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.
In This Article...
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.
average cost of maintaining a BMW
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.
RepairPal
With an average rating of 2.5/5, RepairPal places BMW 30th out of 32 brands for reliability. RepairPal asserts to have the “highest real reliability metric in the industry,” for context. All the major manufacturers’ 345 distinct models were tested, but again, brands like Ferrari and Bugatti were excluded. Statistics showed that the average yearly repair cost for all brands was $652.00 for model years from 2010 to 2019. The yearly average for BMW was $968.00. The average annual number of unscheduled repair trips to your technician was 0.4 for all brands, but it was 0.9 for BMW. Last but not least, if you drove a BMW, your likelihood of visiting for a serious reason increased to 15% from the typical 12%.
Are the potentially high repair costs for used BMWs worth it?
We’ve all been there: We purchased an old BMW at some point, only to discover that it required considerably more repairs than any vehicle from a more reasonably priced, reputable manufacturer would. For instance, a used 3 Series will likely have higher repair costs than an identical-year Camry or Accord with comparable miles. Nevertheless, they are the same size, can accommodate the same number of people, and ultimately serve the same purpose. German pricey, intricate cars like BMWs are frequently expensive and difficult to maintain. So why do we continue to do it?
We BMW aficionados don’t have a choice, so why can’t we afford brand-new cars with lavish warranties, do we? Yes, we could purchase a Camry for a far lower price than a 3 Series of a comparable age, and the Toyota would be much more dependable throughout the course of the same ownership time. Moreover, due to lower part costs and simpler repair processes, any repairs will often be far less expensive. Would those vehicles, however, satisfy our innate desire to drive something special? No, most likely not.
Nothing wrong with a Camry, really. Or any other reasonably priced midsize car, like a Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, etc. All of these vehicles are excellent and will offer years of enjoyable, trouble-free driving. However, they won’t possess that distinctive zing, will they? Although the Accord is normally quite enjoyable to drive, it is not a 3 Series. Since the 3 Series is the most popular BMW on the secondhand market, I’m only using it as an example, but this rule applies to all BMWs and its more reasonably priced, dependable competitors.
Because I’ve only owned older German (and one Swedish) cars, I frequently find myself in situations like these. Here is the list of vehicles I own: E36 1996 BMW 328i, 2012 Volkswagen Passat, E46 2004 325i, 2005 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro, and 2006 Volvo S40 2.4i (which I got from my wife’s car). With the exception of the Passat, all of which have caused me a great deal more issues than any equivalent inexpensive vehicle would have. If I’m being completely honest, there were many times when I wished I had purchased a Honda rather than a German vehicle while I lay underneath one that simply wouldn’t comply.
But when it comes to buying a car, I can’t bring myself to settle for something less enjoyable to drive. I may be an automotive masochist, but I adore my relationships with my stupid, bothersome, but wonderful German automobiles. Why are German cars like the BMWs worth the probable high repair costs? simply because they are so enjoyable to drive. Of course, if you want even more assurance, you can always purchase a BMW Extended Warranty.
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.
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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Is purchasing a BMW worthwhile?
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.
Is maintaining a BMW expensive?
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.