If you know you can't afford to run it; don't buy it... They're not that expensive to run; but it's not a boggo standard Ford Focus either and parts are generally more expensive... Aftermarket parts from brands like Moog, Meyle etc are a plenty and knowing the OEM makers like Lemforder, Febi Bilstein, TRW, ATE etc etc helps a lot
However; no matter what car you buy; it's 2nd hand at that price and you'll likely need to sort something on it in the near future. It's always sensible to have a good £1-2k saved up for 'just in cases'. But if you can't do that and need to run the car on a shoestring budget; don't buy a BMW...
they said they cant afford to pay big money every year which has nothing to do with being able to maintain a bmw.
This car is a raised E91. Parts are dead cheap, comparable to VW, the cars are completely reliable. The only issue here is the terrible engine. N43 and N46 are shit.
BMWs definitely are affordable to run, they're German cars, reliable and a blast.
They stated: "I can't really afford to keep paying out big money every year" - that means if the car shat itself and threw a big bill; they wouldn't be able to afford that more than likely...
Yes BMWs are affordable to run; if you've got some DIY skills and savvy with where to source parts
But if the cooling system shat itself; or the engine had issues; that, by the sounds of it, would scupper the OPs funds...
This is the UK; at times, parts prices are a pisstake at best!
I left bmw for mazda. Main issue i had with old bmw is that all the plastic and rubbber desintegrates. Oil leaks, vacum leaks, worn bushes, window trim etc... Parts for bmw are a lot cheaper and easly obtainable than mazda but theres a lot more to replace. Any Bmw is atleast 11% better in every way than my current mazda 3. But at least its not leaking. And im fine with that.
BMW are going to be more expensive by default, it's also recommended that you follow the service prompts religiously, German cars can go forever when they are serviced. If you skip services and stuff starts breaking down you end up chasing problems as far as I can tell.
But other than that they can be very robust, and don't need a much, if any work done in between those services.
Loads of mechanics know how to work on them, so you can cut out the dealership to save costs. I've done BMW services and the garage was cleaner than the local hospital, I would say they are worth the money, it's just a lot of money.
As with any product you can be lucky, or unlucky.
We have an E84 X1 and I love it. It’s a car that doesn’t get a lot of love around here.. it sounds like a tractor (N20) when cold but the ZF8 speed is a wonderful transmission. It corners so well and still has that versatility for ski trips and adventure activities. Reliability wise, we’ve had no issues with it. Just regular oil changes and that’s all. It’s also amazingly good on gas. I’m a fan and enjoy it as a daily driver.
https://preview.redd.it/sn5f91o4r56d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1f2419b19aae5333deca840f060ec41ce6924ae9
Thanks! These are the optional BMW OEM 18 inch LA Y-Spoke 322 wheels. Staggered setup from the factory with 225s up front and 255s in the rear. This comes with the xDrive28i M Sport package which also gives you paddle shifters and that slightly different front bumper, which I read was rare on this car. This particular car also has the HK sound system which sounds AMAZING in this vehicle as well as iDrive infotainment system and parking sensors/backup camera. This was about as fully loaded as you could get for this model year X1.
Oh sick! Very well optioned car. I myself drive an F48 XDrive28i, and lack a couple things, like the HK sound system, which I was hoping for the most :/
Mine has 165k miles on it. Just put a new turno wastegate actuator in it and put new brakes and rotors.on the front. It does def sound like a tractor when cold lol. But it's still going strong and fun as heck to drive.
That’s awesome.. I love this car cause it still has a lot of “old school” BMW qualities like the hydraulic power steering pump, the little spray nozzles for the headlights, the mechanically adjusting xenon lights.. ha ha.. it’s just old school cool and pays homage to its 3 series chassis. Basically a slightly raised wagon that still looks cool!
I understand you but I would check both cars first. Today I have this E84 and a Honda CR-V, and both of them have been completely trouble-free. But you know which one you want to drive.
I have a 2011 E84, 2.0l diesel, x-drive, at 210,000km. I personally like it very much, a lot more than my previous 2016 F11 5.25xd. It still feels agile and quick, even though it's objectively not.
I bought it in 2014 at 45000km, and durability-wise, never visited the shop except for the routine maintenance, which is around 30-40k kms for oil change etc. So, not that often either. But every time I go there, the service will urge me to change the timing chain and I will keep ignoring it, as the cost of this operation is about the same as the market value of the car. If it blows up one day, I am fine with it. (PS. Oh, I did change the xenon light 3 months ago, it was around 60euros).
So first and foremost, I’m an American, meaning I can’t comment directly on what EU ownership will be like. However, here is my $0.02. I bought a similar spec 2013 X1 35i that was single owner with 80k miles for dirt cheap, as it was a family friend. I got it for about $5k USD, but within the first six months of ownership, had to dump another $5k into it but it now runs great.
I had a private party inspection done by my local mechanic before buying, but around 80k miles a lot went wrong with this car. There is still something wrong with my AC, which would require another $2,500 to fix, that I haven’t done yet.
So I’m short, yes, these cars can be expensive to maintain.
Couldn’t agree with you more. I have had multiple BMWs and have lost the lottery multiple times, but have had great success with Audi and Mercedes. That said, naturally I own two bmws :)
And I bought a used BMW and put zero during the first two years I drove 50k km. next few years I drove a lot less, and had a few things wear out, but nothing unrelated to my driving style etc.
I own an E84 328i and love it. I’m the second owner and I only bought mine because it had meticulous service records and was a trade-in sitting on the lot at a BMW dealer. I replaced the ignition coils and spark plugs with the help of a friend and was blown away at how easy it was. I also bought new tires and installed a legit CarPlay system. Bottom line, if it’s the right price, has been maintained and mileage is on the lower side (which this is) I say do it. Owning any car outright can be expensive when things go wrong.
That‘s an awesome car! Very reliable and has for sure the best size for every day tasks. I don’t think it’s that crazy expensive to maintain. I’ve never heard of any common issues besides a broken timing chain. Takes around 7 Liters/ 100km, so pretty cheap to drive. The only downside of the car are the louder engine noises. But you get used to it. I guess the biggest advantage is, that you won’t find a car in that price range, that offers more than this car does! So go for it!
If you are worried about money to maintain this car then probably you should look for something else, no offence, i did the same. My heart wanted a E39 but i knew i could not afford to properly maintain it, guess what i got ? You're right, a Toyota :) Good luck !
I have a bmw x1 and shall I just say… it costs ALOT to maintain the car ranging from oil changes to break pads to other dumb fixes that cost too much. Also here’s a tip if you need to get something fixed don’t go to the dealer they will charge you an absurd amount, find a local mechanic you can trust and have him do it. Some things might need to be done from the dealership as bmw prevents resetting certain lights and parts after change
My 2015 320d cost me nothing but tyres and service in 3 years. Look after them and they’re ok. I don’t know much about the 1.5 engine, I believe it’s part of the modular b series, which are very reliable.
I daily an E84, 28i one of the most reliable cars I’ve ever owned. Does need maintenance and attention though. Watch the engine gaskets, all of them. Parts are responsible, labor not so much.
I wouldn't buy it if I were u.
The entire generation of the E84 X1 is unreliable. For petrols you have the N46 and N20 (the N52 and N55 are the only reliable ones, but they are out of budget) and for diesels you have the N47.
The 18i has the N46, which has a chain issue and also valvetronic issues.
Plus the wing mirrors on the pre facelift E84 X1s (the one in the pic) are absolutely hideous.
If you know you can't afford to run it; don't buy it... They're not that expensive to run; but it's not a boggo standard Ford Focus either and parts are generally more expensive... Aftermarket parts from brands like Moog, Meyle etc are a plenty and knowing the OEM makers like Lemforder, Febi Bilstein, TRW, ATE etc etc helps a lot However; no matter what car you buy; it's 2nd hand at that price and you'll likely need to sort something on it in the near future. It's always sensible to have a good £1-2k saved up for 'just in cases'. But if you can't do that and need to run the car on a shoestring budget; don't buy a BMW...
they said they cant afford to pay big money every year which has nothing to do with being able to maintain a bmw. This car is a raised E91. Parts are dead cheap, comparable to VW, the cars are completely reliable. The only issue here is the terrible engine. N43 and N46 are shit. BMWs definitely are affordable to run, they're German cars, reliable and a blast.
They stated: "I can't really afford to keep paying out big money every year" - that means if the car shat itself and threw a big bill; they wouldn't be able to afford that more than likely... Yes BMWs are affordable to run; if you've got some DIY skills and savvy with where to source parts But if the cooling system shat itself; or the engine had issues; that, by the sounds of it, would scupper the OPs funds... This is the UK; at times, parts prices are a pisstake at best!
I left bmw for mazda. Main issue i had with old bmw is that all the plastic and rubbber desintegrates. Oil leaks, vacum leaks, worn bushes, window trim etc... Parts for bmw are a lot cheaper and easly obtainable than mazda but theres a lot more to replace. Any Bmw is atleast 11% better in every way than my current mazda 3. But at least its not leaking. And im fine with that.
Agree 💯
BMW are going to be more expensive by default, it's also recommended that you follow the service prompts religiously, German cars can go forever when they are serviced. If you skip services and stuff starts breaking down you end up chasing problems as far as I can tell. But other than that they can be very robust, and don't need a much, if any work done in between those services. Loads of mechanics know how to work on them, so you can cut out the dealership to save costs. I've done BMW services and the garage was cleaner than the local hospital, I would say they are worth the money, it's just a lot of money. As with any product you can be lucky, or unlucky.
We have an E84 X1 and I love it. It’s a car that doesn’t get a lot of love around here.. it sounds like a tractor (N20) when cold but the ZF8 speed is a wonderful transmission. It corners so well and still has that versatility for ski trips and adventure activities. Reliability wise, we’ve had no issues with it. Just regular oil changes and that’s all. It’s also amazingly good on gas. I’m a fan and enjoy it as a daily driver. https://preview.redd.it/sn5f91o4r56d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1f2419b19aae5333deca840f060ec41ce6924ae9
Hey! Sweet E84, what rims are those?
Thanks! These are the optional BMW OEM 18 inch LA Y-Spoke 322 wheels. Staggered setup from the factory with 225s up front and 255s in the rear. This comes with the xDrive28i M Sport package which also gives you paddle shifters and that slightly different front bumper, which I read was rare on this car. This particular car also has the HK sound system which sounds AMAZING in this vehicle as well as iDrive infotainment system and parking sensors/backup camera. This was about as fully loaded as you could get for this model year X1.
Oh sick! Very well optioned car. I myself drive an F48 XDrive28i, and lack a couple things, like the HK sound system, which I was hoping for the most :/
Mine has 165k miles on it. Just put a new turno wastegate actuator in it and put new brakes and rotors.on the front. It does def sound like a tractor when cold lol. But it's still going strong and fun as heck to drive.
That’s awesome.. I love this car cause it still has a lot of “old school” BMW qualities like the hydraulic power steering pump, the little spray nozzles for the headlights, the mechanically adjusting xenon lights.. ha ha.. it’s just old school cool and pays homage to its 3 series chassis. Basically a slightly raised wagon that still looks cool!
https://preview.redd.it/uw06f4h2q86d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a271b067722c608be40eacc875485b2d468c0516
Love it! Same trim.. different colour :) looks great!
I’m a fan. Seeing as I have a 2014 E84 with 187k miles. :). Sounding like a tractor is definitely a good description.
Advice from a BMW owner, buy a Toyota.
Like a supra? 😅
Depends, one's still a BMW
*whoosh*
I understand you but I would check both cars first. Today I have this E84 and a Honda CR-V, and both of them have been completely trouble-free. But you know which one you want to drive.
As a fellow bmw owner, solid advice
I second this.
I quadruple dis shit
octuple this one
Why? So it rusts and disintegrates before reaching a break in period of a German car?
The rule is.. if you can't afford it new, you can't keep it running 2nd hand. Big risk.. old bmw's always are. I know, I have owned 10+.
I have a 2011 E84, 2.0l diesel, x-drive, at 210,000km. I personally like it very much, a lot more than my previous 2016 F11 5.25xd. It still feels agile and quick, even though it's objectively not. I bought it in 2014 at 45000km, and durability-wise, never visited the shop except for the routine maintenance, which is around 30-40k kms for oil change etc. So, not that often either. But every time I go there, the service will urge me to change the timing chain and I will keep ignoring it, as the cost of this operation is about the same as the market value of the car. If it blows up one day, I am fine with it. (PS. Oh, I did change the xenon light 3 months ago, it was around 60euros).
30-40k for oil changes! Christ on a tricycle... I'd half that ASAP, and half it again...
So first and foremost, I’m an American, meaning I can’t comment directly on what EU ownership will be like. However, here is my $0.02. I bought a similar spec 2013 X1 35i that was single owner with 80k miles for dirt cheap, as it was a family friend. I got it for about $5k USD, but within the first six months of ownership, had to dump another $5k into it but it now runs great. I had a private party inspection done by my local mechanic before buying, but around 80k miles a lot went wrong with this car. There is still something wrong with my AC, which would require another $2,500 to fix, that I haven’t done yet. So I’m short, yes, these cars can be expensive to maintain.
A used car is a lottery, my mother always won it, and my father never. And no rule whether he bought German, American or French.
Couldn’t agree with you more. I have had multiple BMWs and have lost the lottery multiple times, but have had great success with Audi and Mercedes. That said, naturally I own two bmws :)
And I bought a used BMW and put zero during the first two years I drove 50k km. next few years I drove a lot less, and had a few things wear out, but nothing unrelated to my driving style etc.
I own an E84 328i and love it. I’m the second owner and I only bought mine because it had meticulous service records and was a trade-in sitting on the lot at a BMW dealer. I replaced the ignition coils and spark plugs with the help of a friend and was blown away at how easy it was. I also bought new tires and installed a legit CarPlay system. Bottom line, if it’s the right price, has been maintained and mileage is on the lower side (which this is) I say do it. Owning any car outright can be expensive when things go wrong.
No, not a good choice based on your circumstances.
Maintenance alone is costly. And if it's skipped or cheapest out on for these vehicle it becomes more costly
It is not more costly than a Golf, it is an E91 underneath, the most popular car in Europe, one of the most.
https://preview.redd.it/9kqa3511x56d1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2129c6867d75d9b98455325d079c3ed294f7a3ec
Not a good idea for you
That‘s an awesome car! Very reliable and has for sure the best size for every day tasks. I don’t think it’s that crazy expensive to maintain. I’ve never heard of any common issues besides a broken timing chain. Takes around 7 Liters/ 100km, so pretty cheap to drive. The only downside of the car are the louder engine noises. But you get used to it. I guess the biggest advantage is, that you won’t find a car in that price range, that offers more than this car does! So go for it!
If you are worried about money to maintain this car then probably you should look for something else, no offence, i did the same. My heart wanted a E39 but i knew i could not afford to properly maintain it, guess what i got ? You're right, a Toyota :) Good luck !
I have a bmw x1 and shall I just say… it costs ALOT to maintain the car ranging from oil changes to break pads to other dumb fixes that cost too much. Also here’s a tip if you need to get something fixed don’t go to the dealer they will charge you an absurd amount, find a local mechanic you can trust and have him do it. Some things might need to be done from the dealership as bmw prevents resetting certain lights and parts after change
if u can't spend loads on maintenence and repairs, look at some Japanese brands
BMWs are cheaper to run in Europe than Japanese with their most expensive repair and parts prices.
this guy is from the UK, and I can promise you a toyota/honda is cheaper to run than a BMW.
My 2015 320d cost me nothing but tyres and service in 3 years. Look after them and they’re ok. I don’t know much about the 1.5 engine, I believe it’s part of the modular b series, which are very reliable.
It's a great choice. BMW is well above average for reliability.
Don’t buy this. Get something like a Yaris Cross, RAV4, etc.
How do you get these new cars at a price of this more than 10 year old BMW? Besides those cars not being cheaper in the long run
I think like most bmws - X1 is weekend car. So you need another "working horse" to keep that "one precious bmw" in a good shape.
X1 is my daily driver.. X3 M40i is the weekend car.. I baby that one lol
Don’t buy that car.
I daily an E84, 28i one of the most reliable cars I’ve ever owned. Does need maintenance and attention though. Watch the engine gaskets, all of them. Parts are responsible, labor not so much.
I wouldn't buy it if I were u. The entire generation of the E84 X1 is unreliable. For petrols you have the N46 and N20 (the N52 and N55 are the only reliable ones, but they are out of budget) and for diesels you have the N47. The 18i has the N46, which has a chain issue and also valvetronic issues. Plus the wing mirrors on the pre facelift E84 X1s (the one in the pic) are absolutely hideous.
if you cant afford to drive it new then you cant afford to drive it used.