Thread: Bmw 3351

Originally Posted by Ryan

My post was to counter the generalisation that European cars are crap. That is to say, if they were as crap as they are made out to be then nobody would buy them. There are many European cars in (particularly in South Africa for example) with many miles on them. In Europe and many other countries they are used as taxis and would do infinitely more mileage than your average NZ driver.

Like anything life, if one maintains it correctly - it generally will last.

Presumably parts availability and servicing is cheaper in Europe where they're a lot more abundant & closer to where they're produced

Originally Posted by gimp

Presumably parts availability and servicing is cheaper in Europe where they're a lot more abundant & closer to where they're produced

Well, yeah I guess but there are also many production facilities outside of Europe. South Africa for example assembles BMW, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, Opel, Volvo and exports some of them to RHD markets like the African RHD countries, the UK, Japan, Australia and NZ.

There are VW facilities in South America, USA, Mexico, China. BMW has production facilities in India, Egypt, USA. It's the same with just about every other European or Asian manufacturer.

There's a different attitude to cars in Europe, so I never trust a euro for car advice. If you ask "is vw/audi/bmw/merc reliable?" you'll get a "yes, absolutely. my family has owned xxx brand of car for my whole life and they've all been great."

Don't ask "is it reliable?", ask "how much do you spend on maintenance?"

You'll get the answers you're looking for. They throw money at their cars, and the rate of preventive replacement of parts is high. It's always multiple times what you need to spend on the reliable brands from Asia.

i find most cars are about the same to 100,000ks then the euros start to suffer with dumb shit going wrong that is not happening so much in japas, you need deep pockets to own old euros,when people say there euro car is reliable its either new or they do not know what a reliable car is like to own.no repairs in a 100.000ks is reliable and normal.

Almost everyone knows an uncle's brother's girlfriend's twice-removed cousin who had <insert disaster here> with <insert car marque here>. It's not exclusive to European cars either, people would try and spin me the same story about my previous car whose transmission was guaranteed to explode the moment I looked at it sideways.

Owned three of them over eight years, two of them with the allegedly susceptible automatic transmission. I experienced no such failure. A friend owned a Nissan Skyline 350GT which did experience a transmission failure and it cost several thousand dollars to replace.

Does this mean I think all Nissans are shit? No of course not.

Originally Posted by Ryan

Almost everyone knows an uncle's brother's girlfriend's twice-removed cousin who had <insert disaster here> with <insert car marque here>. It's not exclusive to European cars either, people would try and spin me the same story about my previous car whose transmission was guaranteed to explode the moment I looked at it sideways.

Owned three of them over eight years, two of them with the allegedly susceptible automatic transmission. I experienced no such failure. A friend owned a Nissan Skyline 350GT which did experience a transmission failure and it cost several thousand dollars to replace.

Does this mean I think all Nissans are shit? No of course not.

If your worried about transmission.... Took the landcruiser in to get transmission serviced as it was a bit jerry when changing, picked it up and he guy said it still had factory filter and suspected factory fluid as bolts were locktited.... Only 360km on the old girl

Wouldn't be anything to do with tariffs would it

Old man owned they 07 Alpina version.
Had the ac plump die but other than that was a fantastic car with no issues. He spends all day driving around to different sites so racks on the k's quickly. Unlike a lit of people however he maintains his cars frequently including transmission flushes which most people don't do.

Far better car than the 300z, 350z, vr4 legnum he previously owned. Legnum even made 327000 k issue free before being sold.

Only sold the bmw because it's seating position puts you in a slight angle which gave him hip pain with extended driving.

Have got two Volvos (wait for "Where's your hat comments ).
XC90 2.4L, turbo diesel 7-seater SUV ex-UK import, currently heading for 118,000 MILES - maintenance costs are much higher than Asian brand cars for sure. But not complaining - 10,000 MILE service intervals. Research any issues on UK/US websites.
V50 2.4 NA petrol - ex-Japan import. Love it - not as economical as an Asian brand car, still to get to first 10K kms service after purchase. Heading for 108,000 kms.
Both cars are auto (getting lazy in my old age). XC90 is 6 speed in D or Manual select. Goes like the clappers when the foot goes down. Not bad for a vehicle that weighs just over 2 tonnes.
The V50 is an older one - only 5 speed. Still gives 3.5L V6's a run for their money.
Am I happy with them? - YES.
Am I happy about the servicing costs? - NOPE.
But what can you expect with tariffs, profiteering and 'stealer gouging'?
My 2c worth

What you really need is a sensible, low maintenance, practical, american vehicle:

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is a supercar SUV | Stuff.co.nz

Hate to maintain it, but I'd love it in my garage

We should get one each Mudgripz

Yes - good common sense compromise vehicle for mum to do the shopping, and for me to take new grandson for quick spin round the block....

Originally Posted by Nibblet

Old man owned they 07 Alpina version.
Had the ac plump die but other than that was a fantastic car with no issues. He spends all day driving around to different sites so racks on the k's quickly. Unlike a lit of people however he maintains his cars frequently including transmission flushes which most people don't do.

Far better car than the 300z, 350z, vr4 legnum he previously owned. Legnum even made 327000 k issue free before being sold.

Only sold the bmw because it's seating position puts you in a slight angle which gave him hip pain with extended driving.

@Nibblet Out of interest was it NZDM or JDM?

fuk from my experience a late jeep isnt far behind the euro shitters or maybe we get all the lemons at work

Originally Posted by northdude

fuk from my experience a late jeep isnt far behind the euro shitters or maybe we get all the lemons at work

Quite possibly, I don't generally go to the Dr unless there is something wrong with me.

But no, they are shit, spread the word, I don't want the price going up!