I don't think BMW are junk, but they are over-engineered. 2 different shops spent 6 months looking at mine to figure out what was causing the traction control to error out.
Turns out it was a brass collar on the drive shaft that was corroded and screwing with the sensor. Thankfully it was under warranty because it accumulated $2500 in work to get there.
I got a laugh when I said "If you fart in a BMW with the windows closed, you're going to trigger a sensor."
Thats why so many people lease BMW's. they drive them for 3 years turn them in and get a new one.
Considered that option; a lease on one of these will run about a grand a month for 12000 miles a year. The killer is they want you to pay $5-6k down on the lease which is gone. So 36k miles will cost about $40,000 to drive a $68k vehicle. Tells you all you want to know about depreciation on a new one.
Thats why so many people lease BMW's. they drive them for 3 years turn them in and get a new one.
Considered that option; a lease on one of these will run about a grand a month for 12000 miles a year. The killer is they want you to pay $5-6k down on the lease which is gone. So 36k miles will cost about $40,000 to drive a $68k vehicle. Tells you all you want to know about depreciation on a new one.
True for just about any luxury vehicle today. I wouldn't lease a car simply because of the mileage cap, we drive too much.
I bought a low mileage 2019 BMW X7 (13kmiles) with the 6 cylinder motor about 6 months ago for my wife as a daily. 3 row seating was needed for the 3 grandkids and their child seats. Paid 64k for it. Great vehicle for the money, and we've already road tripped it to Calgary from Georgia. Average fuel mileage just over 25 for the whole trip, running about 10 over the limit most of the way, so 90 in S. Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. No glitches or problems so far, and great performance given the size of the vehicle. It also meets the 6000lb tax requirement. With good performance software, it is faster than my 2001 BMW 540i with Dinan mods, and uses about 15% less fuel. Technology has come a long way.
To anger a conservative, lie to him. To annoy a liberal, tell him the truth.
Thats why so many people lease BMW's. they drive them for 3 years turn them in and get a new one.
Considered that option; a lease on one of these will run about a grand a month for 12000 miles a year. The killer is they want you to pay $5-6k down on the lease which is gone. So 36k miles will cost about $40,000 to drive a $68k vehicle. Tells you all you want to know about depreciation on a new one.
True for just about any luxury vehicle today. I wouldn't lease a car simply because of the mileage cap, we drive too much.
I bought a low mileage 2019 BMW X7 (13kmiles) with the 6 cylinder motor about 6 months ago for my wife as a daily. 3 row seating was needed for the 3 grandkids and their child seats. Paid 64k for it. Great vehicle for the money, and we've already road tripped it to Calgary from Georgia. Average fuel mileage just over 25 for the whole trip, running about 10 over the limit most of the way, so 90 in S. Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. No glitches or problems so far, and great performance given the size of the vehicle. It also meets the 6000lb tax requirement. With good performance software, it is faster than my 2001 BMW 540i with Dinan mods, and uses about 15% less fuel. Technology has come a long way.
That's why the Certified 2020 X5 with only 10k miles and 2 years of unlimited warranty got my attention. Seems like $50k is a pretty good deal? BTW; we own a 2010 C350 Sport with 100k miles. Love driving the car; but it has had some expensive issues. You don't want to hit a pothole with the low profile AMG wheels; $1600 for 1 tire and wheel. I told the guy he must have misunderstood me; I only wanted one, not a full set Or, a loose door handle that cost $1100 to replace entire panel
Thats why so many people lease BMW's. they drive them for 3 years turn them in and get a new one.
Considered that option; a lease on one of these will run about a grand a month for 12000 miles a year. The killer is they want you to pay $5-6k down on the lease which is gone. So 36k miles will cost about $40,000 to drive a $68k vehicle. Tells you all you want to know about depreciation on a new one.
True for just about any luxury vehicle today. I wouldn't lease a car simply because of the mileage cap, we drive too much.
I bought a low mileage 2019 BMW X7 (13kmiles) with the 6 cylinder motor about 6 months ago for my wife as a daily. 3 row seating was needed for the 3 grandkids and their child seats. Paid 64k for it. Great vehicle for the money, and we've already road tripped it to Calgary from Georgia. Average fuel mileage just over 25 for the whole trip, running about 10 over the limit most of the way, so 90 in S. Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. No glitches or problems so far, and great performance given the size of the vehicle. It also meets the 6000lb tax requirement. With good performance software, it is faster than my 2001 BMW 540i with Dinan mods, and uses about 15% less fuel. Technology has come a long way.
That's why the Certified 2020 X5 with only 10k miles and 2 years of unlimited warranty got my attention. Seems like $50k is a pretty good deal? BTW; we own a 2010 C350 Sport with 100k miles. Love driving the car; but it has had some expensive issues. You don't want to hit a pothole with the low profile AMG wheels; $1600 for 1 tire and wheel. I told the guy he must have misunderstood me; I only wanted one, not a full set Or, a loose door handle that cost $1100 to replace entire panel
Inner door handles can be had (aftermarket) on Amazon and eBay for $50.00 or less plus labor. Mercedes only lists it with the whole door panel.
To anger a conservative, lie to him. To annoy a liberal, tell him the truth.
Sixteen hours, full engine tear down just to change a thermostat:
On a 350 it would be 16 minutes.
Did you see the starter that is under the intake? Several Toyota/Lexus engines have the starter under the manifold also. GMAFB
On an older V8 used in a Model that will get 500k on it if properly maintained.
How do you maintain a starter? They either go out or don't.
I look at it as the lesser of two evils. Total unreliable POS or one that might have to get a starter replaced maybe once in its lifetime. I have never ever had a starter replaced in any car I have ever owned.
Sixteen hours, full engine tear down just to change a thermostat:
On a 350 it would be 16 minutes.
Did you see the starter that is under the intake? Several Toyota/Lexus engines have the starter under the manifold also. GMAFB
On an older V8 used in a Model that will get 500k on it if properly maintained.
How do you maintain a starter? They either go out or don't.
I look at it as the lesser of two evils. Total unreliable POS or one that might have to get a starter replaced maybe once in its lifetime. I have never ever had a starter replaced in any car I have ever owned.
Can't say I have had the same luck as you. The last starter that I had to replace was on a 2008 5.7L Toyota Sequoia. Wasn't under the intake, but it was easier to remove and replace after you removed the passenger exhaust manifold. You can do it without removing the manifold, but it is what Toyota suggests and there is a reason why.
I prefer the X3 over the X5 because of the smaller size and my Wife does too. My first was a 2006 and now I'm on my third, a 2019 X3 M40 with about 30,000 miles on it. I bought this one from a dealer with about 2,000 miles on it- it had been used as a loaner. The M40 engine is the turbo 6, and I strongly recommend the 6 over the 4 (if the 4 is even an option in the X5). My first BMW was a 2 year old 5 series bought from a dealer. The used car warranty worked perfectly when it had a valve train problem and I would use the BMW certified deal again without hesitation.
Thanks; but not the type of vehicle we are looking for. I have been driving Landcruiser's since 1989(on my 5th one); so I am a Toyota fan.
I know somebody very well who has every Mercedes certification out there. He also works on the Beamers. He's the one that told me both of them are a piece of schit with very high maintenance costs. He cited just a few different parts to let me know the cost and how expensive they were to replace, plus expensive labor.
I commend you for the Land Cruiser.
All of the expensive repair reports spoken about above are exactly what my friend was speaking of.
Slaves get what they need. Free men get what they want.
Would she be interested in a Lexus GX. Very comfortable and super reliable.
Certainly a consideration; great vehicles, great re-sale. Not great gas mileage. We are retired now and may use this vehicle for some trips where we don't need the capacity of my Landcruiser. She hates the new Lexus big grills, from an appearance standpoint. I am not crazy about them either; pretty gaudy for such nice vehicles otherwise. She calls them Nascar grills
Wife drove an x5 from 2018 to 2022. She now drives a GLE450. For us, Mercedes wins hands down.
What do you like better about the GLE? It's bigger vehicle; correct? Any maintenance issues with the X5? Thanks
It might be a little bigger
BMW was one of the gas/hybrid ones. We negotiated the same price on a true gas one but my wife liked the idea of the hybrid and I got a big tax break from it. Well the hybrid part kind of sucks. Little to no range and engine hesitated when switching from electric to gas which could be unnerving when making a left turn across traffic at a busy intersection. One of the rear shocks was also having troubles when we traded it - the shock would lose compression somehow when the car was parked and it would squat over that tire. Start it up and it would correct itself. Google it. Pretty common problem if I recall correctly
Mercedes is better fit and finish, more powerful, and I personally think it looks better but that’s just me. I think we are at 18k miles on the Mercedes and the only issue is that the wipers suck and the dealership can’t figure out why and I haven’t taken the time to just replace the blades with aftermarket’s. One of my wife’s friends has the same car and no issue with the wiper blades
