BIG LETDOWN

[ylkhor]

perngy, you're not alone. Early this year i almost wanted to get rid of my 6 years old bimmer, and choose a new civic 2.0 or a used caldina. Damn windows irritates alot (200k car got such thing wan meh!!), oil seal not durable, expansion tank and radiator!

but then hor ...scrap the idea of changing car due to passion for my dreams

 

[funfer_fahrer]

I think most of us will feel very down during trying times. IMHO sometimes it could be due to our high expectations. The tagline "The Ultimate Driving Machine" for example can be very deceiving. The UDM indeed just another machine, with thousands of moving parts. Sometimes, we don't really understand how it works. Worst still, we tend to be believe that a RM400K car should be more reliable than a RM50K car. Why? Because we paid a lot for it. So, we expect certain level of reliability. Guys, believe it or not in other parts of the world especially in Europe BMW is just another car. Almost every Tom, Dick and Harry is driving it. It's the tax that made the car expensive. I think most of us are aware of this. No doubt BMW had won many awards. BMW beats Merc Benz hands down when it comes zero to century, being awarded the best 6 cylinder in-line, and list goes on. But those are tested on a test car which the BMW engineers make sure that its reliabililty exceeds 100%. I don't think I came across a car magazine that made a comparison on a five-year-old car. What happens after that only the customer (the real test driver) will know.

 

[manjit]

Bro...i understand your feeling very much...same apply to me, ever since i acquire my car(2nd hand)....endless prob....sometimes am afraid it will stall somewhere..always keep my fingers crossed....change wat i can, diy wat i can....just for the sake of getting a piece of the cake...but then, end of the day we wud think...whether itz worth all the effort and money :getyourfactsright: .....god saves the BMW owners......................

 

[Jules]

I have to concur with Albundy.....preventive maintenance best-lor to avoid heart ache.......

another alternative is play with older cars-loh! and I think most will agree that the older design BMW are less fussy.......but equally enjoyable!

Btw, sad to lose u anyhow!

 

[rifhamdi]

Originally posted by Jules@Jun 27 2006, 08:51 PM
I have to concur with Albundy.....preventive maintenance best-lor to avoid heart ache.......

another alternative is play with older cars-loh! and I think most will agree that the older design BMW are less fussy.......but equally enjoyable!

Btw, sad to lose u anyhow!

cheers for the above statement, jules... k:


mechanical is the way to go with reliabilty not computerised black boxes...

its the mechanical process or the mechanical moving parts that BMW was/and is famous for.... that means classics and oldies... all mechanical process and functions.. pure basic stuff.

to rely solely on black boxes/computer chips/ECUs to communicate with the driver, engine management process, combustion process or the other works, then i think that will lead to problems or the shortcomings because electronics are not really THAT reliable... all microchips have a lifespan no matter how well one takes care of their vehicles....

if its just the basic mechanics of the car, then it will be very straight forward procedure to trouble shoot problems... without all the unnecessary headaches and diagnostic tools...

pls take note, oldies are not that fast as the newbies, just the opposite here... got fight la but still... SIGH! and also number one headache or disease.... RUST! and require more TLC....

just my thought....

btw, when i read how much some of you have spent on your e46s, i nearly had a heart attack.... i dont think i can afford to own one based on the findings....

 

[PERNGY]

Originally posted by ALBundy+Jun 27 2006, 04:00 PM-->QUOTE (ALBundy @ Jun 27 2006, 04:00 PM)

Originally posted by PERNGY@Jun 27 2006, 06:22 AM

 

[bmwky]

it's ironic......you referred to the security guards as "dogs" and you expect them to call you "boss" ????

 

[PERNGY]

Originally posted by bmwky@Jun 28 2006, 09:59 AM
it's ironic......you referred to the security guards as "dogs" and you expect them to call you "boss" ????

bmwky,

you got me all wrong already. i don't expect them to call me boss. i'm saying that they "have dog eyes" to see ppl. if you drive big cars they call you boss. if you drive cheapo cars they turn you away!!

 

[Daniel]

hahahaha,
reminds me of the timw when my dad wanted to park the family perdana in front of Sheradon Penang, the bell boy mentioned that the spots all all reserved, when though they were all empty, my dad's reply,

" Ya ka? not because my car is not big enough?"

the funny thing is that when he drives his Merc, they let him park anywhere he likes!

 

[armereth]

PERNGY,

Sorry to hear that.

But you know what? I think the cause of you problem is....... you did not drive fast enough. Come on, 120KMH for a E46??? Aiyooh.

Sometime, I think the car need some trashing to get all the parts working correctly. .I find everytime I come down from 200kmh to pay toll, the car is damn smooth. Maybe I was deafen by the exhaust or perhaps my butt is still shaking but still....

Anyway, dont be angry at me ok Just my very very very humble opinion

Cheers
Arms

 

[wglee]

Regarding PERNGY's observation that his father's Merc C-Class is more reliable than PERNGY's E46, the strange thing is, in reliability and customer satisfaction surveys/ratings, BMW always beat Mercedes Benz.

Anyway, in my humble opinion, in terms of reliability/durability, BMWs, like most German cars, lie somewhere between Japanese cars and non-German Continental cars.

 

[Daniel]

Originally posted by wglee@Jun 28 2006, 11:15 AM
in reliability and customer satisfaction surveys/ratings, BMW always beat Mercedes Benz.

i guess BMW never sent me a survey.

 

[bmwky]

but most of these surveys are done in european/north american countries.....where we know their vehicle inspection requirement are more stringent and its more difficult to bribe officials.


perngy.....yeah I got you now! cheers.

 

[scin]

Originally posted by PERNGY@Jun 27 2006, 02:22 PM

Mine is a E46 year 2002. I bought it from AB. Used to service at AB as well. Till the steering rack problem. AB insisted I changed it.

Herein lies the problem.

Don't ever buy a car from AB, let alone send it for service there

 

[hamann18]

hi....

PERNGY E46 is a CKD version, I believe. Do CBU version have same problem?

-syam-

 

[Daniel]

Originally posted by scin+Jun 28 2006, 12:25 PM-->QUOTE (scin @ Jun 28 2006, 12:25 PM)

 

[Ade]

Mine's a CBU..this is the problems i had..

I got my CBU back in 2004 (registered 2002). Coming to fours years now at 60K km and here's a list of items replaced and repairs.

1. Vanos alignment (dunno why its out).
2. Head gasket replacement
3. Fuel Filter replacement
4. All 4 ignition coils replaced
5. Air hose replaced
6. Loose exhaust muffler tightened
7. Air cond resistor replaced
8. Temperature sensor (going to be replaced)
9. Alternator replaced.
10. Belt tensioners (both aircond and power steering)
11. Belt.

 

[scin]

Originally posted by Daniel+Jun 28 2006, 12:52 PM-->QUOTE (Daniel @ Jun 28 2006, 12:52 PM)

Originally posted by scin@Jun 28 2006, 12:25 PM

 

[ALBundy]

The most common problem with the e46 318i 2.0 with valvetronic is the ignition coils. Other than that, the rest are mainly wear and tear items minus a few loose items.

I believe the disgruntled owners should write to AB and cc it to BMW Malaysia for all their problems.

Few years back, a friend bought the last batch of e39s for sale from AB, a 525i. Upon taking delivery of the car, there was a loud ticking noise from the engine bay, AB offered to repair it and this guy being a lawyer himself refused the offer, and insisted the entire engine be replaced instead. To cut a long story short, after many legal letters and so forth, he got what he demanded. So, its not impossible to right the wrongs provided you have the "endurance" to fight the battle.

Yup, consumer rights in Malaysia is not where its supposed to be and hence we are always taken for granted.

 

[BlueMixWhite]

Ironically, a lot of people mention when looking for a pre-owned BMW, look for one with service history and maintained AB. So now, does this mean it's not reliable even the car is fully maintain by AB?