Need some info from you BImmer owners

[lilkhmerkid4u]

Hey guys, i'm in the market for a new car. My parents....asian background. ...they trust nothing but japanese cars. I've been looking at the the IS300. But what caught my eye was this steel gray '01 bimmer. I asked my parents and they were hesitant about it.

What i would like to know is:

How Reliable are they compared to Imports?
How much does it cost to do maintinances? compared to Lexus/Honda
is 5X,XXX to many miles for a '01?
What can i expect by becoming a Bimmer driver when i've been an import driver all my life?
Does it break down alot like Ford/Chevy ..like does it need to go in the shop often?
How is the gas?

Thanks for helping...hopefully a new bimmer driver

 

[theBMWenthusiast]

well, i would say that BMW's are more reliable then Ford and Chevy's in my experience. Maintanence, well the 7 series is pricey, but im not exactly sure about the 3, i know now my dad says he had his 3 since it had lower maintanence costs, but then again you could get the extended warranty, i think. The gas millage is pretty good in my opinion

 

[iDriveSMG]

I don't own a BMW, but I've driven many.

They do not break down a lot like American Cars... BMWs might have malfunctions but are minor. Japanese cars is reliable but isnt as safe as european cars. Mileage isnt a problem with the car, is just how it was maintain and the condition. On reliable, many people says any car when in a crash will do the same. But in europeans the safety standards is higher than others, the protection bar that is inside the door is about 2 inches thicker than the ones in a Japanese , so compare it from a side impact the BMW will safe your life by 90%. I also have a asian background, we currently own one japanese and three european cars. European/BMW cars is expensive to maintain depends on each models but you will fall in love with the car once you feel how it performs. IS300, is just me I really dislike it... hope your parents will choose the BMW instead..

 

[DRWWE]

How Reliable are they compared to Imports?

What can i expect by becoming a Bimmer driver when i've been an import driver all my life?

Thanks for helping...hopefully a new bimmer driver

BMW's are imports (at least they are in the USA).
Very reliable. I drove a Camry for a while. Better than any American car I ever drove but still had more problems than the three BMW's we have owned.

 

[BMWJO]

hey

I just came into the BMW world from being always Honda enthusiast.
Look, all cars can be lemons if you don't maintain them well.

Just drive a BMW first that would make up your mind the Jap cars just don't drive like a BMW cased closed.

If you buy a BMW make sure its a CPO Certified Pre Owned Car. And if you can get the extended maintenance for the car which should be like 1,500 -2,000 no more.

BMWs are good reliable cars you just have to maintain them well and to the book.
But if you get CPO you can get most maintenance done free..welll kind of free you have to pay 50.00 every time they do scheduled maintenance on your car. That's not bad considering how much parts and labor cost.

and since your thinking 01 I'm guessing your price range is low 20k.
look into a 350z that might work for you or a S2000. 350Z though is no way as nice as any BMW but hey I hear it drives like a 50k car. Remeber most Jap cars a front wheel drive cars...>>>

Good luck.....

 

[codex57]

They are reliable.

Maintenance is pricy compared to the Japanese imports. However, counter that with the fantastic safety.

I don't like the gas mileage, but that's the sacrifice you make for fun to drive I guess.

 

[lilkhmerkid4u]

how bad is gas? to fill up a 325? and i'm just looking into a sedan. not a coupe

 

[codex57]

Auto is 19/27. Stick is 20/29. Real life, I'm getting about 2-3 mpg less than that.

 

[northstar]

how bad is gas? to fill up a 325? and i'm just looking into a sedan. not a coupe

Fuel tank capacity is about 16.6 gallons.

 

[echothreezero]

There is a lot of rubbish in some of the above posts - opinion and speculation.

If you are looking at '01 cars, then there are certainly better value, better built and more reliable cars than BMW.

But for the overall package and driving experience, I just can't recommend them enough. However, you will also be happy with the IS300.

Both an IS300 and similarly specced and looked after bimmer will kive you years of pleasurable mtoring - the decision is really up to you which one you like to drive more.

Once you have decided what car you want, post back and we can help give you pointers on what to look out for when buying a used bimmer.

 

[BMWJO]

true never driven IS300 but I hear the interior is inferior to that of bmw I guess that's speculation again though ;-p

 

[threebimmers]

Anyone who has an older bimmer will tell you that the maintenance will be MUCH higher than any Asian car. You have to decide if your willing to pay more for a superior driving experience. The CPO program is great because it covers everything, even oil changes. If it is a 01 the factory warranty should be expiring, so it is well worth to fork over $1,000 for the extended coverage. You shouldn’t be worried about miles on a BMW ive driven a 528e that had over 250,000 miles on it and it ran great. As far as gas mileage I know someone who has a 2000 3 series stick shift and she gets about 28-30mpg on the highway with 93 octane gas.

 

[JamesLA]

Late-model BMW 3-series have been at the top of the Consumer Reports reliability surveys, right along with Lexus/Honda. Perhaps slightly below, but certainly in the same class.

I have been tempted to get an IS300 since they came out, but the thing that has always thrown me off is the interior. It's just not a Lexus, it's a Toyota. The car is a great driver, but different from a BMW. I personally think different countries have characteristic driving dynamics that are cultural. Honda/Acura and Lexus (can't speak for Toyota, but I assume it's the same) all do everything perfectly -- and with no passion whatsoever. Italian cars are all passion, and I love them, but there are no practical Italian cars in this country for the majority of us. Germans seem right in between. Tight engineering, beautiful handling and dynamics, simple, tasteful interiors, and enough fun to kick you in the pants, even at the lower end of the model range.

I know it's not comparable, but I'm just now saying goodbye to a '96 MBZ C280 which has been a horrendous experience. Maintenance is frequent and expensive -- hard to leave the shop with a bill for less than $700, two or three times a year. And that's not counting the transmission replacement at 85k miles and the unforgivable rudeness and arrogance of the local MBZ dealer in Encino, CA (you know who you are!).

Thankfully, the new X3 has free maintenance for the life of the lease!