Why You Should NOT Buy a Used BMW 

I thought this guy was hired by Toyota but watching more of his reviews, I have come to learn that he is brutally honest. And extremely knowledgeable too.. I have now subscribed to his channels

As an E46 owner, who knew full well what i was getting into when i purchased it and actually wanted the project aspect of the car, I have to say that this video is about 50/50. He missed a well known pattern failure in the engine, at least the M54 which is shown in this video, where the engineers decided to use a different style oil control ring on the pistons, which wears out faster than the traditional "crimped" oil ring that you see in 90% of other engines. The result is the engine starts to burn oil at a relatively young 150k miles or so, maybe longer if proper maintenance and oil change interval was observed by previous owners. Fortunately there is a workaround involving deleting the CCV system for an oil catch can to increase the vacuum in the crank case and force the rings to contact the cylinder walls, more or less completely stops the oil consumption, but its a 75-100k mile bandaid, the engine will need an overhaul at some point in the future. The M3 subframe issue can happen to any of the E46 chassis produced before 2002-2003, and it can still happen to later models, but its less likely. The rest of the stuff is spot on. Its a BMW, If its not leaking oil, buy a lotto ticket... the things leak on the showroom floor... lol. The headliner and pillar fabric issue is annoying but cosmetic and a pretty easy fix to even the most boneheaded grease monkey that's never set foot in a fabric store before. The interior plastics... look for a car thats had tinted windows for most of its life? UV is hell on all plastics. my 2012 GMC truck already has multiple cracks in the dash and exterior plastics turning gray. Its not really a unique problem for BMWs. Its a really solid car for the most part, but non-mechanics need not apply. If you have to take your car to autozone and have the 18 year old kid behind the counter come put new wiper blades on for you... STAY AWAY! If you can change a rocker cover gasket one handed while sipping a beer with the other... then its the right car for you!

BMWs are made to last until the lease expires.

I bought a '99 328i e46 bavk in 2005. I must admit that most of the issues he mentioned are certainly small issues that I've dealt with more than once on some occasions. But it's now 2018 and I still own the vehicle, still on the road after 250,000mi and passed inspection with no problem. I love this car and only set foot in the dealer once for the overflow expansion tank.

my left ear enjoyed this video.

I put over 250,000 miles on an E46 328i and the only thing that ever needed to be replaced that wasn't just "wear and tear" maintenance was the AC compressor. I still have that thing. Still runs just fine. I feel like a BIG majority of problems that people run into with used cars in general is just the previous owner/s not maintaining them properly. The overwhelming majority of people know _nothing_ about cars and typically don't know how to take care of them. Most cars from the past 15-20 years will hit 300,000+ miles fairly easily if you just care for them properly.

One of the problems why these issues aren't being addressed by the manufacturer is because no matter how bad they are, people keep buying them. I'm pretty sure that if sales at BMW went into a slump then they would make some changes to their quality!!

I appreciate the time you put into your review. My 2003 BMW 325i, same color, package, 160k miles, have not seen any of these issues you bring up. Yes, I had to replace shocks/struts, power steering pump, battery, position sensors. Im no shade tree mechanic but was able to replace those items myself. You must have found someone who totally neglected that car.

Give me break. From those of us that actually know BMWs, you have no idea how ridiculous you sound! I own 5 older BMWs, some were loved, taken care of, serviced, washed, and maintained, and they are aging quite well. Several are nearing 200k miles and going strong. A couple of my Bimmers were neglected, as this e46 obviously was, and yes, it takes love and money to save them.But NOTHING is as pleasing to drive as a BMW, or most German engineered cars for that matter. The thing is, you got burned on a pos used Bimmer in the past and now you go around showing your ignorance by dogging and dismissing ALL BMWs. A used BMW isn't for the average "drive it till it quits" kind of used car buyer. They are enthusiast's cars. If you are ignorant about automobile care, then I agree, don't buy (and ruin) a fine drivers car!

Maintenance of the previous owner is a key factor on every car, no matter the brand.

$700 for a window regulator??? Try about $80. Another tip. Don't take your car to a BMW dealer for repair. They will charge an arm and a leg. A good mechanic will charge no more for a service.

Greg Macke, you are spot on with problems on the E46 series. I personally owned a 2003 330i with 161,000 miles. All the issues you mentioned on this video matched 100% with my car, but I have about two dozens more issues I could add to this. It is a nice ride when new, but a money pit when aged.

I am a german - so I may be subjective. I am not addicted to BMW - I drive a mercedes. But I have never seen a interior as "used" as that. May be this happens when you live with 2 cats for two years in a car. E.G. whats is the cause of the scratches around the shift stick?? Haven't they cut the Fingernails 10 years? What do you have to do to produce such scratches?

Most of these problems come from excessive heat in a hot climate. The glue and plastics lose strength because of too much heat, the BMW badge loses it's color, various cracks because of drastic temperature changes. German summers don't get anywhere near hot as where you are living, these cars are not designed to endure that. Hope that clears some of the problems you had with this particular E46.

Hahahaha... lot of BMW owners giving it the thumbs down.

Good way to ruin a reputation, crap quality.

Has this car been parked under water?

Purchased my fully serviced E46 325ti two and a half years ago with 100k on it. It's cost me exactly £80 in maintenance over that time and still runs beautifully. Cheapest car I've ever owned.

This video is absolutely true. I've owned the 3 series for 14 years now and I bought this vehicle with 32,000 miles which was in new like condition. Today it has 147k. Overall It's been mechanically sound, however be advised the major inspection and mechanical issues will be pretty expensive from the dealership. I received a quote to replace the regulators in both front doors and was quoted a ridiculous $1000, so I ended up replacing them myself for about $80 each. Needless to say that was the last trip to the dealership and I started doing all repairs. Parts can be pretty expensive, but do your research as most parts can be purchased for a fraction of what the dealer charges. The car drives great, but every aspect of what Greg mentions is so true and common known problems. It's alarming how many internal and external components of the car are not made of materials that are long lasting. For the moment the door rain gutters and vehicle badges broke off and it's been a challenge to find inexpensive replacements. I've never seen these things just fall off on any car I've owned in the past. I think most people driving BMW's are leasing owners putting on a show. Therefore after 3 years or so they surrender the vehicles before maintenance agreements ends. If you aren't a "do it yourself mechanic", be prepared to put out heavy maintenance cost to be an owner of "The ultimate driving machine".

I think this is pretty accurate. Note that the convertible doesn't have the a-pillar or headliner problems. The power steering reservoir is easily fixed by adding a filler cap gasket.

Funny, i've got a 330d touring M packet from 2003 and 201 km on the clock, some "minor issues" as the fuel pump under my seat, or a light that dies....so before saying E46 is crap, learn to use a car properly, like checking oil, and all fluids, tire pressure, listen to the noise that the car makes etc etc etc, like older guys do, and hooo miracle!! the car is fine. A car is not just a thing needing fuel to go A to B without a minimum a work on it.

So a car detailer bought ONE BMW lemon and advises not to buy any used BMWs??? Are you serious man??? You are just an amateur, I've owned used BMWs and never had an issue with them. But I did had problems with my new Ford... are all Fords shit? NO. Used cars can be amazing or can be a disasters depending on the care given by the previous owner. Generalizing is a ferry bad thing, you should know that at you age. How much did you paid for that car, did it came with a full service history? You are telling us that American cars are better made??? Unless you have a hidden agenda I will suggest that you keep wrapping your engine bays with burrito foul and power washing them... I guess then Toyota engines will be also crappie... or they can take it? Total amateur talk and approach.

The car was apparently owned by someone with a BMW taste but a Yugo budget.

Omg, I am looking at this video and pissed because my grill came off today. Lol, thats the first thing he shows. I purchased mine new but I've had it 10 + years and have gotten my use but trust me he's right. Still watching to see what else he shows. Lol he's talking about the cloth, so true again and on both sides. I don't know about others but if you have your Bimmer long enough you will know he's on point. Omg, the window regulators. All my regulators had to be replaced and I don't use the windows much because I'm the only one in my car. No kids or anything. He is on point people. Wow the rear view mirror is discolor end exactly like mine. Smh. My volume button is acting crazy.

I own a 15 year old E46 M3 cabrio, and before that I had an 18 year old E36 M3 Evolution cabrio. Both legendary cars and an absolute joy to drive. But I gotta admit, this guy is right. The E46 does have the faults he mentioned, and some can spring up no matter the mileage (low or high). They can be avoided by looking after the fucking thing though! Most wannabes are leasing these now and throwing them back after a few years for the new model without so much as an oil change. M-Sport models seem to be the only ones that last longer as most owners spend at least some money on keeping them right and own them for much longer. But the "Ultimate Driving Machine" is what really lets the brand set the benchmark. No other car feels like they do, even the good ones. No other car makes every drive feel like more of an event. This is why enthusiasts like myself dont mind spending our hard earned cash on them - it is all part of the ownership experience. Yes, it hurts when we learn the hard way that our machine is not immune to needing above average maintenance; anyone who thinks they can get away with buying one on the cheap and getting away without at least basic servicing doesn't deserve to own one in the first place as this is tempting fate and potentially dangerous. That said, I've seen much newer cars in a worse condition after only being a few years old - ford focus, nearly every vauxhall model, not to mention nearly all french cars. For reliability, the main manufacturers are japanese - they seem to run forever and are generally well built. But these cars have no real soul or pedigree. Picking a bad example and attempting to trash an entire model range because a typical owner failed to treat it with a modicum of respect does nothing for a business reputation. In fact after this drivel you should expect your street cred to go down as quickly as the oil level in the heap of crap you had on display here.

My 1971 BMW R/75/5 'motorcycle' came with a tool kit under the seat capable of performing a full tune-up or dismantling the entire motorcycle. My 2006 K1200R BMW 'motorcycle' came with ONLY a single screwdriver in which to change the blinker light bulbs. And the owners manual didn't even instruct on how to change the engine oil. BMW sadly has taken planned obsolescence to a new level.

I own a 2005 325i and my experience is a polar opposite of what the video describes. Its actually been the most reliable car I've ever owned. I do basic maintenance myself and take it to the dealer every 6 months for an inspection. The only thing I've had to change in 4 years is oil filters and tires.

Don't buy a used Mini either. They're also made by BMW.

if you want a good reliable used car, buy a Toyota. It is boring, but it works.

My dad has a 330i 2000 model and everything that this guys has said is what his car is going through now. It only has 150,000km and the interior is exactly the same as described, the windshield cowling is turning to shit and he has replaced the window regulators several times. He has had it since 2003 and taken the up most care with it, but you cant help shit engineering and built. I also had a E39 525is 2002 model and that was an absolute nightmare. I personally believe any BMW prior to 2000 were fucking fantastic, anything after is past their golden era and rubbish

planned obsolescence, Scotty Kilmer calls them endless money pit

I had an E36 compact 316i without any problem for 25 months and after that an E46 sedan 318i who leaked a bit of oil which was fixed after I bought it, but after that it had no issue whatsoever, so 🤷🏻‍♂️

Never seen or heard problem like this here in Europe. usually changing sensors: ABS, cam, temp etc.

Most of these issues I have faced in my previous car avalon 2007 where I ONLY PUT 87000 MILES ON IT!

Bout my first Bimmer, M3 E-46 (2002) with 137,000 miles. Drove it around for two years only doing basic maintenance. Excellent car. I’m about to buy a low mileage 2004 E-46 330i next. These are GREAT vehicles. All makers have lemons and bad owners.

You should do some videos with Scotty Kilmer. I know you know about him.

Holy crap!!! This video basically covered most of the stuff I had to replace with my e46 M3 (100k miles). Windshield cowl..peeling paints everywhere.. ripping leather stitches on seats... broken ashtray roller...weatherstripping...you name it.. everytime i touch something it breaks

once you fix the common issues you will be golden

I have said this for years. If you ask a BMW owner they have nothing but great things to say. That's because the majority of them take the cars aon short term leases, 2-3 years and all maintenance and repairs are covered. The same is true for Mercedes. Audi and VW owners seem to have better luck...

I have a 2000 323i that I purchased new and it has had all of the problems described here plus more. I've also had radiator fan, suspension, front end alignment, A/C compressor and air bag issues. Fortunately, I can fix a lot of these problems. If you have an out-of-warranty BMW and you depend on the dealer to maintain it, it will send you to the poor house. However, when you drive to the poor house in your ultimate driving machine, you will have a smile on your face.

My son purchased a used Beemer, I told him not to do it but........................ Anyway, not one electric window or moonroof will now work, opening the hood is a nightmare, trunk resists opening, electric seats quit, the list goes on and on.

If I saw this video before I bought a BMW, I would be lucky. But, fact is fact, I bought one. All the problems mentioned in this video I have experienced. Now, get rid of it, and go back to Japanese cars. Also, from the point I had a BMW, I can diagnose many car problems just by my experiences. BMW is a good used car for people to learn about engine code. After a BMW, people can repair cars by themselves. Thank you, car angel! Thumbs up!

If you let these type of videos dissuade you from getting a Bimmer you just aren’t cut out for the ///M-Life

How on earth BMW (or other Germans, English cars) is operating and surviving? Why it's consumers don't see those defects (on used cars) and does not complaint for what they pay for (in thousands)..

my right ear is lonely

I wouldnt expect for 16 year old glue to be good.

i like how the interview was mono and the music was stereo

Wow! I had a total of 8 Bimmers (wife & I) between 1987-2016. We didn’t have all those cosmetic issues, but instead had the sudden huge failures. My 2002 X5 had to have the complete wire harness replaced $800. Also the head gasket replaced $1500. The head gasket failure was nation wide here, all at once, hundreds of X5’s. A lot of us thought it should be covered out of warranty. But BMW said no. My wife’s 2009 X3 had the a/c evaporator fail at 95k miles $2500. We drive Lexus and Toyota now. I was half thinking about a used X5 to replace my Sienna van in the next few months. I used to be a Bimmer fanatic. Thank you for knocking sense back into my head. I was having weak moments. I am officially over Bimmers now.

Someone told me once that German cars are built like nothing is ever gonna fail and it does, while Asian cars are built like everything is gonna fail, mostly it does not.

I do agree with two things here 1.peeling of the finish on plastics 2. subframe problems in m3. all the rest is a buullsh*t, you can clearly see car been neglected by its previous owners, he just bought a lemon.

I had an e46 320i,. Great car but bad childhood so it was forever breaking Next was an E46 330ci with a good childhood and it’s a really nice ride

Very true. All this issues were on mine as well at 140k miles. When it’s working it’s an awesome drive, very good handling. I had the 330ci convertible and that added even more issue. Sold it now and do not miss it

Do not buy any used Saturn VUE! BEWARE!

I've had my diesel 320 e46 for 7 years now and it's been a joy to own ..... loads of torque and good fuel economy....I just love the way yanks always dump on European cars when they can't make a car go round a corner,they make a big deal out of a v8 that has 350 bhp we can get that from a 2 litre....I love my BMW's I've had 2 now and I'll keep buying them.

4,600 people selling BMWs vote thumbs down.

I drive a 2002 BMW e46 318i. Bought it for 2500€ two years ago. Over two years I invested 3500€ in Maintenance and repairs. It’s a great driving car if everything works. To be honest I drove over 50.000km since then. Sad to see such a car die a slow and painful death.

BMWs are great cars, as are Audis and VWs, however I will say that us Europeans get the best quality cars from the German manufacturers. Volkswagen cars sold in the USA are made in Mexico whereas Volkswagen cars in the UK, France or the rest of Europe, are made in Germany. BMWs sold in America (specifically this E46 3 series) is also made in Mexico. BMWs sold in the EU, are indeed, made in Germany.

First of all this was a properly cared for BMW and no I certainly did not buy it. It was a client who wanted help getting out from under it. As I have reiterated numerous times in the thread there was nothing mechanically wrong with the car at the time of shooting. In fact all the required maintenance that I talk about was done on the car including the cooling system. Furthermore, I say specifically in this video that if everything is fixed up on a used BMW then they really are amazing cars and set the benchmark for all other car manufacturers to follow. That's a compliment to any car in my book. Contrary to what some posters are saying, this 2003 BMW was not salvaged, nor flooded, nor abused. It was owned by a woman in Santa Barbara and she actually had it garaged for 6 years of her 10 year ownership. She had all the maintenance performed properly and by a garage that specializes in BMW. It was costing her way too much money to keep up with everything that was needing (I have the complete history of this car on file). The point that I make in the video is that for the average person who does not turn a wrench themselves a BMW becomes a major money pit as a used car. What I further emphasize in the video is that most people who rely on dealers to maintain their cars are not the ideal owner of a used BMW because you will suffer financially like she did. That being said, if you are someone who is handy with the tool or know someone who is willing to help in that regard then it is a great car. I personally see a lot of sun damaged/heat related issues in German cars. Maybe it is because I live in a sunny climate and most of what we see on the west coast is due to sun damage. But the point is that if a car is to marketed and sold in a sunny climate, then the car should be engineered to take that kind of weather. For the record the owner had the car garage kept for the past 6 years so it is apparent to me that a BMW cannot take much in the form of heat/sun. My other complaints are that stuff just comes apart prematurely and it really should not, even on a car that is only 13 years old.

All cars will have a lot of issues once the mileage clocks up regardless of brand unless it's a Honda or Nissan. Most problems come for poor maintenance once they fall into wrong hands, as long as you aren't a muppet you can catch problems such as coolant system failures before they become terminal. If you buy an E90 or newer then that's a different matter but the E36 & E46 are generally sound. My 2004 330cd is still on the original water pump, expansion tank and pipes at 182,000 miles. If you are worried about faded badges and odd scratches you aren't man enough to be driving such a car, get a Nissan Leaf. All the Fords, Vauxhalls, Volvo's and VW's I've had have been in much worst condition at less than 120,000 miles. This particular car has been left out in the blazing sun 24 / 7 and probably washed with chemicals that eat some of the rubber seals. The subframes usually only crack on the M3's and there are retro fit kits you can buy to avoid this. You do get particularly bad and good cars of each model. The biggest E46 problems actually centre around the suspension bushes and tie rods which usually need replacing at around 100,000 miles or the handling goes AWOL. Springs can also snap but I've had that on Fords as well. Don't buy pre facelift E46 because they have an odd steering rack which gives a vague feel when driving, later models use the same racks as the E36. I've only heard of interior liner problems on cars that are cleaned a lot possibly with shampoo's that affect the glue. I bought an unloved car complete with rust and lots of dog hair so all my liners are exactly where they should be. Parts are super cheap for these now as so many were made and they have a following, I can replace the wing ready painted for less than £100 delivered. A new pair of rear springs fitted was a mere £60. You deserve to be fleeced going to a BMW dealer just as you would be at any other dealer, none of them are cheap.

Lol. A lot of beamer fans watched this video. Can tell by the like to dislike ratio that I don't see on most of your other videos. Really though, thank you. When I first met my wife, she was sold a used BMW by a local mechanic who loved them and always recommended BMWs as first cars for all these kids I knew. Every one of them had countless problems. My wife's car had all the same interior issues (headliner peeling, pieces of trim popping off easily, chair material stitch breaking, mirror layer separation, etc...) and I remember one winter she used to leave my house to drive home, her heat would fail in the middle of winter and she would be driving home while it was in the single digits inside and out of her car. Then the head gasket blew. She had an engine transplant by that same mechanic, then the second one blew a short time after. I'm sure there were several issues missed by this shoddy mechanic, but we ended up ditching that car and I bought her a used 1999 Honda CR-V. That car ran perfect the whole time we owned it, we drove it all the way across country in 2014 and eventually sold it in CA just because it had a decent amount of rust on the bottom and it was high miles so we figured we'd get something a little younger, but that sure beat the socks off the beamer.

I am now inspired to buy 7 BMWs ... one for each day of the week. Thank you for convincing me, videomaker.

The Germans were amazing at innovation back in the day. And, the 80's 123 Benz is one of the best build cars I've ever had. Lately, though, these cars have gone from engineering marvels to backwards, clumsy, poorly-thought, nightmares. I've worked on a few Audi's, Merc's, and BMW's, and I've learned to avoid them at all cost. Some cars have different engineering principles (say, Subaru), but if they're Japanese, there's logic to the engineering. I can't say the same about the EU cars. Give me a 10/12/14/17mm bit and I can take most any Japanese car apart. German car? Get ready to park a Snap-On truck next to your workshop, you'll need it!

You are 100% correct with this video. My boss has a 2000 E46 323CI. He has had every one of these failures and many many more. He overheated it once because of plastic failure in cooling system. Then I happened again a few years later. Engine did not survive the second time. Head gasket let go. $$$$1800. Then that stupid rubber gasket on the oil filter housing failed and it started leaking oil like crazy. (common failure on these) Then last summer the so called "D drum" failed in the transmission and boom, car won't move. Common failure on these $$$$4200. Control arms are garbage, as well as the rear coil springs. Common failure on these. Heater resistors also go bad on these often. Then, recently he lost compression in the number 1 cylinder due to carbon build up on the valves. $$$$. FYI, head bolts are known to pull the threads out during a head removal. Major pain in the rectum. And the list goes on and on. These cars are HORRIBLE. I know, I'm the guy that had to work on his shit box every time it puked.

The only good BMWs have round tail lights

Wtf? Just because you bought a BMW that was probably treated like shit, doesn't mean every or most BMW's are like that. It's all about the Owner.

You can find these for like 2500 bucks, so for a cheap commuter, the benefits of the reliable drive train outweigh the cons of the interior fit and finish issues.

What Greg says is true in my experience. They drive great when in working order but it's hard to keep them in that shape and things that go south earlier than they should. I've inherited a BMW with 85k miles from my mother who took it religiously to BMW dealers for preventative maintenance and kept it in her garage but nevertheless it's starting to display the characteristic issues they all have. I got it for free, so I may keep it, but we shall see.

The worst car decision that I made was buying a used 1999 BMW 323i. The car was a money pit. I suffered through it for 6 years - 2004 to 2010. Anyway, we all learn. My lesson has permanently married me to Hondas and Toyotas.

I agree with some of your complaints. However, well maintained e46 with relatively low miles should be one of the best cars for college students if they want sporty driving and a little of luxury features. I myself own an e46 coupe. I do everything myself on my car. E46 is great for a person whos willing to get their hands dirty. It has so many instructions as to how to fix problems. Its forum members are knowledgeable and helpful. I myself did cooling system overhaul, brake jobs, finding vacuum leaks, and other modifications that people don't do themselves.I saved too much money doing it and the knowledge I get from it is irreplaceable. Well maintained e46 will last at least easily over 200k. those plastic pieces are easily replceable from junkyard e46s. Subframe cracks vastly apply to pre-03.However some known issues like high rev for a prolonged period of time could leading to oil pump nut failure, front Control arms prone to failure, and weak cooling system are not pleasant but once they are all taken care of, what a blast it is to drive. I have driven a few high performance cars out there but have yet to find anything as engaging as this except for a ferrari that i drove for fun:f430

Well, as my dad used to work for BMW Germany years ago, we probably had one of the largest amount of BMWs ever, since every 3 months they gave 1 to him, from Z1 (if he would have kept it..) to 7 Series. This was in the 80s's - 90's... And those BMW were tanks, built like tanks... The plastic prevailed, and 2000+ BMWs were not so well made as in the past... the e46, and I had 2 of them, are not bad cars, but damn.... do they leak oil, vacuum problems, VANOS, bushes to replace everywhere, clonking sounds from underneath, and countless other problems. Electrics on the other hand were PERFECT, as well as paint, rust problems, and generally mecanically. They are what they are: a mainstream brand, while many people think BMW is a luxurious brand. NO. Bmw is just a normal brand, with some nice touches here and there of lux, some nice rear-wheel drive, some nice touch materials... but it ends up there. Fun cars though to drive on snow!

My 2004 325i still drives beautifully after 200,000 hard miles. Yes, it has all the interior cosmetic issues you mentioned here, but I still love the car and enjoy looking at it and the feel of driving it. Yes, higher maintenance than a Japanese car by a fair margin, but actual repairs on either one will be similarly expensive. These are old cars now. They need stuff. Just keep on top of maintenance and find a good reasonable reputable independent BMW shop and avoid the dealer like the plague, and you’ll be okay. ;)

SCOTTY KILMER APPROVES THIS VIDEO!

My e46 has one of all the things you mentioned you just got a lemon man

dude you got the worst e46 i have ever seen. Here in germany there drive a damn lot of them and they dont have that much problems ... the only thing i have seen ofthen was that thing with the tail light

It was my dream car and finally bought used BMW X5, enjoyed it while working but suffer and spent a lot when overheating starts.It was painful and never look it back. Whatever mentioned in the video is 100 percent true.

There is a class action lawsuit against BMW for the current M5 for electrical and oil consumption problems.

This guy just bought the worst bmw ever. I bet you he bought this for under a 1000 dollars and he is just saying oo this car is so bad but this car is never been cared for no wonder its in this state.

I have 3 employees who own 2012 or newer BMW. I am in the market to buy a new luxury car and asked each of them separately one question, "Would you buy another BMW?" Each unequivocally said, "NO". With that said ... the new 2017 5 series looks very very very nice. I tend to be of the mind if I buy 'any' car and it lasts through the warranty, then all is good. Yet, I can also say I am so happy that my 10 year old luxury Japanese cars have been 100% defect free. Would seem like a no brainer......

now i know where all my empty tic tac containers went.

I’m driving BMW cars 22 years now and went through many 5 series and I love them. Yes, cooling and some bits are done in plastic and it will fail in cars over 100k, but it’s worth fixing. Interior in my se class has been always nice. By the way, who would buy that car presented in this video? If you check second hand BMW, which has a keeper who loves taking care of their cars, you will be very pleased.

the thing is, if you're into cars to some extent you will never have any of these problems. because you will be looking after your car, nothing breaks just because. it is always the driver that causes things to break.

Change the title to "Why You Should NOT Buy a *Trashed* BMW"

Sagging headliner - had it on my both Audi's. Something you gotta embrace having a German car. :)

As a BMW owner, this review is honest and spot on. I have an e46 with almost 182K miles on it and am not remotely interested in getting rid of it. If you as a car owner are not interested in the 'overhead' to own and drive a BMW, then buy a Toyota or Honda and ride. However if you want to drive, enter into the 'relationship' with the understanding of what you are buying and keep up with the issues. I have a tremendous BMW guy and we only see him for oil changes maybe twice a year. He gave us a list of items when we purchased the car a few years ago and we addressed them over time. Once we were out of that cycle, the car is on the road almost 100%.

Looks like the previous owner just didn't give a shit about this car. This is probably the worst example of a used bmw. I used to have a 1996 e36 328is and put 250,000 miles on it. It was great! Of course I expected routine maintenance. Does anyone really expect things to just last forever in perfect condition? For example, if you use a drivers side window for 20+ years and roll it up and down 2 times a day, That's about 14,600 cycles total. I'd say that's pretty good life for a window regulator. Anything that has repetitive use is going to break down, so expect to replace it. With a window regulator, you have to grease the track because it will dry out over years and create friction that eventually puts strain on a regulator. "Preventative" maintenance is the key. And know your car.

Not sure the xenophobic comments add validity to your review.

Has this guy ever seen a GM vehicle of the same age?

ive had 2 bmw e46's with 265k miles and 280k miles, still good driving cars. they never left me stranded, also they were in a bit better shape than the bmw your showing.

Where were you when I bought my used 2000 740i??? Radiator with PLASTIC side tanks split 5 days after I bought the car. Who uses plastic on a radiator? Window regulators, windscreen cowling cracks, 4 dead batteries in 3 years, that ATF fluid leak you showed, and many other issues. I finally had to give up on the car when the tranny took a dump. And then there were the 200+ codes causing the check engine light to be on forever. I finally understood that BMW stands for Bring My Wallet!! Never again.

100% RIGHT ON OVERHEATING EXPANSION TANK ALSO WINDOWS NEVER WORK BUT WHEN ITS GOOD ITS GREAT!!!

Good review and from bitter experience he's right, I now drive a Volvo S60, it's got 166,000 k on the clock and has been faultless and drives like new since I bought it 3 years ago with 108,000 k on the clock.

I had same car 2005 model for 5 years He is damn right about everything I love BMW but I feel so bad about all these issue in my favorite brand

Watching this as a happy BMW E46 owner! ^.^

I'm very happy I bought and still drive a 2001 Acura 3.2TL. With 211,000 miles, it has almost none of the issues as in this video.

My dad bought a used 2013 328i from our neighbors who were moving and no longer needed the car. It had a little over 80 thousand on it when we got it. My dad has since put another 90 thousand on it and it works great. Prior to this he had an 09 328i but there was a recall and we had to send it back.

I was considering the purchase of a 2003 325 i but you have completely changed my mind. Thanks for a refreshing review of the TRUTH!

700$ for a window regulator , are you f* kidding me. That costs like 20$ now.

This is due to high heat and lack of maintenance.

Never buy a SULEV BMW. If you don't understand what it is, find out before you go shopping for an e46. And then only buy one if you know all about it.