in the country favor the 328.
One of the most popular vehicles in New Vernon, New Jersey and Century City, California, where people earn an average of $750,000 each year, is the $35,795 BMW 328. It’s also one of the most well-liked vehicles in Manhattan’s 10274 zip code, where the average household income is $5.7 million.
Is a BMW or a Mercedes better?
BMW remains the overall champion when it comes to luxury performance, even if the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is one of the best-performing large luxury sedans on the road right now. Customers should choose a BMW automobile if they want performance and style in one convenient package.
Does a BMW require premium gas?
No matter what model you have, BMW advises only using premium unleaded fuel. That’s not to say that your BMW won’t run on inferior fuel, but premium unleaded fuel will keep its quality over time, allowing you to constantly drive at peak performance.
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.