[Closed] BMW cars - overrated POS

Shedloads of newish 3 series being nicked at the moment due to a ecu/clone key loophole. so if you own a <5yr high end model ensure its fitted with a steering lock.

OP you own a clocked model. 85k in 11yrs?

Faultless 320M here.
Just not happy with drive when in the wet or on poor roads.

at first i thought it was a 4 yr old one you were moaning about. Which might have been fair enough. But 11 years old!? What do you expect?

I'll stick with my Alfa's my current 8 year old 156 is approaching 240K and has never missed a beat or gone wrong - my fathers 5 series thats another story...

When I was about 17 my dad bought one of the first BMSw ever imported into the UK, a 2002. It went like stink, nobody knew what it was and it was shockingly badly designed; within two years rust appeared in the front wings and the heating and ventilations system was atrocious. Fun though.

BMW is like British Airways - charge too much for your product and you will fool some of the people into believing it is somehow better than your competitors' products.

Tuts at the OP for being had, cars are generally only sold when they have a problem so be careful.

I know they are better engineered than most cars but depending on how they are used there will still be problems. 4-5 years with unlimited mileage anywhere at any speed and then swap. Not good for those of us that can't afford it. I have a 04 525d that has cost me more than I imagined but in the last 25k no more thn buying a new small car which wouldn't have a nice big 6 under the bonnet.

Parts are cheap at motor factors and the dealers have reduced labour prices for the older cars. The dealers are also very nice places to be and generally make you feel superior to other road users.

My old MG ZR which my brother is running has done the same mileage in the same time (since buying the bmw) and has cost roughly 1/8th of the bmw to keep on the road. but those MGs are terrible, I saw on an internet search they go wrong every 3 days...blah...blah.....blah.

More luck than judgement not getting expensive repairs every so often on cars these days.

I refer you to STW rule 6.7a

Always consult the mob before buying a car?

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/should-i-buy-this-oldish-jag

BMW, Porsche, Kia, Land Rover, Isuzu, Ford, Hyundai .... we've had all of those in last 10-15yrs... they ALL have problems, that's life.

1. Hyundai: cheap as chips = problems

2. Porsche: supposedly extremely well made (I'd agree) = expensive problems

3. Everything else on my list: mid-priced = mid-priced problems.

C'est la Vie!

generally make you feel superior to other road users.

LOL

starsh78 - Member
I'll stick with my Alfa's my current 8 year old 156 is approaching 240K and has never missed a beat or gone wrong - my fathers 5 series thats another story...
POSTED 1 HOUR AGO # REPORT-POST

It's an Alfa. The odometer will be broken, it's probably only done 10k

2002 (52) 330 here. Had it since 2005 at 29k, now on 97k. Its been really smooth and never ever gone wrong until I took it for its last Service, when BMW showed me it need 3k of work on it!

Took it to an Indy, The bill went down to £1500. But the mechanic came to see me and said " Unlucky mate, in all my 20 years as a BMW mechanic I've never seen so many wear and tear parts need replacing at the same time". He went on to say "But unless there's a major component failure, you'll get a minumum of another 5 years out of the replacements and the cars in good mechanical nick, so you have a good car there"

I did have a look at this gearbox issue a while back and took some of the internet advice I found which was to get the gearbox oil change between 60/80k miles, as the "lifetime" (as mentioned above) gearbox quote for BMW's is really 100k miles. Its common sense really, all the dirt, swarf and quality of the oil will affect the parts. Keep it the oil at its best and that will help.

Not sure which gearbox is in the 330, but I've a feeling its not the same one as the 323, and is an uprated model to cope with the extra power / steptronic change.

OP you own a clocked model. 85k in 11yrs?

My Octavia estate is a 1999 model and has 85k on it.

I've always wanted to like BMW's but every time I've driven one I've been soooooooo unimpressed.

So either

1: You can't drive
2: You're lying
3: You *wish* you could have a BMW and feel emasculated by those who do, so you spend time making things up on forums because it bolsters your fragile self-esteem.

I've had a number of BMWs over the years, some have been amazing, some more run of the mill. One thing they all did was drive well, even the midrange diesels.

youve owned the octavia from new?

To say a lot of modern BMW 's drive well is a joke , they got slated for years for extremely hard jiggly rides due to run flats and firm suspension . I've had a few and they are ok cars, generally no better or worse than a lot of other cars. The perceived snobbery when behind the wheel is just that , perceived . A low powered basic BMW is nothing at all to write home about , a V10 M5 is ......

So either

1: You can't drive
2: You're lying
3: You *wish* you could have a BMW and feel emasculated by those who do, so you spend time making things up on forums because it bolsters your fragile self-esteem.

LOL - got a brochure in your pocket?

Even with the firm suspension and run flat tyres from a driver's perspective the handling is awesome although it may be a bit unpleasant for passengers at times...

As for the picture with snow chains on the front; in the snow I run snow socks front and rear, no point being able to get the car moving if you can't steer it or stop it.

current company car is my first BMW and it won't be my last - 40K miles in 2 yrs from new and not a single fault, which is a first for any car for me. 318d tourer, so nowt fancy, but it just does it's job efficiently and calmly

So either

1: You can't drive
2: You're lying
3: You *wish* you could have a BMW and feel emasculated by those who do, so you spend time making things up on forums because it bolsters your fragile self-esteem.

I've had a number of BMWs over the years, some have been amazing, some more run of the mill. One thing they all did was drive well, even the midrange diesels.

Errrr, yeah ok.

1) I'm a petrol head. I used to race rally cross and have been on so many track days I've lost count.

2) I don't need to lie.

3) The ones I have driven have been on test drives when looking to buy a new car, I could buy a BMW today if I wanted too.

So either

1: You can't drive
2: You're lying
3: You *wish* you could have a BMW and feel emasculated by those who do, so you spend time making things up on forums because it bolsters your fragile self-esteem.

I've had a number of BMWs over the years, some have been amazing, some more run of the mill. One thing they all did was drive well, even the midrange diesels.

Of course as well as making rational decisions about suitability, mpg, reliability, longevity etc. there is also the question of image and what a car says about the person who owns it.

Can't work out how much of this comment was genuine and how much was irony but it neatly illustrates all the reasons why BMWs have never been on my shopping list.

Even with the firm suspension and run flat tyres from a driver's perspective the handling is awesome although it may be a bit unpleasant for passengers at times...

my mates had a string of BMWS, including an Orange 2002 tii.

I have always been very unimpressed by their handling - some of the 525s were just nasty.

His wife has the old, narrower shape, 325 cabriolet and that is the only one I have been impressed with.

Another mate has a new 5 series.

There is a road in surrey called the red road (B311) - nothing to special but some great cambered turns on it - like a nice piece of singletrack.

He doesn't like that road as he feels out of control!!!

Personally I can see that they are not a drivers car based on the number of times I have been behind one as we come up to a fantastic series of smooth bends on some derestricted country road which are great to drive round at 55-60, but they continue on at 40 and brake for the corners.

In fact they road I am thinking of has just had to be resurfaced at all the points which would be equivalent to braking bumps on singletrack.

I bought a 1986 318i in year2000 for a few hundred quid. I had it for three or four years before selling it on. Nothing ever went wrong with it although it was a bit gutless, 118000 on the clock. It started to go rusty.

Kev

@Skywalker Of course you are a petrolhead, of course you have been to countless trackdays and of course you could afford a BMW any time you wanted to[s]o[/s]. I for one totally believe you.

@Turnerguy You've posted that far-fetched drivel before, sounds like [s]you[/s] "your mate" can't drive.

It's interesting to note that BMWs are generally perceived by the world at large to be excellent driving machines, yet there are STW experts who don't agree. Please regale us with stories about the time you hunted down some BMW idiot (who of course couldn't drive for toffee) in your Seat Ibiza or whatever.

I guess the thing to remember here is a car that cost 30k 10 years ago will cost the same to maintain as a car that costs the equivilent of 30k today..
Cars a decade old with 85k (or more) on them, are going to get the odd component failure, this is due to chronological aging of components (rubber seals degrade etc) as much as wear due to use.

If you don't understand this, or don't like it, buy a new Skoda Fabia.

Oh, and as for the original title about BMWs being an overrated POS - my 1-Series Diesel is coming up to 60k and 2.5 years old... it has been absolutly faultless... It is great to drive and gives me 50mpg out of a tank - whats not to love!
Would I buy one thats a decasde old and expect the same - of course not!!

What you meant to say was [b]MY knackered second-hand BMW is an overrated POS![/b]

Turner guy, just because people don't drive the cars well, does not mean they are bad to drive, just that the driver is bad.
5 series is a little heavy to be a 'drivers' car, but it craps all over the competition.
I will say that my old 325 convertable (w plate) was a decent car made bad by taking the roof off. To my flex and shake on the bumps compared to my friends hard top version. Still better than my current A4 though!

My 5 Series (F10) handled like a car half it's size and weight. Great car.

I've always wanted to like BMW's but every time I've driven one I've been soooooooo unimpressed.
So either

1: You can't drive
2: You're lying
3: You *wish* you could have a BMW and feel emasculated by those who do, so you spend time making things up on forums because it bolsters your fragile self-esteem.

I've had a number of BMWs over the years, some have been amazing, some more run of the mill. One thing they all did was drive well, even the midrange diesels.

I regularly take at 50-60

Wow.

You're awesome.

Got a 320d Touring recently. Handles better than the ST220 I had before.
Obviously not had it long enough to know how reliable it is however I intend to go lots of places in it.. its full of mud at the mo, might have to clean that out at some point.

Anyway, I like..!

Ive got to agree with some of the comments up there.

I held the lap record at my local karting track for quite a while, and I passed my test with only 2 minors, so I know Im a decent driver.

I only drive an old Honda Civic, yet I seem to regularly get stuck behind families in BMW's on the popular tourist roads in the lakes. I cant understand why these people dont want to drive like a **** like I do, especially when they're on holiday with their families. I would have thought the fact that they're such good "drivers cars" would encourage the owners to drive like a ****.

going into bends at 30-40 that I regularly take at 50-60. If they're such amazing 'drivers' cars, why don't people drive them?

We followed (in the van) a Nissan GTR that was braking for every slight bump/crest/bend/kink from Peebles to Glasgow. I assume that makes them shit cars too?

Had a 320d estate recently. Lovely engine, crap car with poor build quality and dodgy electrics from new. Dealers with an attitude. So I got rid of it.

Scooby estate now. Drives as well. Don't miss the Beemer...

I held the lap record at my local karting track for quite a while, and I passed my test with only 2 minors, so I know Im a decent driver.

😆

😯

Are BMWs the motoring equivalent of Orange bikes? Pretty much everyone who has one loves it, those who don't (but secretly wish they do) make up stories about how rubbish they are?

The attitudes of some folk on here, pro or against BMW, are enough for me to be put off one. But are there any reliable family motors out there, without stupid stuff like electric handbrakes, which are decent to drive? My last car was an Octavia, my present is a mondeo, and I just cant see anything out there to replace it. Nearest so far would be another mondeo. My perfect car would be decent to drive but one that illicits absolutely no response when you tell people that's what you drive.

My perfect car would be decent to drive but one that illicits absolutely no response when you tell people that's what you drive.

@Turnerguy You've posted that far-fetched drivel before, sounds like you "your mate" can't drive.

I might post it again one day 🙂

but at least I didn't post the story about the night it was raining very heavily and an aquaplaning 3 series bounced off the central reservation in front of me, followed by seeing several more 3 series pulling over to the hard shoulder. but there I just blame the computers and the traction control.

not a great driver myself, just appreciate a car that is nice to drive after having learnt to drive on my dads alfa 1750 gtv.

5 series is a little heavy to be a 'drivers' car, but it craps all over the competition.

not sure if the lexus 400 he got after his string of 5 series is competition, but that was a much nicer car.

not saying that some BMWs aren't good cars, it is the perception that they are all fantastic that is questionable.

Depends on what you call a [i]decent drive[/i] I have a citroen c5 thats about as comfy as you can get and it can still get form A to B and not be too shabby. Plenty guys I work with have/had them (BMW)and would not say they have any less problems than any of the other makes (except the other makes could be used in the ice and snow)

Grow a thicker skin, poppet?

Thanks, that rather supports my point.

Thanks, that rather supports my point.

Ive got to agree with some of the comments up there.

I held the lap record at my local karting track for quite a while, and I passed my test with only 2 minors, so I know Im a decent driver.

I only drive an old Honda Civic, yet I seem to regularly get stuck behind families in BMW's on the popular tourist roads in the lakes. I cant understand why these people dont want to drive like a * like I do, especially when they're on holiday with their families. I would have thought the fact that they're such good "drivers cars" would encourage the owners to drive like a *.

Are you for real? 😯

Nope, he was just being a cock.

not really surprised that all kicked off!

for the record:
- yes it has fsh
- i know it's history and am as sure as you can be its not been clocked
- yes I know you take a chance with older cars
- general research I did (including on here) suggested they are pretty solid

but what I am surprised about is that the 2 major faults it has developed are a) very common; and b) imho pretty major design flaws not consistent with its reputation

but - like - whateva..........

My 330 has been going fine for 10 years (only 82k miles, generally short trips so a hard life). Can't really complain, it's only failed to start once and that was with a flat battery after a ferry crossing I'd forgotten to disable the alarm on. Few minor bits have needed doing over the years + brakes which wasn't exactly cheap but well under a grand. Only real annoyances are the rear parking sensors playing up for several years (corrosion) and the door/roof trim keeps coming off (known issue on the coupes) oh and the HK stereo upgrade was a waste of money thanks to the rattly rear sub (again a known issue).