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Thread: Longevity and dependability questions

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    Upstate NY
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    2013 BMW 116d

    Longevity and dependability questions

    Good evening

    I'm a civilian that works for DoD and I've lived in Germany since 2004 until recently. During that time I've owned my Jeep TJ it's taken parts of the family all over Europe though every kind of weather and has been silly dependable. Early this summer I got order back to the states and in the planning and preparation my wife told me when I come back I need to bring a new car back with me that's big enough for the family so she can swap hers for a convertible. I initially was going to just get a 4 door Wrangler but the cargo capacity on those isn't all that special, then I moved to a 4Runner they can be equipped how I want, have the all weather capability I want, and are pretty much indestructible a decent package for 30K. So I started poking around autotrader for everything else in the 30K neighborhood that's about 2 years old and you can buy a lot of car for the price of that truck, which leads me to my question for this forum. One of the vehicles that shows up pretty consistently in the searches is 320d/328d Xdrive both in wagon and sedan so I did a bit or searching and the internet seems pretty split on their dependability. Like my Jeep whatever car I buy is going to need to last me 10ish years and be dependable, my wife's car which is a 116D had been dependable in the 3ish years we've owned it, my father-in-law had an e39 520 and drove it 15 years without issue so, is there something about U.S. spec BMW's that makes them less dependable? Is there anyone here that has owned a diesel BMW for more than 5 years than can tell me what their ownership has been like? I don't like to buy cars and I don't much like to re-buy to fix mistakes, please help me not make a mistake.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2001
    Location
    SF Bay Area - East Bay
    Posts
    5,848
    My Cars
    2015 435i M Sport
    Hey Chris - I've been researching the 2,3, and 4 series in the line from 2014 forward. Consumer Reports USA rates these as the most reliable BMWs ever. I had the 1995 E36 M3 and loved owning that car. It was easy to work on and was rock solid reliable. The 2006 to 2012 years for BMW, not so much. And I skipped BMW for a Subaru for a time because I didn't want to ruin my BMW experience with a LOT of shop visits. I'm back shopping for cars again and it looks like BMWs with the -28i and -35i motors from 2014 forward are pretty much trouble free. I can't find a single complaint online on the US car complaint sites.

    I'm pretty excited personally as I am a 17 year BMW CCA member.

    I'm looking at the M235i and 435i... kinda leaning toward the 435i as I am old now and can use the extra room.
    Last edited by LuxoM3; 12-21-2017 at 07:38 AM.
    BMW CCA Member 186373 - Golden Gate Chapter
    Former (e)Bombe Magazine Editor, "The Toy Box" product review writer | Current member of Team Jesus



    Gone: 1995 E36 M3 Arctik Silber, 1996 E36 M3 Cosmos, 1991 E30 318is Cosmos

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Bellevue, WA
    Posts
    2,403
    My Cars
    335d, 328xd (had 330xi)
    I kind of like LuxoM3's answer. Newer BMWs seem quite reliable, although there are model-specific ones to stay away from. For instance, do not buy a 335d (not xDrive anyway) as the emissions system is crazy unreliable (Euro models don't have the same system). I'd also stay away from anything that has had a piggyback tune or other engine mods like downpipes or cat removal or such.

    My wife's 2014 328xd sedan has been very good. Lots of VW TDI folks have been using their settlement/buyback cash to buy 328d models (320d in Europe). The 328xd wagons (F31) are about 5K more than the sedans due to option levels, and are a bit more rare. The motor has all the upgrades that troubled earlier N47 versions it seems.

    Another diesel choice might be newer F15 X5d's. Bimmerfest has an active community of E70 and F15 X5's - look there (and here.)

    Some -28i models have a bad timing chain - make sure it's fixed or not one of them.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2001
    Location
    SF Bay Area - East Bay
    Posts
    5,848
    My Cars
    2015 435i M Sport
    Thanks Floydr

    FWIW - I bought a 2015 435i M Sport over the New Year weekend. LOVE this car. Lots of room and the turbo six is NUTS!

    I used CARMAX to buy the car - which is a national US chain that sells used cars.
    If you worry about long-term reliability, do the extended warranty.
    I've found that Carmax offered the most flexible extended warranty plan based on mileage, years and deductible - AND it's comprehensive.
    It will cover everything save wear items. AND you can choose to use your own mechanic as long as the can guarantee the work for 6 mo/6000 miles.

    I went with 75k miles for 5 years (as put only 5k miles a year) for $1800.
    Comparable plans for Red and others were $2500-$4000k.

    The extended warranty plans are tricky. A LOT of car dealers will list a car cheap and then try to sell you the extended warranty plan for more.
    I have a feeling their 3rd party extended plans offer a kick-back of easily 50%.
    BMW CCA Member 186373 - Golden Gate Chapter
    Former (e)Bombe Magazine Editor, "The Toy Box" product review writer | Current member of Team Jesus



    Gone: 1995 E36 M3 Arctik Silber, 1996 E36 M3 Cosmos, 1991 E30 318is Cosmos

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Spokane, Washington
    Posts
    5
    My Cars
    2017 340i x drive
    Chris, I heard about dependability problems especially surrounding the X 5 after 100k miles. However, those were all pre-2014. I just bought a 2017 340i for the wife....and Ive heard nothing but the most sterling of reviews for this vehicle.

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