We’ve discussed the lifespan of a BMW, but what mileage should you pay attention to and avoid?
In most cases, if a BMW is approaching 200,000 kilometers or more, this may be a little excessive. If you’ve owned the vehicle for a while, it’s acceptable, but we wouldn’t advise purchasing one with this many miles on it. The main factor is that it will probably only travel for another 50,000 miles or so before it begins to approach the end of its useful life.
According to the typical annual mileage of 12,000 miles, you only have around 4 years left on this car before it starts constantly breaking down.
The focus here is on BMWs that have been well-maintained to have logged 200,000 kilometers in the first place. Additionally, it is a generalization made about the entire BMW line. At 150,000 miles, some vehicles will undoubtedly be past their prime.
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200, 000-mile BMWs
A month ago, I had a 325is wreck (e36). I prefer BMWs in particular, however the majority of those in my price range have a lot of kilometers on them. Is it a smart idea to purchase a BMW with 200k miles on it or higher? I know they survive a long time, but do repairs cost a lot after about 150k? A 1992 325i’s Blue Book value is also $4000-$4500. Does that make sense? Because I am aware that Blue Book occasionally contains absurdity. What are a few viewpoints?
200K on anything is a lot, whether it’s a BMW or not. If I had driven the car the entire time and understood exactly how it had been cared for and what had been replaced, I would only have a car with 200k miles.
200K on anything, a BMW or not, as originally mentioned by Cruzmisl, is a lot. If I had driven the car the entire time and understood exactly how it had been cared for and what had been replaced, I would only have a car with 200k miles.
200k is, in my opinion, far too much money to spend on a used automobile. You can never predict when something will break. And I’m certain that it will require more frequent upkeep. If the automobile has been maintained, perhaps 100k.
My 1992 325i has almost 217K miles on it and I am the only owner. I am completely aware of everything that has been accomplished, much of it by my own hands. It still drives like a vehicle with 10K miles on it. It should continue for a few more years. It’s a bit of a gamble unless you purchase a vehicle with complete service records because I don’t see any additional maintenance beyond what I typically perform (oil, sparks, O2 sensor, belts, fluids, etc.). Good fortune!
High Mileage Dealer
A used car dealer wants to make sure the automobile they sell you won’t break down too frequently or have too many problems. They want to generate money without damaging their company’s reputation by offering you subpar secondhand cars. The mileage is one of the key aspects they consider before purchasing and accepting a used car for resale.
The dealership will probably buy the BMW back if it has fewer than 60,000 miles on it. If the mileage is closer than 80,000, they might still buy it. They will pay less for it though because it has significant miles for a BMW. The likelihood of the dealership buying back any vehicles with more than 80,000 miles on them is low.
It will be simpler to find a pre-owned BMW with low mileage at a dealership. Low-mileage cars can still be found for sale by owners, though.
How far can a BMW travel?
BMWs are renowned for their high efficiency ratings and reliable engines, but with a price tag to match, customers wonder if they are really worth it. How many miles is a BMW good for?
With regular maintenance, the majority of BMW vehicles have a lifespan of 200,000–250,000 kilometers. As a car ages, you can anticipate replacing common elements like the battery, electric windows, and coolant system in addition to routine maintenance.
BMWs bought in the 1980s that are still in use today are not rare. On the weekends, you might even see well-kept BMWs with odometers showing more than 500,000 kilometers at the racetrack.
A 3-series was the first BMW I ever owned, and I drove it until it reached 209,000 miles on the odometer before trading it in. With that in mind, it’s important to think about what you should do (and avoid) to prolong the life of your BMW.
How Was the Car Maintained by the Previous Owner?
The importance of the owner taking care of the vehicle’s maintenance and repairs increases as the vehicle ages.
High mileage BMWs can be quite valuable to second, third, and fourth owners, but if the mileage reaches close to 100,000, it is crucial that the car has been well-kept.
The last thing you want to do is buy a ten-year-old E90 3 Series with 120,000 miles on it and poor maintenance from the previous owner. It WILL deplete your bank account and BE VERY UNRELAXED. You will have spent thousands of dollars more than the cost of the automobile by the time you are done restoring one to decent shape!
I have firsthand experience with the dramatic impact that properly maintained BMWs make. In my line of work, I occasionally purchased 3 Series BMWs with more than 100,000 miles on them to conduct some small repairs and resell, and occasionally I purchased BMWs with the same mileage for $500 since they were in terrible shape.
Are BMW still reliable after 200K miles?
With the right 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 go even longer. It’s simple to get off to a good start because every new BMW comes with free factory-recommended maintenance through BMW Ultimate Care.
A BMW can it last 300K miles?
While a BMW 3 Series can travel 200,000–250,000 miles, there are numerous instances of 3 Series cars traveling more than 300,000 miles without experiencing any significant mechanical problems.
BMWs still dependable after 100,000 miles?
Many people claim to have logged more than 100,000 miles on a BMW E90. Such vehicles continue to function without any serious problems.
However, because newer cars contain degradable plastics in their engines as a result of European Union laws for sustainable development, they are rarely as dependable as BMW models made before 2000.
Regardless of how carefully you maintain it, some models are made to last a lot longer than others.
- BMW 3 Series, 2006 to 2010. (E90)
- BMW 5 Series E60 and E61, 2004–2010
- 2002-2008 BMW 7 Series
- the E46 before 2000 or the BMW 318i after 2000
- BMW 325i
Are BMWs with high mileage worth it?
In order to wrap up this article, let’s review everything we’ve covered. In general, BMW vehicles get good gas mileage. They typically reach their maximum range of 150–250,000 miles. Therefore, anything in the range is considered to have a mileage that may be too high to justify owning the car. But when they reach 60–80,000 miles, the majority of BMWs fall into the high mileage category. Therefore, it is clear that there is still a long way to go before you reach the “too high” point.
With all of that in mind, purchasing a high mileage BMW might be a wise financial move because you’ll receive a great car that’s dependable, has plenty of miles remaining in the tank, and is much less expensive.
I’m Scott, a huge fan of BMWs and a long-time owner of these incredible vehicles. I’m here to chronicle my encounters with BMWs over the years and, hopefully, to be of use to others.
Is 200K miles on an automobile too much?
Investing in a used car can be advantageous. New cars lose a lot of value quickly and are far more affordable to buy used. However, anytime you evaluate the mileage of a used automobile, keep in mind how the vehicle was maintained and the driving circumstances.
There isn’t a set amount of miles that is excessive for a secondhand car. But take 200,000 as the upper limit, the point at which even modern cars start to break down due to years of use. When deciding how many miles may be too many for a used car, your main worry should be the regularity of maintenance and repairs.
Older BMWs are they worth it?
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.
Updated August 2021: If you’re thinking about buying a used BMW, you’ll be delighted to know that we’ve updated this article and go into more detail about the different issues a Bavarian car owner could run across. 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.
A car’s lifespan is 500000 miles.
There is no one trick to keeping your car running until the odometer reads a ripe old age. You might arrive there by accident, but it comes as no surprise that many cars with 200,000, 400,000, and even 500,000 kilometers on them have undergone amazing maintenance, frequently with the owners performing the necessary tasks themselves.
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.
How long will a BMW last?
How many miles can a BMW vehicle travel? According to MotorAsk, a BMW may last 150-200,000 miles with good maintenance, and if you drive the average annual mileage of 13,500 miles, you can anticipate owning a BMW for 10 to 15 years.
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.