Front Caliper

[Boston X5 4.4]

Originally Posted by youry

I've had my X5 for 4 months (2001 71K). So far I have changed cv boot, battery, brake pads, door actuator and latch, bulbs. Still cannot open the passenger window from the driver switch. The trunk opens by itself. Every morning before I start I wonder whats new to fix. This is my first BMW ever and the last one. Fun to drive and safe, but sooooo unreliable. Its not about the money that I spent on the car but the fear that I won't be able to use it when I really need it. With 2 infants is no fun begging the car to start. I always keep cash in my car for taxi.

And you probably paid about 30-40% of what the original owner paid? There is a reason for this - it is a 7 year old BMW.
Sorry to hear about your problems and it does suck to be nervous about whether or not the car starts - but you should not be overly surprised.

Wagners posts hit the nail on the head.

[primetime]

I agree with both sides of this debate. Buying a bimmer used or new, it should be reliable at the very least. But also, you are spending top dollar for the name brand,luxury, and the engineering. Just like Wags said. That's what you're spending $ on. Reliability is something that should accompany it, but unfortunately sometimes it doesn't work out that way...

[Boston X5 4.4]

Originally Posted by primetime

Reliability is something that should accompany it, but unfortunately sometimes it doesn't work out that way...

[Hallatauer]

Originally Posted by primetime

I agree with both sides of this debate. Buying a bimmer used or new, it should be reliable at the very least. But also, you are spending top dollar for the name brand,luxury, and the engineering. Just like Wags said. That's what you're spending $ on. Reliability is something that should accompany it, but unfortunately sometimes it doesn't work out that way...

Well you are paying for the brand, that is for sure... but those roundels are damned expensive. Luxury?? Not any better than a Lexus. Engineering? BMW's don't stand out any more. When my $45k Z4 gets classed with $20k Honda 2000's and $25k Nissan 350z's... where's the engineering?

I think 50k mile warranty talks for itself. The company has no faith in what they build. Lifetime fluids mean drive it until it fails then get a big repair bill.

The truest statement is.. sell it once it falls out of warranty but I can't afford a new car every three to four years.

[Wagner]

Originally Posted by Hallatauer

Well you are paying for the brand, that is for sure... but those roundels are damned expensive. Luxury?? Not any better than a Lexus. Engineering? BMW's don't stand out any more. When my $45k Z4 gets classed with $20k Honda 2000's and $25k Nissan 350z's... where's the engineering?

I think 50k mile warranty talks for itself. The company has no faith in what they build. Lifetime fluids mean drive it until it fails then get a big repair bill.

The truest statement is.. sell it once it falls out of warranty but I can't afford a new car every three to four years.

Then you probably shouldn't be playing with BMW's. You do not want one out of warranty.


PS: My 2004 350Z was a "better" performance car for me then my 911 or my E46 M3. The emblems have nothing to do with it

[primetime]

Originally Posted by Hallatauer

Well you are paying for the brand, that is for sure... but those roundels are damned expensive. Luxury?? Not any better than a Lexus. Engineering? BMW's don't stand out any more. When my $45k Z4 gets classed with $20k Honda 2000's and $25k Nissan 350z's... where's the engineering?

I think 50k mile warranty talks for itself. The company has no faith in what they build. Lifetime fluids mean drive it until it fails then get a big repair bill.

The truest statement is.. sell it once it falls out of warranty but I can't afford a new car every three to four years.

Sure your Z4 falls into the same "class" as the S2000. But when you're driving around you don't say wow look at that nice S2000...No, thats because its just a Honda...Nothing outstanding and not a "real" head turner to those who know vehicles..Or most people in general..And if you think a Honda can match the engineering of a BMW, I have yet to see it, and I've owned 2 honda's and 1 acura before... That's what I mean when I say you pay for the brand...My X5 falls into the same class as my Infiniti Qx4 but its not as impressive as the X..in all phases, looks, performance, etc...Reliability wise they are about the same...I bought the X because of the brand and yes, the luxury..Sure Lexus's are luxurious..no one's denying that, but they struggle in exterior styling and I'd take the performance test BMW vs Lexus anyday....To each his own...

[lo_jack]

Originally Posted by primetime

Sure your Z4 falls into the same "class" as the S2000. But when you're driving around you don't say wow look at that nice S2000...No, thats because its just a Honda...Nothing outstanding and not a "real" head turner to those who know vehicles..Or most people in general..And if you think a Honda can match the engineering of a BMW, I have yet to see it, and I've owned 2 honda's and 1 acura before... That's what I mean when I say you pay for the brand...My X5 falls into the same class as my Infiniti Qx4 but its not as impressive as the X..in all phases, looks, performance, etc...Reliability wise they are about the same...I bought the X because of the brand and yes, the luxury..Sure Lexus's are luxurious..no one's denying that, but they struggle in exterior styling and I'd take the performance test BMW vs Lexus anyday....To each his own...

In all fairness, that Honda screams all the way up to 9000RPM. And I do mean screams. I would say that does count for something with folks 'who know vehicles.' Unless you don't care about things like going fast.

[primetime]

Originally Posted by lo_jack

In all fairness, that Honda screams all the way up to 9000RPM. And I do mean screams. I would say that does count for something with folks 'who know vehicles.' Unless you don't care about things like going fast.

I understand this lo jack. But engineering wise? Would you say that Honda and BMW is on the same level?

[Wagner]

Originally Posted by lo_jack

In all fairness, that Honda screams all the way up to 9000RPM. And I do mean screams. I would say that does count for something with folks 'who know vehicles.' Unless you don't care about things like going fast.

And as long as you don't want any torque

162 tq @ 6,800 rpms....useless.

[lo_jack]

Originally Posted by primetime

I understand this lo jack. But engineering wise? Would you say that Honda and BMW is on the same level?

No, they are after two different things.

The short version to me is BMW over engineers in order to deliver performance that (historically, anyway) differeniates their brand. But insodoing, they use a massive amount of consumable parts with comparitively short lives, often creating one or more consumable parts where others, like Honda, would use one non-wear part. That is the tradeoff.

When one buys a BMW, this should be explained to you. That is why things fail at 70k when a Ford/Chev/Mopar equivalent could go 120, 180, 250k.

Granted I have owned this X5 for a bit over a year, but I also still own every other car I have ever owned since I started driving, and they all still run with a minimum amount of repair and replacement. Minus my X5, my fleet average is 174k miles. They are not performance oriented vehicles, or if they were forced into that role, they have been pushed beyond their designs.

I do not think others engineer this way because they do not have to. What performance other manufactueres do achieve is often a sliver of what is possible given the compromise of reliability, low cost of maintainance and so on. It is not a point of contention, well it shouldn't be. It is a different philosphy of running a car company, and it requires those who buy the product to agree, or have a warranty.

Ok, no torque. Well, it doesn't take a lot with a light vehicle, and also this is mostly moot if you have a manual gear box, much like an RX8.