European POS

 

Yeah, and Rolls Royce, Bently too. I asked this question before.

 

4 domestics and 10 europeans (3 of the domestics being european in origin, but still have their roots in domestic ownership and design)

BMWs are crap IMO. I sure wouldn't mind driving one if it were a lease under warranty or whatnot, but would never own one outside of warranty.

In fact my mother in law and her boyfriend stayed at my house last night. He has a BMW X5... not sure what year, but relatively new. He's had ALL FOUR window motors and tracks go out. It cost him 800 dollars per door to get that fixed. Also had two door lock actuators go out, one that still works but not by the remote control, only by the button on the inside ( ) paint problems, and his CV joint was making a ton of noise when I rode with him. Good number of rattles, too. That's just what I know has gone wrong recently... he's mentioned having lots of problems before that, too. Said it's the second biggest POS he's ever had, second to his jaguar. My mom's g/f has a Lexus RX SUV, which and has had only one problem with that was her fault (she lives on a dirt road and drives fast on it through mud and everything on a daily basis... over the past 3 years quite a bit of dirt built up built up in the engine bay and eventually caused the accessory belt to start squeeling) he loves it, and plans on getting one of those next.

BMW makes some great "Driver's cars" for sure... but if they cost as much in repairs alone as another luxury car would in monthly payments, then nobody in their right mind would own one used.

 

Jaguar only got really bad in reliability here recently when Ford bought them though didn't they?

 

it was the british made electronics that gave them this reputation. they have remedied this and have had good results. My mom bought a 98 XJ8 brand new and had it for 3 years, it had one problem a few months after she got it, but all she had to do was call the dealership and the next day the drove down in another XJ8, and let her use that one while the problem was fixed (which took about a week)...

 

Yeah Euro cars have electronic gremlins.

 

I've owned 2 bmw's and haven't had many issues. I owned a `91 318is with 200k miles...everything still worked well and had no rattles, can't say that for the camaro I had with 1/2 the miles. The 4 banger engine was still going strong until I swapped it out for the likes of M3 power. My 2nd BMW (1995 318ti) has given me no grief other than a drooping headliner...I believe maitnence is really the key to having no issues. When I buy a used car, I make sure to change all fluids, filters and anything maitnence related that needs attention. Of course I can't vouch for the new ones other than my g/f's 2000 328ci that has yet to cause any problems. I know the 7-series has never been great in reliability throughout the past decade with all the electronics and little gadgets it has.

 

I think they actually showed improvement under Ford.

 

I agree, its always been my observation that pre-ford jags were very unreliable.

 

Ford has nothing to do with Jag's problems...Jag got SIGNIFICANTLY better after Ford bought them. So, if significantly better still winds Jag up on the most unreliable list, imagine how bad they were before

 

The thing about BMW is while they do have electrical problems, they're stable as hell. An early 70's BMW 2002 can cruise at 120 mph....CRUISE.

 

No!!! I can't believe it. I thought, only American companies couldn't build quality cars! I am completely shocked!!! NOT!

 

Just out of curiosity, are you aware that there are other ways of using punctuation outside of the exclamation point? Everytime I read a post you've typed up I get the feeling you're high strung and yelling 24 hours a day.

 

OK, you got me! I can be a miserable SOB. But I wasn't always like this. Since the crash, my life is nothing but pain. I'm in NJ, and Dennis is kicking my butt right now, and every time there is crappy weather, I feel it. You might say its a real pain in the neck. I will try to work on it. I can't image me living as long as my gramps did, or GF sticking around that long either, under the circumstances. Needless to say, My Buell doesn't get much play anymore. P. S. You are very perceptive!!

 

I will agree that BMWs are not good. We have an X5 at work. We can't use it now because of numerous problems:

- LF window fell into door
- LF outside door handle doesn't work
- gauges quit
- all warning lights on
- all display numbers on dash garbled
- front axle will not lock
- rust along the trailing edge of tailgate

And these are just the ones I know of. I know there's more but I can't think of them. It has around 60K on the clock now.

Total repair would equal $3,500. I say "would" if we were to have the work done. The company doesn't think it's worth the money. The vehicle will probably just go to auction.