Older BMWs Come With a Big Drawback According to Consumer Reports
Jason Crosby
· 2 min read
BMW makes cars that most people would love to own. Luxurious, they’re a household name that’s associated with success and style. But what about older BMWs? It might seem like a smart investment to purchase a used one. But according to recent findings, older BMWs can end up costing their owners a heck of a lot of money down the road.
The drawback of older BMWs
The biggest drawbacks of older BMWs are laid out in a review by
Consumer Reports
. Their article, which gathered data from a massive survey, indicated that a BMW owner can expect to spend more than $1,000 on out-of-pocket repairs, over the course of 10 years. While the German automaker maintains incredibly cheap five year out-of-pocket costs ($42), lack of warranty coverage for faulty parts increases ownership cost over time.
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How to take care of your older BMW
Just because some BMWs have a high long-term cost of ownership doesn’t predetermine that you’ll end up paying a ton of money to maintain your older BMW. There’s a few ways to get ahead of the predicted costs:
- Regular oil changes, and tire rotations need to be made every 3,000 miles for older vehicles.
- If your BMW is a performance model, it might require premium fuel. Even though it’s more expensive than regular unleaded, some sport and luxury cars need higher octane fuel to run their best. Don’t cut corners.
- Older cars might make creaking or banging noises when driven—it’s best not to ignore these sounds if you want to hold on to your car. Have any unusual noises inspected by a mechanic as soon as possible, especially with older models.
- Pay attention to dashboard notifications. This means not ignoring the check engine light, and low tire sensors.
MORE: BMW vs. Mercedes-Benz: Which Costs More to Insure?
Should you buy an older BMW?
With BMW’s reputation for being in and out of the shop past the five year mark, taking a close look at the older BMW you’re interested in should be a top priority.
To avoid the drawbacks of an older BMW, it’s important to factor in:
- The current mileage and year of the vehicle. The more miles it has, the more likely you are to have to shell out on repairs early on during ownership.
- When you conduct your test drive, listen for any odd noises. Some things you might hear include creaks or banging like we mentioned before; these sounds can be caused by anything from a piston misfiring, to the steering being out of alignment.
- Insurance costs for owning a luxury vehicle. Yourcar insurancepremiums will be higher than a regular car of the same year.
Despite having a reputation for being expensive, BMW is still a fine automotive manufacturer. And with the right maintenance, it should be possible to get at least 200,000 miles out of an older BMW.
Just be sure that you are prepared for the possibility of expensive repairs in the future—and evaluate your options thoroughly before you buy any older vehicle.
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