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BMW 3-Series Maintenance and Repair

5349 messages,  Last post on Apr 30, 2013 at 3:31 PM

You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Sedan

    
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Messages Page 497 of 536

#4955 of 5349 Re: info on reliability 323i 1999 Coupe [yellowz51] by roadburner

Jan 16, 2011 (6:12 pm)

Replying to: yellowz51 (Jan 16, 2011 3:23 pm)
The powertrain should be good for at least 250,000 miles. It's the ancillaries that could prove troublesome- radiator, HVAC fan, suspension bits, window regulators, etc. If you can't handle minor repairs and maintenance yourself I'd set aside $100/month for repairs and maintenance. A BMW must be maintained by the book- to fail to do so will prove very costly.
Finally, don't have it checked out by just "a mechanic"; find someone who KNOWS BMWs.

#4956 of 5349 2001 325i by nay5

Jan 18, 2011 (3:18 pm)

i just purchased a a used 2001 325i a new transmission was put in. the car has 165k mile did i make a mistake of buying this car

#4957 of 5349 Re: 2001 325i [nay5] by roadburner

Jan 18, 2011 (3:57 pm)

Replying to: nay5 (Jan 18, 2011 3:18 pm)
An automatic I assume, correct? Who rebuilt the replacement? It's only a mistake if you paid too much or the car has been neglected. I hope you had an experienced BMW tech inspect it prior to purchase.

#4958 of 5349 speed bump noise by rnahouraii

Jan 22, 2011 (1:29 pm)

In the last 2 days, our 2007 328i sedan makes a scraping noise when going over a speed bump, but not if one front wheel only goes over. It doesn't do this for potholes.
52k miles. Dealer suggested sway bar bushings but said it wasn't necessary?

#4959 of 5349 84000 mile update... by 28firefighter

Jan 24, 2011 (6:28 am)

So I bought my '04 330xi back in August with 79,000 miles on it, and around 2 months later was without a car for almost 2 weeks because of a failed CCV and DISA - caused misfirings, insane oil consumption and a host of other issues. I think the time it was out was a result of not taking it to the right mechanic from the get-go.
 
With the exception of my expansion tank blowing out when the temperature here in Pittsburgh dropped to 4 degrees in December, I have had no problems - my mechanic was able to swap out the expansion tank, add coolant and bleed the system within 15 minutes of me bringing my car in.
 
Plans for March when he takes my snow tires off? Engine Mounts, checking the intake boot for any tears, inspecting the driveline for any damage thanks to potholes, and either an Auto Trans Fluid change or a new radiator (preventatively).
 
roadburner - At 84,000 miles have I missed the window for doing a trans fluid change? I would hate to cause the failure of my transmission for having it changed at a point later than I should.

#4960 of 5349 Re: speed bump noise [rnahouraii] by srs_49

Jan 24, 2011 (7:37 am)

Replying to: rnahouraii (Jan 22, 2011 1:29 pm)
Doesn't sound like bushings to me.
 
Do you get the noise when the front end goes over the bumps, or the back end?

#4961 of 5349 Re: 84000 mile update... [28firefighter] by roadburner

Jan 24, 2011 (12:48 pm)

Replying to: 28firefighter (Jan 24, 2011 6:28 am)
roadburner - At 84,000 miles have I missed the window for doing a trans fluid change? I would hate to cause the failure of my transmission for having it changed at a point later than I should.
 
There are a lot of different opinions on that. I had a drain and fill(no filter change) performed on my wife's 528iA at 100,000 miles and the lady we sold it to now has close to 200,000 miles on it with no issues. That said, more than a few techs say leave it alone if it if the ATF wasn't changed prior to 60,000 miles. I'd probably roll the dice and change it- but with the understanding that I'd be chancing a premature failure.

#4962 of 5349 Re: Rule # 1 and Rule # 2 [dan12] by carchick67

Jan 24, 2011 (4:51 pm)

Replying to: dan12 (Jan 14, 2011 1:11 pm)
Hi Mr Shiftright, I purchased a new Acura RSX in 2006. As a middleaged female, I babied it, handwashed it, oil change every 4k-5k miles, etc etc. With 4 payments left and 70k miles on the car, the engine blew out of no where. Acura treated me like dirt. They talked to me like trash, offered no assistance and the customer service center in California was terrible. I got assigned to the same rude lady that said over and over again "Ma'am, we will not even consider assisting you unless you come up with every oil change receipt every 3k miles." period.... Needless to say, a friend of mine heard about how I was treated and put in a engine from a junk yard ($2k) and I traded it in to the dealer next door to the Acura dealership (also owned by the same) and got a Misti Eclipse SE. Dealer wanted $6k just to rebuild top half of original engine.... crazy. So the morale of my story is I guess you never know what your gonna get.. I see Escorts on the road still running 12 years later.... just never know.

#4963 of 5349 Thinking about a 2008 335xi (twin turbo) by carchick67

Jan 24, 2011 (5:07 pm)

Anyone have any comments about the relilability of a 2008 335xi (twin turbo)?? or, maybe I just answered my own question. (my grandpa used to say, if you have to ask, you can't afford..lol). I can afford the car, just the mainenance scares me. It does come with the balance of warranty (car has 36k miles on it) and the warranty that comes with a certified used. But, as a female, a single female, that lives week to week,,, I just cannot afford big ticket items (turbo/transmission/etc). And, I agree with a comment previous about Motor Trend magazine constantly praising the 3 series,,, then I look at the reviews and they seem average. (???). Thanks!!

#4964 of 5349 Re: Rule # 1 and Rule # 2 [carchick67] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 24, 2011 (7:04 pm)

Replying to: carchick67 (Jan 24, 2011 4:51 pm)
Yep, once the warranty runs out, all bets are off on a car. You simply cannot count on what a complex piece of machinery will do over time. A certain small percentage of new cars will self-destruct "before their time" and I don't know why some get stuck and some don't. Life is not fair.

Messages Page 497 of 536

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