How Long Do BMWs Last? What To Know About Lifespan
Source: Pixabay
BMW has long enjoyed a reputation for having good cars, especially good sedans, and for being overall a good option for the value and cost of their vehicles.
Hey, when it comes to luxury cars, many of which are seen as having value mainly for the prestige or beauty factor, being considered a good value is a huge plus for BMW.
Unfortunately, BMW’s reputation isn’t always specific enough to tell you what you should expect from their vehicles. Unlike other vehicles, like Toyota’s reputation for durability or their luxury brand Lexus’s reputation for long lifespans and modern aesthetics, BMW’s reputation is more about the brand as a whole rather than their specific vehicle traits.
Fortunately, we’ve done the research into BMW durability so you don’t have to. If you’re wondering ‘how long do BMWs last?’ you’re in the right place.
We’ll talk about how long BMWs last, how they stack up to the competition, and anything else you need to know about BMW lifespan before you buy one.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE APP
The CoPilot car shopping app is the smartest way to buy a car. Get a curated list of the best cars for sale in your area, as well as notifications if a similar vehicle is listed nearby at a lower price. CoPilot is the smartest way to shop for used cars.
How Long Do BMWs Last On Average?
There’s good news here if you’re considering a BMW. Overall, according to MotorAsk.com, BMW performs reasonably well. You can expect most BMW vehicles to last at least 10-15 years, and some will outperform expectations and last longer.
Those estimates do assume roughly average use from the consumer though. High user drivers might find that their BMW doesn’t last as long, while people who drive less often might get a longer lifespan from their BMW with good maintenance practices.
In terms of mileage, you should typically expect a BMW to make it through 100k-150k miles. Some do make it to 200k miles or even further, but that’s more than you should expect from most of their lineup.
Not to say that it’s impossible! Good maintenance goes a long way toward making sure your vehicle lasts a long time.
However, for most consumers, a BMW performs better than average in terms of durability, but not as well as some of the truly top-performing vehicle manufacturers.
More detail on that comparison is in the next section.
How Do BMW Lifespans Compare With Other Manufacturers?
When it comes to vehicle lifespan and answering questions like how long BMWs last, studies are the best option. Anecdotal evidence about vehicles can be convincing, but comparative studies produce more proof and usually look at a wider range of factors to come to a good conclusion.
There are a lot of different studies out there, and some do have different results, but if you’ve looked at them you’ll notice that the same names seem to come up over and over again when it comes to the most durable vehicle manufacturers.
ISeeCars.com has a relatively representative study for which vehicle manufacturers last longest. The bad news is that BMW doesn’t make the list, either as a manufacturer or in the individual models’ category.
That means that while BMW is considered one of the more durable and long-lasting vehicle brands, they aren’t one of the most durable options.
That said, there are some advantages to not being one of the most durable vehicle manufacturers. For one thing, vehicle technology is changing and advancing incredibly quickly. Long-lasting vehicles will almost certainly be outdated by the time they reach the end of their lifespan.
Reasonably durable models let you get good value from the vehicle, but probably won’t be as outdated by the time their owners need to upgrade to a new vehicle.
It’s all about balancing durability and value. Thankfully, BMW seems to have a good mix of those things, even if they don’t last as long as Toyotas or Hondas.
THE 10 MOST RELIABLE AMERICAN CARS
Because the car buying experience is so stressful, it’s helpful to go into the dealership with information ahead of time. Therefore, we’ve curated a list of the 10 most reliable American cars so you can approach the process from a place of empowerment.
Longest Lasting BMW Models
According to HotCars.com, here are some of the most durable vehicles BMW has ever produced:
- 2006 BMW E90 330i
- 2018 BMW i3
- 2019 BMW F40
- 2005 BMW 325i
- 2016 BMW M4
Notice the range of model years in that list. Yes, some of the list is from the more recent model releases, but BMW also produced some of their most reliable vehicles in the mid-00s. That’s a great sign when it comes to the durability of vehicles and vehicle manufacturers.
Manufacturers that only have a good track record recently, say in the last 3 model years, are always at risk of quality going back down. But when you have a manufacturer that gets consistently good ratings and has at least two periods where vehicles have particularly high scores and better performance, that’s usually a sign that the manufacturer is relatively consistent and trustworthy.
BMW Models With The Shortest Lifespan
BMW is relatively consistent when it comes to the lifespan of their vehicles. However, according to BMWBlog.com, the Series 7 consistently offers some of the shortest lifespans in their lineup.
That’s unfortunate since the Series 7 is designed in part to show off some of the changes and advances BMW was making in their design, and how they can compete with the technological capabilities of other luxury vehicles.
In short, it doesn’t really do those things, and when it does do those things, the Series 7 line doesn’t do it as well as it should.
How Can You Help Your BMW Last Longer?
There are a few ways you can help boost the power and durability of your BMW. While BMW doesn’t really have special or unique maintenance requirements, good maintenance can help your BMW last longer.
Oil changes and keeping an eye on coolant levels are two of the most basic, and most important, kinds of maintenance you can do for your BMW.
Remember, your BMW running a little hotter than normal might not be a disaster, but it does mean you should get your BMW into the shop. And soon.
Defensive driving is another good way to help your BMW last longer. It’s not just because defensive driving is a good way to prevent accidents. It’s also that defensive drivers tend to brake and accelerate more slowly, which helps protect the internal components of your BMW from excessive wear and tear.
The most important thing you can do is make sure you hit all of the important maintenance milestones, listen to your mechanic’s advice for what your vehicle needs, and use good quality parts for repairs and part replacements.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TINT CAR WINDOWS?
Different tints block different levels of UV light and in the long run can prevent sun damage to your skin and eyes, but how much does it cost to tint car windows? We’ve got the answer.
Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You
The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to make you a personalized list of the best car listings in your area.
Only looking for newer models? CoPilot Compare is the search engine for nearly-new cars. Only see cars five years or newer with low mileage — CoPilot Compare is the best way to find off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO cars.
The best part? CoPilot is built using the same technology that dealerships use to buy and sell their inventories, so we have more info on each vehicle than competitors. CoPilot doesn’t work with dealerships, so there are no sponsored posts or other shady practices — just the most info on the best cars. Check out our About Us page to see how CoPilot works.
