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Thread: Which BMW Sedan is the most reliable ?

  1. #1
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    Which BMW Sedan is the most reliable ?

    Had only 4 cars, 3 of them BMW
    ('86 740i, '02 530i, and now '07 335xi)
    all had lots of maintenance and repairs.

    But I like the handling / ride of BMW so wanna give it one last chance.

    So Which BMW Sedan models are the most reliable ?

  2. #2
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    Stick to the non-M cars with the biggest engines. The smaller the car the more performance oriented. The larger the car, the more gadgets that can go wrong. The 340 is a popular seller.
    Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by hundreds of engineers that get paid thousands of dollars for something you bought at Pep Boys because your buddy who doesn't have a job told you it was 'better'?!?

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kevlar View Post
    Stick to the non-M cars with the biggest engines. The smaller the car the more performance oriented. The larger the car, the more gadgets that can go wrong. The 340 is a popular seller.
    Like which engines ? N54 is probably the most unreliable one yea ?

  4. #4
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    MauiM3Mania is offline Observer/Master Skeptic Moderator
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    Quote Originally Posted by ensoniq View Post
    So Which BMW Sedan models are the most reliable ?
    Are you considering new or pre-owned?
    04M3 TiAg 69k slick-top 3 pedal
    99M3 Cosmos 61k S50B32 euro 6Spd

    88M3 AW 43k miles Project FS


    WTB: 3.5" Eurosport/Conforti CAI

  5. #5
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    Not a sedan, but a truly sound vehicle. I’ll vote for the 2 series lineup. Actually made in Leipzig. Engine that’ll get you tickets in any state. Looks are superb, my 2015 still garners lots of compliments.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by MauiM3Mania View Post
    Are you considering new or pre-owned?
    Pre-owned.

    (new ones take few years / lots of miles to be determined how reliable they are)

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by daveo228i View Post
    Not a sedan, but a truly sound vehicle. I’ll vote for the 2 series lineup. Actually made in Leipzig. Engine that’ll get you tickets in any state. Looks are superb, my 2015 still garners lots of compliments.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
    How many miles (odometer kilometers ) on it ,
    or how long you had it for ?

  7. #7
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    anyone else ?
    There must at least one series that's as reliable as Honda or Toyota

  8. #8
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    Maybe a 6 speed manual M54 or N52 engine car. You can find the models here:

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_N52

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M54

    I’d probably buy at the newer and lower mileage end of the range. The one owner well maintained car is ideal. The early 6 speed autos sometimes have expensive problems as they age. Smaller cars have less space under the hood and can be harder to work on. AWD also gets in the way.

  9. #9
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    Easy - the BMW i3 BEV.
    You had your entire life to prepare for today.

  10. #10
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    i think BMW i3

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by ensoniq View Post
    Had only 4 cars, 3 of them BMW
    ('86 740i, '02 530i, and now '07 335xi)
    all had lots of maintenance and repairs.

    But I like the handling / ride of BMW so wanna give it one last chance.

    So Which BMW Sedan models are the most reliable ?
    Totally unscientific but I would guess late model e46 325i manual..

  12. #12
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    I had two different E30s, and they were very reliable as long as you kept up the maintenance. (I did, my son inherited one and didn't.) My wife had a '93 740i and it was reliable until it got hit. It was hit fairly hard and it was never quite the same afterward, although even so it wasn't terrible and it still rolled up about 150k miles. I've had three different E46's - M3 convertible, 330Cic, 325i wagon. The 330/325 have both been reasonably reliable EXCEPT for systemic issues like the window regulators (9 replaced in the first ~4 years), the water pumps with plastic impellers and of course the Tatung air bags. I had an early X5 3.0 that was terribly unreliable (7 fairly serious claims in the 3 years of extended warranty). When the warranty expired (a day or two after the last claim) I left it at the dealership and drove home the 330Cic... one of the E30s and the non-M E46's ran over 200k miles (the E30 made it to 287k, the 330Cic is at 210k now and is in good shape). Other than the E30s, none of them are as reliable as the two Hondas we've had, and given the complexity of the current models, I doubt any of them will match the simpler cars.

  13. #13
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    OP - have you found your new car? Curious about your decision and if you are happy with your purchase.

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