Are BMWs Reliable? Here's What You Need to Know
BMW is one of the most envied car brands among the manufacturers. Famous for its German engineering, the vehicle giant has produced many comfort and performance-based premium cars. But, are BMWs reliable? That’s a question asked countless times with no easy answer. You can buy one with good reviews and background checks but end up having headache-inducing troubles or vice versa.
Buying a luxury car can cost a good fortune than a regular one- even in maintainance. So, you won’t be judged if you want your car to be reliable in terms of safety, comfort, and mileage.
If you’re still confused, this article will help you decide whether you should rely on BMWs or not.
What makes a vehicle reliable?
The answer is simple. You can only consider a car reliable when it requires less maintenance cost and provides the utmost comfort and safety.
In short, a reliable vehicle is something you can trust. You don’t want to buy a car just to spend thousands every month for its repair and maintenance.
Besides, a reliable car should come with a good amount of fuel efficiency. You can’t buy a car with a massive engine and expect it to not use more fuel than a smaller car.
Once you’re buying a BMW car, you can expect to get a three-year full warranty that will cover the cost of regular wear and tear.
Another way to find out if a vehicle is reliable is to look into Euro NCAP safety ratings. If you see your latest BMW car has a full five-star rating, you know you can rely on it while on the road.
How reliable are BMW models?
Every BMW model produced so far has come with their fair share of pros and cons. Let’s look at some of their popular series and if they are reliable or not.
BMW 1 Series
Known as a relatively safe car, the BMW 1 series is getting an above-average rating from its consumers.
While purchasing this model, you will get some amazing safety features like lane-departure warning, traffic light recognition, and speed limit assist.
Besides the 1 series is comparatively inexpensive. You can expect 49.6mpg from the 118i model, while the 116d offers 61.4mpg.
BMW 2 Series
With a tremendous number of positive reviews from its users, the BMW 2 Series sits high on the reliability surveys.
This popular model is known for its safety. In fact the Euro NCAP awarded the 2 Series Coupé for safety in 2022.
The BMW 2 comes with a reasonable running cost. The 218d mode will offer you up to 49.6mpg while letting you enjoy a powerful and gutsy drive.
BMW 3 Series
Popular among the brand loyalists, the BMW 3 Series stole the top spots on the reliability surveys, while getting a lot of positive reviews.
It comes with tech features like blind spot warning, reversing camera, and lane-keep assist, which helped it to receive a full five-star rating from Euro NCAP for safety.
You will get up to 44.1 mpg from the 318i models, while the 320d models offer 58.9 mpg. The latter one comes with a mild-hybrid technology.
BMW 5 Series
Unlike all the previous series, the BMW 5 Series has a bit of controversy when it comes to reliability. While the reliability surveys concluded it as a seriously dependable model, other surveys say differently.
The 520d model is quite an affordable option since it will offer you up to 58.9mpg. You can also opt for the 530e, a plug-in-hybrid model, and enjoy as much as 176.6mpg.
The 5 Series comes with some impressive tech features, such as lane-departure warning and an autonomous emergency braking system. These features helped this car to secure a five-star rating from Euro NCAP ( 91% adult, 85% children).
While famous for its reliability and high-tech features, it’s been also proved that BMW notoriously misled thousands of car owners by installing illegal defeat devices that artificially reduced the NOx emissions of the car during regulatory tests.
The truth was uncovered in 2017 when the German authorities started investigations against BMW and some other car manufacturers. In fact, some of its vehicles’ NOx emissions were seven times higher than the permitted levels.
Since 2018, a lot of BMW owners have already claimed compensation based on this factor. The first BMW 5 series was equipped with a diesel engine. So if you own a BMW 524td that’s manufactured between 2009 and 2020, you’re eligible to claim against BMW.
BMW 6 Series
This luxurious 6 Series is quite famous for its reliability. It scored high on the reliability surveys and the users also gave a positive review, saying this is a car you can rely on.
In 2017, the Euro NCAP awarded the 6 Series GT a five-star rating. But, this series wasn’t sold in high enough quantities to get its own test since it’s a less-common model.
The best part? You will enjoy up to 52.3mpg, with 143g/km for emissions from the 640d model, which is an impressive score compared to its size and weight.
BMW 7 Series
Although received no NCAP rating, the BMW 7 Series is still doing well on reliability score. It received an average score on the consumer reliability tests but got a few good reviews from the drivers.
This series offers a wide range of safety tech features. You will enjoy a remote-controlled parking and forward collision warning, thanks to its flashy Driving Assistant Professional package.
BMW 8 Series
A newer model that comes with a premium price tag, the BMW 8 Series doesn’t have too much history to get into the reliability controversy. It hasn’t even received any NCAP award so far.
However, it scored higher places in the consumer tests and surveys and secured some really good reviews. This clearly indicates that the 8 Series is a top performer in reliability.
The series offers some amazing safety tech that secured quite a few good reviews from its users.
The 840d model offers up to 44.1mpg. But you may have to pay a little more for the fuel, which is quite normal for a vehicle of this size and stature.
Conclusion
Apart from the above mentioned series, the BMW X Series is also rated well for reliability, especially the X1 Series was reviewed as one of the most reliable BMW SUVs.
While not all of them received an NCAP award, they can still be a good option due to their good emission rate and safety kits.
But, which BMW car is the best for you? The answer solely depends on your needs.
If you’re looking for a high-performing larger car, then you must go for the 3 Series. Also, if you opt for a convertible 3 Series, it will give you a sporty feel. However, both will offer you a luxurious and comforting driving experience.
New to the premium car world? Then going for the 1 Series will be wise for you. With an impressive price point, you will enjoy all the bells and whistles of a luxury BMW.
If you want to get into the SUV trend, then the X model has quite a few good options.
For beginners, the X1 and X2 models will be great choices. Although they are slightly smaller than the other series, there will be no compromise in terms of comfort.
If you want a larger SUV but also prefer style, then the X5, X6, and X7 should be your best bet. These are good options if you’re planning to drive with a larger group of people.
As I told you earlier, each of them has its ups and downs. So, it’s highly recommended you check the reviews, look into the features these luxury cars have to offer, and make an informed decision about buying your car.
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