BMW Maintenance Costs Advice

Having only ever owned classics or hot hatches, the first thing i noticed about my mate's BMW 3 series is the price of parts and especially consumables like tyres. Generally speaking bigger wheels = pricier tyres. A 2011 - 2019 model as youve chosen there would be my pick for 'most reliable', but i havent heard much good or bad things about the 1.6 in your model there. I would watch out with that one though as the black wheels on that model will not have been standard so its possible that the car has been ragged a bit (common with lower spec 1 series cars as often owned by chavs - no offense to you!!) I'm also surprised at how much that one costs - personally I'd look for maybe a 2011-2019 model with possibly more miles but more service history (the one you sent has none as far as i could see). BMWs are lovely cars but are pricey when they go wrong especially modern ones unfortunately. Keep looking and as long as you can comfortably afford it with a grand to spare in case anything goes wrong I'd be happy buying one!!

If you're looking for classy cars for the same price or less which are more reliable and cheaper to run I'd look at...
Audi A3 S Line (1.4 TSI or TDI both are good engines)
Mk7 VW Golf
Peugeot 208 GTI

yeha thanks for the advice. Upon more research, I think I may just go for another yaris, same year or slightly newer but with fewer miles and a slightly larger engine (i was thinking a 1.33 VVT-i).

completely agree, it is a well known stereotype for a reason, and - none taken.

think I was just being a bit silly and chasing after the bmw brand, I'll just cop a yaris and save myself a fortune on initial purchase + replacement of perishables as you mentioned. Can probably put that money towards better use than an unnecessarily expensive car.

Thank you for the recommendations, I'll look for an A3 maybe after I graduate. Who knows, maybe ill set myself a target of a first class degree and buy an a3 as a present in order to motivate myself!

Thanks again for the info.

Having only ever owned classics or hot hatches, the first thing i noticed about my mate's BMW 3 series is the price of parts and especially consumables like tyres. Generally speaking bigger wheels = pricier tyres. A 2011 - 2019 model as youve chosen there would be my pick for 'most reliable', but i havent heard much good or bad things about the 1.6 in your model there. I would watch out with that one though as the black wheels on that model will not have been standard so its possible that the car has been ragged a bit (common with lower spec 1 series cars as often owned by chavs - no offense to you!!) I'm also surprised at how much that one costs - personally I'd look for maybe a 2011-2019 model with possibly more miles but more service history (the one you sent has none as far as i could see). BMWs are lovely cars but are pricey when they go wrong especially modern ones unfortunately. Keep looking and as long as you can comfortably afford it with a grand to spare in case anything goes wrong I'd be happy buying one!!

If you're looking for classy cars for the same price or less which are more reliable and cheaper to run I'd look at truecarexpert...
Audi A3 S Line (1.4 TSI or TDI both are good engines)
Mk7 VW Golf
Peugeot 208 GTI

Oh, it's great to hear about your experience with classic and hot hatch cars! I understand your concerns about the cost of parts and tires for the BMW 3 series. Bigger wheels do tend to mean pricier tires, which is something to keep in mind.

Regarding the 2011-2019 model, it's a popular choice for its reliability. However, you mentioned not hearing much about the 1.6 engine in the model you were looking at. It might be worth doing some research or asking for opinions from other owners to get a better understanding of its performance.

In terms of the cost, you were surprised at the price of the one I sent you. It's a good idea to explore other options, perhaps a 2011-2019 model with more miles but a solid service history. Regular maintenance can make a big difference in the long run.

BMW cars are lovely, but it's true that they can be pricey to repair, especially with modern models. As you continue your search, keeping some extra funds aside for unexpected repairs is a wise approach.