[Zero.7]

I brought my car in early this morning for an oil change AND b/c I had unusally longer cranks. Anyways, I've known my SA for 5 years now. Great guy. He said to me, "Why do you keep coming back to BMWs?" The rest is not verbatim but essentially he said: I just am getting tired of my work, b/c there are just so many problems with these cars and owners constantly complain about their bmws.....He ended by saying that I would NEVER own another BMW. Sure, it drives great, but its reliability is just so poor he said!?!?!?

I kind of understand his point, but there's just something about a bmw that is so addictive

[eekthecat]

I know I'll be looking elsewhere when my lease is up. I might end up back in a bimmer, but I'll check out other manufacturers first. The build quality on my e92 335 is just not up to snuff -- rattles everywhere, HPFP issues, etc. My e46 also had a litany of annoying issues. Too bad, since I love driving them.

[undecided]

Originally Posted by Cni2i

I brought my car in early this morning for an oil change AND b/c I had unusally longer cranks. Anyways, I've known my SA for 5 years now. Great guy. He said to me, "Why do you keep coming back to BMWs?" The rest is not verbatim but essentially he said: I just am getting tired of my work, b/c there are just so many problems with these cars and owners constantly complain about their bmws.....He ended by saying that I would NEVER own another BMW. Sure, it drives great, but its reliability is just so poor he said!?!?!?

I kind of understand his point, but there's just something about a bmw that is so addictive

But like you, I find that BMWs drive the best (in their price range).

[I335]

Based on my own experience having owned 65+ cars including 2 BMWs, BMWs are no more problematic than any other vehicle. It seems to be much more of an individual thing - some cars are great while others are problematic - regardless of brand. In fact, my 2 BMWs are among the most reliable I've had...

[BMWinNorthdakota]

Sad to hear. I had my SA say something similar last time I was in


"BMW just thinks all their cars have to be race inspired street cars with awesome dynamics and performance, because of this the reliablity isnt always the greatest"


But really, picture your self in any other Lux car similarly priced...

Lexus- Boats are for the water
Lincoln- Wheres the performance?
Cadillac- I do not think I could deal with that must plastic in my 50k car.
Mercedes Benz- Far to mature for anyone in their 20's, anddd they dont make a 6MT
Infiniti- Meh....
Acura- Do they even make a performance orientated car under 60 grand????
AUDI- Pretty much the only other car I could truly see my self in (Put aside maybe a cts-v)

Call me an ignorant, naive, fanboy, but there is not much else on the market that can be compared to a BMW..

Sure, our Bimmers arent really up to snuff when it comes to reliability... But they make up for it where others lack...

[Ryan323i]

More electronics/features = more problems. There's no way these cars could ever be as realiable as something like a Honda civic. But would I drive anything else? Of course not!

[Tuce]

Driving dynamics, steering, suspension, design, and, unfortunately, strong brand identity. I think these are the reason people keep coming back.

[Tee212]

I used to be a tech at mercedes benz and I can honestly say they arent great as advertised. Constant complaints about interior rattles, faulty fuel level senders, cracked LCA bushings, window regulators (all under warranty). But working at any dealership you WILL receive all the complaints so any sane employee will think they are problematic. This is my first BMW and so far considering performance/class/sexiness/styling/prestige and chick/dood magnet it seems pretty solid, just waiting for that hpfp to go . Maybe that SA is sick of his job?

[Insider]

I had an '02 M3 and now an '07 335i and have had zero problems with either car.

[Michael Schott]

I hope the SA is looking for a new job because if his manager heard him say that he'd be out the door. Frankly the job of a SA is not glamorous and I bet he's just having a bad day or his wife is pissed at him.

I'm with I335. I owned Audi's, Cadillac's, Honda's, VW's and numerous American brands. My 328i is as reliable as any and the 50,000 warranty is great. Also, my dealer has first class service which helps me have a good attitude towards the brand.

[DJKhan85]

If he's an SA, then all he sees are problems. When's the last time someone went to an SA and said their car is running wonderfully?

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

You guys dont understand, I worked at Honda for 4 years and we still saw cars coming in with problems.

All service advisors see are cars coming in with problems, thats the whole idea for the service department.

Thats like someone from a customer service aspect of a business saying that all they have are customers complaining... No sh*T?! Really?

If he hates his job cause all he sees is problems with cars, guess what, he got the wrong job (seriously what a moron).

Doesnt matter what Service advisor you talk to or from what Brand.

They all have the same atitude, I should know, I was one of them years ago.

Seriously, the fact that this guy inspired you to make this thread, makes my head hurt.

[Tee212]

lol I agree, when was the last time ppl call or make a visit into a dealership and tell them how much they love their cars. In fact ppl dont bother to call any customer service and praise, its basically a complaint department.

[undecided]

A customer that comes in once every 3-4 years as might be the case with a honda won't be as irate as a bmw customer coming in 3 -5 times a year for hpfp/injectors/vanos, etc....I think dealing with irate customers will wear an SA out sooner.

[bbbuzzy]

Based on my own experience having owned 65+ cars including 2 BMWs, BMWs are no more problematic than any other vehicle. It seems to be much more of an individual thing - some cars are great while others are problematic - regardless of brand. In fact, my 2 BMWs are among the most reliable I've had...

Off topic but.....please, just for shits and giggles, give us the list. You must trade them in every year. I'm in my mid 40's and have had a bunch, but that is quite a feat. I'd like to read over the list.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by undecided

A customer that comes in once every 3-4 years as might be the case with a honda won't be as irate as a bmw customer coming in 3 -5 times a year for hpfp/injectors/vanos, etc....I think dealing with irate customers will wear an SA out sooner.

Disagree all day but ive had instances where Ive had the same customers come in for the same problem within a short period of time even with Honda's. Granted I know they are a more reliable car.

All these cars have their little glitches.

VW /Audi Coil Packs
Honda Odyssey, 2nd gear Oiling trans issues
BMW HPFP
Chrysler .....
Hyundai..... air Bag issues
Mercedes.... Personally..... Fuel pump issues, leaking transmissions, electrical problems..
I can go on.


This does not excuse the common HPFP problems from BMW... I'm saying, a service advisor, who is fed up with complaints makes me laugh. (cause its his JOB). Its like a guying who works in a sauna complaining its hot. (no thats probably not a real job but I didnt have a good analogy at the time.)

[ianthegreat]

Originally Posted by Insider

I had an '02 M3 and now an '07 335i and have had zero problems with either car.

34k miles w/ zero problems. I really think the reliability thing is over played.

[VWtoBMW]

Originally Posted by bbbuzzy

Based on my own experience having owned 65+ cars including 2 BMWs, BMWs are no more problematic than any other vehicle. It seems to be much more of an individual thing - some cars are great while others are problematic - regardless of brand. In fact, my 2 BMWs are among the most reliable I've had...

Off topic but.....please, just for shits and giggles, give us the list. You must trade them in every year. I'm in my mid 40's and have had a bunch, but that is quite a feat. I'd like to read over the list.

+1 Yeah, for shits and giggles... I am 35 and here is my list of 29:

82 Plymouth Reliant - free from a family member, first car at 16 and was told it was a 'test' of my responsibility
83 Chevy Impala - free from my grandmother after it sat in her garage for 2 years
83 VW Jetta GLI
84 VW Jetta GLI
86 Pontiac 6000 - father got it for me because it was a good deal, meaning free for me
84 VW Rabbit Diesel - 52hp non-turbo, GREAT on fuel but couldnt break 60 mph on the highway if I went against the wind
87 Jetta GLI Wolfsburg - for some reason, I just LOVED this car... it was red as were the other GLI's I have had
90 Golf GL - a friend of mine bought it from me back in 1996 and just scrapped it 2 years ago
91 Passat
91 Toyota Tercel - may have had a mild stroke when in the car buying process
93 BMW 318i
97 Honda Civic DX - it was reliable and cheap
99 Jetta GL
2000 VW Jetta GLS
2001 VW GTI VR6
2003 VW Passat GLS
2004 Yukon Denali - being 5'6 I thing I felt I needed to have more of a physical presence, rolled it after 2 weeks when I was cut off by an old Tercel in the rain
2004 Golf TDI
2005 Volvo S40
2005 Volvo S60
2006 VW Jetta TDI
2007 Chevy Impala SS - red-neck stage of my life perhaps??? I have friends that keep bringing up this car and ask if I also had plans to mary a direct blood relative
2007 VW GTI
2007 VW Jetta GLI
2008 Audu A4 2.0T
2008 VW Passat Variant 3.6 4motion
2009 VW CC 3.6 4motion
Currently own: 2009 BMW 335i xDrive & 2006 Porsche Boxster S

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by Takashi

If the SA is getting annoyed of people complaining, it might be time for him or her to change jobs.

Cars are machines, and machines are bound to have problems. It's a fact of life.

I believe they call that Job Security

[Tee212]

Originally Posted by VWtoBMW

+1 Yeah, for shits and giggles... I am 35 and here is my list of 29:

82 Plymouth Reliant - free from a family member, first car at 16 and was told it was a 'test' of my responsibility
83 Chevy Impala - free from my grandmother after it sat in her garage for 2 years
83 VW Jetta GLI
84 VW Jetta GLI
86 Pontiac 6000 - father got it for me because it was a good deal, meaning free for me
84 VW Rabbit Diesel - 52hp non-turbo, GREAT on fuel but couldnt break 60 mph on the highway if I went against the wind
87 Jetta GLI Wolfsburg - for some reason, I just LOVED this car... it was red as were the other GLI's I have had
90 Golf GL - a friend of mine bought it from me back in 1996 and just scrapped it 2 years ago
91 Passat
91 Toyota Tercel - may have had a mild stroke when in the car buying process
93 BMW 318i
97 Honda Civic DX - it was reliable and cheap
99 Jetta GL
2000 VW Jetta GLS
2001 VW GTI VR6
2003 VW Passat GLS
2004 Yukon Denali - being 5'6 I thing I felt I needed to have more of a physical presence, rolled it after 2 weeks when I was cut off by an old Tercel in the rain
2004 Golf TDI
2005 Volvo S40
2005 Volvo S60
2006 VW Jetta TDI
2007 Chevy Impala SS - red-neck stage of my life perhaps??? I have friends that keep bringing up this car and ask if I also had plans to mary a direct blood relative
2007 VW GTI
2007 VW Jetta GLI
2008 Audu A4 2.0T
2008 VW Passat Variant 3.6 4motion
2009 VW CC 3.6 4motion
Currently own: 2009 BMW 335i xDrive & 2006 Porsche Boxster S

omgut! the dmv must know your blood type by now

[Kiemyster]

long story short, its like shooting up heroine. Its the best fucking thing in the world, but its just so bad for you.... and yet you have to keep coming back for more.


Ive never tried heroine, but im just using because its such a dsiastrous and intense drug.

[mkato13]

All Cars have problems and if you read the postings on this board you will think sometimes that BMWs havemore then most cause thats a majority of the hot topics. Not true. Thats just whatpeople talk about. Its really easy to forget to mention the good things and focus on the bad.

I work in an ER treating sick people all day long. If didnt realize that I am dealing with the minority, not the majority I woudl start to wonder whats the use with trying to be healthy.