Newbie quest #2 - annual maintainance/repair costs?

[yosshimura]

Ok, I have read the archives, but have a specific question....

Subject car I would be looking at would be 96-97 E36 w/the 6 cylinder and hopefully 5 spd. Car would probably be at about 75K by the price I am looking at .

What can I expect to spend annually on maintainance and repair on the motor or any other Beemer specific issues that comes with miles and or age? I am not talking about the typical tires, brakes, etc. but specific things, such as (read in the archives ) the water pump. You know like do I have to take it to the dealer for valve adjustments, etc which would be $$.

The MB seemed very expensive on maintainance (plus not as sporty ) . In comparison (only b/c it is German) my wife's 99 VW Cabrio w/70K miles has been pretty much trouble free (just maintainance and a starter). If the Beemer maintainance costs are anything like or closer to VW rather than MB, I would like that.


thanks

[bungy42]

No, you don't have to adjust the valves. The water pumps do go after 65k miles or so. Other than that, the maintenance is just standard stuff (tires, brakes, oil, etc.). However, the car will last you longer and treat you better if you treat IT better (use synthetic oil, get the expensive gas, keep it clean, etc.). It's also a good idea to flush the coolant and brake fluid every year, but it's not a requirement. Just something anal people like me do.

[yosshimura]

Ok, so we got water pump, radiator........ you know like 45K, 60K, 100K mile services? What do they do, anything special? cost? On the MB E300 (I don't want to get into a brand war, but just as an example of what I am looking for), they need a valve job at about 100K miles (some do go way over that I am told) and that is a $1K job . And on the C class w/the M104 motor the wiring harness screws up , and there is $400-$500 .

Help!

[UD///M]

My take on maintenance and repair costs.

The two are separate categories. Depending on how obsessive you are with mantenance, you could spend a thousand a year. Or if you don't do any maintenance then obviously your maint. costs would be nil. Average costs should be $500 or less. That is a figure for premium oil, coolant, brake bleed, wash, wax, interior care, etc. Occasionally the figure may go higher than that. It also greatly depends on your driving habits and environment. If you beat on the car it wil beat your wallet.

Repairs can cost alot more than that. Parts are not the cheapest. Not like the dime a dozen japanese or Chevy parts. They are probably between the VW and MB, closer to the MB. Having had a VW, I can say that the BMW parts are more expensive. They are fortunately not near as expensive as Porsche parts. However good maintenance will greatly reduce repair costs. Pretty much the same with any car. Pay a little now or pay a lot later.

The water pump issue only applies to cars with the plastic impeller. That is (as far as I know) E36 models 92-95 and some early 96. The radiator is a given for ANY car with plastic end tanks.

Last year I spent around $350 in maintenance on my M3. And about $750 adding misc. "upgrades". But I do all my own work. I'm sure the maint. cost would be tripple or more if I took it to the dealer or other place.

[540Rob]

Upon recieving my car with 53k on it I had to put new pads/rotors/tires/oil/trans fluid/o2 sensors (4)... since then the only think that I have had to be done on it other than tires and oil is a new thermostat. I have 77k on it now.

[Stockman]

depends on how the car was treated in the past.. and how much you drive

You can go here and print out the inspection PDFs to see what has to be done at the maintenance times

http://stockman.hostmb.com/PDF/

What have I done in the past year?
air filter/ fuel filter/ interior air filter/ front brakes/ belts/ oil change 2x/ tires/ steering wheel/

steering wheel because I was able to get a new one for 30 bucks

I have only driven about 9k miles since I got the car last april

www.alloembmwparts.com and bimmerparts.com can get you the parts fairly cheap

[yosshimura]

Thanks for the info. I checked some prices on one of the links on parts to compare and add to my spreadsheet (I had a spreadsheet on costs for parts for the cars i have been looking at).

Guys, ball park, it seems the parts are cheaper than the MB on radiator, water pump, fuel pump, brake rotors, master cylinder. Also clutch price seemed reasonable . Now..... the fan clutch price... $120! That is expensive, what so special about the BMW fan clutch?

What other surprises or problem parts should I plan on changing or repairing? Oh, I forgot timing chain (or is it a belt?)....

[dantheman]

It's chain not belt. Regular servicing is every approx. 7500 miles. Here in NZ they have special programs for cars oler than 6 yo, oil service costs ~$75, insp.1 ~$150, insp.2~$300. Not too bad eh, these including labour.

[yosshimura]

Hmm..... Why did I or most of society, for that matter, perceive BMW as being high maintainance? Maybe b/c they are German? Who knows, but based on the responses here , archives, and what I priced on parts, they don't seem to bad mechanical / reliability / parts costs wise then.

I guess its time to ask the fun questions then...on to the next thread

[Stockman]

Buy a bentley manual.. and do it yourself.. and you wont be raped..

NEVER goto the dealer.. unless you like to have to pay with a lien on your house

[yosshimura]

Oh yeah definitely Bentley! THey are the ones that make the manual for VW too . I forgot to mention, I pretty much do all maintainance / repairs and plan on same for this next purchase, no big deal; air tools and a manual.......both make the jobs easier

[UD///M]

Both BMW's I have had/have were very reliable. But I can be very anal about mechanical maint.

That aside, BMW's are very well engineered. BMW AG hates to admitt when any line problems occur. BMW as a company has been building engines since before the 1916's or so. Their main products back then were aircraft engines. The BMW logo is derived from a rotating propeller.

From the posts here and other places, the majority of the problems are with creature comfort type things.

[yosshimura]

Do BMWs have a maintainance log that the dealer stamps when each service is done; as MB has? As I type this, I guess the log isn't a big deal, as long as the seller has every receipt for every service by the dealer or a reputable shop in town, no?

Also, if I give the dealer the vin #, can he pull up the service/recall history , mileage history, etc...on that unit? That is how it is on my VW and on MB ...

I am getting too into this.... that is scary :eyes1

[UD///M]

If you buy the car from the dealer they will give you a service log. When the dealer performs any service on the car they are supposed to date stamp it. They can also retrieve records of service.

If the maint. was done by the owner or an independant shop, the log may or may not be completed.

Before you buy the car, just give it a good going over. In, out, top, bottom, front, back, side to side. Bring someone with you if you need to. The seller should also allow you to take the car to a shop to be reviewed. CarFax.com is also a source for info. Post the vin here and someone may provide the info that carfax returns.

Maybe someone from this group is near by you and could lend a hand. Post a separate thread asking just that.

[Anfanger]

In general older BMWs are well built and last a long time, especially if not abused... but if you do get a major problem or numerous problems, prepare to shell out alot of money. For example, on a Ford you may have to replace five $50 parts, on a BMW you may have to replace one $500 part. Forunately because you are looking for a late model E36, almost all problems from the earlier models were learned of and dealt with. Early E36s (like mine) have some flaws.

[yosshimura]

Thanks for the info UD. I concur, I would pull a carfax on the unit if I decide to buy it, after I go over it with my "general mechanical automotive" know-how or lack thereof , I would make it clear that I would be willing to buy if we agree on a price, on the condition I can take it into a shop or dealer for a going through.

I figure that would be cheap insurance.

Also, if I do get to the buy level, I would still have a car to drive around, so I can be picky on maintainance records, ownership, etc. Picky but realistic when looking at a 97-97 unit.

Now or shortly that I do feel comfortable with a BMW purchase, I must make the decision of selling my Grand National to buy the BMW or not. That's another story

[yosshimura]

Originally posted by UD///M
Both From the posts here and other places, the majority of the problems are with creature comfort type things.

Majority of problems? As in normal to have a lot of problems in creature comfort type things ? That could be expensive huh? What are some of these problems? I wrote off the choice of a 92-94 Lexus 400( the sporty 2 door with a V8) b/c a freind has a 92 and the electric rear view mirror (I don't know what it does, but it does something neat ) broke and it was $1K from the dealer; yeah $1K for a rearview mirror...so he just got a regular $20 mirror :

One thing I noticed was on the leather surface on some of the units I have seen. Vettes, for example, at 75K miles they are full of cracks and need replacing, MB at 75K miles look new, even at 100K miles. Beemer? I haven't seen enough to draw a conclusion, but I saw one 96 with 77K miles and they were worn, but then I saw another 96 with similar miles and they looked new .

[dc516]

Originally posted by dantheman
It's chain not belt. Regular servicing is every approx. 7500 miles. Here in NZ they have special programs for cars oler than 6 yo, oil service costs ~$75, insp.1 ~$150, insp.2~$300. Not too bad eh, these including labour.

bay area is the rapist capitol

650 to 510 for insp II

OUUUUUUUUUUUCH

i can do most of the stuff my self , and i prolly will in auto class

[Ryan325i]

Inspection II here is about 600. What an ass raping. MB leather surfaces are the best. I had a 86 190 and the seats looked brand new. My Bimmer seats are in excellent condition at 90K miles and 7 years old. Thank you lexol.

[c3dy8911r]

This thread is dead, but shit, the stealership here wants $788 for an Inspection II. Crazy bastards...