Really, how reliable is a 3 series BMW?

frikkieh · Aug 2, 2011

Ok, my car is old, but most people experience the good old expansion tank blow up, end of line resistor (that controls the aircon) and Mass airflow sensor or camshaft poition sensor issues. And the OEM wants to ripp the owners off.

I suppose no car is without issues, but reading these forums, breakdowns happens too often. Some with low mileage (less than 100k). I am trying to compete against my dad, and his old Toyota in a reliabiliy contest, and I am loosing this by far.

I have no doubt 3series BMW's are engineered very well, but how reliable are they really?

moranor@axis · Aug 2, 2011

i think the main problem is most toyota owners dont realize when its broken... and bmw owners want everything to be perfect...

msm · Aug 2, 2011

An "old" Toyota will be more reliable simply because it has a lot less parts that can actually break, hence it's difficult to compare the reliability of these cars. Guess why you won't find a Tazz driver with an aircon, power steering, climate control, etc problem - simply because most of the cars do not have this.

However, I think the more important question would be how reasonable would ownership costs be compared to other similar cars. From that perspective I think the 3 series fares very, very well.

Philip Foglar · Aug 2, 2011

Also, it amazes me how little power Toyota is able to get out of their current 2.0i corolla engine! So can't really say that they are pushing for performance that may somehow challenge reliability. But yes, the vast majority of Toyota owners don't really fuss about their cars, hence the term, being an appliance - it's just a "tumble-dryer" that gets you to and from work! So in many cases owners of these cars simply aren't aware of certain things not working properly (or at all) because they pay little attention to their cars. My ex-boss had a Toyota Tazz which was his personal but also work vehicle. One day he asked me to check when it needs to go in for a service, so I went down and looked in the service book - was already a well over-due for its service. I thought I would quickly check the oil and water levels and was shocked (disgusted) that the bonnet mechanism was rusted and almost frozen from hardly ever being opened, and the engine bay looked like a farm!!! :nonono:

Raybimmer · Aug 2, 2011

If driven like a Toyota it will last like one :thumbs:
The five e30 and e36 I have owned have been ok , but a non mechanical person would have cursed a bit .All have been six cylinders and regularly visited their rev limiters .

Doomsdaya · Aug 3, 2011

msm said:
An "old" Toyota will be more reliable simply because it has a lot less parts that can actually break, hence it's difficult to compare the reliability of these cars. Guess why you won't find a Tazz driver with an aircon, power steering, climate control, etc problem - simply because most of the cars do not have this.

However, I think the more important question would be how reasonable would ownership costs be compared to other similar cars. From that perspective I think the 3 series fares very, very well.

+ 1

mark_i · Aug 3, 2011

Reliability is a function of engineering design, quality of build and regular maintenance.
I've got 3 e30 that never miss a beat.
OK, i change the oil every 8000 km. Coolant, gearbox, diff, powersteering , clutch and brake fluid according to specs.
After 20+ years they still maintain standard compression and on the road are a run for equivalent e46 and e90.

Chucky · Aug 3, 2011

A BMW can run at 160km/h for the whole day, try and run a toyota tazz at 160km/h all day and see what happens :fencelook:

Fordkoppie · Aug 3, 2011

Chucky said:
A BMW can run at 160km/h for the whole day, try and run a toyota tazz at 160km/h all day and see what happens :fencelook:

You get the popo all over you in both cases

Chucky · Aug 3, 2011

Fordkoppie said:
Chucky said:

A BMW can run at 160km/h for the whole day, try and run a toyota tazz at 160km/h all day and see what happens :fencelook:

Click to expand...

You get the popo all over you in both cases

indeed, I meant on a private road uhm race track!

WyKiD · Aug 3, 2011

Chucky said:
A BMW can run at 160km/h for the whole day, try and run a toyota tazz at 160km/h all day and see what happens :fencelook:

Guessing not much, these little multivalve's can dance with the best of them. Credit where its due, in other areas yeah maybe they come short...

BMW M · Aug 3, 2011

I had a 1.6 GLi Twincam Corolla. I tried to break it, seriously, I had a 1.8 20valve motor I wanted to fit. I eventually sold the 20 Valve motor and 60 000km later sold my GLi with almost 300 000km's on the clock. That car stood by me... I maintain till today that I will pay top dollar for another 1990 Twincam in good condition... and by top Dollar I dont mean R50 000 as some as them are advertised for and then they fall apart.

I have clocked almost 800 000km in BMW's over the last 14 years. And in that time only one, my e46 325i was a troublesome car mainly due to gearbox failure and bad maintenace from the previous owner.

There are good 'other' cars/brands out there, but IMO none, as well engineered as a BMW. If you look after them, they look after you.

Budleigh · Aug 3, 2011

BMWs are well engineered, no doubt. Comparing to the Epitome of reliability is a bit pointless, because Toyota have just had longer to get it right. But I know of one or two IS200s (equivalent technology to an E46) that are bulletproof, reliability-wise.

Having said that, a car is as reliable as it is treated. Service a BMW regularly and correctly, and there's no reason it shouldn't soldier on in excellent condition. While the bugbear of most modern BMWs seems to be the cooling system, that's better in my opinion than paying for a new Multitronic gearbox for an Audi, or all the issues on a Mercedes Benz built between 1998-2004, an era where they skimped on build quality.

Coisman · Aug 4, 2011

imp:
Frikkie, I told you to sell yours and get a E90... :mmm:

frikkieh · Aug 4, 2011

Coisman said:
imp:
Frikkie, I told you to sell yours and get a E90... :mmm:

It is still a 3-series, and it is a fancy car. With a fancy car you get fancy K@K.
2 coleagues @ work broke down recently - one broke a pully on moered everything in it's path, the other's alternator packed up. And they are E90's with less than 100 000km and still have motorplan.

In that case I will just live with my K and fix it up.

Coisman · Aug 4, 2011

imp:
Frikkie, at least you have a Trusty Toyota Bakkie to tow the bmw with.

andrewbuch · Aug 4, 2011

My E30 had 380K km on it & the motor was never opened, had correct compression, never sued oil between services & ran great.. the other items (starter motor, battery, suspension, clutch, etc needed replacement as well as the timing chain with sprocket(but only once @ 350K Km)..

Coisman · Aug 4, 2011

imp:
Wonder if the problem is that E46, and E90's are built locally?? :mmm:

moranor@axis · Aug 4, 2011

the 323i was imported... well least i know mine was...

Coisman · Aug 4, 2011

imp:
Maybe the engine was imported, but all E46's were built at Roslyn except the 2 door ones, the Compact ones, and the 4 door M3's.
E90 the same, all built locally except the 2 door ones and the 4 door M3's.

PS: It might be that yours was built for the german market or australia, and then imported back here to SA.

Really, how reliable is a 3 series BMW?

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