Are BMWs Reliable Cars?
BMWs aren’t always considered the most reliable cars. But that perception might be a little bit unfair.
Written by Tom Hindle
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
BMW
is making news with its transition to electric vehicle production. Since the brand has had some harsh criticism over past reliability issues, has it proven itself to be durable enough in recent years?Let's take a look at how well the German carmaker stands up when it comes to reliability, and why the brand continues to be popular today if it isn't quite as reliable as other rival vehicles.
Repair costs of BMWs
With the way BMWs are built, you can expect a small repair job to add up quickly. A gasket that might cost around $50 or so could run up a repair bill of several hundred dollars—largely because of the labor involved in removing all the parts just to get to it. Then, they need to reinstall everything.
A regular oil change should cost around $30 for most vehicles. But, a BMW that uses full-synthetic oil could be more expensive to fix—usually $100 and up, according to
BMW Tuning
. Spark plug replacement will cost $200 at least unless you're knowledgeable enough to try to do it yourself. Even most BMW repair shops will charge you $150-$200 just for labor. Expensive repair prices, though, don't necessarily mean it's unreliable. It means they use more expensive parts and specialized mechanics to repair or maintain BMW vehicles.
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Are BMWs really that unreliable?
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BMWs have long been considered pretty unreliable. Some people even nickname them "Big Money Wasters". It seems that there are quite a few owners who have spent a great deal of time and money repairing their BMW vehicle—only to find themselves doing it again within weeks.
These vehicles are high-end luxury cars that command pretty expensive prices to begin with. A lot of the prices include the high-quality parts that the brand installs into them. Plus, since they're built for performance, owners will want to experience the sporty handling and speed BMWs are known for. This tends to wear out some of the parts faster than they would normally for your average vehicle.
Consumer Reports
, one of BMW's biggest critics, rarely, if ever, gives a good score for reliability. Most models receive a three out of five score, mainly due to past issues with the electrical equipment and engine problems. There are, however, a few BMW models they recommend, such as the compact 2-series. Why BMWs are still popular
MORE: BMW vs. Mercedes-Benz: Which Costs More to Insure?
Die-hard BMW owners love their vehicles because of their power, prestige, and performance. The sporty handling is fun to drive, which makes the higher maintenance costs worth it in some consumers' minds, especially since some of its cars are pretty fast.
Motorbiscuit
reports that some owners claim the vehicles represent their personalities and it tends to make a pretty strong impression on others, which isn't surprising, since BMW makes some pretty classy cars. BMWs are expensive, but insurance doesn't have to be
No matter which BMW vehicle you may have, you'll need the right policy to ensure its protection. While these high-end luxury vehicles are costly to own, getting insurance doesn't need to be.
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