13th Feb 2015, 05:36
BMW aren't unreliable, just expensive and needing constant maintenance. I say this after owning FOUR different vehicles from BMW. Window regulators die on a regular basis, the radiator needs to be replaced every 40,000 miles or so (cracks), and electronic gremlins are constant. Or, as the BMW owner's blog once said, "Set aside $3,000 to $4,000 a year for maintenance." I found these figures to be about right, spending $3,500 a year in repairs and maintenance on my last 3 Series. Fun to drive, expensive to maintain; that is the BMW experience for many owners.
13th Jun 2021, 20:09
A sampling of one Nissan and one BMW does not yield meaningful data to indite either brand, much less all European or Japanese imports.
Besides that, the Altima was probably assembled in Tennessee. Does that even qualify as an “import”?
30th Jan 2012, 12:29
I'm absolutely puzzled by some of these comments, especially regarding 3-series. Unreliable???
I've owned quite a few BMW's, since early 90's till present. That included Z3, 318i, 330ci. Owning these cars is absolute pleasure. Extremely reliable. Even a clutch repair on them is cheaper than on Honda's, and these are repairs at a BMW dealer. A rebuilt brake master cylinder is only $125, which is exactly same prices as for Nissan, GM, etc.
These cars cost exactly the same as domestic or Japanese imports. I should know, I own a 2005 Nissan Altima, bought it new, and it's in the shop a few times a year for repairs. Within 2 years after the warranty ran out, thank god I purchased an extended warranty, Nissan dealer repaired over $6000 worth problems. These included steering knuckle, both front struts rear stabilizer bushings (twice!), alternator, catalytic converter (front), flex pipe (twice), rear calipers (seized), sub-frame (unbelievable!), CO2 (twice).
Even with brand new suspension parts, (struts, links, bushing), Nissan doesn't even come close to BMW. I still own my 1996 BMW Z3, which has higher mileage than my Altima, and within all these years, since 1996-present 2012, this car cost me less than $2000 in repairs.
I honestly never owned a "Lemon" BMW, and will buy another one in the future. Biggest mistake I made was in buying Nissan Altima.