BMW 3 Series
Speaking of pricey cars, the BMW 3 Series is one of those, while also being one of the most popular car lines that we have ever seen. Both the name and the manufacturer add up to its legendary status, but this car, while definitely a sight for the eyes, has been dubbed the “ultimate driving machine.”.
However, as much as a lot of us would like to have one of these cars, they come with a hefty price tag to begin with, be it brand new or second-hand. And since BMWs are thought of as luxury vehicles, the maintenance costs of such a car will also come with appropriate price tags.
A lot of owners have been having headaches when they think about the yearly maintenance check for this car, but when you add in the possible issues you can run into, it makes it even more of a headache when you think about repair costs.
The common issue that many speak about is that a significant number of Series 3 BMWs end up having issues after you reach the 100,000-mile mark, especially when it comes to the engine and electrical side of things. Other sites have reported that there are other issues, such as with the battery, power window, and unexpected oil leaks when it comes to most BMWs, so you should keep this in mind.
As a retiree, it is unlikely that you will be able to foot the bill here, so make sure you are prepared if you want to keep your BMW sedan!
25 Responses
BMW is ultimate driving machine. I would buy it used returned from lease with 30K miles which would solve the price issue, use it for 3-4 years and sell it when it has 80K miles on it which will solve the ‘after 100000 miles problem.’
I have a “BMW 328 I” four door car, and it is by far the best car I ever had. Fantastic performance, very low maintenance, and next to no repairs. What more can one ask for.
The car that you showed is a Mini Countryman.
I am retired, and I had two of these cars for over 6 years, happily. It has the perfect height to access the seats, has lots of space and four doors, great visibility and a power lift gate with a rear wiper system. Beyond this, it has High-Intensity Discharge headlamps, a clear instrument display and heads-up for navigation – so that you do not have to take your eyes off of the road. All of this for $38,000 and later $45,000 for the top-of the line “S’ version.
In retirement, the Mini Countryman is an ideal choice for any purpose.
A waste of my time and your money. So difficult to get to the article promoted as the headline that I quit looking for it – and paid no attention to anything else on the site.
Land rover discovery biggest issue I had.
Many failed devices that the dealership couldn’t fix. Had to sue them to get full refund.
Power rear Seats, not working correctly when trying to change their positions.
Door locks work when they want to lock
Front windshield was improperly installed from the factory causing water to rain inside the car.
Hands free Lift gate did not work when you wanted it.
Always needing the computer system update but it wouldn’t get update.
Even though we are in our 60s, there’s no way that my wife and I are giving up our two his-and-hers BMW 3-series! They are “WAY too much fun to drive!
I LOVE Toyota!!! 4 EVER!!!
Tounge up in and around it!
number 6 nissan frontier in the shop more than on the road
My BIL has two Mini Coopers, both were used. At about 80K mi, 2,500 mi after they got it, a turbo seal went. He tried to get it fixed under the extended warranty and was denied as a “pre existing” issue. So why? On line research documents the turbo may require maintenance between 50K mi and 80K mi. Why? Generally because of owner abuse from not changing the oil frequent enough to improper operation such as not warming the turbo up for a few moments before driving. It was fixed and runs fine now.
The other Mini has had fuel pump and delivery issues, fixable but aggravating. Still nice cars and fun to drive.
I am an 83 year old male senior and drive a 2009 Toyota Camry with about 30K miles on it by now. I only use it for errands and appointments and never at night. I bring it to the dealer I purchased it from every year for a checkup and have only had to buy new tires as I live in SOFL and tires crack in heat. This car will be my final one and I couldn’t be more satisfied with its performance. This is what I call a care-free vehicle.
Thanks for the info. It helps people to make decisions about what car they should buy, myself, i like the chevrolets, i’ve had a few of them and i’ve always got at least 200,000 miles on the Tahoe’s, Suburbans with the 5.3 eng., Great engine. They have had a few with Transmission problems, but the % is very low.
These cars were almost entirely out of the budget of the middle class. Not a practically helpful list.
Thank you, i’m glad to see my Jeep Compost is not on the Lust!
Volkswagen anything else is just a car
Not worth much. Telling seniors what size car to buy/avoid is like telling them their doctor is too far away, you can save money by picking someone closer. Most seniors have at least 2 cars, usually one is a truck. Size is not really an issue. The quality (or lack thereof) that leads to high maintenance costs of a vehicle is an issue regardless of age. But combine that with age, experience, and location, I believe you’ll find most people can avoid auto repair expenses whether by having a new car with a good warranty or an older car with an after-market warranty. And many of us (I’m 77) have worked the system enough to know not to take a car out of warranty to a dealer. I still change my own oil, filters, batteries, light bulbs, etc. I had a Mini, it was a fun, reliable car that sipped gas. No problems after 48k miles. I have now a 2010 BMW 3 series that I acquired when it had 80k miles. It’s a fabulous car that has given me very little trouble, is fun to drive and gets good gas mileage. It just turned over 115K. Avoid it? Why? They are wonderful cars that make sense.
“ultimate driving machine.”. It is exactly that. BMW is worth any hassle that may arise. Normal Maintenance can be high, but if you find an independent service shop that specializes in BMW, MB, and other European brands, it will save you a ton, and often, they are as cheap as some other “No Fun Ride” to maintain. A good service plan will save you too.
At 78, I still love my M4 convertible and the other 6 or 7 other BMWs I have owned.
“ultimate driving machine.”. It is exactly that. BMW is worth any hassle that may arise. Normal Maintenance can be high, but if you find an independent service shop that specializes in BMW, MB, and other European brands, it will save you a ton, and often, they are as cheap as some other “No Fun Ride” to maintain. A good service plan will save you too.
At 78, I still love my M4 convertible and the other 6 or 7 other BMWs I have owned.
It’s not the same post
I had a Fiat 500 Turbo. It was so much fun. I never had any mechanical issues whatsoever so ever.
It. Had plenty of space.
The mini cooper is so well built.i had nothing but fun. BMW makes the MC. It is total quality.
Nisssan Versa has an insanely expensive and hard to service spark plug system. And the engine cannot fixed liked other cars that can be driven over a 100 Thousand miles and develop valve problems and misfire.
ok, I will avoid buying them
Bullshit!!! Where’s the list?? Click-bait ripoff…and I’ll notify the advertiser.
Most Chrysler products I have owned have recurring short life brake problems…brakes seem undersized for weight of the vehicle and they wear out quickly…
The writer needs to proof his work. Says get the 2001 or 2020 model Grand Caravan if you want the latest one. Should probably be 2019 or 2020 model.