When to tell enough is enough?

[DrKD]

Also posted over on Bimmerfest. I'm looking for lots of opinions.

I bought an '06 330xi (sport package) with 100k on the clock from a dealer about 6 months ago. I negotiated some work in the deal (which caused many more issues, but that's a story for another time). So right off the lot I got a new differential, F rotors and pads, a coolant flush, and a huge headache.

In the time since, I've done spark plugs (http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=spark+plugs), headlight assembly, cabin filter, rear shocks (and associated hardware), and a windshield....a lot of money in repairs and maintenance.

Recently (yesterday), I find myself staring down the barrel of what I think could be a bad xfer case servo motor. I am getting yellow warning lights for the brake, stability, and the stability with "4x4" under it. I don't have a definite answer as to what it is yet.

When do you know enough is enough and you need to get out of the car? There are still more things that need to be done to the car in the near future (tires, OFH gasket, valve cover gasket, etc.). I'm not opposed to turning a wrench, and in fact I've done most of the work myself up to this point, but I can't have the car sucking my wallet dry.

What are normal maintenance costs for a year? When do you know the car is going to be a whole lot of trouble? If I am going to keep the car, what other maintenance would you suggest tackling to prevent expensive repairs?

Thanks for all the insight, answers or suggestions on any or all my questions above would be great!

[trohde78]

I think that point is when you no longer enjoy the vehicle regardless of the costs.

[Pilgrim]

...So right off the lot I got a new differential, F rotors and pads, a coolant flush, and a huge headache.

In the time since, I've done spark plugs (http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=spark+plugs), headlight assembly, cabin filter, rear shocks (and associated hardware), and a windshield....a lot of money in repairs and maintenance.

Recently (yesterday), I find myself staring down the barrel of what I think could be a bad xfer case servo motor. I am getting yellow warning lights for the brake, stability, and the stability with "4x4" under it. I don't have a definite answer as to what it is yet.

When do you know enough is enough and you need to get out of the car? There are still more things that need to be done to the car in the near future (tires, OFH gasket, valve cover gasket, etc.). I'm not opposed to turning a wrench, and in fact I've done most of the work myself up to this point, but I can't have the car sucking my wallet dry.



I don't know what "right off the lot..." means. They did that stuff for you? You did it? Unclear.

IMO what you've done SINCE you got the car is normal maintenance. You should expect that as a matter of course, and not worry about it. You knew about the tires when you bought it, and that's also normal for the mileage.

The servo is bad news. You don't quote costs, so I don't have a good response.

As far as the other stuff, just space it out and DIY as much as possible. None of it sounds like a big ticket item, it's just catching up with maintenance the previous owner neglected. Not good news, but not a killer.

IMO you have an investment in the car. Get it right, and it ought to serve you well in the long term. Ignore some of this stuff, and it will bug you every day.

[Pyewacket69]

The other big issue in this equation is the price paid for the vehicle... If the OP bought the car priced with those items already discounted in the price, then there isn't much room for complaint.

On the other hand, if the purchase price didn't include the discounted amount for those repairs, quite simply, the OP overpaid.

100K modern BMW's are nothing like 100K Corollas.

Far too many unhappy "pre-owned" BMW owners could have saved themselves a lot of grief, time and $$$ by doing 30 minutes of on-line research before making their purchase.

[DrKD]

Let me say that this isn’t the car of my dreams. If I was able to find one when I was originally looking, I would have gotten a RWD e60 with sport, premium, cold weather packages, and all the goodies. But, at the time, I could only find them at sketchy NoVA used car dealers, which had headache written all over it. So, I got this one from a [name brand] dealer. It isn’t cosmetically perfect with some rock chips and sap marks on the hood, scrapes and scuffs, some wear on the interior trim, and a mark on the seat. I can get over them, but the car has got to perform mechanically.


I originally bought this car to be a comfortable ride for long trips, and to keep miles off my other car. But as I kept driving it, I realized I LOVE the way it drives. So, I’ve been driving it to work everyday.


I am the first to admit I probably overpaid a little, but I was able to negotiate some work into the deal, which ended up saving me big with the differential (again long story, not the car’s fault).


I don't know what "right off the lot..." means. They did that stuff for you? You did it? Unclear.

So they did that work.

I knew going into it, that BMWs cost a lot in maintenance, and I figured I am willing to handle that. I did a lot of research and I was looking for a car for well over 6 months. I didn't just jump into this purchase. My concern now, is if the car is doomed, or a lemon.


Like I mentioned, I like doing DIY and I enjoy learning how to fix the car. I don’t want this to turn into something where every month I am spending $1k on the next issue that has popped up. And to be honest, thats what’s been happening. There are other things I want to get done to the car, but I’ve had to hold off or cross them off my list because of some of these repairs. I also had an older BMW; an e28. That thing was bullet proof, and we never had to worry about big issues like this.


If I were to sell the car, I can’t imagine selling it in its current state; I would loose too much money. So that means that at the least, I would be paying for the current issue.

[cochise325]

Sometimes the symbols you see on the dash, are caused by wiring connections. If they worked on the differential, they may have disconnected the wiring harness to the transmission. If the pins in the connector are pushed in, the connections can't be made completely, and you will throw those symbols. You will need some careful diagnosis, before you start shot gunning parts.

[grussell]

You bought a car with 100k miles. Any car with 100k miles will need work. What you listed does not sound like you bought a lemon. Oil filter gasket, valve cover gasket are not difficult to replace. Any car with 100k probably needs the shocks and struts replace. Again that is not that difficult. You can get a loaner spring compressor to replace the front struts from a local parts store. You bought a 10 year old car, most will show sign of use on the exterior and interior. If you like the 330 then make the repairs and enjoy it. If you get to the point where you can't stand it then you can make the decision to dump it and move on.

[NY Scotsman]

To answer the OP's question on what does it cost to maintain a 5yr+, 100k+ mile 3 series, I think that Doug Vetter's review of his 16yr old 328 w 255k miles is excellent. (Google "Doug's long term ownership" and you should find it).

On his review he details his annual maintenance costs. His average after year 5 is $4,700 per year. Keep in mind he has had low and high years, year 11 he only paid $1,500 but year 9 he paid out over $7,100.

Most people will not pursue as aggressive a PM schedule as Doug so his costs may be on the high side but from a planning perspective if you put away $4k a year for maintenance you won't go wrong.

As others have noted you are suffering as you are trying, in a short period of time, to bring back a car after years of another owner's neglect.

Hang in there.

[cochise325]

To answer the OP's question on what does it cost to maintain a 5yr+, 100k+ mile 3 series, I think that Doug Vetter's review of his 16yr old 328 w 255k miles is excellent. (Google "Doug's long term ownership" and you should find it).

On his review he details his annual maintenance costs. His average after year 5 is $4,700 per year. Keep in mind he has had low and high years, year 11 he only paid $1,500 but year 9 he paid out over $7,100.

Most people will not pursue as aggressive a PM schedule as Doug so his costs may be on the high side but from a planning perspective if you put away $4k a year for maintenance you won't go wrong.

As others have noted you are suffering as you are trying, in a short period of time, to bring back a car after years of another owner's neglect.

Hang in there.

Those numbers seem awfully high to me. I have driven a few cars 250k miles, and a couple more 150k miles. But I have never spent that much to keep them going. Now if those numbers include fuel, that would make more sense.

[DrKD]

Just a quick update...I got the error code read today at the local BMW dealer. The verdict is a bad steering wheel angle sensor to the tune of $1250.

[jrose7004]

Sounds like you've already decided that this car isn't for you. Time to cut your losses and get rid of it.