[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

In 50-years of selling BMWs I always told my customers to only buy a V8, hybrid, or EV BMW if they were NOT planning on keeping it past the warranty period. Furthermore, I've always said "Friends don't let friends buy BMW V8s". It is sad how often my advice was not followed and disaster ensued. And why I still drive a 2013 128i M-sport stick!

BMW is apparently constantly proving that they don't know how to make a V8 engine that holds up any more than they know how to make a durable window-regulator.

Or gaskets....valve cover, oil pan, OFHG.....

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by Dozer324

Funny because I’ve never once considered owning a V8 BMW. Wonder what I’m missing out on.

A whole lot of fun. From what I remember....oil consumption, cooking of other components because the turbos are placed in the V of the engine, valve seals, unexplained high power drain on the battery when the car is sitting....and probably more that I'm forgetting.

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by Dozer324

Funny because I’ve never once considered owning a V8 BMW. Wonder what I’m missing out on.

Mountains of power at all times, effortless acceleration, insanely smooth and refined drivetrains... They're splendid.

It's worth noting, the best BMW of all time, the E39 M5, has a V8.

[BMWCCA1]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

Mountains of power at all times, effortless acceleration, insanely smooth and refined drivetrains... They're splendid.

It's worth noting, the best BMW of all time, the E39 M5, has a V8.

What we all do know is that the E39 M5 was the first of the bloated, not-really-an-M-car produced by BMW. I like my E39 530i Sport/Premium MT better than the M5 and certainly more than a 540i. And I don't really like it that much, compared to my E34. BaT here we come this Spring.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by Dozer324

Funny because I’ve never once considered owning a V8 BMW. Wonder what I’m missing out on.

This:

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Dozer324

Funny because I’ve never once considered owning a V8 BMW. Wonder what I’m missing out on.

two extra cylinders that apparently eff the whole thing up. Maybe BMW should have made a Straight-8 instead...

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

What we all do know is that the E39 M5 was the first of the bloated, not-really-an-M-car produced by BMW. I like my E39 530i Sport/Premium MT better than the M5 and certainly more than a 540i. And I don't really like it that much, compared to my E34. BaT here we come this Spring.

Well that's certainly a completely insane take. I suspect not many people, or sale prices, will agree with you on that one.

[PunsGalore]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

Funny because the V8 BMWs are the only ones worth owning...

At least they figured it out with the N63TU3 vehicles.

I completely disagree - BMW’s inline 6’s are where it’s at.. the sound and reliability are unmatched. The V8’s are nice but DEFINITELY not the only ones worth owning.. even the newest iterations are wayyy to unreliable for my taste - it’s inherent due to the “hot v” design

[PunsGalore]

Originally Posted by kriskross

Unfortunately not the sort of vibe you hear in general media; just read an article last week that supposedly EVs last as long as ICEs, not sure what data they looked at…

The F30 also still has the old generation batteries hence the short warranty. They obviously knew how poor the batteries are.

Next car will certainly be petrol again, my old runner (E90) on 125k miles still first engine… lesson learned!

E90 was peak 3 series in my opinion.. E46 was great too, the E90 just improved upon things like build quality

[PunsGalore]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

What we all do know is that the E39 M5 was the first of the bloated, not-really-an-M-car produced by BMW. I like my E39 530i Sport/Premium MT better than the M5 and certainly more than a 540i. And I don't really like it that much, compared to my E34. BaT here we come this Spring.

Definitely prefer the 530i to the 540i, the handling is just superb on the E39 530i.. 530i compared to the M5.. that’s a little harder.

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by PunsGalore

I completely disagree - BMW’s inline 6’s are where it’s at.. the sound and reliability are unmatched. The V8’s are nice but DEFINITELY not the only ones worth owning.. even the newest iterations are wayyy to unreliable for my taste - it’s inherent due to the “hot v” design

I have had 3 BMW with I6 and 3 BMW with V8. E39 528i, E36 M3, E61 535xi, E70 X5 4.8i, E90 M3 and F90 M5. No reliability problems with either the I6 or V8 in my case. Of all those, I like the F90 M5 the most. Would have liked to have owned an E46 M3 and an E60 M5 (V10), but probably won’t at this point.

Also had a couple of the old big I6, a 73 Bavaria with late 3.5L conversion and 79 635csi also with late 3.5L conversion.

[PunsGalore]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

I have had 3 BMW with I6 and 3 BMW with V8. E39 528i, E36 M3, E61 535xi, E70 X5 4.8i, E90 M3 and F90 M5. No reliability problems with either the I6 or V8 in my case. Of all those, I like the F90 M5 the most. Would have liked to have owned an E46 M3 and an E60 M5 (V10), but probably won’t at this point.

Also had a couple of the old big I6, a 73 Bavaria with late 3.5L conversion and 79 635csi also with late 3.5L conversion.

Glad to hear it!

[jphcbpa]

I would suggest leasing. Yes I know deals have not been great but eventually you pay and might as well get a new whip every few years

[FCX5]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

In 50-years of selling BMWs I always told my customers to only buy a V8, hybrid, or EV BMW if they were NOT planning on keeping it past the warranty period. Furthermore, I've always said "Friends don't let friends buy BMW V8s". It is sad how often my advice was not followed and disaster ensued. And why I still drive a 2013 128i M-sport stick!

BMW is apparently constantly proving that they don't know how to make a V8 engine that holds up any more than they know how to make a durable window-regulator.

I’ll only ever buy a V8 BMW. I have a 2018 X5 for 6 years now and engine has been bullet proof. I got the extended warranty that just expired and it covered a lot of repairs but it was not engine related. The engine is a delight to drive. I just got a 2024 RS Q8 and it is also a V8. If anything, the RS Q8 will likely need more repairs down the road because of the complexity. That is the price of buying these exciting cars. In general higher performance cars are more likely to have higher maintenance cost…

[Lucian009]

Originally Posted by kriskross

Hello, need your opinion here pls.

I've got a F30 330e M-Sport hybrid, very happy - until a year ago.

Had a few warnings on electric drivetrain issues, drivability deteriorated - went to dealership, took ages to diagnose, result: one cell needed replacing. Issues started within warranty period, but went to dealer just outside warrant period. BMW did not honour the warranty, and it took weeks of pushing until they covered parts as goodwill. I had to fork out nearly 2000GBP on labour.

5 months later, same symptoms, same electric drivetrain warnings - went to dealership, took ages to diagnose, result: the remaining 4 cells need replacing. Cost: around 7500GBP. Took weeks of pushing, but BMW refused to show ANY goodwill.

The only "goodwill" they offered was to dispose of the car. Not joking!

Now I'm faced with a repair of 7500GBP where market value is not much more than that --> this is effectively a write-off - after 7 years! I'm not buying BMW to write it off after 7 years. And what is even worse, they don't seem to care. At all! Even though I've grown up with BMW over the past 50 years, and driving BMW for 30+ years. Time to say goodbye?


Any (constructive) advice appreciated.

Just logged in out of the blue and saw this thread and thought to pitch in on the original subject, as it hits close to home. I think you have all the reasons to feel "mad" with your experience, and I disagree with the comments herein telling you to suck it up. New technology or (rather) not, it is simply unacceptable for a major component of such a relatively expensive car to fail at 7 years. For a BMW, by many measures, that's nearly a new car.

BMW dealers in the US, and I'm inclined to think elsewhere too, are no better, and perhaps worse, than any other car dealers. From very greedy pricing, to the value and competency of service. I have very mixed feelings on the brand about this. You cannot just blame the dealers - the company must know and share responsibility. I'm amazed at how little they care about the treatment of the customers post-sale, including allowing that obscene pricing for service. I've also got the same type of impression about BMWUSA headquarters, with their level of unresponsiveness. The fact that they afford to not care much may speak volumes about the entrenched power of the brand with people. But I feel that, unless things improve, a day of reckoning will come and what has now become a globalist brand will further lose its Germanic shine.

So, while I think that your case is rare, you're right to be mad at the lack of customer service, and you're right to consider brand alternatives (too few, though). For your practical purposes, I'd never undertake ANY further repairs at a BMW dealer if out of warranty. As a long-term owner, you probably have a good indie.

Secondly, forgive my ignorance, but can you drive the hybrid on combustion only? Perhaps as a spare, still luxury car, it's worth to take the reduced performance and keep it long term, for commutes and errands and stuff. Imo, any ICE BMW, with just an average level of care, should be expected to easily last to 300k miles in the main components (perhaps less for a hybrid).

[ButlerBray]

Originally Posted by DanG

All EVs eventually need new batteries. 7 years sounds like a reasonable time for the battery to fail. Hidden costs of owning a car with a lithium ion battery.

This is why EV batteries usually have an 8 year warranty.

[RPM33]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

A gas engine BMW could suffer a transmission or other drivetrain failure at 7 years that costs about the same to fix. Some people buy extended warranties to hedge their risk of owning an expensive car out of warranty. Sucks when it happens to you, though. Some EV owners are not buying another EV. Depreciation is worse on EVs than on gas engine cars. Stuff for everyone to think about.

Some car companies offer 10 year power train warranties. Kia and Hyundai in the USA, at least. Not sure about EV makers and batteries.

Good advice.

[pz619]

Originally Posted by ButlerBray

This is why EV batteries usually have an 8 year warranty.

This. In the US specifically, a 8 year warranty is a mandated minimum.

[STi from DSM]

If there isn't a CEL bring it to another BMW dealership and trade it in. Hopefully they don't notice the issue.