[froggy47]

I know there are mostly fanatics on the forum & I used to count myself as one,

but,

After $1500 for a water pump & now there is no heat (heater core) and today the wife got the steering position sensor warning (kills the car if it doesn't clear- call tow truck) I am about ready to bid farewell to the hallowed BMW marque.

This is an easy driven 50k 328i coupe one owner.

I am sorry but this many EXPENSIVE problems should NOT happen at those miles for a "luxury car"

I am just ranting of course but I am encouraging her to let me sell it b4 we get stuck with these bills.

Nice car while it's in warranty or extended warranty, money pit otherwise.

Nuff said.

[Fortyb]

Originally Posted by froggy47

I know there are mostly fanatics on the forum & I used to count myself as one,

but,

After $1500 for a water pump & now there is no heat (heater core) and today the wife got the steering position sensor warning (kills the car if it doesn't clear- call tow truck) I am about ready to bid farewell to the hallowed BMW marque.

This is an easy driven 50k 328i coupe one owner.

I am sorry but this many EXPENSIVE problems should NOT happen at those miles for a "luxury car"

I am just ranting of course but I am encouraging her to let me sell it b4 we get stuck with these bills.

Nice car while it's in warranty or extended warranty, money pit otherwise.

Nuff said.

Sounds like you got a lemon...I have 48890 wonderful miles on mines and has only been in the shop for a tensioner belt bolt.

[boris]

You win some you lose some.

Its the name of the game.

[Meeni]

Originally Posted by Fortyb

Sounds like you got a lemon...I have 48890 wonderful miles on mines and has only been in the shop for a tensioner belt bolt.

Wait before you claim victory. 50k is the tipping point, more or less.

It is a game of luck. The odds depend on model and brands, they are not so great on BMW (or more accurately, the odds of a problem are somewhat similar, the cost of each problem is not).

The "good" thing is that you already had the big ticket items. Beside twisted heads, you are somewhat cleared.

[speed12sil]

Originally Posted by froggy47

I know there are mostly fanatics on the forum & I used to count myself as one,

but,

After $1500 for a water pump & now there is no heat (heater core) and today the wife got the steering position sensor warning (kills the car if it doesn't clear- call tow truck) I am about ready to bid farewell to the hallowed BMW marque.

This is an easy driven 50k 328i coupe one owner.

I am sorry but this many EXPENSIVE problems should NOT happen at those miles for a "luxury car"

I am just ranting of course but I am encouraging her to let me sell it b4 we get stuck with these bills.

Nice car while it's in warranty or extended warranty, money pit otherwise.

Nuff said.

It's pretty much given that a bmw owner should be prepared to pay (much) more compared to Toyota/Honda vehicles etc for repairs/maintenance past warranty.

[Saintor]

Question; do you have some kind of monthly allocations for the repairs/maintenance of your car?

After the end of warranty, I "bank" 150$/mo for everything that would be covered by BMW.

Since 2011-05-01, I "allocated" 3450$ and spent 2670$.

Sounds expensive? It is no Honda, represents a fair share of hassles, but consider this; 1800$/yr is the kind of money that you would spend just in interests on a 45K$ car (if you finance). And the 2007-2008 E9X are in a sweet spot now... they depreciate slowly.... about 1500-2000$/yr.

So add the 1800$ to 2000$ and you have a 3-series for an affordable 300$/mo. I plan to do it for 2-3 more years (original timeframe was 7 years starting in May 2008, but I drive it less now so maybe 8)

In the USA, insane low lease rates can challenge this, but here in Canada, you can hardly get a 45K$ BMW for less than 750$/mo.

[bender rodriguez]

Originally Posted by Meeni

Wait before you claim victory. 50k is the tipping point, more or less.

It is a game of luck. The odds depend on model and brands, they are not so great on BMW (or more accurately, the odds of a problem are somewhat similar, the cost of each problem is not).

The "good" thing is that you already had the big ticket items. Beside twisted heads, you are somewhat cleared.

Twisted heads what the hell?

[Kolyan2k]

Yeah....that's BMWs....

[kdbryce]

my brother has my old 328 with around 70k on it

no problems. got limp mode about a year ago from a blown fuse and that was about it

it's still under warranty though

[///M3NACE]

BMW means two things. Broke my wallet and bring more women. Sorry to hear that but any post 06 car I would get warranty with.

[bender rodriguez]

doing your own pads, spark plugs, oil and filters will save you a ton of money

[nogard13]

My 2006 325i has 81K miles on it and it's had a few problems, but nothing major. I did have to replace the thermostat and the head gasket ($1500), but that's not much of an expense for a car that had 78K miles at the time.

[///M3NACE]

Originally Posted by Mr.Ritz

doing your own pads, spark plugs, oil and filters will save you a ton of money

It'll save you minimum amount of money. Oil change I actually get at the dealership cheaper than me doing it. Spark plugs everyone 100k and its not expensive to get it done. 80 max an axle for pads and rotors so yeah maintenance is different than actual work done.

[gds52]

Originally Posted by Saintor

Question; do you have some kind of monthly allocations for the repairs/maintenance of your car?

After the end of warranty, I "bank" 150$/mo for everything that would be covered by BMW.

Since 2011-05-01, I "allocated" 3450$ and spent 2670$.

Sounds expensive? It is no Honda, represents a fair share of hassles, but consider this; 1800$/yr is the kind of money that you would spend just in interests on a 45K$ car (if you finance). And the 2007-2008 E9X are in a sweet spot now... they depreciate slowly.... about 1500-2000$/yr.

So add the 1800$ to 2000$ and you have a 3-series for an affordable 300$/mo. I plan to do it for 2-3 more years (original timeframe was 7 years starting in May 2008, but I drive it less now so maybe 8)

In the USA, insane low lease rates can challenge this, but here in Canada, you can hardly get a 45K$ BMW for less than 750$/mo.

hahaha...nice work. I put aside repair money in my mind :-)

[401FlaGATOR]

You should have got extended warranty..just the water pump and heater core would have paid for it, and then you still would have warranty for 40k+..

[Taylorguy74]

You think you have it bad in a BMW? Let me tell you sometime about my 2002 Range Rover and fighting those gremlins a few years ago as it got older. Hell, it didn't even need to get older to fight its gremlins! Welcome to the world of high cost, high end import vehicles. But, they sure are nice to drive!

[menewtobmw]

I love my 3 series and all, but don't consider it a "luxury" car.

[GMe90]

My 328i has 77k miles on it, and other than some regular maintenance issues, I have not had any problems with it. I can tell you that if you buy your BMW brand new and take care of it, you can easily put 150k plus miles on it and drive it for ten years.

[bender rodriguez]

Originally Posted by ihsanshaik

It'll save you minimum amount of money. Oil change I actually get at the dealership cheaper than me doing it. Spark plugs everyone 100k and its not expensive to get it done. 80 max an axle for pads and rotors so yeah maintenance is different than actual work done.

What are you talking about they charge 1 hour of labor to do an axle for brake pads. That is 130 dollars at the dealer.. They charge 350.00 to replace the battery at the dealer. I did mine with a duralast for 125.00... Pretty sure the labor on spark plugs is retarded to.

[bimmerfrk]

Originally Posted by froggy47

This is an easy driven 50k 328i coupe one owner.

How do you know this. Do you know the previous owner. According to a stealer ship they are all easy driven.......

when buying used car pay the extra bit and have it look at by a professional who knows that specific model through and through.

If it gives you more trouble just sell it yourself and state it was easily driven.

Good luck op.

[UP2PARR]

Past 45 days for me, all occurring after 85k 2006 330i:

Visit 1 - $2,300 total. Engine oil leak, oil compartment link, ignition coil, oil change, wiper blades, break fluid flush.

Visit 2: Week later: eccentric shaft sensor issue $900.

Visit 3: Two weeks later: come back from a trip. Got back to car in parking garage at airport. Electric steering wheel lock engages (amber signal on idrive). Tow to dealership $119, steering column replacement and new battery $1750

A week later: passenger lowbeam goes out (Xenon). Brand new bulb doesn't work, so I can only assume its a ballast issue. Doing this one myself. $300 compared to $800 at dealer.

5k + in repairs in 45 days. I've owned the car since 12k miles, always have every service done on time, by BMW... Luck of the draw. Just have to be prepared for this kind of stuff.

Definitely stings the pee-hole though!

[DUI Elite]

Originally Posted by Meeni

Wait before you claim victory. 50k is the tipping point, more or less.

It is a game of luck. The odds depend on model and brands, they are not so great on BMW (or more accurately, the odds of a problem are somewhat similar, the cost of each problem is not).

The "good" thing is that you already had the big ticket items. Beside twisted heads, you are somewhat cleared.

x2

If you sell now, the new guy is in for a treat having a problem free car lol.

Sounds like you just got a bad draw. The water pump is probably the biggest concern one could have with these N52's. And if yours was replaced so soon, you'll be on this one for awhile.

I haven't heard of any heater cores going out though. Where was the water pump service done? Check coolant reservoir. If its low, no heat for you.