A reliable BMW?

[cschauerj]

My daily is a 2003 Tacoma with 267k miles. This vehicle has been rock solid. knock on would it has never required any costly repairs. The worst was a clutch at 240k but that's a wear item obviously.

I wanted a second vehicle, something fun to drive, so I bought a Macan Turbo. It was a super impressive vehicle but the transfer case went out with only 20k miles. As far as I know the replacement provided was the same poorly designed unit. A faulty wheel sensor required a tow another time. Additionally these cars were known to develop timing chain cover leaks due to Porsche using aluminum fasteners that were prone to breaking. I sold the car not long after the warranty expired figuring that was the wise move. I wanted a manual transmission anyway.

So I dove into researching 996 and 997 911s. Who hasn't wanted a 911 when they were a kid?! Unfortunately they are plagued with IMS bearing issues, bore scoring, water pumps with plastic vanes, designed to fail, etc. Shame on Porsche for cutting corners to save a little money on what is an expensive vehicle. I'm priced out of the newer "reliable" 911s.

A BMW rental car on a vacation last year got me thinking. I did have a few complaints (the stupid blinker design for example) but I thoroughly enjoyed driving it! BMW makes great looking(excluding the new grills) and great driving machines and a lower price point. So finding that perfect used BMW has become my focus. I want a 2wd coupe with a 6speed.

However, every corner I turn, every model series has a ticking time bomb the same as the Porsches. The E92s M3s have crank bearing and throttle actuator issues. So I moved on to the newer F32 / F33 cars to find they commonly have timing chain tensionor failures. Is the B58 in the 4 series the way to go? Have all issues been put to rest with this engine? I'm not opposed to turbo 4cylinders or NA straight sixes either, even in older generations, ie. 3 series coupes.

I understand that BMW likes to innovate and logically you're gonna get burned sometimes when doing so but there's gotta be a bimmer out there meeting my criteria that will "turn over the odometer" a couple times without catastrophic failure.

I don't wanna have to compromise and buy a homely, automatic-shifting Lexus just to have a reliable vehicle.

[Burrcold]

What's your budget?

[cschauerj]

50k or so but honestly I'd much prefer something closer to 30k.

[Hap]

M240 or M340
Bang for Buck.
Hap

[Oldgixxer]

Originally Posted by Hap

M240 or M340
Bang for Buck.
Hap

Either of those cars are available w a 6-speed manual trans???

[pikkagtr]

Supra is the answer

[oem.plus_440gc]

z4 m40i with a manual is coming soon. Supra with a manual should be able to be found in the 50k price range. Or a F30/F32 40i trim. All b58 cars with manuals in the 30-50k price range. The f30/32 being the cheapest.

[Hap]

Both still fun to drive with Auto.
And you can eat an Ice Cream Cone while driving.
Hap

[Oldgixxer]

Definitely fun to drive cars regardless of trans,not to mention the modding/tuning potential of the B58

[pbonsalb]

How about a 2011 128i with naturally aspirated 6 cylinder and 6 speed? Last of the simple, naturally aspirated old style BMWs. I love turbos but they add heat and complexity. The 4 cylinder turbos have some issues. The N55 and B58 6 cylinder turbos are reasonable reliable. But remember the repair bills on the $30k used BMW reflect the original $60k price. You can get lucky or be unlucky, but don’t expect simple, inexpensive maintenance and repairs on a complex used car that was expensive when new. Personally, I’d go for a B58 car in the $30-50k price range.

[Oldgixxer]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

But remember the repair bills on the $30k used BMW reflect the original $60k price. You can get lucky or be unlucky, but don’t expect simple, inexpensive maintenance and repairs on a complex used car that was expensive when new. Personally, I’d go for a B58 car in the $30-50k price range.

^^^ Exactly why I can't afford a used BMW. I learned my lesson a few years back

[Pauly Wauly]

A "Reliable BMW"? .... Where can I buy a "Reliable BMW"?

[DanG]

Originally Posted by Oldgixxer

Either of those cars are available w a 6-speed manual trans???

I know that the M240 doesn’t have a 6 speed transmission.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by DanG

I know that the M240 doesn’t have a 6 speed transmission.

the current one doesn't, but the prior gen did have 6MT available.
With OP's budget, he is not buying anything new, it will be used.

I've taken 3 BMWs to 180k miles, so I consider them quite reliable. However, if you expect to only do oil changes and have it last 200k miles, do yourself and the car a favor and buy another Toyota.

[Oldgixxer]

Originally Posted by DanG

I know that the M240 doesn’t have a 6 speed transmission.

Ok cool. Me too.

[Autobacs]

Originally Posted by cschauerj

My daily is a 2003 Tacoma with 267k miles. This vehicle has been rock solid. knock on would it has never required any costly repairs. The worst was a clutch at 240k but that's a wear item obviously.

I wanted a second vehicle, something fun to drive, so I bought a Macan Turbo. It was a super impressive vehicle but the transfer case went out with only 20k miles. As far as I know the replacement provided was the same poorly designed unit. A faulty wheel sensor required a tow another time. Additionally these cars were known to develop timing chain cover leaks due to Porsche using aluminum fasteners that were prone to breaking. I sold the car not long after the warranty expired figuring that was the wise move. I wanted a manual transmission anyway.

So I dove into researching 996 and 997 911s. Who hasn't wanted a 911 when they were a kid?! Unfortunately they are plagued with IMS bearing issues, bore scoring, water pumps with plastic vanes, designed to fail, etc. Shame on Porsche for cutting corners to save a little money on what is an expensive vehicle. I'm priced out of the newer "reliable" 911s.

A BMW rental car on a vacation last year got me thinking. I did have a few complaints (the stupid blinker design for example) but I thoroughly enjoyed driving it! BMW makes great looking(excluding the new grills) and great driving machines and a lower price point. So finding that perfect used BMW has become my focus. I want a 2wd coupe with a 6speed.

However, every corner I turn, every model series has a ticking time bomb the same as the Porsches. The E92s M3s have crank bearing and throttle actuator issues. So I moved on to the newer F32 / F33 cars to find they commonly have timing chain tensionor failures. Is the B58 in the 4 series the way to go? Have all issues been put to rest with this engine? I'm not opposed to turbo 4cylinders or NA straight sixes either, even in older generations, ie. 3 series coupes.

I understand that BMW likes to innovate and logically you're gonna get burned sometimes when doing so but there's gotta be a bimmer out there meeting my criteria that will "turn over the odometer" a couple times without catastrophic failure.

I don't wanna have to compromise and buy a homely, automatic-shifting Lexus just to have a reliable vehicle.

I understand where you are coming from. I'm a Japanese car guy at heart for their overall superior reliability.

The B58 engine by most accounts is a reliable engine. I'd look into platforms that use it or its variants.

[pikkagtr]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

How about a 2011 128i with naturally aspirated 6 cylinder and 6 speed? Last of the simple, naturally aspirated old style BMWs. I love turbos but they add heat and complexity. The 4 cylinder turbos have some issues. The N55 and B58 6 cylinder turbos are reasonable reliable. But remember the repair bills on the $30k used BMW reflect the original $60k price. You can get lucky or be unlucky, but don’t expect simple, inexpensive maintenance and repairs on a complex used car that was expensive when new. Personally, I’d go for a B58 car in the $30-50k price range.

The N52 is quite good I agree. My daily beater is an E92 and it has been the most reliable car I've own the so far. 25k mile sof trouble free commuting

[ppointer]

I have owned and still owned a pile of BMWs. I have also owned many Toyotas. In my experience, the BMWs are not as reliable as Toyotas. The BMWs are way more expensive to maintain, as well.

I currently have an S54, N52, N54, N55, and B58. They are all great motors, though I only have 10k miles on the B58. I have MTs, ATs,and a DCT. All great transmissions, too.

For your budget, I am certain I would be happy with either the M240 or M340 with a manual. My favorite of my own herd is the N55 with MT.

[Joebie]

the only problem youll ever have with an N52 is some oil leaks. Unless you money shift it into 2nd gear going 75+mph, but thats another story for another time.

[agorski]

I ordered a loaded 2014 328i, everything except Msport and the safety Nannie’s. Just sold it after 10 years of enjoyment. In that time I had only 2 problems, a dead backup battery in the overhead and a dead passenger door lock. Sold it in perfect mechanical condition with 52k miles for 10k. The new owner got a great car.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

the current one doesn't, but the prior gen did have 6MT available.
With OP's budget, he is not buying anything new, it will be used.

I've taken 3 BMWs to 180k miles, so I consider them quite reliable. However, if you expect to only do oil changes and have it last 200k miles, do yourself and the car a favor and buy another Toyota.

I have a lot of experience owning BMWs as well, 35+ years, five (5) cars, and over 1M driven miles and over 1,020,000 chassis miles (two of the BMWs I bought used, one with 23,000 miles and the other 100,000 miles when I acquired them). Every car I've taken to over 120,000 miles (the lowest so far) and three to and over 200,000 miles (one of those is at 424,000 at the moment).

The 424K E90 I've documented here on E90 Post at 100,000-mile intervals starting at 200,000 miles. From new to 200,000 the only off schedule repairs were the AC compressor* at 82,500, T-stat at 134,200 miles, water pump at 149,500 miles, OFHG at 165,000 miles, and I did a suspension refresh at 185,000 miles, but it was too early, I could have postponed it. Other than the common N52 issues, from 0 to 200,000 miles the E90 required just 12 oil changes, 2 spark plug replacements, 2 coolant changes, 2 transmission/diff oil changes, and 4 engine airfilter changes. All such items are routine maintenance for any brand of automobile. My understanding of most Toyotas is the recommended OCI is 5,000 miles.

My other BMWs have experienced similar high reliability lifespans. While I've not owned a Toyota, I have several friends who own them, and their cars have not been trouble-free up to 200,000 miles. For example, my friend Angie's 4Runner required new head gaskets at 185,000 miles (a common failure point for mid 1990's Toyota V6's).

I count reliability as how well the car serves me, which is, does it get me to the place I am going and does it me back home? In over 1 million miles I've needed the services of a tow truck just twice, once for the E30 when the thermostat housing cracked at 145,000 miles, and once when the E90 WP died at 149,500 miles.

Reading the internet, now the book on BMWs with the B58 engines, BMW reliability has substantially increased.


*The AC compressor died early due to contamination of the AC system after the front end was repaired from a deer hit at 12,000 miles (the replacement AC compressor lasted over 292,000 miles).

[NickyC]

Outside of some spun rod bearings in an early S54 which was covered under warranty, I have basically 25 years of worry free driving with BMWs.

It just shows how long a bad reputation can take to go away. They are very reliable cars now.