I was looking out at the street yesterday PM and noticed a black object on the lawn about 25 feet from the street. I went out to see what it was, and it turned out to be half of a BMW grille! What really surprised me was that it was just a cheap plastic injection molding, and three of the plastic tabs that held it in were broken. I would have expected something a little better on a car with a BMW price tag.
I admit I've had a couple of 3 series BMW, one older and one a little newer. Both, the trim was pretty much junk and glued together. Fancy mirror with dimming feature go away way to too soon, leather seats crack. All the BMW emblems, center wheel, truck and hood are crap and don't last. The later one had the door handle turn to goo and had to replace with aftermarket hard plastics. Windshield leak, where you ask over the fuss behind the glovebox, that was fun, not. Hey they handle well and fun to drive but quality, way down on the euro list.
My nephew and his wife purchased a matching pair of BMW's about three years ago. I don't know what model they are, but he said that they were seventy grand each. I'll bet they get really good service at the dealer where they bought them.
It sounds like they got serviced by the dealer when they bought them. I had a 2002 years ago and did a lot of work on it myself. Not a lot of plastic on it but it was a different animal. Replacing the thermostat (which was remotely mounted, not on the engine) required removing the radiator and left front grill to get to it, then sitting on the ground through the opening to get to it. Water pump had 5 (!) hoses coming off of it. Parts back then cost in multiples of $20. Fun car to drive but they had a LOT of quirks. I learned that BMWs are great drivers (if constantly maintained) but age very badly. Convertibles especially.
I have zero recent experience. 25 years ago I knew lots of happy owners. Pricey to own but well made. Recently all I see on YouTube is people complaining about the GM/Ford/Hyundai like experience of bad engines and lousy design that leads to big issues. I hate to see it. We don’t need more bad brands.
...BMW has dropped all the way to a 1 Series. Now everyone can partake in the status of BMW ownership, just tell all your friends you have a BMW 0 Series...
Interestingly (or perhaps not), I have never owned a foreign car - confession: my '05 Dodge Magnum was assembled in Brampton, Ontario. I have also never owned an American-made motorcycle.
