jamesd1972
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,842
Club RR Member Number: 40
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Dec 16, 2019 18:37:06 GMT
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I think the other factor that is key is the increase in diesel sales. A direct injection, turbo, egr, dpmf diesel now with added ad-blue has a whole lot of extra stuff going on over a simple fuel injected petrol. The next issue this has caused (alongside stupid not real world CO2 based emission testing) is an addiction to low rev torque. So small petrol cars now are stupidly small turbos with lots of torque. Now a nice simple 2L petrol engine has a life cycle of 200K plus with a odd cam belt and spark plug here and there. But it kills bunnies with its CO2. Lots of modern diesels seem to hit a wall of problems at 120K (200K Kilometers) so a turbo, injectors, EGR valve dpmf etc.etc and modern petrols will almost certainly follow suit. There are 120K modern cars being scrapped which is clearly a nonsense for the environment with the high cost in producing a car. But great news for BMW,VAG etc. Been in the USA a lot lately, lots of big simple petrol's that last are the norm and no bad thing compared to where we are here. James
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Last Edit: Dec 16, 2019 19:42:24 GMT by jamesd1972
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Dec 16, 2019 18:39:58 GMT
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There’s a couple of ads on radio for ford at the mo, where the passenger is complaining that the radio wont connect to her phone and only plays cd’s, and that the aircon/ heating doesn't work On the other hand, when I picked up my brand new polo hire car, I got into it with my favourite CD, and had no where to put it! CD's are 'old hat' apparently. I proceded to drive off, pulled up at a set of traffic lights and the thing stalled on me, just like my old MG Maestro. This is of course the 'new' green start/stop technology so that your car isn't idling when it doesn't need to be, but the starter motor is working more often than it ever has done in the history of the motor vehicle.
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Dec 16, 2019 18:45:56 GMT
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Stop/start technology scares the c# p out of me, like you my initial thought is ‘its died!’ And then i don't trust it to start again Also if you’ve just managed to get it started/jumped (if that's allowed) with a dodgy battery and are trying to keep the revs up to get a bit of charge back into it, and you hit a traffic jam.......😳
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Dec 16, 2019 19:53:17 GMT
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They have a whole load of conditions which inhibit the stop start, battery state of charge is one of them, ax are things like engine teperature, aircon demand etc.
Where I find stop start is really anoying is on autos when it cuts out just as you coast to a roundabout and put your foot down to pull out.
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Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
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Dec 16, 2019 21:02:30 GMT
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I finally gave up on VAG for the company car (I do 30k a year business miles so it’s a tool and needs to be reliable) due to loss of confidence.
2010-2012 VW Scirocco - rebuilt engine at 40k. Took another 5000 miles to find out VW specified the wrongs plugs at the 38k service. 2012-2014 Skoda Fabia - new engine at about 20k (lost part of a valve). 2015-2018 Seat Leon - failed boot latch (actually the micro switch as it’s not a proper handle..) at under a year. Heater fan failed at 2.5 years and failed it’s first MoT because the handbrake light switch fell off during the test. At least the engine was OK..
The switch didn’t go well: 2018-present Toyota Prius - “Hybrid System Failure” message at 78 miles. Loose negative battery clamp!
Conclusion?
I wouldn’t buy a new car with my own money. I’m sticking to pre-2000 stuff (or at least launched before then).
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Dec 16, 2019 22:16:43 GMT
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I have near zero experience with BMW only a few customer cars and my son-in-laws M3 to go on, i've never owned one!
But as far as I can see, it doesn't matter which modern you buy, they are all flawed in one way or another, get a good motor and the electrics will let it down or whatever you want to pick. Nobody gets it ALL right.
I've said it before and i'll say it one more time, any car I own, or ever WILL own has already been built long since! And improvements to car design stopped (in Britain at least) in 1992 with the introduction of mandatory catalytic converters.
This first retrograde step, making a car LESS efficient to satisfy the beurocrats and their unrealistic emmission demands based on faulty data and a few loud mouthed but ill informed "green campaigners" was the beginning of the end. The reason engines don't last as long is because they are being forced to re-breathe their own exhaust. See how long YOU last if you have to run on your own exhalations! Since it's not PC to build higher performance "interesting" cars any more, the manufacturers have had to woo punters with lots of near useless complicated gizmos instead, whilst claiming they are "for added safety"
I could rant for hours but I'll spare you all that, I don't think i'd be saying anything you didn't already KNOW!
Steve
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big02
Part of things
Posts: 62
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I love a BMW, always have and likely always will.
My first BMW, a 2002, I ran in the early 00’s was largely trouble free save for a driveshaft coupling. It just worked, in all weathers.
My E30 325i never missed a beat. I sold it to a mate who ran it for years without issue, who only sold it as the front wings started to rust.
My E36 compact was a gem, never had an issue with it. Started every time, as did the followingE36 convertible, as did our X5.
Even our 2006 E91 325i was good. The only issue was a failed water pump and thermostat. Put 40k on the car with no issue.
My MCoupe is also good, only suffering from age related issues - Vanos and annoying perished vacuum hoses.
Now, the bread knifes current stead, a 2012 520d is another story. It’s a lovely place to be and for its size and engine capacity it does a great job. In the last 4 years though we’ve replaced the following, all common issues: rear suspension airbag, air suspension compressor, EGR valve, leaking headlights and a connector that operates the steering wheel controls. The compressor was the biggest con, BMW wanted £1200 but my Indy advised that other customers had luck finding the OE part from Germany. A bit of .de searching netted a new OE pump for €340. Save!!
It feels very much like, car manufacturers have increased the marketing budget and ditched the engineers.
I know it’s not very green but give me a simple straight six rear wheel drive car with the classic BMW wax crayon interior smell.
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They have a whole load of conditions which inhibit the stop start, battery state of charge is one of them, ax are things like engine teperature, aircon demand etc. Where I find stop start is really anoying is on autos when it cuts out just as you coast to a roundabout and put your foot down to pull out. YAY! More electronics🙄
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Dec 17, 2019 14:14:52 GMT
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My Skoda Karoq has an override switch on the stop start, I start the car, I press the button as an automatic reaction. It has a DSG gearbox and trying to enter a roundabout in busy traffic is one of the most dangerous thing I have ever encountered with the stop start on.
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74 Mk1 Escort 1360, 1971 Vauxhall Victor SL2000 Estate.
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pobsey
Part of things
Posts: 25
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Dec 17, 2019 15:42:54 GMT
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I’m on my 4th BMW, The first two (both e87 1series diesels) managed to travel a combined 360,000miles. Only didn’t complete a journey they started twice. List of failures: 120d 2007 Timing chain tensioner @ 137k Diff CROWN wheel bearing x2 @ 90k and 145k Dpf @ 170k
Last seen at 193k
118d 2010 Front shock -pothole damage @ 110k Dmf @ 118k Crank pulley @ 100k
On 148k and still going as the wife’s car
My current 330d is too new compare with only 13k on the clock Last 330d got to 26k before someone in a 107 wrote it off Neither had any issues
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vader
Part of things
Posts: 425
Club RR Member Number: 93
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Dec 17, 2019 20:50:10 GMT
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I’m on my very first BM. A new 320i M Sport. It’s nice but too much tech. It drives really well, it’s big enough for my family of 4, big boot, decent on fuel. Hope it’s going to be reliable. Only time will tell.
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Triumph Stag Ducati Supersport Shanks’s Pony
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Dec 18, 2019 19:03:19 GMT
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A family member had a '80s 3 series with a cracked cylinder head.
Which apparently was a known problem of those. ( he had a machine shop and was working on finding a cure or fix to prevent that from happening, like he'd done before for other brands )
I also remember many BMW's on the road in that period laying big plumes of blue smoke while engine braking.
Not a big problem reliability wise, but a little sloppy for a company that is called Motor Works.
So if those were the high point of reliability, things must have gotten pretty bad...
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Dec 18, 2019 21:37:02 GMT
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Yes, many of the M20 engine six-cylinder heads were reknowned for warping or cracking, particularly if the engine was allowed to overheat, or poor quality/no anti-freeze was used.
Mostly a problem with the larger 325i heads, though I never had a problem with my two, from 1989.
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,842
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Dec 20, 2019 22:04:27 GMT
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It must have been a common problem as we've still got the tooling at work to convert 320i heads into 325i heads as it was a lot cheaper to do it that way.
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,195
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Dec 21, 2019 17:54:36 GMT
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Cars have evolved, you just need to pick the sweet-spot that works for you. 60s/early 70s - individual styling, so-so economy and performance (old engine technology), reasonable reliability but needed regular fettling, maintainance very simple. late 70s/80s - as above but needs less fettling. 90s/early-00s more refined, better economy (sometimes), very little space when doing maintenance. late-00s onwards complex & fragile electronics, DIY diagnostics & maintenance near impossible apart from basic consumables. Many examples of poor design (having to remove front bumper to replace a headlight bulb !!) BMW 2005+ are my bugbear. Cute lights (using bmw-specific leds) which fail after 10 years - industry standard leds never fail, starter motors are 100k miles consumables - and you need to remove complex inlet manifolds & fragile pipes (dealers quote 4+ hours labour, allow £100 for gaskets & pipework, starter is extra). Replacement batteries need to be dealer-coded after installation (same for the unreliable ABS pumps), Very active forum - standard advice is - buy a BMW specific code reader - then buy an obsolete XP laptop and install dealer software so you can run diagnostics. Madness ! Some of that I think is a little harsh. -The LEDs on my E46 M3 are now 16 years old with 150k against them and still working fine. I only removed them as I went to amber units. Dad's 535d is similar bar the high level light. -Whoever told you that only a BMW dealer can code the battery is lying to you. There are 2/3 ways it can be done. Snap-On Solus can register a like-for-like battery replacement (i.e a 90Ah non AGM battery for a 90Ah, non AGM). INPA can also register a battery on post-07 cars. If you are going for a different capacity, then MyCarly can also do this and is a very good bit of kit for other little tricks and so on. You can just throw a battery in, but it won't charge right. This happened to my dad's 535d ; I then recharged the battery and put it onto a Snap-On machine to get it registered ; Solus told me what battery the car through it had and when the last registrations had been done (it's now on its 3rd or 4th battery I think). -You don't need XP to run INPA or DIS ; I have Windows 7 and it works fine . If you go onto any car-specific forum, you'll never buy a car like that. Most people come onto forums like that to resolve issues, seldom to talk about the car being. I guess that's one reason why this forum works .
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Dec 24, 2019 14:17:43 GMT
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Some of that I think is a little harsh. If you go onto any car-specific forum, you'll never buy a car like that. Most people come onto forums like that to resolve issues, seldom to talk about the car being. I guess that's one reason why this forum works . Fair points (and educational - thanks), but post-2005 BMWs are still off my list if I buy again in the future
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simes
Part of things
Posts: 734
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Dec 24, 2019 15:45:44 GMT
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Took my last 320d all the way to 172k miles. It was fairly reliable during that time, the only real complaint was how quickly the tyres needed replacing!
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Simes
205Mi16 - 262 cams, Jenvey Throttle Bodies, Emerald managment blah blah...... E91 320D MSport Honda NC30 Vespa 300GTS
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,900
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Dec 26, 2019 23:14:31 GMT
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If you want the old school reliability in a BMW you need to buy one with the last of the line N/A 6 pots, thats the N52 3ltr. Anything built after that will have high pressure fuel pumps, injector failure and after that turbo trouble. The E90/91 cars are some of the best BMW have made, bar the electric water pumps that die every 60k or so. I bought one of the last E82 coupes with the N52 lump - it really is a great engine
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Have to say I may contemplate selling my e36 touring for an e9x touring next year... they are really as said the last of the proper BMW’s built !! Now , I’m after a white wagon with oxblood red leather !! Time will tell
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