Reliability among German cars
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Anonymous
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I’ve had 2 bmw cars and currently have an Audi.
I have also owned a Toyota for 15 years and Nissan for 12. In my experience the German cars are just more EXPENSIVE to repair and all have been electrical/computer related. That being said, when I get my Nissan it is like the same experience as brushing my teeth. Where as my bmw or Audi is is like I am about to have a great meal and some fun. |
Anonymous
When I rented Nissan, it was like numbing experience. No feeling. It runs fast but not fun at all. German cars are more fun to drive even though they require more expensive repairs. I will likely be getting a German car as I want to enjoy a little at this point in my life (midlife) |
Anonymous
| If in doubt go with the BMW. My BMW 2001 525I lasted 19 years. Great cars |
Anonymous
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OP are you buying new or used? I've owned German cars for 20+ years, yes some maintenance can be more expensive than Japanese cars, but if you find a good mechanic at an independent shop you can build a good relationship to keep the car going. I'm willing to take the tradeoff as I always maintain the cars well and have not had any significant problems nor being stranded.
I personally enjoy driving cars so will always choose a German car over driving an appliance. |
Anonymous
| We’ve had trouble with 2 BMWs, would not buy one again. Porsches are expensive for regular service but we’ve had no trouble with our SUV. |
Anonymous
I am planning to buy new. As I am not an expert in cars, I generally buy a new car and have only used a dealership for repairs. I am leaning toward BMW 5 series AWD at this point. I could get a fancier car but I need to pay my kid’s college which cost more than a typical German car. |
Anonymous
| We have had an Audi for ten years and it replaced a BMW we also had for ten years. The Audi has been MUCH better overall and especially in the last few. The BMW got REALLY expensive the last three years. We had to replace the clutch in the Audi but not much else at all. |
Anonymous
| surprised noone has cited Porsche - not only the most well built and reliable German vehicle, but one of the most reliable period. Only drawback - it cost a bit more than the BMW, MB junk. |
Anonymous
Similar to my experience. I've had 2 Audis for 19 years with no major issues (other than one recall) and typical scheduled oil changes, and brake/tire replacement. I also get mine serviced at the dealership (Arlington). |
Anonymous
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I’m a mechanic and can say from experience that out of these 3 German brands (MB, BMW, Audi), MB is the more reliable one.
These cars are less reliable than Toyota and Honda because they are engineered for performance and driving experience. BMW emphasizes on this a bit more than MB and that one of the reasons they tend to have more problems than MB. Another reason is that they use more plastic parts in their engine. Even parts like the intake manifold is plastic. The reliability ranking would be: 1. MB , 2. BMW, 3. Audi If you go to Germany, you’ll find that most taxis are MB. There has to be a reason for this. Nobody would run a fleet of taxis with unreliable cars. You’ll that many of them have over 200k miles. If you end up going with BMW, rest assured that the car won’t leave you stranded on the highway. These are still very reliable vehicles. Any car that isn’t well maintained can break down and leave you stranded. German luxury cars are expensive to repair and that’s true. But repair costs and reliability are two very different things and people often confuse them. |
Anonymous
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I have owned an Audi and several BMWs. I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase another BMW. The turbocharged engines used in cure t models are among the best engineered and produced on an assembly line (B46, B58, S58). The current Toyota Supra is for all intents and purposes a BMW Z4. If it’s good enough for Toyota …
Today’s BMWs are leaps and bounds ahead of what the company was producing a decade ago. The iDrive information/multimedia system is well executed as nd integrates well with Apple CarPlay and Android. Almost every BMW is available in rear wheel drive should that be your preference. You typically also can order it with or without run flat tires and/or summer or all-season tires. Essentially you can order your BMW to be built according to your own needs and specifications using available packages and options (including unique paint colors and leather available through the Individual program) and pick it up at the Performance Center in South Carolina. Unfortunately European Delivery has been discontinued. You can track your BMW every step of the way from the point assembly begins through the arrival of the ship at port. Bear in mind that your dealer will stock what it thinks will be the best combination of features based on its available allocations. BMWs have had their share of issues, plastic radiator parts, cracked charge pipes, VANOS timing systems. My 1996 328 is still a joy to drive. Stay on top of maintenance. Change fluids and filters. Parts and Maintenance can be more pricey if using a specialist. But I can get my oil changed for $79 at the local dealership. While 5 series (5er) is geared more to comfort than performance it’s no slouch in terms of the latter. You may want to consider a 530e to take advantage of HOV restrictions, the hybrid tax rebate and fuel savings on short distance trips. Compare it against the X5 45e which has a six cylinder plug in hybrid (PHEV). |
Anonymous
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If a Porsche is on the table, I would go for that hands down over all the other cars on your list. A new 5 series is in the $60-$75k range so that could get you into a Porsche Macan S or a base Cayenne or a lightly used higher trim Cayenne with CPO.
The Porsche is more reliable than your other options and will retain its value way better than the mid size sedans you are asking about. To get an idea of depreciation, I bought a 4 year old fully loaded 535i for under $24k when it was nearly $70k new (right before COVID). |
Anonymous
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It would be unusual to cross-shop a 530e sedan with a twin-turbo Macan S. The Macan is a compact vehicle with a small back seat and limited rear storage. IIRC the Macan is a refresh of a first generation platform dating from 2015.
P-cars are indeed very reliable, well built, hold resale extremely well but are priced accordingly after adding in all the bells and whistles that are standard in most of the competition. I prefer BMW iDrive over Porsche PCM. The suspension setup of a 530e is also going to be significantly less firm than a Macan or Cayenne in the city or on the highway. BMW is offering a residual value in the range of 57-60% on 2023 3-year leases. Make of that what you will. I’ve heard that the wait list on a Macan is around 12-14 months depending on dealer allocations. |
Anonymous
| I mean, my first car was a used VW Beetle I bought from the original owner. Something like a 1973 model, and it was 10 years old when I bought it. I drove it for over 10 years, and my DH made me stop driving it because I was pregnant. It was so much FUN to drive. |
Anonymous
| I have had Audis for years. All been great. That said, I think I am getting a Porsche soon. |