Not to mention *most* BMW owners are white collar type people, the very last thing they want to do is get their hands dirty doing maintenance/repairs when they can just take it to the dealership and have an 'ASE Certified BMW Technician' work on their car.
How long have you had your car?
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Bimmers and Mercs are just cars. Like any other. They do on occasion have some kind of electronic wizardry that only someone with factory/proprietary equipment can service, but the basics are usually no more complicated than your high end domestic and japanese cars. Ever try doing suspesion work on a car with HICAS or ATTESA ET-S?
By and large modern BMWs are pretty easy to work on, particularly the I6 motors. They are logically arranged, the major components are fairly accessible, and there are plenty of resources above and beyond the excellent Bentley manual. Sure, you need a GT-1 to run all the diagnostics, but I've done tons of work without one.
By comparison, my old Saab 9-5 was a pain to do some basic stuff on, and the VW V6 and W8 motors I've seen in my parents' cars scare me.
By comparison, my old Saab 9-5 was a pain to do some basic stuff on, and the VW V6 and W8 motors I've seen in my parents' cars scare me.
Current car: 2002 Nissan Maxima SE. Bought it 1/30/09. Has a little under 80k miles right now. Technically it's my dad's car since the title is under his name, but it's mine (cheaper insurance that way). Plan on keeping it until repairs are worth more than the value of the car (all at once). Even then, if I have a garage I might just keep it for sentimental value.
Last car: 2004 Honda Civic VP. Bought 9/04. Totaled it 12/12/08. Had 41k miles at the time. I was going to keep it for a very long time since it was my first car. Even considered handing it down to my kids if I have any (I know it would have kept running). Sadly, it met its demise by kissing a guard rail because I got side swiped.
I miss it. But the Max is fun.
Last car: 2004 Honda Civic VP. Bought 9/04. Totaled it 12/12/08. Had 41k miles at the time. I was going to keep it for a very long time since it was my first car. Even considered handing it down to my kids if I have any (I know it would have kept running). Sadly, it met its demise by kissing a guard rail because I got side swiped.
That Civic could of easily been passed down to your grand kids 25 years from now if it didn't get wrecked.
My dad has an 05 VP and I really think thats the way a Civic should be built, stripped with only A/C to keep the car light and inexpensive.
My dad has an 05 VP and I really think thats the way a Civic should be built, stripped with only A/C to keep the car light and inexpensive.
Originally Posted By: crinkles
cyrrently I've owned mine since May 07. I plan to give it to my daughter as her first car. She is now 2 1/2 years old. it would have 300,000 km on it by then (200k miles). We'll see. it may not happen.
Sounds like my family plan.
Just my "kidz" are older.
'99 Camry given to daughter now @103k
Replaced with an'05 Camry.
'02 Tundra to the son @96k now @105k.
Replaced by '07 Tundra.
Just trying to get them to care for a car is the challenging part!
cyrrently I've owned mine since May 07. I plan to give it to my daughter as her first car. She is now 2 1/2 years old. it would have 300,000 km on it by then (200k miles). We'll see. it may not happen.
Sounds like my family plan.
Just my "kidz" are older.
'99 Camry given to daughter now @103k
Replaced with an'05 Camry.
'02 Tundra to the son @96k now @105k.
Replaced by '07 Tundra.
Just trying to get them to care for a car is the challenging part!
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