BMW owners spend, on average, $968 annually on maintenance and repairs, according to RepairPal. BMWs are costly to maintain compared to the $652 industry standard. The maintenance costs of BMW are comparable to those of other German luxury models like Mercedes-Benz ($908) and Audi ($987).
The cost of owning a BMW varies based on the car. Compared to its normal commuter line, BMW’s high-performance M line and SUVs are more expensive to maintain. One of the reasons the BMW 3 Series is so well-liked is that it’s one of the most cost-effective versions to maintain.
Using information from RepairPal, the following table compares the cost of maintenance for a select BMW models:
You’ll be glad to learn that a few BMWs include a free maintenance term. Under BMW Ultimate Service, maintenance is included for four years or 50,000 miles on vehicles from the 2015 and 2016 model years. BMW Ultimate Care offers three years or 36,000 miles of maintenance on models made in 2017 and after. If you’re wondering how the two plans differ, BMW Ultimate Service covers more wear and tear and maintenance-related items than BMW Ultimate Care.
Free maintenance programs can initially reduce the cost of ownership, but you’ll need to be ready to pay maintenance and repair fees once the program has ended.
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Is the Ultimate Driving Machine cost-effective in terms of 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.
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.
lowering the cost of maintaining BMWs
Servicing your car as soon as the computer in it tells you to is the best method to cut down on maintenance costs. By seeing present or possible issues early on, maintaining a thorough and routine servicing program can help prevent the need for expensive repairs in the future.
BMW is known for having the highest levels of customer loyalty of any automaker worldwide. The cost of ownership and upkeep of “The Ultimate Driving Machine” is higher than most would think or predict, despite the widespread belief that performance cannot be priced.
If you purchased your BMW from a dealer, it should have a “BMW Ultimate Care” three-year, 36,000-mile manufacturer guarantee or service warranty. Under BMW Ultimate Care, all planned maintenance, including the initial spark plug replacement, is free. For an extra cost, Ultimate Care can be extended for up to 7 years/125,000 miles for vehicles manufactured in 2017 and later. Additionally, BMW offers customers a variety of plans that cover varying levels of maintenance, which helps owners organize their budgets effectively.
BMWs are more expensive to repair than other models, even rival luxury brands, once the manufacturer’s warranty expires. Over the course of ten years, maintaining a BMW might cost up to $5,000 more than maintaining a car like a Mercedes-Benz. Furthermore, the maintenance cost of a BMW might be up to $12,000 higher than that of a Toyota.
BMWs do not breakdown more frequently than other vehicles, according to experts. In terms of reliability, BMWs really fall in the center of the pack. The average BMW, according to sources like “RepairPal,” requires unscheduled maintenance 0.9 times annually, which is in line with the industry average.
BMW buyers adore their high-performance, luxurious automobiles despite the added cost. The best technological and safety features available are found in these elegant, high-comfort automobiles. In the automobile sector, BMW is still performing exceptionally well. Other brands find it challenging to compete with the brand on this front because the brand is connected with status, performance, and safety.
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According to estimates from 2018, the Porsche 911, BMW 640i Gran Coupe, and BMW M4 are the top three most costly cars to maintain and repair during a ten-year period. The 3.0L inline-6 engine used in the M4 is a little twin turbocharged engine that produces 425 horsepower. A track GTS version is available that generates 493 HP using a cutting-edge water injection system.
How much does maintaining a BMW cost?
Let’s get right to the point: maintaining a BMW is pricey. The cost of basic maintenance and mechanical repairs for a BMW is $968 annually, according to RepairPal. This is a lot more than the $652 yearly average for the sector. About twice as frequently as the industry average, BMW owners frequently visit the repair shop. They are also marginally more likely than owners of other vehicles to require major repairs.
So why do people adore BMWs if upkeep is so expensive? Well, performance and comfort are major factors. A BMW is more than just a mode of transportation that gets you from A to B. After all, the German automaker asserts that it creates the “perfect driving machine,” not the least expensive daily commuter.
How Much Does a BMW Cost to Maintain?
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 BMW repairs challenging?
How challenging it is to repair a BMW depends on its age, model, engine, and level of luxury amenities. Older vehicles with simpler parts may be simpler to fix than more recent BMWs with all the frills.
BMWs are regarded as luxury vehicles, thus they are more likely to be equipped with cutting-edge technology than a regular family hatchback.
The likelihood that a piece of advanced technology would malfunction increases along with the difficulty of diagnosing and repairing the vehicle.
The main reason why earlier BMWs are simpler to fix is that they don’t have as many bells and whistles as newer models, making it simpler to identify issues and get to the broken parts.
Why do BMW repairs cost so much money?
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.
BMW repairs still cost a lot?
If you’ve done any research on BMWs, you probably already know how pricey they are to maintain. But you’ll have to pay a premium if you want a BMW. The industry average for maintenance costs is $652 yearly. Unfortunately, expenditures for BMW owners are roughly twice as high as those for owners of other models.
Is buying a BMW worth it?
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.