Used cars running costs: BMW
Used cars running costs: BMW
By Martin Pretorius
South Africans love BMWs: the promise of a sporty car with plenty of performance and some high-tech gadgets means that it's easy to fall for the charms of a bargain-priced used BMW. There could be a snag in their long-term running costs, though...
Whether it's at a spinning arena in the township or posing outside a trendy coffee shop, a BMW of any vintage has a certain cachet that's hard to beat in this country. It's a hugely aspirational brand, and in many cases, the public's perception of a BMW has no regard for its age. And, because old BMW can be surprisingly cheap to buy, older ones are often found in the hands of people who love the brand but can't afford to buy them new. They're usually also quite durable, but that durability can come with a significant financial penalty. We've taken a look at some pre-owned BMWs, and listed some with notoriously high running costs.
BMW 8-series coupé (first-generation)
It was a sensation when it first appeared at the tail end of the 1980s: needle-nosed styling with cutting-edge technology meant that the first 850i was a tour de force for BMW. But, as time went by, this model earned a reputation for being a money pit, and for very good reason.
That advanced technology made for a hugely complex car: the creamy (but thirsty) V12 was as expensive to maintain as it was difficult to work on, the automatic gearbox was smooth but trouble-prone, and the fancy electronic systems all over the car were largely unproven when the 850i went into production. Combine these factors with the fact that these cars were extremely scarce to begin with, and you end up with a stunning car which was just as stunningly expensive to run. Definitely NOT for those on a tight budget!
In much the same way as the 850i was an image leader for BMW in its day, the 7-Series has always served as the platform to launch the company’s latest technology – a trend which continues to this day. Things got really interesting when the E32-generation launched as companion to the 8-Series, as these cars introduced a number of innovative electronic systems and a host of forward-thinking features.
The end result was a ground-breaking car with stunning driving dynamics, impressive comfort, and plenty of nice toys... which then proved to be equally amazingly expensive to maintain. Things got even worse when the first V8-engined cars arrived, as these engines didn't take kindly to local fuel, leading to premature (and very expensive) engine failures. Pity the fools who bought them cheap and imagined that they acquired luxury car bargains...
Even now, later-generation 7-Series cars are really affordable to buy, but with even more cutting-edge technology, they're even more prone to expensive failures. They're far less prone to mechanical failures, fortunately, but their complex electronic systems have proven to be the source of many a grey hairs in their repair technicians. These factors all conspire to make old 7-Series cars extremely expensive to run in the long term – as if their impressive fuel thirst wasn’t enough of a drawback.
While this generation of 3-Series was a fundamentally stout design, some trouble areas have reared their heads over time. Suspension components (specifically the control arms) are well-known for early failures, and the larger optional alloy wheels are known for severe buckling after encountering rough roads or potholes. Earlier examples of the E90 were also prone to strange electronic hassles and cooling system leaks, while the advent of the first turbo-charged six-cylinder petrol engine soon presented its own set of challenges.
Early 335i variants, using N54 engines, earned their reputation for being very power-productive and mechanically stout, but the peripheral support systems are known to be extremely trouble-prone. Numerous recalls have been issued, pertaining to the high pressure direct fuel injection system, ignition coils, and boost control systems, but the N54 eventually went out of production without having some of its main problems ever being satisfactorily resolved – meaning that these engines are sure to cost a bomb to maintain. This obviously has a negative impact on running costs as well, meaning that a bargain 335i is sure to become a financial nightmare for an unwary buyer.
BMW 5-Series (and second-generation 6-series)
Having shared their basic architecture and many components with the 7-Series over most of its generations, old 5-Series cars suffer from many of the same issues as their bigger siblings. To be fair, the early problems regarding the first V8 engines were solved by the time the E39 generation arrived, meaning that the E39 is generally well-regarded as a long-term pre-owned proposition.
Pre-facelift E39s are more trouble-prone than the later examples, mainly in the area of their electronic systems, but even they are still nowhere near as problematic as early E60s, which inherited many of failings which affected the E60 (Bangle-era) 7-Series cars. Best to avoid high-trim variants, as those added electronic gubbins are sure to cost a bomb to keep working, and avoid the V10-engined M5s (and M6s) at all costs, unless you're a deep-pocketed enthusiast who doesn't mind fixing expensive gearbox- and engine issues just to enjoy the noise from that screaming motorsport-inspired engine.