Confused about X5 rating by usnews/JD power

[MasterX5]

First post after purchasing my 2010 CPO X5 (3.0).
How come 2010 ML350 has 3.5 rating vs 2 for X5? At most they could be equal. I could understand Japs are better.
I hear folks saying 1-2K per year on X5 after warranty expires...is that really true. I am sure one would spend about >500 a year on Japs too. This is under the assumption that we drive sensibly.

[TerminatorX5]

Originally Posted by MasterX5

First post after purchasing my 2010 CPO X5 (3.0).
How come 2010 ML350 has 3.5 rating vs 2 for X5? At most they could be equal. I could understand Japs are better.
I hear folks saying 1-2K per year on X5 after warranty expires...is that really true. I am sure one would spend about >500 a year on Japs too. This is under the assumption that we drive sensibly.

drive sensibly??? those are the keywords!!! Check out the demographics for the BMW and say, Buick brands...

everytime i see a bimmer on the road, the jerk is driving like a maniac... wait... naaahhh... it ain't my wife there, is it?... well... the BMW driver is a bit more spirited driver... sorry honey, did not mean to offend your driving style!!! Yes honey, i will get it fixed... sure, it fell off my car, as you wanted to go pick up the groceries... never happens to your mom's Buick... maybe we should get one? no? why not..? ohh, that thing does not go fast enough for you? i see... that would have been an imaginary conversation with my wife... who is a (almost) typical bmw driver... these cars get to be driven a bit more spirited, and with spirited driving, more things tend to fall off... lol...


But, to be honest, sometimes we wish, that the cars were a notch more sturdier... so, the statistics might be right...

BTW, welcome to the forum!!!

[JCL]

I don't think reliability is based on country of design or manufacture. No reason for BMW and Mercedes to have similar scores. BMW is just struggling with some reliability issues. I think people tend to buy BMWs in spite of those issues, not because they expect reliability. They are often willing to overlook the quality and reliability problems because of the driving experience.

[seattle]

^^ +1
People buy Japanese for the realibility, and BMW in spite of unrealibility.

[rh71]

agreed - I often tell people it's unreliable but I love it. I don't drive it like a maniac but sometimes I do. But you know what? The reliability issues aren't even related - they're electronic issues for the most part.

And as far as BMW vs. Merc. In my personal experience MB is rock solid in comparison. They have other negatives.

[clinkinfo]

Why would you assume BMW and Mercedes should have the same reliability ratings? Different models within the same manufacturer have different ratings much less across manufacturers.