[ndinh]

I guess some of us are screwed. Taken from the 'other' bimmer site.

Consumer Reports recommends steering clear of these BMWs that have below-average reliability. The report compiled a list of 2006 to 2016 model that have below average overall reliability. BMW isn't the only premium brand on the list, but has a unfortunately strong showing.

The worst used cars are shown in bold italics. They’re models with much-worse-than-average overall reliability based on multiple years of Consumer Reports data. Does anyone have a BMW on the list and would you call it a 'clunker'?

[mragarg]

Originally Posted by ndinh

I guess some of us are screwed. Taken from the 'other' bimmer site.

Consumer Reports recommends steering clear of these BMWs that have below-average reliability. The report compiled a list of 2006 to 2016 model that have below average overall reliability. BMW isn't the only premium brand on the list, but has a unfortunately strong showing.

The worst used cars are shown in bold italics. They’re models with much-worse-than-average overall reliability based on multiple years of Consumer Reports data. Does anyone have a BMW on the list and would you call it a 'clunker'?

I saw this and it got me wondering if my 2014 LCI counts. Mainly because I intend to keep this car for over 10 years at least.

[BigKutta]

Originally Posted by mragarg

I saw this and it got me wondering if my 2014 LCI counts. Mainly because I intend to keep this car for over 10 years at least.

Your's is the lucky F10 NOT on the list!

[mragarg]

Originally Posted by BigKutta

Your's is the lucky F10 NOT on the list!

Thank God but now I wonder why? It's weird

[Alcenos]

Originally Posted by ndinh

I guess some of us are screwed. Taken from the 'other' bimmer site.

Consumer Reports recommends steering clear of these BMWs that have below-average reliability. The report compiled a list of 2006 to 2016 model that have below average overall reliability. BMW isn't the only premium brand on the list, but has a unfortunately strong showing.

The worst used cars are shown in bold italics. They’re models with much-worse-than-average overall reliability based on multiple years of Consumer Reports data. Does anyone have a BMW on the list and would you call it a 'clunker'?

I had an 2008 E60 and had over 95k miles on it before I picked up my 2015 F10. My wife also has 2011 X5 which now has about 65k miles on it. I would not consider any of these clunkers.

[Jcbama85]

Originally Posted by ndinh

I guess some of us are screwed. Taken from the 'other' bimmer site.

Consumer Reports recommends steering clear of these BMWs that have below-average reliability. The report compiled a list of 2006 to 2016 model that have below average overall reliability. BMW isn't the only premium brand on the list, but has a unfortunately strong showing.

The worst used cars are shown in bold italics. They’re models with much-worse-than-average overall reliability based on multiple years of Consumer Reports data. Does anyone have a BMW on the list and would you call it a 'clunker'?

Thanks for sharing this info. I appreciate Consumer Reports but seldom does it encourage or discourage me from purchases. My F10 is a 2013, but I would have bought a 2012 or 2014 without batting an eye. They're highly technical, precision made machines. If I wanted change the oil and drive it 100,000 miles, I'd drive an Accord; I've had two of them. Great cars.

So while this is good info, I'm also fine with the decision I made to buy a more sophisticated car with possibly lower reliability.

[chrisny]

I have 2 on the list, '14 x5 and '15 550.. Seems awfully general to lump the entire lineup into "5 series" with so many engine options etc.. but so far, no issues for me. 9 months left with the X5 lease, but obviously we won't all have issues that may generally "plague" a car. Does make me wonder if keeping the 550 after lease end will be wise. I'll have very low mileage, so I'll have to see how it holds up over the lease.

[ezaircon4jc]

Since CU's survey is only given to subscribers and their responses are rather subjective, I take their recommendations with a grain of salt. My experiences with the cars they have "blacklisted" is quite different than their survey results.

[PJinCA]

LOL, I had 2 E60s - and aside from a dead iDrive in my first one, I never had an issue. I would still have my 550 if it weren't for a drunk driver. Luckily, my F10 isn't on the list either

[Boulder Bill]

Can't imagine why my 2013 isn't on this list. No real differences.

Doesn't exactly support the validity of the report.

[paul223]

People only report when things go wrong vs none problematic cars.

[kinerin]

I too take CR reviews with a grain of salt.

In addition to Porsche and BMW, we've owned 6 Jeep Grand Cherokees from 1999 WJ thru 2014 WK2.

CR has NEVER been an advocate for the Jeep Grand Cherokees until the past year. They've always rated them very low in reliability.

Every one of the Jeeps we've had were traded in with in excess of 100K on the clocks, and not a single reliability issue with any of them.

2009 had electrical issues due to a mouse chewing thru the ECM wiring. 2012 was lost due to being totaled in a broadside hit by a Ford F150 traveling at 55mph. Neither occupant injured.

[Bbb34]

While I don't put too much weight into these reports, and agree with others, people only report when they are unhappy about something, this is true for other brands too - people mostly report when unhappy.

As a first time BMW owner, having few close friends and co-workers as owners as well, some of them two in their families, I have to say, I'm surprised by lack of reliability.

Beautiful cars, most of them well balanced and fun to drive with some cool advanced features, but rock solid reliable they are not, unfortunately.

Not exactly cheap to fix if you're out of warranty to top it off.

[SonicEndeavor]

The F10's are on the list because of the 550 N63 (8 cylinder) engine problems. The 528's and 535's are showing average to above average reliability.
One 535 owner posted his odometer awhile back with 177,000 miles and hasn't had any issues.
Keep in mind that CR looks at a threshold of something like 10% of owners reporting issues. That shows a possible trend but doesn't mean all of that model will experience problems. That said, reliability is not the German's strong point, at least not compared to the Japanese.
CR reviews are entirely different from their reliability survey of well over a million respondents, but people often conflate the two

[TRIUMPHT]

I am curious to know what CR and some people that speak on reliability consider reliable.

I am on my 11th car since i started driving and the only one that has left me stranded on the side of the road on more than 1 occasion was my very first car 1998 ford escort...

That was my only american car the rest were Japanese/Korean and now i have a BMW. I had 4 acura's 2 out of the 4 while never left me stranded had issues and neither one of the 2 with issues were even close to 50K miles...and those are considered "RELIABLE" cars....

People talk about BMW like they are made out of paper or something..Yet i cannot go 1 block without seeing atleast 2 or more...

Nothing lasts forever, now yes i could understand parts and things malfunctioning or needing to be replaced earlier than expected so people get upset but it's a car..

I stopped believing the hype when i had issues with 2 Acura's that are "RELIABLE"... Then my Lexus that i was paying $500+ every 5K miles for service and was not even happy with the car overall..

I know people that have different cars across the board.. The stories vary..I know more than one person with German cars that never had a single MAJOR issue and i know people with Asian Market cars that have had tons of issues..

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by TRIUMPHT

I am on my 11th car since i started driving and the only one that has left me stranded on the side of the road on more than 1 occasion was my very first car 1998 ford escort...

I've had my share of cars and drive many others frequently and besides Alfa Romeo only other one that ever left me stranded was BMW. Stories and experiences vary, but my personal experience and those around me is that reliability could be better. Being left stranded isn't the only measurement of reliability in my view.

We convince ourselves that way BMW cars look and drive makes up for these issues and most owners tolerate it knowing what they are getting themselves into. My co-worker, long time BMW owner, described it perfectly: "...think of it as hot supermodel, great in bed, amazing cook, good with kids, your parents and your bosses at office parties.... but sometimes snores really loud at night...so, we all put up with it....". But, I also know few who gave up saying "not for me, this type of ownership".

I hate reading these reports as much as any BMW owner out there, but we must admit, there's some truth to it.

[TRIUMPHT]

I do not doubt anything people are saying trust i have heard tons of stories and still joined the club.. I am less than 1 year in with my CPO 2011 535 so i cannot speak much..The only thing that has been done if i am saying it correctly was the servo motor had to be replaced and needed back breaks both covered under original warranty...

But on another hand had to have a torque converter replaced at 20k miles on my 2 year old Acura which almost left me stranded if the dealer was any further....

I have my fingers crossed and this car was probably the only car i literally walked in the dealership actually scared to purchase. It was between the 5 series and the Infiniti Q50..The 5 series to me was better though older with less warranty and more miles...But i did it anyway and when i say scared not scared because of my own experience but what i've heard from others...

People close to me that owned yeah had to replace an alternator yes have had to replace suspension components but overall major issues only 1 person but then again he purchased his with like 90 thousand miles from some side hole in the wall shady dealership..

As i said my fingers are crossed but i gave up on the worrying after the second month... If i have that many issues i will either lease new ones or move on to another company...but i am hoping i have a good experience....

Originally Posted by Bbb34

I've had my share of cars and drive many others frequently and besides Alfa Romeo only other one that ever left me stranded was BMW. Stories and experiences vary, but my personal experience and those around me is that reliability could be better. Being left stranded isn't the only measurement of reliability in my view.

We convince ourselves that way BMW cars look and drive makes up for these issues and most owners tolerate it knowing what they are getting themselves into. My co-worker, long time BMW owner, described it perfectly: "...think of it as hot supermodel, great in bed, amazing cook, good with kids, your parents and your bosses at office parties.... but sometimes snores really loud at night...so, we all put up with it....". But, I also know few who gave up saying "not for me, this type of ownership".

I hate reading these reports as much as any BMW owner out there, but we must admit, there's some truth to it.

[Steveo535]

I've had 2 BMW's both Tourings and both on the list the first was a bit of a pain had a noise behind the dash the dealer could not fix but the second I can honestly say has been the best cars I've ever Owned.

[babaikram]

This is my first BMW (520D), having used Mercedes, Mazda and Honda in the past. My experience with the BMW is that of small frequent problems e.g. light levelling fault, screen washer nozzle pipe broken off spontaneously (the first for me with more than 20 years of motoring), PDC sensor not working properly etc. In a BMW forum in UK, I had asked the members specifically whether I should go for the rather expensive BMW insured warranty, (the car has only been serviced so far by BMW dealers) and the unanimous advice by the experienced BMW users was that I should go for the warrant because of the uncertain reliability of BMW cars. The car is good to drive and responsive but not reliable. Multiple consumer reports in UK AND USA could not all be wrong

[EZgo]

I have three cars on the list. Why do I hate myself so? I'm still in the honeymoon stage (more recent purchases) with my 2011 335i and 2011 550i, but my 2007 335i completely fell apart after 100k.

[lsturbointeg]

every make and model out there will have their issues...tell me one car that's been problem free!

[Jcbama85]

Originally Posted by lsturbointeg

every make and model out there will have their issues...tell me one car that's been problem free!

Agree!