Are BMWs Expensive To Maintain?
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When you talk about the “German engineering” concept in the automotive world, most people think of BMW. True enough, BMW makes some of the most remarkable and powerful luxury vehicles on the market. It’s no surprise that many BMW models end up on people’s lists of dream cars.
As a luxury brand, most people know that buying a BMW isn’t cheap. However, many folks also make the mistake of only looking at the price tag of a BMW without considering the upkeep.
So, are BMWs expensive to maintain?
We’ll shed some light on BMW repairs and maintenance for today’s post. What can you expect when it comes to maintaining a BMW? What are the typical services you’ll need as an owner? We’ll answer these questions and more.
BMW Vehicles: Are They Reliable?
Quick answer: No.
Unfortunately, BMWs are some of the most unreliable vehicles available, even in the luxury car segment. RepairPal gave the BMW brand a reliability score of 2.5 out of 5.0, which isn’t bad by itself. However, comparing the German brand from Munich to other brands, BMW ranked 30 out of 32 brands across 300+ models – only Porsche and Land Rover are worse.
According to RepairPal’s scoring system, a vehicle’s reliability depends on factors such as maintenance cost, the frequency of unscheduled repairs, and the severity of the repairs.
- The average annual repair cost for BMW owners is $968 per year, which is more expensive than the brand-wide average of $652.
- When it comes to unscheduled repairs, BMW owners will visit the shop 0.9 times a year for unscheduled repairs. This is more than twice the brand-wide average of 0.4 times a year.
- For the severity level of the repairs, 15% of BMW repairs are considered severe. This is also slightly higher than the overall average of 12% for all brands.
The higher repair costs of BMW vehicles aren’t that surprising since they require specialized parts and certified mechanics. However, combined with a high frequency of unscheduled repairs and severity levels, it’s clear that BMW deserves its reputation of being unreliable.
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The Costs of Maintaining a BMW
At this point, you should have a clear answer to the question: are BMWs expensive to maintain? However, like all car brands, BMW offers many different models and trims, which can affect maintenance costs across the board. Furthermore, the more mileage you put on your BMW, the more expensive things may get as maintenance goes.
For this section, we’ll take a look at several BMW models and provide estimates on how much you can expect in maintenance costs and repair frequency.
BMW 3 Series Maintenance Costs
The BMW 3 Series is considered a budget lineup of BMW, but that doesn’t change that they can be expensive to maintain. While some 3 Series models have relatively average reliability scores, the rest are abysmal. Across all five 3 Series models, their collective reliability rating is about 2.5 out of 5.0. As expected, high-tier models tend to be more expensive to repair and maintain. With that said, the estimated repair and maintenance cost across all 3 Series BMWs is $979. Meanwhile, maintenance frequency happens every 10,000 miles.
BMW X5 Maintenance Costs
The BMW X5 is one of the finest SUVs around and definite tech tour-de-force. The X5 isn’t just expensive to buy, but it also has high ownership costs. According to RepairPal, the BMW X5 has a reliability score of 2.0 out of 5.0, a below-average rating.
BMW owners can expect to shell out an average of $1,166, which is only slightly higher than the average for luxury SUVs at $1,127. Furthermore, X5 owners will likely visit the mechanic 0.8 times, more frequently than the overall average.
On another note, CarEdge gave another estimate of $18,389 for the 10-year maintenance and repairs of the BMW X5. Moreover, by year ten, there’s more than a 50% probability of a major repair on your X5.
BMW X1 Maintenance Costs
Out of all the BMW models featured in this post, the X1 is the most reliable. With a higher than average reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5.0, the X1 ranks 6th out of 11 luxury compact SUVs. Regardless of its reliability, the X1 still has a high cost of ownership.
Owners of the X1 SUV can look forward to yearly repair costs of $915. You’re likely to take your X1 to the shop 0.7 times per year in terms of frequency. Fortunately, the probability of major repairs with a BMW X1 is lower at 8%, a few points lower than the national average of 12% for all vehicle models.
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Average Costs of Common Maintenance Services for BMW
This section should answer your question: are BMWs expensive to maintain? Below are some of the most common maintenance services for your BMW:
Oil Change
- When: 10,000-15,000 miles or 12 months. However, some manufacturers recommend getting an oil change every 7,500 to 10,000 miles, depending on driving habits and climate.
- Cost: $135 and $175
- Why: Prolong engine life and maintain performance.
Tire Replacement
- When: BMW recommends that you change tires every eight years and have them professionally checked every five years.
- Cost: $100 to $250 each (all-season tires)
- Why: Worn-out tires can cause accidents
Spark Plug Replacement
- When: BMWs with N20 or N55 engines should change spark plugs every 60,000 miles.
- Cost: $212 and $346
- Why: Replacing old spark plugs is one of the most crucial preventative maintenance. Otherwise, your BMW will experience symptoms like rough idling, poor mileage, surging, power loss, engine stalls, and more.
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Cabin Air Filter Replacement
- When: BMW recommends replacing the cabin air filter every 30,000 to 45,000 miles
- Cost: $95 and $130
- Why: Pollution is often cited as the top reason you should replace your cabin air filter.
Engine Replacement
- When: Your BMW engine is worn-out, damaged, or failing
- Cost: $5,000 to $7,000
- Why: Replacing the engine is a viable alternative to buying a new vehicle, especially when that vehicle is a BMW.
Are BMWs expensive to maintain? As you can see, maintenance services for a BMW are pretty costly. For complex issues, we recommend going to dealerships and certified mechanics. For minor repairs, your local auto-mechanic should do fine and keep the costs down.
FAQs: BMW Maintenance Costs
Q: Are BMWs more expensive to maintain than other brands?
A: Yes, BMWs are generally more expensive to maintain than many other brands. The average annual repair cost for BMW owners is around $968, which is higher than the brand-wide average of $652.
Q: Why do BMWs have higher maintenance costs?
A: BMWs require specialized parts and certified mechanics for repairs, contributing to higher costs. Additionally, their higher frequency of unscheduled repairs and the severity of these repairs can drive up maintenance expenses.
Q: How do maintenance costs vary across BMW models?
A: Maintenance costs can vary depending on the model and trim. For example, the BMW 3 Series has an estimated repair and maintenance cost of $979, while the BMW X5 averages around $1,166 annually.
Q: What is the estimated 10-year maintenance and repair cost for a BMW X5?
A: Over a 10-year period, the maintenance and repair costs for a BMW X5 are estimated to be around $18,389, with a considerable probability of a major repair needed by year ten.
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