dreadful1 7 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 Hey, I just have my eyes on a car at the moment thats a singapore import and I was just wondering if any of you guys know anything bad about them? Have searched and read that the Mercedes from singapore are a horror but not so much the bmws? Some say that the electronics die but some say they have no problem what so ever. Has anyone had an singapore imported BMW and had any major problems or know of any problems from the singapore imports? Yongxi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bimmer boy 21 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 Ive had two singapore BMW's none of which had any electrical issues, only issues they had were just normal things that go wrong on any car regardless of where its from... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmwmad 0 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 Same owned two and had no electrical issues with either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hotwire 352 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 Yes to Horror issues from ex Sing Benz's (or Jap for that matter) -seen from work experiences. Can't say I have seen many issues (more than normal) from ex Sing BMW's Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 I think Allan had a singapore e 39 that had the heater blocked off Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Driftit 1953 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 Brothers E38 had every electrical problem you can get. Was from Singapore. Have heard many many other horror stories too. Mate from a large Auto Electrical shop in the CBD trys to avoid them as they can turn into costly nightmares. Have also heard stories that cars can be left running in parking buildings to keep the aircon on for many hours daily. Use it as a means to get a cheaper price. You also rarely get any import info on the car like you do with the Jap cars. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyline_400r 0 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 (edited) I had a SG imported E46 before, and enjoyed it very much. SG or Jap imports usually have higher specs than NZ new. From what I HEARD, electrical problem usually happens to the SG ones, while Jap ones have rust problem underneath the car. Again, that is only what I've been told only I guess it really comes down to your luck Edited December 13, 2010 by skyline_400r Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
huff3r 347 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 Brothers E38 had every electrical problem you can get. Was from Singapore. Have heard many many other horror stories too. Mate from a large Auto Electrical shop in the CBD trys to avoid them as they can turn into costly nightmares. Have also heard stories that cars can be left running in parking buildings to keep the aircon on for many hours daily. Use it as a means to get a cheaper price. You also rarely get any import info on the car like you do with the Jap cars. I lived in Singapore and thats rubbish. They value petrol just as much as we do, and certainly dont do that! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AN E30 Fan 1 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 Not a BMW but my dad has a Volvo S80 T6, he imported it from Singapore himself about 5 years ago and no electrical problems what so ever. It hasn't had any problems in the last 2 years and thats saying something for a Volvo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
briancol 3 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 The biggest problem you will have with an ex Singapore car is the heater. Because of the hot climate there, they tend to block off the heaters. This can cause problems as once you find out where the hot water supply to the heater is blocked, and remove it, the heater box in the dash often collapses because it has water in it that hasn't moved for years and has rusted everything out. Just a warning, it has happened to me on several occasions with cars I have imported from Singers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gotheschu 1 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 Dad got his E46 M3 Cab from Singapore and had no issues with it at all. The most reliable car he's ever had... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michael. 2312 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 So what are these 'horror stories' exactly? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hybrid 1039 Report post Posted December 13, 2010 From personal experience. Singapore import Start motor soliniods ECU needed resoldering Windows and locking relays other general relay failures. Perished hoses and most of the cooling system needed replacing. Japanese import No issue what so all .. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreadful1 7 Report post Posted December 14, 2010 Wow! Cheers for the info guys, looks like it really comes down to the car itself.. I will look into the cooling system and aircon of the car and really inspect if its going to fail. Yongxi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*Glenn* 854 Report post Posted December 14, 2010 I would suggest that you get it professionaly checked before you buy Yongxi, either by a dealer or BMW specialist. There are so many different things that can effect these vehicles and it is also dependant on what motor is in the car, they all have there pros & cons. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreadful1 7 Report post Posted December 14, 2010 Ah yes of course Glenn! My plans were if I were to go through with the purchase, I would take it to you to get it checked out before any purchases is made as I have known many friends who didn't get their vehicles checked out and turns out it's not even warrentable! So you might be expecting a call from me maybe in the next 2 weeks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*Glenn* 854 Report post Posted December 14, 2010 Personaly, I wouldn't buy any of the 4 cylinder models. N42 & N46 engines give so many problems. The M43 is ok, but lacks power. I'd only ever consider a 6 cylinder model if I was buying one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
allan 295 Report post Posted December 15, 2010 As always do your homework on the vehicle. Have had mine for 4 years now and yes the heater was blocked off and no trouble with the heater core when I got the system to function correctly.Also the demisters to the windscreen had been covered over for some reason later found out both are common in Singapore vehicles. But have had the disappearing pixels a common e39 fault, final stage resistor fault, typical bmw cooling system faults, front seats side holding brackets breaking, wiring in boot loom / boot lid been broken, replacing rubber hoses et but thats a e39 for you. Cheers and good luck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MustangBoss62 0 Report post Posted June 4, 2013 Hey, I just have my eyes on a car at the moment thats a singapore import and I was just wondering if any of you guys know anything bad about them? Have searched and read that the Mercedes from singapore are a horror but not so much the bmws? Some say that the electronics die but some say they have no problem what so ever. Has anyone had an singapore imported BMW and had any major problems or know of any problems from the singapore imports? Yongxi Hi Yongxi, Just get it checked by a BM specialist, any car either from Japan or Singapore can have it's share of problems. True about the heaters being blocked out, only the older models though, probably pre-95's. Later ones are ok. The "Singapore car issue" was actually a rumour that started about 9-10 years ago, I'm guessing by Dealers importing from Japan. The cars from Spore came in with higher Specs and were well priced. There was tension among Japan import dealers with European cars coming from Spore that were priced significantly lower than Japan imports. Lots of rumours about humidity,heat and all that stuff..(FYI no humidifiers in Spore) More likely condensation will effect electronis parts, with change of weather and temperature. In Singapore its Summer all year round.. So, like I said it was just a rumour that started and actually caught on well with the general public, so having a Spore import now will be harder to dispose off, unless it's cheaper. Hope that helped. Cheers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
