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In Reply to: bmw reliablity posted by petp on April 15, 2001 at 14:48:46:
went to a local car dealer (not bmw) and saw a 2001 z-coupe 3.0 with 3000 miles on it today for 34K....figure i could negotiate it down to 30K since its been on the lot for a few weeks. also considering the 3 series coupes.
being a current bmw owner...89 735il...i am concerned with the reliability of all bmw's in general. my current car has been a nightmare to own over the past 2 years. seems like every time i fix something, another thing breaks on it!!! i do love these cars (when they work perfectly they are a blast to drive) but hate the maintenance involved with them, and since i plan on keeping the car for a long time long term reliability is a main concern of mine...which is why i am considereing some of the premium japanese cars. any advice or experiences from other owners would be greatly appreciated.
all the best,
petp.
I would say that the problems on your 89 735iL are probably the exception rather than the rule with BMWs. The early e32 7s has some electrical issues because they were very complicated and advanced cars when they were first introduced, and a number of bugs had yet to be worked out. Additionally, the iL's have additional complications due to the self level rear suspension, electric sunshades, etc. I would say that most of the problems you see here are not representative due to the fact that (a) the bimmer board caters to DIY'ers (like you and me) and (b) many people make the mistake of thinking they got a great deal when they purchased a $5,000-$7,000 e32 750, not knowing that no one in their right mind with a good 750 would sell it that cheaply unless it had problems. I have been fortunate enough to have 2 7 series, an e23 and e32, and have found the e32 (94 740i) to be trouble free (other than the block replacement which was paid for by BMW) and the e23 relatively trouble free, with the exception of a few minor things here and there. I think you need to keep in mind the following if you buy a 7 series, especially a 750: (1) an e32 7 series, at the newest is now a 7 year old car, and older cars are more likely to have problems; (2) these cars were not designed to be simple and cheap but rather to cater to relatively well off enthusiasts, and the repair bills will reflect their mechanical complexity; (3) the major systems are long lasting if cared for; (4) avoid cars that do not have full records and history; and (5) be willing to shell our more on the front end for a better car, as this will definitely be cheaper than having to go the "fixer upper" route with a 750. Of the previous items, 4 and 5 are the most important things to keep in mind. Good luck.
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