Ridiculous car maintenance

[alamogunr]

In the last 27 years we have owned 4 Toyota vehicles: 3 Avalons and a Tundra. Still have the 2017 Avalon(lots of tech) and the 2013 Tundra(very basic). Still take them to the Toyota dealer for routine service. Have never had a serious problem with any of them. The first Avalon went 200K miles without a problem, hence the follow up purchases. I'm now too old to worry about replacing either of them. Only reason would be if one gets totaled and I survive.

 

[Ride1949]

But with a BMW you get those "special" parking spots. ;)

 

[Mobuck]

then use fresh water instead of fluid.
You must be WAY-WAAAY South of the Mason/Dixon line.

 

[rwp315]

"I suppose a German auto engineer would have a good reason for what they did. Maybe?"

It's really very simple when you think about it. Think the original VW Beetle. For a long time you had to take it to a dealer to have the valves adjusted every 1,000 miles or as close to it as possible. Figure an average of roughly 19 to 12,000 miles a year at about $40* for parts and labor, and that was a nice cash cow fo the dealership. Now supposedly you had to wait until the engine was cold to do the job, year their mechanic did your VW bug with a still hot to warm motor. How many VW beetles were there on the road for a very long time? Millions Even if only half the bug owners went to the dealer that would bring in a very comfortable chunk of change.

* That $40 quote was what I was being hit for when I owned a VW convertible in San Francisco back in 1965/6.
Paul B.

When we experienced the gas shortage In Esfahan, Iran we ran our ‘63 Beetle on 20-30% kerosene and the rest gas. A little lower on power but got us around and to work.

My next survival vehicle.

 

[Colonialgirl]

Colonalgirl. I work with solar panels. They don't work at night or when it's cloudy.

I know or when you are surrounded by trees !

 

[ProfessorWes]

Clockspring is not a universal term and it doesn't connect a sensor to anything. It's the connection to the inflator (a GM word) that needs to stay constant while the steering wheel turns. GM calls it an SIR coil.

Well, that explanation makes more sense than what the guy at the Hyundai dealership told me over the phone. He called it a "clockspring." Perhaps it's a bad translation from Korean, who knows?

Either way, it's supposed to be covered under warranty. OTOH I also lost the steering wheel audio controls at about the same time - the service tech suggested that's also a symptom of this particular problem - so if it's not part of the covered repair they still might make their money off me . . . Sigh.

My Raven has been a great little car for going on 212,700 miles, but entropy is slowly starting to catch up to her.

 

[ProfessorWes]

But with a BMW you get those "special" parking spots. ;)

View attachment 29316

 

[Johnnu2]

TOYOTA..... Buy'em new.... never bring in for service.... change your own oil... ignore the sealed transmission... never change your brake fluid...or coolant... keep for eight - 10 years.... REPEAT.
I don't know what I'm talking about, I can only tell you what actually works for me in my world (which is simple and unassuming).

J.

 

[Richbaker]

Thanks for the thoughts. Tell me, since you seem to know, when has the Sun gone out for a couple days? Just wondering. Have a wonderful day!

Sun goes out every night, where I live...

 

[Richbaker]

Three words. Bee Em TroubleU

 

[GasGuzzler]

Well, that explanation makes more sense than what the guy at the Hyundai dealership told me over the phone. He called it a "clockspring." Perhaps it's a bad translation from Korean, who knows?

People call it that, it's just not a universal term.

I own five GM vehicles. The oldest is a 2004. The newest is a 178K mile 2014 I have less than $300 in. Between the five, they total about 790K miles. It would be a lie to say they have never had a single issue, but they are all fully operational and paid for.

 

[trebor44]

Wholesale cost on a Mercedes's oil filter - $5, retails for $35 and is willingly paid because it is perceived as being 'better quality' than the Chevy designated one. Perception is in the mind of the spender!

 

[bobski]

can you still bump start new clutch trucks or cars anymore? or is everything too tehcno?

 

[bobski]

had a 74 bmw 2002 tii once. great car, 30mpg during the gas crisis.
but........
every 40,000 miles you had change the fuel pump belt. and as it wore, it stopped pumping gas in traffic on occasion.
it was almost a vw in design. you had to take out part of the chassis to change the battery and you had to take out the rad' to change a water pump.
i got 142,000 out of it....and sold it to the next guy wanting to impress his buddies and chicks.
never forgot buying a 2 volume factory shop manual for it for 250.00 in 79. i turned to areas to work on my car and all it said was...take out battery. (it didnt tell you how or what special tools youd need.(duh?)
money pit.

 

[MHtractorguy]

German engineers introduced plastic engine parts and plastic cooling system parts that are easier, faster and cheaper to manufacture, have a drastically shorter service like, cannot be purchased in the aftermarket and are extremely overpriced at a dealership. This is why German junk owners keep them until the warranty expires. The next owner thinks he got a real deal until a month later, when every exotic and expensive fluid starts oozing out of all those plastic components.

 

[t-reg]

I work for a huge German .corp.

K.I.S.S. is not part of their engineering vocabulary.

 

[cutlassguy1976]

I miss the late 70’s. Sit on the fender,prop your feet in the engine compartment and work on em.

I used to work on vehicles in the late 70's and 80's.That's back when they were just trying to figure out the emissions game.
150' of 6 different sizes of vacuum hose, little platics vacuum hose tees and fittings that broke just looking them, junk egr valves. Used to buyt vacuum hose by the box.No thanks and don't missi it a bit.

 

[Actnbill]

I brought my GM ( Saturn Sky ) convertible into the GM dealer with the top down for an airbag recall....
After the job was done the shop manager said..... It looks like rain ....did you bring a top with you ??
I said....' Its a convertible' ........then popped the trunk and extended the convertible top on for the drive home...

The manager said..... ' I didn't know those did that'

Sticking to Toyotas and Hondas now....

 

[Kevin]

This is why German junk owners keep them until the warranty expires.

My wife and I have owned lots of VW’s and other German cars. The maintenance might be ridiculous and a little expensive, but I would certainly not call the cars junk.

This BMW has 19,000 miles, mostly driven in Dallas city streets.

Dallas uses potholes as a speed control method. If the road is too rough, cars won’t drive fast. Let’s just say the streets aren’t butter smooth in the slightest.

This BMW doesn’t have the slightest rattle or shake. It’s as tight as Day 1. The build quality is just fantastic. The driving features are impressive, like gesture control for the stereo. It’s funny, just wave your hand in front of the screen to adjust it. Works great too! . And as I mentioned the warranty is better than most other cars.

Definitely not junk.

 

[vito]

I don't do any work on my cars myself. But it is obvious to me that cars today are far better made than they were in past years. My 2011 Subaru Outback with 160,000 miles has not had a single mechanical issue to date. My 2016 Dodge Durango with 155,000 miles has worked flawlessly, other than needing a new front differential (total cost $1,300). And so far my 2022 Mini convertible has had zero issues. Maybe I've just been lucky.

 

[Johnnu2]

My wife and I have owned lots of VW’s and other German cars. The maintenance might be ridiculous and a little expensive, but I would certainly not call the cars junk.

This BMW has 19,000 miles, mostly driven in Dallas city streets.

Dallas uses potholes as a speed control method. If the road is too rough, cars won’t drive fast. Let’s just say the streets aren’t butter smooth in the slightest.

This BMW doesn’t have the slightest rattle or shake. It’s as tight as Day 1. The build quality is just fantastic. The driving features are impressive, like gesture control for the stereo. It’s funny, just wave your hand in front of the screen to adjust it. Works great too! . And as I mentioned the warranty is better than most other cars.

Definitely not junk.

As trebor44 said above: "Perception is in the mind of the spender".

If you need the fancy German stuff, and have the money to waste, I say GO FOR IT and enjoy every day of your life.

J.

 

[Gopher]

It's only going to get worse. All new vehicles sold in the US starting in 2026 will have built-in breathalyzers and impaired driver tech in them. The Dems sneaked this into the infrastructure bill two years ago.
No one wants drunk or impaired drivers on the road but this has some serious personal freedom issues for me. Big Brother is going to assume you are impaired before you can start the car and travel. Not to mention they can shut your car down for any reason while driving. I've bought my last new vehicle.

 

[MHtractorguy]

My wife and I have owned lots of VW’s and other German cars. The maintenance might be ridiculous and a little expensive, but I would certainly not call the cars junk.

This BMW has 19,000 miles, mostly driven in Dallas city streets.

Dallas uses potholes as a speed control method. If the road is too rough, cars won’t drive fast. Let’s just say the streets aren’t butter smooth in the slightest.

This BMW doesn’t have the slightest rattle or shake. It’s as tight as Day 1. The build quality is just fantastic. The driving features are impressive, like gesture control for the stereo. It’s funny, just wave your hand in front of the screen to adjust it. Works great too! . And as I mentioned the warranty is better than most other cars.

Definitely not junk.

I did say (sorry) when I called them junk. I do not think I ever got to work on one that was still under warranty or still belonged to the original owner. The ones that came to our independent shop were definitely used, and people thought they could just drive them like a Taurus. That meant adding the cheapest oil, skipping maintenance and never rotating their tires. When they got a quote for tires, the car was for sale again.
Really meant no offense to anyone who chose to buy one and maintain it.

 

[Kevin]

I did say (sorry) when I called them junk. I do not think I ever got to work on one that was still under warranty or still belonged to the original owner. The ones that came to our independent shop were definitely used, and people thought they could just drive them like a Taurus. That meant adding the cheapest oil, skipping maintenance and never rotating their tires. When they got a quote for tires, the car was for sale again.
Really meant no offense to anyone who chose to buy one and maintain it.

No, I’m not offended. I also didn’t know you had experience working on them as a mechanic.

The car really is a joy to drive. And this won’t be my last BMW either.

Here is the car in question. It’s a 430i so not even all wheel drive, and honestly besides the upgraded stereo (which really isn’t that nice), and the upgraded headlights, it’s kind of plain. But, very nice looking in my opinion.

 

[ediogenes]

My ‘98 Ford Ranger has an empty washer fluid reservoir sensor. I push on the turn signal stalk and if the washer fluid doesn’t squirt outa the nozzles, the reservoir must be empty. My ‘13 Jeep Wrangler, too. Standard equipment on both.

 

[GasGuzzler]

can you still bump start new clutch trucks or cars anymore? or is everything too tehcno?

No. Two reasons: 1) Advanced security systems 2) Trucks don't come with manual transmissions any longer hardly.

I brought my GM ( Saturn Sky ) convertible into the GM dealer with the top down for an airbag recall....
After the job was done the shop manager said..... It looks like rain ....did you bring a top with you ??
I said....' Its a convertible' ........then popped the trunk and extended the convertible top on for the drive home...

The manager said..... ' I didn't know those did that'

Sticking to Toyotas and Hondas now....

You bought one of the strangest versions of a weird car made under two different badges that are both now defunct and think it's odd the service manager didn't know anything about it? Service managers are there to take care of people anyway ... they aren't supposed to get technical more than needed to discuss vehicle issues.

It's only going to get worse. All new vehicles sold in the US starting in 2026 will have built-in breathalyzers and impaired driver tech in them. The Dems sneaked this into the infrastructure bill two years ago.
No one wants drunk or impaired drivers on the road but this has some serious personal freedom issues for me. Big Brother is going to assume you are impaired before you can start the car and travel. Not to mention they can shut your car down for any reason while driving. I've bought my last new vehicle.

I have been saying that for years here and elsewhere.

Torque input to the steering wheel (are your hands on the wheel?) measurement is not new. It's 20-year old technology but it's so fine tuned now (for use in GM's "SuperCruise") because of advancements. SuperCruise adds a CAMERA facing the driver. So we started "craving" push button start in the '00's. Then we had to have push button gear range changes. Now we have electric park brakes too. Don't forget the vehicles are hooked to the sky and GM has been selling OnStar for almost 30 years.

There is no mechanical link in most cars between the driver and the engine starter, the transmission range, or the park brake ... and cameras are coming, not to mention the microphones and remote access from space they've had for years. My 2007 Sierra with the OnStar fuse pulled looks better every day. And it has "too much stuff" for most people.

 

[bobski]

and its all an attempt to discourage individual ownership of cars....to push us towards mass transit.
enter socialism.
break out your bicycles boys. china wants to swap ways of life. we had cars, they had bikes.
soon itll be turned around.

 

[buckeyeshooter]

I sold my 1991 BMW850I in November of last year. I ran it 224.000 miles and bought it used in 1995. I changed pads, rotors, oil and air filters, wiper blades, shocks and struts (1 time) and bought several sets of tires. I bought a $20.00 computer code reset tool when I got the car and did all the service work except changing and balancing tires and shocks and struts. Never had any problems with it at all. Before this car, I had a 1989 BMW 325i and drove it 189,000 miles in 5 years and again never had any problem besides normal wear items which I changed myself.
Either I got 2 'good ones' or they make good cars.

 

[Dave P.]

As this thread is drifting on this topic....
https://www.autoweek.com/news/a45051827/mozilla-finds-modern-cars-and-trucks-lacking-privacy/Knowing there are some here that worry about this kind of stuff.

 

[Kevin]

I sold my 1991 BMW850I in November of last year. I ran it 224.000 miles and bought it used in 1995. I changed pads, rotors, oil and air filters, wiper blades, shocks and struts (1 time) and bought several sets of tires. I bought a $20.00 computer code reset tool when I got the car and did all the service work except changing and balancing tires and shocks and struts. Never had any problems with it at all. Before this car, I had a 1989 BMW 325i and drove it 189,000 miles in 5 years and again never had any problem besides normal wear items which I changed myself.
Either I got 2 'good ones' or they make good cars.

Awesome to hear that! We do plan on keeping this car for 5 or 6 more years at least.

Over in Bulgaria, my niece has a boyfriend who has an older 1990’s something BMW. It’s diesel and has a manual transmission. He’s had good luck with it also.

What’s funny is he told me in Bulgaria all the gypsies drive BMW’s. Not to talk bad about another culture, but I bet the Gypsies stole them.