New car in my garage
08-16-09 | 12:55 PM
#50
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,474
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
Reliability has been very poor. I was hit very early on in the ownership experience, which at least a couple of the problems could possibly be attributed to, but most of the stuff is obviously unrelated to the area of the car that was repaired.
Rather than typing it all up again... just read the first post here:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1090892
and then here
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...4&postcount=46
And since I last updated that thread I've also had a tire pressure sensor go bad and one front cup holder replaced due to breaking (very flimsy cup holders in this car).
Aside from all those problems the quality of this car, if you just go pushing and prodding various pieces of the interior or exterior, is no better... arguably even worse than my Saturn Aura. And while the Aura's quality is overall pretty good for what it is, I'd say that's more of a knock on the BMW than it is a testament to the Aura.
BMW quality and reliability is the worst I've ever experienced in any car by a long shot.
HOWEVER with all that said, I'm not one of those people who's going to walk around telling everyone BMW is junk. Yes mine was but I believe JD power when they say BMW only has ~50% more problems than Lexus. Obviously I just got unlucky and for every guy like me there's somebody who has had a BMW with absolutely zero issues in 100k miles of driving. My single case is not proof of the entire brand's quality. However with all of that said, I still will probably never consider one again unless things really change with them.
Oh... BTW... my 06 Audi A4 2.0t I had before my 335i? Perfect car. Only problem was a single burnt out $1 map light bulb in 30k miles of driving. Build and material quality was also much better than the 335i.
08-16-09 | 12:59 PM
#51
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,474
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
25.5-26 mpg in the city with me driving w/ AC on. More like 23 with my wife driving (she's one of those "almost always either on the gas or the brake, never coasting" drivers). I might be able to do better than that once the car gets broken in (still well under 1000 miles, still non synthetic oil, etc).
Based on what I've been reading and what I've seen from the info center on very short stretches of highway, I'm expecting somewhere in the mid to high 3x mpg range at 75mph with the AC on and a solid 40mpg at 65 with the AC off. I'll update the thread when I actually confirm that with a road trip, though.
Based on what I've been reading and what I've seen from the info center on very short stretches of highway, I'm expecting somewhere in the mid to high 3x mpg range at 75mph with the AC on and a solid 40mpg at 65 with the AC off. I'll update the thread when I actually confirm that with a road trip, though.
Last edited by Threxx; 08-16-09 at 01:42 PM.
08-16-09 | 01:12 PM
#52
Guest
Posts: n/a
I've had it for just under 2 years and 30k miles.
Reliability has been very poor. I was hit very early on in the ownership experience, which at least a couple of the problems could possibly be attributed to, but most of the stuff is obviously unrelated to the area of the car that was repaired.
Rather than typing it all up again... just read the first post here:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1090892
and then here
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...4&postcount=46
And since I last updated that thread I've also had a tire pressure sensor go bad and one front cup holder replaced due to breaking (very flimsy cup holders in this car).
Aside from all those problems the quality of this car, if you just go pushing and prodding various pieces of the interior or exterior, is no better... arguably even worse than my Saturn Aura. And while the Aura's quality is overall pretty good for what it is, I'd say that's more of a knock on the BMW than it is a testament to the Aura.
BMW quality and reliability is the worst I've ever experienced in any car by a long shot.
HOWEVER with all that said, I'm not one of those people who's going to walk around telling everyone BMW is junk. Yes mine was but I believe JD power when they say BMW only has ~50% more problems than Lexus. Obviously I just got unlucky and for every guy like me there's somebody who has had a BMW with absolutely zero issues in 100k miles of driving. My single case is not proof of the entire brand's quality. However with all of that said, I still will probably never consider one again unless things really change with them.
Oh... BTW... my 06 Audi A4 2.0t I had before my 335i? Perfect car. Only problem was a single burnt out $1 map light bulb in 30k miles of driving. Build and material quality was also much better than the 335i.
Reliability has been very poor. I was hit very early on in the ownership experience, which at least a couple of the problems could possibly be attributed to, but most of the stuff is obviously unrelated to the area of the car that was repaired.
Rather than typing it all up again... just read the first post here:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1090892
and then here
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...4&postcount=46
And since I last updated that thread I've also had a tire pressure sensor go bad and one front cup holder replaced due to breaking (very flimsy cup holders in this car).
Aside from all those problems the quality of this car, if you just go pushing and prodding various pieces of the interior or exterior, is no better... arguably even worse than my Saturn Aura. And while the Aura's quality is overall pretty good for what it is, I'd say that's more of a knock on the BMW than it is a testament to the Aura.
BMW quality and reliability is the worst I've ever experienced in any car by a long shot.
HOWEVER with all that said, I'm not one of those people who's going to walk around telling everyone BMW is junk. Yes mine was but I believe JD power when they say BMW only has ~50% more problems than Lexus. Obviously I just got unlucky and for every guy like me there's somebody who has had a BMW with absolutely zero issues in 100k miles of driving. My single case is not proof of the entire brand's quality. However with all of that said, I still will probably never consider one again unless things really change with them.
Oh... BTW... my 06 Audi A4 2.0t I had before my 335i? Perfect car. Only problem was a single burnt out $1 map light bulb in 30k miles of driving. Build and material quality was also much better than the 335i.
I'm browsing around and wow
. You are taking a good attitude with it.
08-16-09 | 01:19 PM
#53
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 91,601
Likes: 89
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Not surprising, of course........the Aura is FWD like an ES.
Until you DO get 1000 miles on it (at that point, it will be considered broken-in), if you take a road trip on the Interstates, try to vary the engine speed up and down a little.....don't drive at the exact same speed for long stretches at a time. And, of course, 4000 RPM or lower on the tach. 
On the flip side it still has well under 1000 miles on it. Since we have 3 vehicles right now (335i isn't due back for 7 more weeks) and I'm well under mileage on it (I need to plan a road trip!),
08-16-09 | 04:16 PM
#54
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14,100
Likes: 1
From: tech capital
I've had it for just under 2 years and 30k miles.
Reliability has been very poor. I was hit very early on in the ownership experience, which at least a couple of the problems could possibly be attributed to, but most of the stuff is obviously unrelated to the area of the car that was repaired.
BMW quality and reliability is the worst I've ever experienced in any car by a long shot.
HOWEVER with all that said, I'm not one of those people who's going to walk around telling everyone BMW is junk. Yes mine was but I believe JD power when they say BMW only has ~50% more problems than Lexus. Obviously I just got unlucky and for every guy like me there's somebody who has had a BMW with absolutely zero issues in 100k miles of driving. My single case is not proof of the entire brand's quality. However with all of that said, I still will probably never consider one again unless things really change with them.
.
Reliability has been very poor. I was hit very early on in the ownership experience, which at least a couple of the problems could possibly be attributed to, but most of the stuff is obviously unrelated to the area of the car that was repaired.
BMW quality and reliability is the worst I've ever experienced in any car by a long shot.
HOWEVER with all that said, I'm not one of those people who's going to walk around telling everyone BMW is junk. Yes mine was but I believe JD power when they say BMW only has ~50% more problems than Lexus. Obviously I just got unlucky and for every guy like me there's somebody who has had a BMW with absolutely zero issues in 100k miles of driving. My single case is not proof of the entire brand's quality. However with all of that said, I still will probably never consider one again unless things really change with them.
.
btw - My experience with 08 Mercedes C-class at 22 months/31K miles is nearly as good as Lexus from a reliablilty standpoint. Only 1 minor defect (rear door lock pin mechanisms replaced under warranty and they actually replaced with redesigned/improved parts), otherwise flawless.
09-01-09 | 08:40 AM
#55
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: NC
Well right now it's looking like I'll owe them a few hundred bucks in wear in tear. Actually they want to charge me $600 for a brand new wind shield because I have a tiny 'peck' in the glass (like 1/2 the size of a pencil eraser!) but I am hoping I can get that repaired and have them leave me alone about it.
So you're saying I may be able to bypass some of those charges then in the form of an 'under mileage' credit?
I'm going to call BMWFS and ask them what it's worth to them or if I should just go on a road trip.
Thanks for the compliment on the deal.
So you're saying I may be able to bypass some of those charges then in the form of an 'under mileage' credit?
I'm going to call BMWFS and ask them what it's worth to them or if I should just go on a road trip.
Thanks for the compliment on the deal.
There are enough BMW owners that just pay whatever bill they send that they can afford to bend a bit for those that call them out on the small stuff.
09-17-09 | 05:38 AM
#57
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,474
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
I'm fine with it like that, though.
The 3.6L also has a sportier suspension and 18" wheels. I like my 17s and smoother ride.
09-17-09 | 08:44 AM
#59
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14,100
Likes: 1
From: tech capital
, but he knows it's not even close to a direct replacement.Based on the reliability of his 335, he won't be missing the frequent trips to the shop.
