BMW is #2 Brand for Owner Satisfaction in 2025 Consumer Reports Survey

[SteVTEC]

Voted with my wallet and just picked up a G01 X3 CPO, to go along with our CPO X5 and X7, all MY22's strangely. They're genuinely good vehicles, and the reliability ratings are encouraging. I'm familiar with the cars, and have a great independent BMW shop down the road from me that I've been using for many years, for maintenance and future out of warranty repairs.

One thing not covered by CR (I'm a lifelong subscriber) is that maintenance and out of warranty repair costs are most certainly going to be higher on BMW's and German cars in general, than with your more typical commuter class of car. A lot of people pop into the X5 sub because CR reliability ratings are good. Yes, but, you'll still pay more, so be forewarned.

[pegogetem]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

These are surveys of Consumer Reports members who own the respective cars. They make the excellent choice to not include Internet message boards.

😂😂😂😂😂

[ajaj96]

Been 2 years with my M2 and have only had a seal failure in one of the headlights and some rattling in the trunk that they fixed a week after I took delivery. It’s been the most reliable car I’ve ever owned! To be fair I have a GMC Sierra with the 3.0 Diesel that’s already in its second engine at 57k Miles and still keeps getting check engine lights every month. Also have had a Jeep Gladiator that was literally disintegrating after 6 months of ownership, a mustang that was decent but had a few issues, and a Honda Civic Si that was pretty reliable but still had a few issues here and there. The m2 has been the most reliable car I’ve ever owned to this point!

[vt100]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

Sure, but given their reliability rating, it would seem that they have plenty of other issues.

But I do understand and agree with your point that the lack of complexity you get in an ICE vehicle helps in that regard.

You're not a SW engineer, are you?

I'd rather work on fixing ICE engine issues than debug SW bugs in an electric vehicle

Those ppl who keep saying that electric cars are simpler than ICE have no clue how complex SW and HW systems are in electric cars. No wonder that even Tesla can't fix their own issues (or fixing them takes extremely long time).

ICE cars are in order of magnitude simpler and more deterministic than electric vehicles

[Tallest]

The real tragedy is Mercedes-Benz here, and Audi. I dont know what has happened to Germany. At this point it is sad, and all it takes for them is to literally start making cars that look good. Basically a good designer away from doing well, and yet here they go release shit car after shit car.

[mmarsalone]

Originally Posted by vt100

You're not a SW engineer, are you?

I'd rather work on fixing ICE engine issues than debug SW bugs in an electric vehicle

Those ppl who keep saying that electric cars are simpler than ICE have no clue how complex SW and HW systems are in electric cars. No wonder that even Tesla can't fix their own issues (or fixing them takes extremely long time).

ICE cars are in order of magnitude simpler and more deterministic than electric vehicles

I'm just a neutral observer in the thread. i believe you and Philies are in agreement. His comment was "lack of complexity you get in an ICE vehicle".

Thanks,
Mike

[vt100]

Originally Posted by mmarsalone

I'm just a neutral observer in the thread. i believe you and Philies are in agreement. His comment was "lack of complexity you get in an ICE vehicle".

Thanks,
Mike

Yeah, Mike I reread Phillies8008' post few times and (to me it seems) it can be interpreted both ways. So decided to answer anyway

[Maritime50]

BMW’s only problem is with Passport BMW whom have a very long history of screwing over its customers! Add-On’s, Bait & Switch low volume sales people, Discrimination and GREED! Customers are willing to spend the money! But Passport destroys the overall enjoyment of buying and driving the BMW brand!
It’s all public information online how dirty and greedy they are IE: Major Lawsuits lost! Sad commentary for BMW.

[JMD]

Originally Posted by BavarianPretzel

How can Audi be at near the very bottom! I have several friends and family members who own Audi cars and SUVs and all are happy. (2022 to 2025 models)

What about the other 244,000 Audi others who may have had issues with their vehicles?

[Emily172013]

Originally Posted by JMD

What about the other 244,000 Audi others who may have had issues with their vehicles?

Our 2022 Audi Q3 hasn't been in the shop since new. 30k

[JMD]

Originally Posted by Emily172013

Our 2022 Audi Q3 hasn't been in the shop since new. 30k

Understood,...you're talking about just 1 vehicle.

Although some many own a given brand/model of a particular vehicle,...and never have a single issue with it,...doesn't mean thousands don't have a vehicle having significant issues them.

[Mautofied17]

Love it.

[heavyD^2]

Originally Posted by Tallest

The real tragedy is Mercedes-Benz here, and Audi. I dont know what has happened to Germany. At this point it is sad, and all it takes for them is to literally start making cars that look good. Basically a good designer away from doing well, and yet here they go release shit car after shit car.

BMW is really the only German automaker prospering right now. VAG and all their divisions are struggling, even Porsche. Mercedes has been hurt by the decline in China demand and the AMG 4-cylinder hybrid was a massive flop. As much as people like to crap on BMW recent designs, the MB jellybean designs haven't been overly well received and Audi is in a bit of a design rut where their new vehicles look just like their old vehicles. Unlike BMW, neither VAG or MB have been able to improve reliability with all vehicles getting up there in price, a lot of buyers are more turned off when they encounter bad ownership experiences. I know a few Audi lifers that have tired of the constant issues, switched to BMW and haven't looked back.

[QUiKSR20]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

Yeah, perceptions die very, very slowly. Most non-car people I talk to are still convinced that BMWs have horrible reliability because of horror stories from 20 or 30 years ago. When you try to tell them otherwise, I feel like they think that since you own a couple of them you've drunk the Kool Aid and are exaggerating. After all, their Uncle's best friend's cousin had a BMW back in 1991 that had some thingy in the engine that was expensive to fix. Hard to shake a bad rep.

Or they have owned a B48 or B58 in the last few years that has had nothing but coolant leaks / cracked oil filter housings / cracked coolant flanges / leaking water pumps / leaking heater control valves / bad grill flaps that are warrantied but if they deem its from road debris you need to pay the $800 to take that bumper on and off..

BMW's today are better than they were but the repairs are also way more expensive when something basic goes wrong that shouldn't... My 2018 x3 turned into a money pit after 75-80k miles and was mint condition and maintained flawlessly.. I dont think all the BMW is unreliable talk is warranted but keep the car long term and you will sing a diff tone then these people commenting with "I love my 2025, 2024 with like 30k hwy miles on it".

The new ones get rough outside of warranty or lease is up, even if you DIY everything and buy your own parts from reputable places like FCP.

My E90 was rock solid 0-105k miles, My F30 rock solid until 80k then the timing chain bomb started but still drove decent till 115k when I sold it, My G01 x3 became a disaster after 80 needing a bunch of work on parts that should never break on a car under 100k and 6 years old... Never anything like the engine or the trans just all the stuff attached to it that's burried and over complex to get to + plastic.

Originally Posted by SteVTEC

Because they're all basically new.

Exactly my point, come see me at 6 years old and 85-100k miles. I dont wanna hear about my 2024 w/30k miles is dead reliable.. Thats a brand new car still it should be.

[Bimar]

Interesting no Range Rover included