All cars have their failure points. BMW and its shitty and expensive to replace gaskets, who puts an oil seal behind an alternator and can't design good valve stem gaskets?

Anyway, it depends on the Audi/Engine. I'm familiar with the 2.0T line of engines(EA888 Gen 1 and 3 and EA113). They suffer from timing chain failures, hpfp failures, coil packs, pcv failures, carbon build up, diverter valve failures, turbo failures on Gen 3.. But having worked on VWs they are a billion times easer to fix. BMW seems to love stick fasteners in nearly inaccessible locations..

The 4.2s had horrible carbon build up. The 3.0T seems to be fairly reliable.

Personal opinion. From a guy who currently owns a 2011 BMW 335D, 2008 BMW X5 4.8i and a 2013 mini cooper. Only the cooper is what I would call reliable. All of my VWs have been wayyyy more reliable and less expensive to own than the BMWs. I've spent $4800 and counting to maintain my 2008 X5 in 6 months.

My 2011 GTI which had a tune, downpipes, intake, K04 turbo, etc. I sold with 60K miles, and I only had to replace a blown diverter valve and PCV at less than $300 for both. The car was very reliable. The mini has only needed new coil packs (cooper S)

The 335D has been the most unreliable car I've owned, in 2 years of ownership it probably has spent 6 months in the shop (under warranty). Now I've spent thousands to keep it running. The X5 while not constantly "broken" is always in need of lots of expensive care to replace worn out parts, and keep many systems running. But I enjoy them, I will probably not buy another BMW at this point, as I don't like the way the current crop of BMWs drive (F10/15/30), too camry like for 3x the price. The new audi's are more BMW than BMW is now days. Probably a used A7 will replace my 335D, and my X5 will be replaced either by an X5M. The mini is going to be replaced either by a Porsche Boxter or an Audi TT. The F30 3's hold no appeal, and the X5's have their appeal but the Q7 has a better suspension setup, but not as good engine choices and poor site lines.

First BMW....
 

Personally, I cannot stand Audis. Especially models they've brought out in the past 10-15 years... I just don't see why anyone would want one, they don't have the driving pleasure you get from a BMW, nor do they have the comfort you'd get in an equivalent Mercedes for a similar price. As for reliability, at lleast in my experience, they are not too much better than BMW, only bonus is that their platforms are shared throughout the whole VW group so parts are cheaper (after all, they are just overpriced VWs), so there is no bullet proof reliability as a selling point either, such as you would get in an equivalent Japanese luxury car. Not trying to offend any Audi owners, I have been one my self, just stating my opinion.

However, I agree that the X5 is not cheap to maintain and has many small issues that really should not happen in a premium german SAV (I have owned 6 X5s ) but then again, there is no other SUV/SAV I'd rather be driving.


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I don't mind doing work myself to save some money, and I agree to the X5 at least E70 driving experience as to the only SUV I'd like to drive (why I bought it). However, I've been surprised at having to spend 5K to diy all the needed maintence (fluid changes, etc.) and only some of the needed reapirs. Still have to fix my sunroof, power rear hatch, and valve stem seals (maybe). Basically I've spent almost 50% of the cars value in rehabbing it. I purchased the 2008 X5 4.8i with 89K miles (no smoking and everything worked), which had been under CPO until 3/2016. The smoking issue showed up when towing a travel trailer and backing it into a campsite. Guess it was too much for its marginal valve stem seals.

My biggest reason I won't probably purchase a new BMW is it comes down to driving fun for me. I don't like the F15s that much with their numb steering and floppy body control. However, my X5 is equipped with adaptive drive and the F15 I drove was equipped with the "sport" suspension and m-sport packages. My E70 seems to be a superior driving car for enthusiastic driving and I find it to be more fun.

Ok, thanks for the input guys. While I do love the BMW, I don't like having to spend so much on repairs. Maintenance items I'm fine with but if these items keep needing repairs every 50k miles, different story. Like you said, I too, won't buy another BMW. And from the sound of it, Audi and Mercedes are similar. I'll just stick with Japanese, Honda or Toyota for my next car. Even though they don't bring the same level of driving pleasure as the BMW.