Average maintenance fee for BMW

[RMC 0]

Hi ppl

I own a 1996 BMW 318TI. The car runs smooth as and it just turned 10k.

I love my car but....since I bought it....every year I pay over $1000 on just service and changing this and that.

The car drives like a dream but when you take it to the workshops(even team Mcxxxxx)....the technician will ask you to replace several parts......which cost quite a lot.....

I have enough budget to pay over $1000 a year....but the thing is the car only worth like $5000....what s the point to invest another $1000 each year and nothing really improves......

I have been thinking to buy a 2002 735i....I am wondering how much it would normally cost for service and others...The one I am looking at has run about 6.5k.......the deal is not bad....$28000 something...

for a car like this ....it is worth to pay for the service fee.....

But is it still like the old model bmw that you need to replace a lot of parts each year? How much does it normally cost yearly?Cheers guys.

[bmw.maniac 1]

Gosh if you're whining about a 318ti, DON'T even consider an e65.

Do you take it to Team McMillans? Obviously being a dealer they are going to be hugely expensive. Find an indepedent workshop, eg BMWorkshop or Botany Motor Worx.

As for the older car vs. new car thing, of course an older car would have more worn out parts that needing replaced, but with a newer car, when something goes wrong (and a 2002 e65 IS getting old) it will cost you a fortune.

[Creaver 55]

If you were to buy a new car, try get a warranty on it, that would help with things that go wrong.

But yeah, as Eddy said, if you're not liking the maintenance costs of your e36?...don't even think about getting an e65.

[tonylauno1 7]

The car might only cost a few hundred to maintain each year then suddenly, in one year you need to fork out $5000 to fix several things. I personally put $10,000 aside for anything automotive related like fixing, general maintenance, brakes, tyres etc

Here is one thing to remember, European cars are made for a good time but not a long time. What I would consider a long time is 10 years or 100,000kms.

A 3.6L V8 would also cost more to maintain than a 1.8L 4cylinder, obviously being a performance engine, all parts & oil would be more expensive. Just the tyres alone on a e65 would cost you a fortune, one it's bigger and two it's not a common size

Your 5 series & 7 series has so much more electronics than a 3 series, so there is a lot more which can go wrong.

I do not own a e65 so I can't say how much it is costing me. Comparing a e39 straight 6 (528i) & V8 (540i), the V8 cost more to maintain when mechanics & other people gives me examples of what was needed to be replaced.

Maybe you will be lucky and spend on $1000 a year on the E65 then when problems arrive, you sell it. Looking at 10 year old e38 740i, there is not a market for big european cars so the price is $10,000. And should the same fate fall upon a 10 year e65 then you would have lost $18,000 in 3 years.

Keep fixing a 1.8L e36 which you hate or buy a e65 3.6L which you like, either way there is a lot of money involve in both options.

[hybrid 1043]

Here is one thing to remember, European cars are made for a good time but not a long time. What I would consider a long time is 10 years or 100,000kms.

Fail ... have a e30 with 360000kms on the clock and original engine. It turned 23 the other day. Still tight as hell and nothing wrong with the it (not blowing smoke etc)

e46 is just about at 130ks and fine.

The thing is (with any vehicle) servicing. Im sick of people moaning about BMWs breaking down. When in fact its the owner whos broken down and to tight to service the things.

back on topic ... Go to Botany motor works or BM Workshop if in AKL

[martyyn 2]

Here is one thing to remember, European cars are made for a good time but not a long time. What I would consider a long time is 10 years or 100,000kms.

Im sorry mate but youve fallen for the oldest trick in the book. Getting worried about the numbers 1 and 0.

Its just not true that BMW arent built to last for 10 years or 100kms. Ive been around more twenty year old BMW's than I care to imagine and they have all still been driving along quite happily.

100kms is just a joke, Ive seen dozens of e32's with just shy of 300k MILES still starting first time every time, being used as daily's simply because they drive so well. Its funny that number 100 because its the same in the UK, only its 100k miles that everyone wets themselves over.

There will be a multitude of people on here with cars having done intergalactic miles and they still drive beautifully.

[jochen 4]

There will be a multitude of people on here with cars having done intergalactic miles and they still drive beautifully.

Just caught your last comment after having driven back from Mars. Lovely ride, Sun on the left, Jupiter rising on the right. The milky way is especially translucent at this time of year. Cars running so smoothly now after a few light years of solid running....

[1rotty 40]

$20 per week on maintainence WTF !! Pleeease tell me your secret.

If you've got a good reliable $5k car then of course its worth maintaining.

[tonylauno1 7]

I appreciate the comments about old European cars that runs just like new, and how people get worried about the the numbers 1 & 0. It's not a problem when serviced on a regular basis and that is exactly what I'm referring to.

I'm not saying that BMWs are not built to last 10 years or 100,000kms, all cars are built to last forever if serviced as required. I am referring to European & Japanese cars in general.

I know that 10 years or 100,000kms is not a lot, but you cannot hide the fact that it does cost more when compared to a Japanese car. ie Gather all your receipts and compared the parts that are being replaced.

I am not picking on BMWs, if I had posted this on a Alfa Romeo forum, I'm sure people would start getting defensive about the Alfa Romeo brand and how replacing cambelt at 55,000kms or every 4 years is normal when compared to other brands.

My point is, if the author of this thread has budgeted $1000 pa to service his car, then he might be taking a lot of risk with an e65. Who knows, these are cars, he might be lucky and does not need to fix anything and $1000 pa is more than enough for oil & filter change.

[alijanjan 3]

my e38 has done 266K , runs perfectly. just needed few joints etc replaced after couple of years of negligence which is not that bad

as for engine and transmission, no problem at all. runs smooooth as

my past experiences with old japanese, they all had (or developped) transmission problem (couple of hondas and 1 mitsi)

my experience with germans, never had a transmission problem (4 x vw golfs and 1 x bmw), the golfs ranging from 20 years old to about 10 years old, and the bmw is 15 years old

just sharing my experience

Edited February 23, 2009 by alijanjan

[*Glenn* 854]

Hi ppl

I own a 1996 BMW 318TI. The car runs smooth as and it just turned 10k.

I love my car but....since I bought it....every year I pay over $1000 on just service and changing this and that.

The car drives like a dream but when you take it to the workshops(even team Mcxxxxx)....the technician will ask you to replace several parts......which cost quite a lot.....

I have enough budget to pay over $1000 a year....but the thing is the car only worth like $5000....what s the point to invest another $1000 each year and nothing really improves......

I have been thinking to buy a 2002 735i....I am wondering how much it would normally cost for service and others...The one I am looking at has run about 6.5k.......the deal is not bad....$28000 something...

for a car like this ....it is worth to pay for the service fee.....

But is it still like the old model bmw that you need to replace a lot of parts each year? How much does it normally cost yearly?Cheers guys.

$1000 a year for your 318Ti would be minimum.. I would allow $1500-$2000 a year if I was asked

As for a 730 I or 735 I... I would allow around $4,000 a year for servicing & maintanence

However, it could be lower or higher depending on the condition and previous maintanence that has been carried out by previous owners.

If you are looking at changing vehicles, make sure you get it checked thoroughly by a dealer or a BMW specialist only. Dont use anyone else for a prepurchase inspection.

Edited February 23, 2009 by Penry

[Avenged.SSE 0]

I was also wondering about the servicing fee for an E65.... If I get comprehensive warranty cover when purchasing the car, wouldn't this cover all potential problems? i.e. wouldn't this minimize costs?

[*Glenn* 854]

I was also wondering about the servicing fee for an E65.... If I get comprehensive warranty cover when purchasing the car, wouldn't this cover all potential problems? i.e. wouldn't this minimize costs?

Yes it would. Your warranty will cover the failure of components, but not maintanence related items

[Avenged.SSE 0]

Yes it would. Your warranty will cover the failure of components, but not maintanence related items

Whoa! so you're factoring in $4k for just pure maintenance?

[*Glenn* 854]

Whoa! so you're factoring in $4k for just pure maintenance?

No...your warranty would minimise repair costs... I would still allow at least $2000-$3000 a year for upkeep on the car. Servicing, brakes, tyres etc. If it costs lest all the better... but I still would factor that figure if I was considering purchasing an E65

[Avenged.SSE 0]

No...your warranty would minimise repair costs... I would still allow at least $2000-$3000 a year for upkeep on the car. Servicing, brakes, tyres etc. If it costs lest all the better... but I still would factor that figure if I was considering purchasing an E65

Thanks a lot for the info! Now... I just need to find an E65! I noticed they were cropping up on turners for ridiculous price estimates (in the margin of $20k), but have stopped all of a sudden.