Wife wants a BMW 5 series

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The wife has indicated that she would like a pre-owned BMW 535. We are debating the D or I. I like the D (diesel) for the 400+ lbs torque and high 30s fuel sippage. They both have a great 8 spd trans and that beautiful interior with nave and such.

My question is have any of you guys owned a late BMW? We are looking at 2014 or so as they can be had in the high 20s. A 60K car new.

Any real problems? Most of what I read says they are reliable (not Japanese reliable but better than average). I don't want to hate it. She has never had a car that she just "wanted" since her 1993 accord that we bought new. I want her to have it but....I don't want to constantly have to be spending $ on it either.

Don't give me hyperbole, give me facts from ownership or people you know.
 
SPST said:
They ain't cheap to service and repair.
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My sister had one. Very serviceable vehicle but SPST's right, they ain't cheap to service! She had to go to Hendricks to get a battery! Couldn't even order one from NAPA! Oil changes are expensive, her sunroof went bad, $12000 to fix it! She traded it for a Tahoe!
 
Oh, and they have to have High Test gas! More expensive too run! Insurance was higher too!
 
I've heard of things like the batteries require special software if you want to run a standard lead acid instead of a stealer-ship special.

BMW == Bring Money Wolfgang.
 
I really wanted a 7 series but then went with the Lexus LS460, and other than warranty work it has been expensive to maintain, drinks premium, and has been a pleasure to own. I'm starting to think about a replacement as it's a 2007, but it shows no signs of slowing down, much less stopping.
 
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Lawless said:
The wife has indicated that she would like a pre-owned BMW 535. We are debating the D or I. I like the D (diesel) for the 400+ lbs torque and high 30s fuel sippage. They both have a great 8 spd trans and that beautiful interior with nave and such.
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Paul, talk to Brian next time we're on 75m. He has the D model and loves it. It does have great seat-of-the-pants power and you can't tell it's a diesel after it warms up. He really likes his diesel BMW.
 
SPST said:
They ain't cheap to service and repair.
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^ This. I looked at the Z3 roadster when they first became available used. $600 starters (and my research showed that they had a history of failure) put me right off that.

Mama's 300D Mercedes cost a minimum of $1,000 anytime it went into the shop.

The European car manufacturers are way too heavily invested in technology, IMO. They seem to like technology for technology's sake. A good friend of mine, ex-VW tech who now drives older 4-Runners, at work sums European cars up this way, "Why do it simple, when complex will do?".

The Japanese use technology where it's needed and don't pile it on otherwise.
 
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One of my wife's friends bought a BMW last year. She is planning to get rid of it because she can't afford the repairs.
 
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My sister and BIL drive BMW's exclusively. They swear by them; however, they most be serviced by the dealerships and shops. The normal maintenance cost is higher than normal and any replacement part is expensive.

The wife is wanting a Lexus in a few years... I can't understand it... I am trying to get her to consider the Maserati's 4-Door.... But I haven't been able to find out the cost of ownership on those yet.
 
I have a 2011 535i with about 83k miles in it and haven't had any problems with it other than a bad TPMS sensor that cost about $100 to replace. Mine has been tuned to approx. 400 horsepower with BMS stage 2 tuner and Cold air intake, and it's a blast to drive. With the 8 speed transmission it rips from 0-60 much faster then you would expect The car gets about 31 mpg on the hwy and about 25 mpg in town. Oil changes run about $100 and the run flat tires that came on the car are crap IMO. BMW's com with a 5 year 50,000 mile warranty that covers pretty much all the scheduled maintenance (wiper blades, oil changes ect.)

PM me if you want more details.
 
You guys know I am a (was?) ASE Master Tech right? I will (and do) my own repairs.

OK, so parts are expensive. Perhaps a CPO with the 50K mile warr. up and beyond the factory 50K warr. :oops:

Looking at Lexus as well but GEEZ they are crazy expensive even 4-5 year old models.

htperry said:
Paul, talk to Brian next time we're on 75m. He has the D model and loves it. It does have great seat-of-the-pants power and you can't tell it's a diesel after it warms up. He really likes his diesel BMW.
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Cool, I will text him in a few. The D model is what I like. All the reviews say it pulls like a train and that powerplant is proven.
 
SigFreud said:
I have a 2011 535i with about 83k miles in it and haven't had any problems with it other than a bad TPMS sensor that cost about $100 to replace. Mine has been tuned to approx. 400 horsepower with BMS stage 2 tuner and Cold air intake, and it's a blast to drive. With the 8 speed transmission it rips from 0-60 much faster then you would expect The car gets about 31 mpg on the hwy and about 25 mpg in town. Oil changes run about $100 and the run flat tires that came on the car are crap IMO. BMW's com with a 5 year 50,000 mile warranty that covers pretty much all the scheduled maintenance (wiper blades, oil changes ect.)

PM me if you want more details.
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PM sent
 
Lawless said:
Cool, I will text him in a few. The D model is what I like. All the reviews say it pulls like a train and that powerplant is proven.
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He's coming here shortly for us to go flying. I'll tell him that you want to chat about his car.
 
Beautiful car, my friend has a 14/15 not sure which but it is an outstanding car. Rides smooth, very luxurious.

Unfortunately, I've never owned a BMW so I couldn't tell ya about the reliability but its s beautiful car none the less. Plus, you're a master tech and there's s ton of sites to buy parts direct for way cheaper than dealer pricing
 
Lawless said:
You guys know I am a (was?) ASE Master Tech right? I will (and do) my own repairs.

OK, so parts are expensive. Perhaps a CPO with the 50K mile warr. up and beyond the factory 50K warr. :oops:

Looking at Lexus as well but GEEZ they are crazy expensive even 4-5 year old models.


Cool, I will text him in a few. The D model is what I like. All the reviews say it pulls like a train and that powerplant is proven.
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What about the Maserati? I have noticed more and more on the roads as they push their new line... Can I assume that cost of ownership will be the same a Lexus, BMW's?
 
VA_GENTLEMAN said:
Can I assume that cost of ownership will be the same a Lexus, BMW's?
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Well the Lexus models (higher end) seem to be more up front, but I think we would all agree that Toyota would probably overall be less expensive to keep up than a German car.


I did find this gem. Angie likes the smaller sportier Lexus like the IS250 rather than the GS models.

https://winstonsalem.craigslist.org/cto/6021997736.html

Would probably last her forever.
 
VA_GENTLEMAN said:
What about the Maserati?
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I had a customer that was working on some kind of Maserati with a v12 Lambo engine (factory) one day at his shop. When he started it up I was like

post-26169-lonely-island-yolo-orgasm-gif-PrEQ.gif
 
Lawless said:
I had a customer that was working on some kind of Maserati with a v12 Lambo engine (factory) one day at his shop. When he started it up I was like

post-26169-lonely-island-yolo-orgasm-gif-PrEQ.gif
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AFAIK Maseratti engines are built by Ferrari to Maseratti specs. I have worked on several of them. The QTP engine closely resembles the F430 engine. Engine blocks were made by Chrysler. Don't know if they still are.
 
Coltdefender1911 said:
AFAIK Maseratti engines are built by Ferrari to Maseratti specs. I have worked on several of them. The QTP engine closely resembles the F430 engine. Engine blocks were made by Chrysler. Don't know if they still are.
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Oh, maybe it was a Ferrari engine. I just know it sounded like a F1 car and I felt all warm and stuff.
 
VA_GENTLEMAN said:
I am trying to get her to consider the Maserati's 4-Door.... But I haven't been able to find out the cost of ownership on those yet.
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They are Italian. Nothing more needs to be said. I don't drive a new Alfa Giulia for this very reason. Waiting to see what the reliability is like.
 
If you wife is not an a-hole it won't work out anyhow. Only a-hole people can drive BMW's.

I got into one once and it wouldn't even start up. I guess being a dick head isn't close enough to an a-hole.
 
I'm glad my wife likes simpler things. We bought her a 15 Camry a couple months back and she couldn't be happier. She picks her own cars out. As for me, I honestly don't care what I drive as long as it's dependable. I would like to have a newer corvette though
 
Tell her she needs a Chevy SS. They're running a 20% off MSRP for the month of March. I'm seriously considering one...
 
Lawless said:
Well the Lexus models (higher end) seem to be more up front, but I think we would all agree that Toyota would probably overall be less expensive to keep up than a German car.
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A friend of mine that's a good mechanic (but not a pro) says he can cross ref nearly all the Lexus parts with regularToyota parts and get them cheaper the way. He loves theirs.
 
My I laws had a 2014 535 d m series and it got 38mpg and could smoke the tires at anytime. It was the highest package you could get in one. They traded it a year later with little problems. They got an X5 then traded it this year for a Mercedes which rides way better than either BMW did.
 
GM, as a whole, has a culture of knowing full well the problems their products exhibit but do nothing or next to nothing to correct those issues. I had a factory field engineer tell me once regarding a car that should have been bought back, that our job was to get the car TO 36K, not get it ANOTHER 36K.

This is typical of the culture. This is why they should have been allowed to go away instead of being bailed out. Has it changed? I don't know as I have been away since 2011, but I won't bet my dollars on it.

I sent 6, 6 now, letters to the "tech line" about how to fix the rattling/knocking steering shafts in the older trucks. They finally fixed it, the way I suggested, after the next models had been out for 2 years. I sent the first letter about a year into the problem model.

From the non-existent quality control to the warranty shenanigans to the culture it was corrupt to the core.
 
Lawless said:
GM, as a whole, has a culture of knowing full well the problems their products exhibit but do nothing or next to nothing to correct those issues. I had a factory field engineer tell me once regarding a car that should have been bought back, that our job was to get the car TO 36K, not get it ANOTHER 36K.
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Which is how the Japanese got a toe hold in the automotive market in the late '60s/early '70s. THEY weren't making the customer Beta test their products (that was what the home market was for :rolleyes:).

So, based on my positive experience with the Altima I'm driving now, it sounds like I should go with the Murano.

Now back to our regularly scheduled BMW bashing....
 
Don said:
it sounds like I should go with the Murano.
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My sister has one that has been perfect. The fuel mileage isn't stellar but it's a very nice riding and driving car with plenty of room.
 
Lawless said:
GM, as a whole, has a culture of knowing full well the problems their products exhibit but do nothing or next to nothing to correct those issues. I had a factory field engineer tell me once regarding a car that should have been bought back, that our job was to get the car TO 36K, not get it ANOTHER 36K.

This is typical of the culture. This is why they should have been allowed to go away instead of being bailed out. Has it changed? I don't know as I have been away since 2011, but I won't bet my dollars on it.

I sent 6, 6 now, letters to the "tech line" about how to fix the rattling/knocking steering shafts in the older trucks. They finally fixed it, the way I suggested, after the next models had been out for 2 years. I sent the first letter about a year into the problem model.

From the non-existent quality control to the warranty shenanigans to the culture it was corrupt to the core.
Click to expand...

I was responsible for maintaining our Tier I & II company's quality management system and maintaining our TS 16949 certification. These are requirements the OEMs demand of their supplier base, not standards they adhere to themselves.
 
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