These days most are having good experiences with their cars. In any given month only about 1/10 of participants report any sort of repair.
The survey process is designed to weed out those who simply want to vent, since you cannot sign up and immediately respond to the main survey.
Thanks, I appreciate it.
We've updated the results for the 5-Series to include owner experiences through March 2009. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2008: 48, about average
2007: 71, about average
2006: 96, about average
2004: 126, worse than average
Sample sizes small for all but the 2008.
A big thank you to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.
BMW 5-Series reliability comparisons
382 5-Series owners now signed up. A great start, but more remain needed to properly cover all model years from 1995 on.
Updated results in August. We hope to cover more model years this time around, but in many cases it's going to be tight.
Car reliability research
I'll go sign up now
Thanks, I appreciate it.
We'll have results for the 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008 next month. Full results for the 2008, partial results for the others. Falling a couple responses short with the 2002.
We'd like to have full results for all model years, it's just a matter of how many owners participate. To help us do this sooner rather than later:
Car reliability research
Updated results will be posted to the site tomorrow. 408 5-Series owners now signed up. A very good start, but more are needed to provide precise results for all model years from 1995 on.
Car reliability research
We've updated the results for the 5-Series to include owner experiences through June 2009. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2008: 59
2007: 48
2006: 125
2004: 152
2003: 192
2002: 256
The 2007 and 2008 are about average, the others worse than average. Sample sizes small for all but the 2008.
A big thank you to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in November and February. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.
BMW 5-Series reliability comparisons
just signed up to help out 01' 525i
Updated results again later this month.
We're going to start providing new stats for the odds of requiring no repairs and the odds of getting a lemon. These require larger sample sizes, so additional participants would be helpful.
For the details, and to sign up:
Car reliability research
As far as i know BMW cars especially 5 series are very reliable. I love the way the car looks and feels while driving.....
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Dining Room Furniture
We've updated the results for the 5-Series to include owner experiences through September 30, 2009. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2008: 59
2007: 83
2006: 111
2004: 111
2003: 193
2002: 251
The 2007 and 2008 are about average, the 2004 is on the edge between "average" and "worse than average," an the others are worse than average. Sample sizes small for all but the 2007 and 2008.
We've also introduced two new statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.
In the case of the 2008 5-Series, the percentage with no repairs is about 56, while the percentage of lemons is about 4. Not enough responses to provide these stats yet for other years.
Nada-odds and Lemon-odds car reliability stats
A big thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in February and May. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.
BMW 5-Series reliability comparisons
Engine problems are very rare in first few months with any car but problem I have seen is with driving habits only.
BMW Headlights
BMW LED Tail Lights
Last edited by fiama; 12-23-2009 at 07:45 PM.
I just signed up... More Power!!!!
Good service INS 1, INS 2 = reliability.
We've updated the results for the 5-Series to include owner experiences through December 31, 2009. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2009: 16, very small sample size
2008: 59
2007: 75
2006: 149
2005: 59, very small sample size
2004: 123
2003: 179
2002: 167
2001: 245
The 2009 is better than average (so far), the 2005, 2007, and 2008 are about average, and the others are worse than average. Sample sizes small for all but the 2007 and 2008.
We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.
In the case of the 2008 5-Series, the percentage with no repairs is about 65, while the percentage of lemons is about 3. Not enough responses to provide these stats yet for other years.
Nada-odds and Lemon-odds car reliability stats
A big thank you, once again, to this forum and everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May and August. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.
BMW 5-Series reliability comparisons
mind you, minimum sample size has to be 101 for any statistical study to be close to valid.. 100 is even small. n=100+1
Simply not true. The minimum sample size depends on the amount of variance, and how precisely you want to measure it. There's no fixed number for all cases.
I've intentionally selected a metric that minimizes variance, and the results don't have to be highly precise to provide useful information.
Just enhanced the related repair history survey so that it can (optionally) be used as a personal car maintenance record.
As always, more participants would be helpful. Updated Car Reliability Survey results in May, with a preview for participants next month.
Car reliability research
548 5-Series owners now signed up. A great start, but more remain needed to cover all years from 1995 on. Once we get enough participants we'll split out results by engine.
Not yet signed up? Details here:
Car reliability research
We've updated the results for the 5-Series to include owner experiences through March 31, 2010. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2009: 37, better than average
2008 528/550/M5: 54, about average
2008 535: 78, about average, but not far from "worse than average"
2007: 107, worse than average
2006: 135, worse than average
2005: 55, better than average, but very small sample size and results for other years suggest that this one is not accurate
2004: 119, worse than average
2003: 158, worse than average
2002: 132, about average
2001: 286, small sample size; actual repair frequency probably lower but still worse than average
2000: 115, about average, but small sample size and results for other years suggest that this one is not accurate
1999: 185, worse than average
Sample sizes small for all but the 2007 and non-535 2008. This likely explains some inconsistencies from model year to model year. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.
A big thank you, once again, to this forum and everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in August and November.
BMW 5-Series reliability comparisons
This week we'll start previewing the next set of results to participants. The preview results will be updated as responses come in.
My focus: how many model years will we be able to fully cover this time around? This depends on the number of owners that participate.
To help provide the best possible information on your year:
Car reliability research
We've updated the results for the 5-Series to include owner experiences through June 30, 2010.
Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the more recent months until the summer or even fall of next year.
Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2009: 43, about average, more participants needed to split by engine
2008 528/550/M5: 53, about average
2008 535: 64, about average
2007: 114, worse than average
2006: 116, worse than average
2005: 52, better than average, but very small sample size and results for other years suggest that this one is not accurate
2004: 148, worse than average
2003: 128, worse than average
2002: 82, about average, but very small sample size and results for other years suggest that this one is not accurate
2001: 257, small sample size; actual repair frequency probably lower but still worse than average
2000: 125, about average
1999: 126, about average
Sample sizes small for all but the 2007 and non-535 2008. This likely explains some inconsistencies from model year to model year. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.
Thank you, once again, to this forum and everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in November and February.
To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help:
BMW 5-Series reliability comparisons
Starting this month we have a new question to measure, as objectively as possible, the severity of a problem. Many people have been asking for reliability stats that weight problems by how severe they are, and once we have enough responses with the revised survey we'll start providing this.
Also, updated reliability stats this month.
As always, the more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone.
Car reliability research
Not sure if I have missed it but your average odometer reading has no unit, is it miles or km? I assume it's miles but not stated in table.
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