Why I'll Never Buy Another BMW... 

It is very unfortunate that your suv BMW has taken a couple of turns for the worse. However, that isn't the most troubling part about your story and actually has nothing to do with BMW. It actually has everything to do the the praticular BMW dealership that you do business with. They seem to have very poor business practices and have no loyalty to their customers. I would file several complaints with BBB, BMW USA, and rate them on the several online rate sites, like Google. The BMW dealership that I have dealt with for over 12 years has always been more than fair with me and has never charged me for diagnostics if I had the work performed with them. And they are always willing to negotiate their prices to keep them as fair and competitive as possible. Practices that the dealership you deal with has nothing to do with BMW and everything to do with the owner of that dealership and his decision to screw his customers. If your dealership wanted to, they could repair your vehicle at their cost if the sitution merited it. BMW USA gives their dealerships a lot of flexibility as to what they want to do and don't want to do. Any fair customer oriented business should always favor their clients in hope to either gain their business and/or keep their business as on going. Also, keep in mind that there are many competant private BMW repair shops as well. I always shop my repairs and parts no matter how small the cost. It's just something I enjoy doing. Knock on wood, I have had no problems with my 2016 BMW M6 Competition. However, it is impeccably maintained and driven with the upmost respect.

I bought a 2021 540i that I totally loved until … at 21k miles I did a hard start into traffic and the coolant pump EXPLODED! They had to pull pieces of it out of the engine and replace all of the hoses. I realized that if that pump had been machined out of aluminum instead of 3D printed out of plastic resin it would have easily survived. I have since sold the car and replaced it with an Acura.

Wow. You can hear the pain in this man's voice. I was about to buy one, did my research and while I knew I could afford to buy it, I couldn't afford the maintenance and headaches that would come along with it. So sorry you are going through this. Hope you find a brand that makes you happy without burning your pocket.

Shame on BMW for not improving the quality of the part and making it cheaper to buy. I had a faulty starter cable on my 997 Porsche, when I went to the dealership to buy one they only wanted £60 for a new and updated cable. This is the cable that runs the length of the car that has a number of connections on it so the price was very fair considering. Clearly, this was Porsche's way of looking after their customers, they did not just look at the issue as yet another way to extract money out of the customer.

Mark, I know how you feel and I commend you for your honesty and sincerity about the costs of owning a BMW. You did nothing but speak the truth about how the BMW brand has changed for the worse over the years. Contrary to the cars they built 10, 20 years ago, they now build cars using cheap low quality parts not made to last very long with the intention to make more money. When something breaks, since you can’t take these cars for diagnostic and repair to any independent body shop the only option is to take it to an authorized dealership and they rip you off with a high cost bill to fix the problem. A few years ago I leased a brand new X5. I LOVED that car! But in the 3 years I had it I needed to take it to the dealership a dozen times to fix electric issues, AC, and strange on and off noises on the dashboard that appeared to come from somewhere in the engine. Just the inconvenience to have to take a new car these many times to the dealership pissed me off. Thank God everything was under warranty but that’s about the only positive side of the situation. I am on my third Lexus RX 350 F-Sport and never looked back. No more trips to the dealership except for scheduled regular service, and I LOVE that!

Watched the entire video and this is exactly how I feel about the brand. Went from love and thrill to hate. My issues were different but the process and expense were the same add to it that once I had to wait 2 weeks for a part from Germany. BMW have an attitude that is really offensive especially when you think that a loyal customer should have value to them. It doesn’t. They don’t give a shit about the customers.

If there's anything I've taken away from this, it's to stay away from a BMW dealer for any work done not covered by warranty and find a local shop to do it instead.

I've stopped buying them after having 5. Reliability has been poor and costs have been too high. The styling is now gone as well, so I'm out, never to return. German engineering is a myth.

He forgets, that you can, never take your car to the dealer if you’re sane. You must be able to perform your own repairs if you want to own an older BMW or you’ll end up feeling just like ExoticCar. Stay away from diesels in this current time. Be prepared for turbo problems...

Totally agree. My 7 Series was the only car I've owned that has stranded me on the side of the road THREE times!

Man, I can hear the heartbreak in your voice when explaining your side. I can truly understand why BMWs are crap.

This channel is the reason why I even bought a BMW tbh🔥🔥 that N52 is enough power for the highway going 130mph

This is the MOST HONEST and BEST video you have made. I hope BMW goes broke. They are one of the most dishonest companies in the car industry. Their only focus is on ripping up of their clients. To any one thinking of buying a BMW, watch this video. He is 1000‰ correct. EVERY SINGLE BMW has similar problems to the ones he is mentioning. I too now Hate, yes HATE, the brand!!

This should have been titled “Why I’ll Never Service My BMW At A Dealership Again”. If you own a BMW, you must have an honest independent BMW mechanic or you’ll lose your shirt.

The B58 inline 6 twin turbo is probably BMW's best engine. It is what powers my 2020 540i. Zero issues so far

I feel your pain Mark. I had a 2002 3 series, 2009 x5 diesel and 2010 x3. The 3 series was so much fun, the x5 was an absolute nightmare. The x3 was also very expensive to maintain. I now drive a Lexus suv, it may not be as fun the to drive, but it start every time and it’s very low cost to maintain. If your not leasing a bmw your in for a lot of pain.

Boy, Mark! I have to say, this is the most passionate video that you’ve made in recent years! I can definitely appreciate your story, as I have had some bad experiences with 2 E46s. I think you’ve saved some heartache with the N55 I owned last year too!

I owned BMW E28, E60 and E39. All classic Beemers. I loved them. I have ZERO interest in new BMW's. They're ugly, bloated, very unreliable and the engine bay is full of plastic. That brand has completely lost its touch. Sorry to say this as a former BMW fan but it's the truth. If I ever buy a BMW again, it'll be a classic like E31. Back in those days they made beautiful cars.

My parents had the E70 X5 and it was a brilliant smooth SUV, for years it was very good, until it started approaching 95k miles, then that's where the failures occur. Air suspension, PCV Valve, timing, oil leaks and smoking like it had a midlife crisis. We sold it, but I do miss it because it was just amazing to drive..

My wife and I had been loyal to BMW for 20 years. From our 318ic to 330 to first gen X3. Even during 3 years in Europe, a diesel 3 series touring, a 116i 3 door, and on my return to the USA, an X3 M40i and my dream 640i. Today, my X3 is back in the shop. And I sold my 6 after a $2500 oil and service following the merely 2k miles I accumulated during the COVId lockdowns. I sold my dream for a Volvo V60 XC. Now I’m blissfully enjoying the lack of drama.

I feel very identified with this story. We always had BMW's. They were like a member of our family too. We loved them. Then the 5 series E60 came along. Problem after problem, until it had a critical engine failure and we had to sell it for peanuts. (All our cars were bought new and always serviced at official BMW shops.) When you take a look at everything going on with BMW after the early 2000's, you can easily realize they just went into "profit margin creep" mode. Nowadays I'm interested in Japanese and American cars. I'm European, but I might get a Mustang instead of a 4 series and be fine with it.

I've had my 6 Series coupe (E63, LCI), bought new, for 12 years now. It's been fairly reliable and, as you said, I was mesmerized by the special design and by the way it drove. I intend to keep it for another decade but I'll never buy another BMW. Why? The design doesn't speak to me like it used to, plus the overall experience (reliability issues, fake exhaust sound) is impaired, additionally the image of the brand took a nosedive because of all the rude guys driving these cars.

Sounds like a dealership issue as well, when I took my F150 to my local dealership, they could do nothing right. I ended up going 45min away to another and it was 100 times better

Everything you said is very true of Mercedes Benz cars as well. I own 6 of them and there's not a time where I left their shop without paying less than $1000 for either service or repair.

we owned a 2005 X5, and a 2013 X5, and they were both great cars. Excellent driving dynamics for a larger SUV or SAV. No issues whatsoever, even if they are a bit expensive too service or maintain. That being said, we have a trustworthy mechanic that specializes in BMWs that tell us the honest truth mechanically, and electronically about these vehicles. Now, we just recently purchased a 2020 G05, and even if it drives a little different, it still seems too be a great well rounded package. I am wondering how the electronics will hold up throughout the years though! We also drove the Lexus RXs, and even if they're very reliable, the drive, and powertrain were vastly unable too beat the BMWs. But, I totally see why people love there Lexus!

What truly makes a car quality? The fact that the parts are reliable or that the performance delivered to you as the driver is top notch ?

I have been driving BMWs since 1982 with my first Bimmer, a 1982 320i. It was a good, straight 4 cylinder engine. Next came a 1984 528e, very comfortable but a dog on the road, more of a cruiser. Next came a 1998 525i, underpowered for the weight of the car and always in the shop for repairs. Traded it in for a 2001 540i. This car had loads of power, would respond immediately at any speed but again always in the shop. In 1997 my wife won a 1998 Z3, straight 6 cylinder at the BMWCCA Octoberfest in New Hampshire. This was the best BMW of all , no issues, just ran and ran. In 2010 we moved from California to Florida. I had the cars transported to Naples FL. Upon loading the 540 onto the carrier if fell of the loading ramps due to the driver not locking the ramps. Total cost to repair, over $5000. I filed a claim and the carries paid the damages and did not charge us for transporting the two cars ( Z3). With over $10000 I traded in the BMW for a Acura MDX. That was the last BMW. In 2013 i reached into my Bucket List and decided to buy a Porsche. I ordered a Porsche Boxster S. When it came in it was late October 2013 and arrived as a 2014. I drive all my cars daily, no garage queens. I just passed 82K on the Porsche and no mechanical issues. It has a 6 cylinder Boxer engine, no turbo. The response is immediate, never any hesitation. At 75 mph with 2 people it will always get over 30mph, something’s 34 if I shoot for more mileage. I do most of the maintenances except for changing the plugs. In my opinion Porsche is a step up from BMW. They are made right the first time, good engineering and reliable. I am thinking of purchasing a new Boxster with a slightly bigger engine and naturally aspirated. This will probably be the last Porsche before they force those electrics into the market. My only problem is my current Boxer is such a good runner, very hard to part with. Everyone should have my problem, LOL.

BMW took planned obsolescence to highest level. Now the cars barely last past the warranty.

Story resonates. We have a straight 6 F11 petrol - love it. Same story, 6 years without issue, then the rear airbags go, high pressure fuel pump and engine rocker cover perished, causing an oil leak. Lexus is calling.

Your story woke me up from my BMW coma - thank you! I was looking at an X1, read some positive things about it, thought about purchasing one. After doing more research, I had second thoughts. There seem to be timing chain issues with many German cars in general, and those plastic parts used in BMWs these days under the hood have compromised quality and longevity. Sad.

I think it’s partially the dealer that has left you so bitter with the brand. I know the dealer you deal with and I have had similar issues with them not being honest and trying to take advantage of me. My 2011 335 n55 was there for a water pump replacement, they recommended that I replace the thermostat and I agreed, after all it’s attached to the water pump so I figured why not while it’s apart, When I went to pick up the vehicle I was charged double the labour, Labour to replace the water pump and then charged again to remove the water pump to replace the thermostat. After a lengthy discussion they realized that I knew that both components were attached and that they were trying to take advantage of me, the service manager apologized for the “ miscommunication and oversight” and offered a 20% discount on parts with my next visit………. I never returned.

I could not agree with you more. Setting aside your dealership issues, I too am done with BMW. For most of my life I always wanted a BMW. It's styling and cache just captivated me. Then I bought a 535ix and was in love. It truly was, "The Ultimate Driving Machine ". Although meticulously maintained, I started putting a lot of money into it, the valve cover gaskets, a water pump and thermostat among other things. Okay, things happen. But then at just over 100,000 the device BMW uses instead of a throttle body blew up. Absolutely no warning. Sudden limp mode and then no restart. Dead on the side of road many miles from home. Towed home and then re-towed to my mechanic. After weeks of figuring out what happened, and parts, and $3,000 to fix it by a well respected mechanic who specializes in BMWs, he told me it still wasn't quite right and may never be. On his trusted advice, I sold it. So after a total of about $11k in repairs for that car I will never own another BMW. Sadly the new car I bought to replace it is considered a sports luxury car, but alas it definitely feels like a step down from my BMW. But never again will I buy a BMW. As it goes, a BMW is a car you lease and move on after the lease is up.

Your videos and others have cemented my position that I only buy Toyota products (Lexus if you want a luxury vehicle). Maybe not as exciting as German, but you can usually drive them for 10+ years just doing routine maintenance, then sell them easily for a decent amount of money because they have a good reputation.

They built great machines, earned a reputation for it then when they became profitable, the shareholders took over and they started changing to a volume producer and did everything they could to reduce their overhead costs, which is why it took BMW so long to incorporate android auto into their cars and get into the electric market. They may have had an ethos when the company first started but sadly they've gone the way of every company eventually, in the end the only thing that matters is $

I'm pleased to see a guy with your viewership, stick it to BMW publicly. My family has owned two BMW's and they have both been colossal disappointments.

Thank you for making this and thank you for commenting on the styling of the current crop of BMWs.We have exchanged similar views recently and I mentioned the 24,000 km oil change interval for my F80 M3 Competition here in Perth Australia where we have days of 40-44c in Summer which I consider extreme. Although I had my oil changed very 6 months, BMW used to commit highway robbery and charge $350 per oil change because it was "outside the service plan". Like you, for various reasons, styling, arrogance and service cost, I will never buy another BMW. I have owned a few BMWs. I bought my first, an E21 in 1982 aged 19. Since then I have owned 3x E30, 1x E36, 1x E46, 1x E34, 2x E70, 1x E71, 2x F80 and 2x R56 minis for my then wife. That's 14 BMW products over 40 years of motoring.

Mark, I can so relate to your sentiments! For 20yrs I bought only BMW Merc & Porsche. I had enough with my last Merc S350, after dumping so much money - transmission, air suspension, oil leaks etc. Finally the car devoped a vibration & starting problem which the dealer couldn't solve. I sold it to the dealer. That was the end of German cars for me. I have 3 Lexuses now ES350 RX 350 IS350 - I love them - NOT 1 PROBLEM! Hope things work out for you Mark

Hey Marc, love your channel, great info. Over the past 30 years in Texas I have made over 43 car deals.I went from being a Nissan Z guy to loving the German brands. Over the years I learned that every brand came with certain traits that were indemic to the platform. Nissan would charge me $120 to plug the car Into Nissan consult in the 90s without popping the hood, tried to double dip on warranty claims, and made bad calls on expensive components b.c they were too lazy to follow their own service guide. Your not along, we all have been there, this is why I only keep the German cars till warranty expires then trade, take the loss and move on. They know it, this is why the labor rate is $199 an hour it helps to keep the pressure on their customers to keep cycling thru cars. Pay me now or pay me later...

I own an E46 M3 and I love it!!! I agree with you that bmw has stopped building the best driving machine. They cater to everyone now. They chose quantity over quality. The newer M3&4 models are great driving machine but I can’t look post that buck teeth grill. I will buy another BMW. The only bmw I would buy, is the new M5 CS. That’s s bmw that holds true to the best driving machine title!

After bad experiences with two BMWs, a 1997 540i six speed and a 2007 335i, AND several local dealerships, I took my business elsewhere. BMW business model revolves around leasing where a customer assumes they should not be exposed to repair costs while under warranty. However, even when leased a new 335i, I experienced problems under warranty such as bad navigation software which took four visits to the dealer to fix. Then, the well-known Bosch high pressure fuel pump issue was starting to occur about 1 year into my lease. My dealer tried to blame it on bad gas and charged me to clean the injectors which did not fix the defective fuel pump, which was later recalled. The car always ran hot in traffic and the run flat tires were a disaster, needing replacement by 20k miles. My 540 developed warped head gaskets after the dealer mechanic changed the water pump at about 35k mileage and cracked the radiator inlet which is plastic and caused the engine to overheat. They told me it would be $20k to put new heads on but in reality, the engine was defective at that point and needed replacement, which i declined. I had a problem with a bad starter that two dealerships failed to diagnose properly, replacing things such as ignition switches which did not fix the problem. Overall, too many issues with these both BMWs from a build quality and (multiple) bad dealer service experiences. I've moved on to an Audi S4 and S6 and have had overall a much better experience with these cars and the sales and servicing dealership. The BMW approach is the customer is always wrong and they do everything to put repair costs on you, even when the defects are clearly with the part or how the car was serviced. Buyer beware!

Sounds like you're ready for a Porsche with a manual transmission. Best driving experience and manuals in the industry. PDKs are great also 👍

I had a 2014 X3 xDrive35i. I was one and done with the brand after the number of issues with this car. Multiple issues with the Coolant Fluid leaks with the first one occurring within warranty period at which point the stealership claimed they couldn't find the issue. I guess they were waiting for it to recur which it did bit after the warranty went up. Within months after that when I took it in for the 10k service after 70k miles on its clock, the stealership (a different one than before) claimed I should get this list of maintenance and repairs done which would set me back $3k. That was it for me! I went and got an E300 in the end of 2019 and haven't had issues with it thus far that the dealership wouldn't repair or replace yet. BMW.....either Bring More Wrenches OR Bad Manufacturing and Workmanship

After owning two BMW's from new, a 1999 328i and a 2003 Z4, while they were fun to drive, I will never own another one. Too many problems taking far too much of my time and money to fix. I don't want to drive cars where I'm constantly thinking about what is going to break next on it...

Most have swore off BMW for many years already. Welcome to the club. I worked with a guy (aircraft mechanics) who used to be a BMW dealer technician. He said he had to quit because the business model made him sick. They were told to rip people off. My ex girlfriend took hers to the dealer once for an oil change, got charged $400 for it and an inspection, and came home with a laundry list of problems and thousands in estimates...all of which was exaggerated crap that didn't need to be done. A lot of dealers do this, but BMW takes the crown in this area.

Nice video Mark. I wholeheartedly agree with you. I bought my 2017 X5 because it gave me hopes of enjoying owning a BMW and it was a family car. Other than that I made the used purchase and with low miles with the intent is selling it while it still was in good condition AND knowing all of the European headaches and high maintenance costs associated with BMW. I must admit it is a fun car, but the cost is not worth it for me. As a design engineer, I can see technical design flaws with the naked eye that leave me in disappointment. Especially the material used in respect to the location. In contrast, the Japanese cars are impressive from a design perspective. Unfortunately, the performance does not compare to the European cars, but reliability is much better. I’m sure this will get people upset, but this is my opinion and best on my experience owning a X5 2017 BMW. And that is why I won’t buy another BMW.

After 5 different BMW that i owned i've decided to divorce this brand for good, i switched to a lexus is350 and never been happier

My 2009 X6 4.4L Twin Turbo with 225K km. Love the car but understand that repairs were painful at time but the new X6 still gets my attention and the brand is still appealing. BUT Unlike before, I would consider another brand as BMW are not as special as before.

I do agree with what you say. But one key of owning a bmw is to have any repairs done by a good third party shop out of warranty, and also be confident in own ability at self servicing and or repair and diagnostic.

Design flaws, cheap parts and expensive maintenance costs are part of the “driving experience”, which means you shouldn’t hold a car beyond its warranty period, unless you like working on your own vehicle or knows of a reliable mechanic. Exacerbated by poor dealership experience and funky new designs, BMW seems to have lost its way.

Obviously, planned obsolescence is part of BMWs business model. There is no incentive for BMW to make a long term reliable product. They know their typical customer wants the latest styling and technology and isn’t interested in repairing old models. They know most of their customers when faced with high repair bills and replacement parts will just trade in for new

Welcome to the club. I ended by adventure with BMW with an X5 as well. I was repairing them over and over for years, eventually got tired and will never buy BMW again. I have the E24 635CSI in my garage, I will never sell it but that’s it, no more BMW ever. Maybe another classic one day but not the modern one for sure, no way.

There are 2 scenarios where you buy a BMW: 1-You genuinely love working on a car in your free time off work. 2-Your net worth is over $1M and spending $20,000-30,000 on someone else to repair your BMW over 6-8 years of ownership is pocket change.

This video is just what I needed to see. I've owned my 2013 BMW X5 35i prem since 2018. Bought it 77k miles on the clock at $16k. That was a steal. You can't find one now with the same mileage for less than $22k. In the beginning, I put $2-4k in it with suspension and tires. Now at 106k miles, I need a water pump, thermostat, expansion tank/cap and lower oil pan gasket replacement all for $4,600 and that's half the cost of what the stealership would charge. Just like you, I got sucked in to all the things you liked about the BMW. I'm obviously seriously upside down financially with this vehicle. Its time to sell and move on. The warning/writing is on the wall. Only way it would ever make sense to own a BMW is either have deep pockets to lease and make 400-600 payments each month without the headaches or have the patience and garage space to work on the car yourself. I have neither, so there you have it. Refuse to have those kind of payments for a car. Thank you for your advocacy and time committed to keep us all aware of the truth!

Love this brand, but I was totally disgusted by poor customer service and too many visits at dealership (turbo, oil leak, electronics issues, troubleshooting diagnostics... 😱🤮)

I'll cosign everything you said about bmw's....I know I've said it in your newer vids, but I was never a big fan of them, but didn't Not like em. Now that I bought one for my wife, 2014 X1, very low mileage, fully loaded and timing chain went before we made a second payment! After the fact, found out about the class action in 2017, but they did not have to admit guilt, so no recall, and they now knowingly are screwing ppl. Now I live every day waiting for the next big thing to go wrong!! Thanks for informing everyone that's smart enough to follow you and listen to your advice M!! Best to you and yours ✌️💚

BMW is the typical European vehicle that you either lease or sell BEFORE the warranty is over, it will slowly bleed your wallet dry if you don’t.

Your a true champion. From the very first video of yours I saw till the very last. Always telling it like it is. Decent and honest guys such as yourself inform so many truthfully to be able to make the smartest decisions possible when purchasing a vehicle. Stay true my friend. Never change. The world needs more people like you.

You describe love affairs/relationships so spot on, even with a brand. There is a thin line between love and hate, and boy did you ever cross that line! And the thing is, you justify this in so many ways...mortal sin on top of mortal sin! A vehicle costing an arm and a leg in repairs and to add insult to injury, would not start and just suddenly shuts down! That would be the last straw for me! I feel your pain! So what brand are you now passionate about?

I had a very similar experience started out in 2000 with a series 3 and ended two years ago when I sold my 2011 X5 diesel thinking I will never buy a BMW again!!

Thanks for another great video! You help so many people with your honest,informative videos!

A very excellent in-depth video sir. Thanks for taking the time and making your case very clearly and informatively. As a previous service advisor and now a customer of Honda and Mazda I would have to say that the whole world has seen shifts in priorities at the different companies. Shareholder profits and the profits by the dealers have taken lived of their own. Nobody it seems wants to be your friend anymore unless they are truly scant of customers. That said I definitely agree with the other BMW owner said about your dealer being cruel instead of hospitable. If you are a regular customer with a history with them, they should be bending over backwards to make you happy. The only thing I will add is that having been pinned between the customer who I always tried to help, my techs who needed hours, and my manager who needed profits for the dealership, for employees at a dealership it can be challenging to live up to the task of advocating for their customers. It's too often that the biggest jerks own dealerships. Even the managers that run dealerships are supposed to put on a smile but bend you over. Nice guys like me get pushed out rather quickly for being too nice. I got cynical with customer service in general as well. It only takes one or two rude customers to give you a bad name. I wanted to take charge of my life so I went back to school to become a designer and builder. Less easy money but less stress!👍

I’ve been following your channel and looking into buying a 335i. It’s seems like if you really want this brand you have to own diagnostics software at home, be willing to do your own work sometimes, and stay ahead of the maintenance schedule. The dealership will always be the most expensive option. Especially out of warranty.

I was literally just about to buy a 2013 320i at around 110k kms this week, but now I definitely won't. Looking at higher end Toyotas, Hondas, Mazdas, and Hyundais now (I live in the Netherlands and Lexus, Acura, Genesis, and Infiniti are virtually nonexistent here, unfortunately). I have absolutely no intention of making my life more complicated. Thank you so much for your honesty and courage. We need more videos like this 👍🏽

Mark, to be 100% honest you are someone who helped me with my first BMW purchase and let me know a ton of information on the brand as a whole and specific models. I’m sad to hear all the issues you’ve had because I agree, all of those issues are way too much to deal with. I have the infamous 2013 BMW X5 Xdrive50i. I bought it used for $17,900 with 80,000 miles and I am the second owner. My car is one of the very few without the major issues. Oil consumption, battery drain, timing chain, valve guides, oil/coolant leaks….. it now has 104,000 miles and is maintained the way it should be otherwise I’d be in big trouble. Your video of your 2006 M5 where you said “I love driving the most unreliable bmw.” And I feel the same way. I love my n63b44o0 and wouldn’t change a thing. I wish you the best and hope to see what comes next. You really make some great helpful content. Are you aware of “Nathan’s bmw workshop” as well? Very cool guy and channel to check out. Thanks again

You are right on target. I've owned two Bmw's, the first one 1984 320i My current one is 2007 328xi. The 320i was a great car virtually trouble free. I just took the 328 xi on because it had the noise under the hood. Turns out it was the pvc valve typically a cheep fix. But BMW incorporates the pvc valve into the valve cover ( how stupid). Cost to fix $2,000.00. ,

My last new BMW was a 2013 135i cabriolet. I loved it. 7-speed SMG which 7th was 1:1 no overdrives and 3:45 axle ratio. Every gear barely 500-600 rpm drop keeping the sweet I6 right in the meat of the power band. The last BMW model to have the hydraulic power steering. Mine was space gray the brake calipers were space gray on all 135 ‘s. It was a prem, M sport, and $1450for leather interior. Sticker was $51K for 135i in 2013…. Shouldn’t, the seats have been leather @$50K for lowest priced model. Leather is standard on almost every car over the $30k except BMW, M-B, Audi. Anyway, got a decent lease payment and it was such a fantastically fun car and fast and such a perfect size and a real trunk as opposed to the folding hardtop of 3 which had no trunk. It was love. So, one day I’m getting on the interstate about a mile from my house and it’s a hard left/ off camber turn but a wide entrance with an emergency lane so lots of runoff room. Since I was in the ultimate driving machine I decided not to stop for oncoming vehicle and just dart into my turn. I was braking and just took my foot off the brake, no throttle, and steered into the turn next thing I knew I was about to run out of runoff space and had the wheels hard over and it was pushing like a snow plow so I floored the accelerator and it dropped enough gears to kick the tail out and I saved it. One thing I can do is drive a car. I may not be Michael Shumacher but if you’re chasing me you better hope you have a much faster car. I rethought my turn and I did it right . I got off the brake and let the weight settle back on the rear tires and eased into my turn maybe 10 mph to fast ( what should have been well within the 135’s handling margin). It just plowed almost no turn. So I talked to the dealership(I didn’t think would do anything about but I wanted to see if anybody else had noticed this) of course they looked at me like I had a third eye growing out of my forehead. Well, it snapped at me again but I once again recovered and added a few more gray hairs to my head. Lo and behold I am reading one of the monthly car rags and right there in black and white in a global publication was the very issue. 135 m-sport was a fun fast car but it had dark side that would test your skill. M sports had staggered wheels and dunslops run flats. Well the magazine staff felt it the combo of the wider grippier rear tires and the really, really, stiff sidewall of the run flats at slower speed was not flexing enough and the big rears just shoved them ahead. Only would do it in slower turns and they surmised at higher speeds the fronts flexed enough to bite. After patting myself on the back, I saved the article for the skeptics at the BMW dealership. I forgot what smoke they blew up my ass but I didn’t care I just loved that I got to have my Shelly Winters moment. When she was up for the part in the “Poseidon Adventure” some director studio head wanted her to do a screen test. So she reach’s down into this large bag she is carrying and sets an Oscar on the desk, reaches down again and sets another on the desk reaches down again comes up with 2 or 3 Golden Globes. So she looks at the tool behind the desk, who is sitting there with a very perplexed look on his face, and says “ you know… there’s a few people in this town that think I can ACT”. So as I handed them the R/T article and said I guess it’s just people who know how to drive that notice since the road test staff at “ Road & Track “ magazine just wrote this article about the same issue I had with the Ultimate Driving Machine. Need any sauce for that plate of crow.

I love how you stick your motto every now and then you bring it up and keeps the video interesting

I own two E36. Two weeks ago I fixed the leaking thermostat housing of one of them, last week I fixed the other ones leaking cylinderhead cover seal ;) It never stops.

Over the years I dealt with three BMW dealers, all of them are overpriced and two of them are despicable money-hungry idiots. I will never be caught at a BMW dealer.

Looking at a failing rear axle rotational speed sensor - it's less than$1oo for the sensor - BUT BMW recommend replacing both rear drive shafts - BMW recommend this between 75-90k miles and mine just went 59k - fixing it up and dumping later in the year - it still looks great but at less than 6ok miles it's starting to need more maintenance than the car is likely worth

Wow! I hear you! But don’t sleep on Genesis! Looks of great design and HP! I’m in love with Genesis! I have a 2021 GV80, 2022 GV70 and a 2022 G70 sedan. Luxury and speed mixed together is such a wonderful way to roll! Thanks for the heads up.

I bought my last BMW in 1999, never again.

Seems to me the big auto companies have grown so large that they require larger and larger profit margins to maintain their growth objectives. The one time profit on the sale of the car is now supplemented by expensive annual service costs plus huge margins on parts. In the early 80’s BMW and Mercedes’ were generally purchased by very wealthy people and had a very small market share compared to Ford, GM, and Chrysler. They are now purchased by younger people that should be buying homes instead. After ten BMW’s and MB’s I have finally decided to stop the madness and will be buying a Honda for the first time. I am 65 and recently retired.

I have a 2013 3 series, and it has been the best car I’ve ever owned …. It’s the 2 liter turbocharged engine. That’s the only experience I’ve had with the brand, nothing but maintenance for 9 years

Oh dear, I have just got a E70 diesel and your enthusiasm and love for the brand contributed to my decision to go forward despite the known gremlins of plastics and cooling systems etc. The thing is so much better to drive than my mercs and almost anything else. I had 2 mercs and they were no were near as engaging to drive and still had many problems including the black death on the inlet manifolds. That said Life is too short to drive ugly cars....

You’re so passionate when you talk about cars… i can literally feel that’s what you love! Amazing videos.

BMW has immense brand cachet, so they use that keep the brand afloat, despite shoddy engineering, awkward design choices, etc. That’s exactly how Land Rovers, Maseratis, etc. is still in business.

Oh man! I FULLY can relate to your journey. I left the brand for the same reasons. I LOVED my 335 Diesel back in the day and I LOVED my E39 549i (what a beast that was) both exciting wonderful cars that got the heart racing. However the repair bills killed me in the end. BUT the cars did have soul and passion. These days I find the new models DULL and made for the mass market. The final death blow for me were the BIG GRILLS in the new models... blehhhhhhh sadly the glory days are gone for the brand.

I am sorry for your pain. I would share mine here as well. I have an 318d with B47 engine from 2016, with just about 100k km on the clock. I got it about a year ago, it was regularly serviced. A few days ago it just stopped dead on the highway at 130 kph, with no indication anything was wrong with the car earlier :) The reason for the failure, a plastic swirl flap that came loose and was digested by the engine! It appears the engine itself was not damaged, at least for now. Only way to 'repair' the car is to buy a complete new plastic inlet manifold for a small price of 700 $ ! BMW issued a campaign recently to replace some of the emission components (egr valves and coolers) for their newer cars, and luckily my car is applicable for that upgrade. A valid effort at least to try to compensate their customers.

You are so right. Im 57 and I owned 7 BMW's and 2 BMW's motorcycles. Last year I changed my X3 for a Japanese car. Tired of maintenance.

BMW Owner: "What is wrong with my BMW?" BMW Dealership: "Well bend over and grab your ankles as I tell you the problem ".

I’m glad I stumbled upon this video, after watching so many of your videos on BMW I finally decided I would get a 440 grand coupe. I can’t afford a new one but I was willing to buy a 2020, But after seeing this video I no longer want to take the risk and end up in the same situation. I guess I’ll be going back to the beginning where I was undecided on what to get next and start looking for something more reliable,, I appreciate your honesty and always enjoy watching your videos.

I just purchased a 2012 BMW X5 I really like it but now I’m scared 😱 so far it is running like a champ and the kids love it. God willing it keeps running great. I love your videos bro keep it going.

I'm not sure what you do for your day job but you're an excellent writer. Currently I'm waiting on parts for all 3 of my BMWs and will be stranded until they get here. As an enthusiast and fairly competent tuner I know how to fix these cars almost as well if not better than the engineers who designed them. ... but when I see two 3ers and a 6er break down on me in under 48 hours I have to ask myself whether my efforts would be more fruitful if channeled toward another brand.

In 2016 I bought a slightly used 2015 X1. It was a base model, with only a couple of options, but I really enjoyed driving this little SUV. Knowing that BMWs are expensive to repair I purchased an extended BMW warranty when I bought the car from my local BMW dealership. Even though after four years of ownership and zero repairs I sold the vehicle when the extended warranty ended. It wasn't until after I purchased the X1 that I found out how unreliable older BMWs were, which is a shame, since I would have happily owned this vehicle for many more years. I've only owned two BMWs and will not purchase another.

I will never take my BMW to a dealer unless it’s under warranty

I bought a 2008 black E60 M5 after watching some of your videos (and the Jeremy Clarkson one, and the Sabine Schmitz ring taxi videos). It's been a great car, and very reliable. I'm glad I watched some of your videos and decided to do it. It came with the remainder of a warranty that's expiring this year, and I think I'm going to do the rod bearings before the warranty is up.

All German cars except Porsche suffer poor reliability issues. Why won't the makers address this? This hurts their sales.

Both Mercedes and beemer Parts are not affordable. ABS plastic is not a fatigue enduring material to be used in high temperatures and pressure conditions.

Totally agree with comments about finding a good independent. I still have my e90 for over 10 years and after warranty period found a good Indy who keeps on top of car for not much more than a Ford. I'm in UK so possibly we have more aftermarket parts that are not so expensive

Yikes! I love your channel by the way. I’ve been trying to decide what my next vehicle will be and your videos are always engaging & informative. Thank yu.

Hey mark I bought my first BMW ever this year M8 competition great stylings lots of power and full warranty I don’t plan to keep it for 5 years but it’s nice to know the warranty will cover any problems if they arise… I think maybe you should lease the new models and move onto the latest offerings then move into the next as your Leases expire-that way you can have the latest offerings and have any repairs covered by warranty

I really hope that company does better in the future and maybe if they watch this it will motivate them to chase after reliability.

Thank your for the honest review. I agree the new fron grill is ugly and destroys the bmw design. Lexus started this trend and most car makers seems copying it :(

Thank you for keeping us "the commons" informed and educated, Mark! If I may ask you directly because I’m passionate driver of BMW, and planning to buy a certified pre-owned 520i ( that what I can afford), of 2020/2021 model year, so should I or should I opt for something else? Just fyi, I reside in the Middle East ( Jeddah to be exact) and other than the dealer I can’t get quality and reliable specialty shops to take care of my "future" investment …. I’m not a handy guy myself too! Thanks again for keeping up this channel …. Happy spring. :)

I appreciate your honest thought and sharing your experience of owning problematic BMWs. A few years ago, a lot of BMWs caught fire and burned down in Korea. Can you do a video on BMW's sister company, Mini, in the near future?

I think that the take away is that at the BMW price point and you maintain it and drive a reasonable amount of miles yearly, you should be able to expect that vehicle to last past the payoff date without having to put a second mortgage on your house to keep up the maintenance and repairs and when something’s fails on almost every one that BMW sold then BMW should step up and warranty it or recall it because it is obviously defective or subpar construction.

I think maybe a lot of BMW owners have become disenchanted with the brand, not only because of the slip in quality over the years but also the poor customers service at the dealerships. Makes me wonder if BMW's shift in focus towards SUVs and away from cars is driven by following the market trend or out of necessity because of waning interest in a failing brand?

This was a fantastic video. I had a 1995 E36 325iS stick shift and it was a great car - very reliable and I got a lot of life out of it before it was rear ended and written off. I bought a 335d new in 2010 . . . fun and incredibly torquey BUT horribly unreliable in stock form - I guess you have had a diesel so understand the issues - the only real way to fix it is ahem . . . a "delete" which as you note is technically illegal. I still own it but its a love hate relationship and its a money pit and I hear you on the "is it more trouble than its worth". This has influenced subsequent car buying decisions and when we wanted an SUV we went with an Acura MDX. We have a 2007 VW Rabbit that is pretty well indestructible that my son drives but when its time to change that car it will be to a Toyota or Honda. I am a mechanical engineer and I think the issue is they often make things overly complex . . . the DEF tank has active and passive tanks and pumps to transfer the fluid from one tank to the other . . . why . . . . just have one tank and make it smaller (DEF degrades with time). I had a DEF tank replaced under warranty and the techs at the dealership managed to connect the level sensors to the active and passive tanks wrong way around so the transfer pump kept running and pumped DEF fluid all over my driveway and for all the same reasons you list I also will never buy another BMW. I think the Mazda Miata will take over as the enthusiasts sports car . . . . manual transmission, light and reliable.

I had a Ford Ranger V6 that was running on 4 cylinders because of 2 clogged injectors. At the time new injectors were $100 each and I did not want to spend $600 on all new injectors. I removed them and cleaned out the fuel rail that had fine silt in it and flushed the injectors with gas. Used some tubbing and rigged a fuel pump and applied 12V pulses to them and found the ones clogged. Kept shanking them and pulsing them untill they sprayed great. Put it all back together with a new manifold gasket that cost $8 and it ran great. You can throw away your money on crap cars if you want to but I would rather not.