I like a good fight. They sound even more attractive now.
Would I be a fool to test drive this 2013 BMW?
- Thread starter Elkins45
- Start date
Yes and No...I'll explain why.
If you have never driven a BMW (or similar German vehicle) before, you owe yourself the experience of savoring the incomparable feeling of operating a vehicle that has a singular focus...that of being a machine engineered to fulfill the driver's tactile link to the road. It will feel like a mythical Siren calling you to its clutches; however, you will be doomed if you fall prey to its irresistible allure. A wise man once told me: "If you have to scratch the itch of desiring a European vehicle, just lease one for two years to get it out of your system". Wiser words have never been spoken.
Like dating a supermodel, the fun comes with a high maintenance price tag.
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And just like with supermodels, Japanese made in Japan is orders of magnitude better, if less of a status symbol
And less of a guaranteed weird adventure past three years from brand new, with less on board ticking time bombs and hidden baggage past the first owner, blast, some analogies are scary accurate.
I would strongly recommend a stroll through one of the BMW boards to be found online.
This will give you some real world guidance on how good or bad these cars are to own as well as advice on what to look at carefully on a car you're considering.
My personal experience is that BMW and Mercedes cars are not nearly the troublesome money pits that some think them to be, but the cars of each that I owned were old-school and known for durability.
They were also dead reliable and any needed parts (not many) were cheaper than those for any Honda or Toyota.
This will give you some real world guidance on how good or bad these cars are to own as well as advice on what to look at carefully on a car you're considering.
My personal experience is that BMW and Mercedes cars are not nearly the troublesome money pits that some think them to be, but the cars of each that I owned were old-school and known for durability.
They were also dead reliable and any needed parts (not many) were cheaper than those for any Honda or Toyota.
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Find an older low miles N52 Inline 6 model.
Too much proprietary electronics in them and Mercedes. Nightmare stuff.
Lots of negativity on 2.0 yet a few of daughter friends own in this vintage (X3, 3 series) with little fuss. Purchased inexpensive off lease just before Covid and still going well. They all have 100k - 130k on them.
Maybe outliers.
Maybe outliers.
Visit a BMW dealership with the VIN and see if they can give you the repair history. You want to determine if the timing chain had been replaced. There was an extended warranty on them which has since expired. The AWD system makes bottom end work expensive. Valve covers tend to crack on this engine (N20).
Regardless of what people say this is still a 12 yr old vehicle. There is a plethora of YT videos out there for DIY.
Yes
To give you an idea of repair cost on a BMW, I recently had to have a driver's side headlight housing replaced on my 2016 535d. My trusted independent BMW mechanic let me bring my own part from FCP Euro (an exception to his normal rule), and the repair was $1600 parts and labor. Had front brakes, including new OEM rotors, done by the same shop in 2024 and the total, parts & labor was $1024. I haven't read great things about the Xdrive system, but then again, the negative stories get all the internet attention. Nobody is going to make a post about their Xdrive system with high miles and no problems. Bottom line, it won't be a Honda or Toyota, maintenance cost wise.
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I owned a '00 BMW 528i 5 MT M-Sport for 18 or 19 years. Bought used with low miles. Supposedly one of the more reliable BMWs of recent years. I really enjoyed driving it. It looked great, rode great, handled great, felt great to even sit in it. It didn't even cost a lot to maintain - lots of DIY oil changes, had the Vanos system repaired/replaced under warranty, replaced a power steering hose, hood release cable a couple of times, one radiator hose, batteries, windshield wiper blades, tires and brakes. I had the ABS module repaired and replaced it myself (when my BMW specialty shop had recommended a very expensive repair).
But I always felt there was a sword hanging over that lovely car. It always felt like it was one drive away from a big repair bill.
I mostly enjoyed the experience - but I won't do it again. I think I was lucky.
But I always felt there was a sword hanging over that lovely car. It always felt like it was one drive away from a big repair bill.
I mostly enjoyed the experience - but I won't do it again. I think I was lucky.
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The new "laser" headlights are $7k a pop MSRP, $5.5k online with all the rebates and hoop jumps.
Kinda like buying that low priced house but at 20% interest.
That has the the n20 motor that has timing chain issues if it has not been addressed by previous owner. I just traded my 17 x5 50e with 146k miles for an electric car. The x5 was rock solid for 140k plus miles. (Was time for something new.) If the timing chain was addressed it's a solid motor.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
It is not the most loved engine among enthusiasts, but if it is in good condition, you can do relatively cheaply preventive maintenance and keep using it for a long time. It has by far the best transmission that is on the market in the last 15yrs. It is very stout, and even if fluid was never changed, just change pan (filter) use ZF8 fluid, call it a day. Yeah, valve cover gasket will eventually leak, but not big deal on that engine compared to I6.
Let's assume it is in good condition:
1. You MUST replace every single coolant hose. That will set you back $300-350 for OE, half for Rein brand, but let me tell you from experience, go OE.
2. You must replace the coolant reservoir. Maybe $60 OE.
3. You must replace the Mickey Mouse flange and get an aluminum one made by Rein. You solved that problem forever. Cheap part.
4. The oil filter housing gasket is, I think, $37 OE, which is very easy DIY. If neglected, it can leak on the serpentine belt, the belt breaks, and ends up through the crankshaft gasket in the engine. Of course, change serpentine belt and tensioner. Use Continental belt, INA tensioner.
5. The electric water pump IMO is the best thing from a performance standpoint, but it lasts 80-100k, and it will not grenade; you will get a warning, usually when the oil level function starts misbehaving because both are on the same BUS. Use Siemens pump.
6. T Case is an easy job, it should be done every 60k. It is not as fragile as some people claim. I bought my 328 xDrive with 84,000mls, T case fluid was never changed. I changed it at 86K, tracked the car relentlessly, drove in horrid winter conditions, etc., and never budged. BMW uses Shell-made T Case fluid that is exceptionally shear stable, and so far, no T case fluid has proved better than that one. It can take a lot of abuse. Where things go south is when little Johhny buys your average BMW down the street, who then buys 4 different used tires, never changes fluid, etc., and yeah, it is south from there. In reality, it is far more durable than most vehicles on the road.
7. These are easy stuff. All what I listed is easier to change, much easier than the spark plugs were on my Toyota Sienna (I would say, electric water pump is right there, maybe bit easier). The elephant in the room are timing chain guides. Did the previous owner change them? If so, get the car. If not, it is up to you whether you want to invest and change with updated guides. I personally don't think it is worth it. N20 is a OK engine, but it ain't inline 6.
Well, I have a 15 year old BMW that the internet has been warning for all of those 15 years, that it is a ticking time bomb. It still drives great after all those years, and maintenance has been straight forward, and no more difficult than plenty of other brands I've worked on.
The wife mainly drives another late model BMW that has been given the doom and gloom stamp by the internet read testers. It's still running and driving great as well.
The wife mainly drives another late model BMW that has been given the doom and gloom stamp by the internet read testers. It's still running and driving great as well.
Tell me about it- I've owned 12 BMWs, a Volvo 740 Turbo, a Ford Scorpio, and a Mercedes AMG C43. I'm on my third Chapter 7 and I have 4 credit cards pegged at their credit limits. And did I mention that I'm living in a cardboard box under an interstate overpass?
Please remember that since you actually own BMW vehicles your opinion is invalid on BITOG. The only true experts are the people who have never driven or sat in the brand being discussed- particularly if their opinion is based on fifth-hand hearsay.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
I like his "read testers."