Taking a Bow - 2015 BMW M235i Convertible Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.comEdmunds.com Member, Administrator, Moderator Posts: 10,315
edited May 2016 in BMW
imageTaking a Bow - 2015 BMW M235i Convertible Long-Term Road Test

Reaching the end of the Edmunds long-term test of the 2015 BMW M235i convertible.

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  • throwbackthrowback Member Posts: 445
    Most BMWs are trouble free.. when under warranty.
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 16,454
    throwback said:

    Most BMWs are trouble free.. when under warranty.

    I'm interested to know the BMWs you've owned that have lead you to make that comment.

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2009 Cooper Clubman; 1999 Wrangler; 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive

  • schen72schen72 Member Posts: 433
    roadburner said:

    throwback said:

    Most BMWs are trouble free.. when under warranty.

    I'm interested to know the BMWs you've owned that have lead you to make that comment.
    I've never owned a BMW myself but I have several friends with BMWs out of warranty. Curiously after about 5-6 years, they seem to be spending about $1000/year on repairs.
  • banhughbanhugh Member Posts: 315
    schen72 said:

    roadburner said:

    throwback said:

    Most BMWs are trouble free.. when under warranty.

    I'm interested to know the BMWs you've owned that have lead you to make that comment.
    I've never owned a BMW myself but I have several friends with BMWs out of warranty. Curiously after about 5-6 years, they seem to be spending about $1000/year on repairs.
    Not to mention all the $149 dealer recommended additional services/repairs that you have to deal with every time you take your BMW at the dealer for regular service!
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    That's all anecdotal stuff though. Where's the data?

    German Cars Are Less Reliable Than You Think, Finds Warranty Wise (fleetpoint.org)

  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 16,454
    edited May 2016
    That hasn't been my experience, but then I've only owned ten BMWs over the past 34 years- I must be an outlier...

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2009 Cooper Clubman; 1999 Wrangler; 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive

  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Ten anecdotal examples. Worthless. :D
  • darthbimmerdarthbimmer Member Posts: 606
    My 135iC was in the shop seemingly every other month under warranty. I was about to sell it and make it someone else's problem, but first I decided to let my local BMW specialist take a crack at it. The next 30k miles were trouble free. My conclusion: a lot of the problems were caused by sloppy work at the dealership. It's like they were milking the warranty program for extra repair attempts.
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 16,454
    The dealer definitely has a huge impact on the overall ownership experience. I'm blessed to have a great dealer that doesn't use every visit as an opportunity to gouge me. The prices for routine service are more than reasonable and my Service Advisor never recommends necessary work- for example, when the "4X4 Fault" light illuminated on my wife's 180k mile X3 my SA told me, "The system only logged one fault- the steering angle sensor, so I wouldn't suggest replacing it- it's most likely just an isolated glitch." When my 1995 3er was in for an Oil Service he told me, "The power steering return hose is slightly damp, but I wouldn't replace it until it starts to drip, and that probably won't happen for another 40,000-50,000 miles."

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2009 Cooper Clubman; 1999 Wrangler; 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive

  • banhughbanhugh Member Posts: 315
    edited May 2016
    roadburner said:

    That hasn't been my experience, but then I've only owned ten BMWs over the past 34 years- I must be an outlier...

    So you replaced you BMWs every 3.4 years on average with a new one and have not noticed any mechanical failures with your cars after their 5 year warranty expired! I wonder why!
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 16,454
    edited May 2016
    banhugh said:


    So you replaced you BMWs every 3.4 years on average with a new one and have not noticed any mechanical failures with your cars after their 5 year warranty expired! I wonder why!

    Lots of assumptions- almost all of them incorrect. Here's the list of BMWs I have owned, with length of ownership followed by years of warranty coverage, and mileage when sold(or current mileage):

    1973 Bavaria- seven years, no coverage, 140,000 miles
    1987 535is- two years, no coverage, 125,000 miles
    1988 M6-three years, no coverage, 70,000 miles
    1995 318ti- twenty years, four years, 144,000 miles(still own- purchased new)
    1998 318ti- two years, two years, 48,000 miles(purchased new)
    1997 528i- five years, two years(CPO), 130,000 miles
    2004 X3 2.5i- ten years, five years, 186,000 miles(still own)
    1975 2002- seven years, no coverage, 212,000 miles
    2008 328i- four years, two years(CPO), 88,000 miles(still own)
    2014 M235i- four months, four months, 19,600 miles(still own)

    It's been a tough ordeal, but someone has to do it...

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2009 Cooper Clubman; 1999 Wrangler; 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive

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