Really, how reliable is a 3 series BMW?

[De@nO]

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

Rosslyn plant has been rated as one of the top BMW plants and they produce the greater number of 4 door 3series for the worldwide market.

Go on a plant tour and I guarantee you won’t be wondering about the local build quality.

 

[moranor@axis]

guess ill have to do more digging... weren't e46 also built in the US?

 

[Coisman]

imp:
Deano, been there, done that! My cousin and aunt, and uncle, and older brother all worked there.
Aunt: Reseption
Uncle: Engine plant
Cousin: Interior
Brother: Spraybooth
I have been visiting the plant since I was 7, so from 1983, this was WAY before the upgraded plant you see now. I can remember going to the family day events with my aunt, to Gold reef city, Kyalami, and even having a spin in the 850i, one of 3 brought into the country when they were launched.
I grew up with bmw's hence my passion for it, and I don't dispute the built quality, BUT... and this is a big BUT... the cars made during the recent strikes, (E90's) has ALL given problems, you can call up any dealership, and ask them about it, doubt they would confess it, but maybe if you know someone there, they might tell you the truth.
I love my car, and understand that she needs some TLC every now and then, just like me, I also get sick, bump my toe, sprain my ancle, just feel bad now and then, and i believe my car is the same, she also gets problems, hick-ups, flat tyre, its all part of the package of owning a car. Best I can do is look after her and treat her good, and if something goes wrong, deal with it. It might not be nice to sit with her in a broken state, but after she is nursed back to health, there is no greater feeling than taking her out on the road and enjoying the driving experience.
So in short, I don't doubt Roslyn builds good quality cars, but hick-ups happen.
Also if your car is older than 4-5 years, expect to have problems coming up every now and then.

 

[frikkieh]

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

Don't go there, I love my bimmer - it's just the reliability sucks.:thumbdo:

Edit: Anyone have an e30 for sale?

 

[herr bmw]

okay,everything man made will give you trouble.

i can tell you stories about the fiat iowned,the vws,the fords.

i am sure with every brand you will get trouble,even read a piece in the top gear mag where james may complains that he cant take his ferrari 458 out in the rain cause it leaks water all over him,and that is a hand built car.

 

[Sankekur]

The hand built part is the big problem.

 

[Philip Foglar]

The hand built part is the big problem.

+1

 

[Henry330i]

I did work at Roslyn for the BM and Nissan factory. And the storys I heard while working there will scare most. This was at the time when they changed from the e46 to e90. Having said that I've owed a Sentra and now a e46. With anything be it a toaster, a car or a house. Its a given sh!t breaks but it does seem the new age things tend to break more often.

My friend is a techy at Porsche and by what he says its shocking the rate at which they break down.

Hence the saying they don't make things like they use to.

Just my thoughts:fencelook:

 

[herr bmw]

I did work at Roslyn for the BM and Nissan factory. And the storys I heard while working there will scare most. This was at the time when they changed from the e46 to e90. Having said that I've owed a Sentra and now a e46. With anything be it a toaster, a car or a house. Its a given sh!t breaks but it does seem the new age things tend to break more often.

My friend is a techy at Porsche and by what he says its shocking the rate at which they break down.

Hence the saying they don't make things like they use to.

Just my thoughts:fencelook:

+1

 

[Jakkals_F30]

I have to say i have no complaints from my side...
Small thing here and there that needed fixing but all in all i drive my car really hard and had no issues with major component failures or anything like that.:thumbs:

 

[Trigger]

I think the 3 series is decently reliable, but not 'trustable' as a reliable vehicle - in meaning that you're always afriad something might break or it does require maintenance all the time (control arm bushes, etc etc)

Toyota is still the only brand that I'd trust when it comes to reliability - that piece of mind that you get is something u cannot buy with another brand.

To put it in perspective, with the BMW, you WILL HAVE TO replace control arm bushes, MAF, O2 sensor, Coils, window mechanisms, sunroof clips, alternator or voltage regulator, camshaft sensors, crankshaft sensor, etc etc etc. As much as it is sheer driving pleasure or a joy to drive a BMW, it certainly isnt the most reliable brand nor cheapest to maintain.

The brand new Toyota's in the family and my Auris X that we have, bought it from the dealer, never had any issues. The Brand new BMW's that were bought had problems that had to be rectified by the dealer (2008 325i Sportpack - power steering and central locking issues), 2007 320i - rattling, vvt, sensors, etc etc.

I think lexus would be best for reliability and all round luxury, merc also, dont even bother with audi, but none will give u the same feel as driving a BMW< which makes all the nonsense worth it perhaps

 

[Doomsdaya]

I think lexus would be best for reliability and all round luxury, merc also, dont even bother with audi, but none will give u the same feel as driving a BMW< which makes all the nonsense worth it perhaps

+1

We got a W123 230E merc and its solid as a rock, more realiable then my beemer but it doest feel the same

 

[Barkie]

I know the feeling if you spend a lot of bucks sometimes. I am thinking of it as "awesomeness tax". It's less than 14%!!!!:roflol:

 

[Sankekur]

I think the 3 series is decently reliable, but not 'trustable' as a reliable vehicle - in meaning that you're always afriad something might break or it does require maintenance all the time (control arm bushes, etc etc)

Toyota is still the only brand that I'd trust when it comes to reliability - that piece of mind that you get is something u cannot buy with another brand.

To put it in perspective, with the BMW, you WILL HAVE TO replace control arm bushes, MAF, O2 sensor, Coils, window mechanisms, sunroof clips, alternator or voltage regulator, camshaft sensors, crankshaft sensor, etc etc etc. As much as it is sheer driving pleasure or a joy to drive a BMW, it certainly isnt the most reliable brand nor cheapest to maintain.

The brand new Toyota's in the family and my Auris X that we have, bought it from the dealer, never had any issues. The Brand new BMW's that were bought had problems that had to be rectified by the dealer (2008 325i Sportpack - power steering and central locking issues), 2007 320i - rattling, vvt, sensors, etc etc.

I think lexus would be best for reliability and all round luxury, merc also, dont even bother with audi, but none will give u the same feel as driving a BMW< which makes all the nonsense worth it perhaps

Well not entirely true, might have been the case in the past but what about all the recalls on more recent toyota models?
In the end all new cars have more stuff and thus more stuff that can go wrong, in the end it differs from on car to the next, though some cars have reputation to be more reliable than others. BMW is also considered to be a reliable car (not sure how it will go with more modern models though) and whether you have to replace things like MAF's LCABs etc doesn't make the car unreliable as they are all service items, then you might as well consider a car not reliable because you need to replace tires and filters.

The funny thing about this reliability issue was that I got a lot of flack a my previous work by one of the guys I worked with, he drove a mazda 323 and a toyota corolla, and kept saying how unreliable and expensive BMW's are, yet in the time I worked there he had more issues with his japanese (considered very reliable) cars than I had with my BMW.

In the end I consider reliability as: Would you feel safe taking your car on a long road trip right now, if yes then the car is reliable, if not then it isn't. With this I would consider my car to be reliable, as I have taken my car on a day's notice for a day trip down to natal on two occasions.

 

[moranor@axis]

on that note when you coming for a visit :rollsmile:

 

[Sankekur]

I am getting in the car as we speak :rollsmile:

I really need to make a plan.....

 

[moranor@axis]

so i can expect you at about 12 then

 

[Sankekur]

Pretty much :grin:

 

[moranor@axis]

will have coffee waiting :rollsmile:

 

[Sankekur]

Shweeet :rollsmile: