Do BMW owners do their own work on cars?
- Thread starter wood_e
- Start date
I do all the work on my car that doesnt require special expensive equiptment (allignment etc.) I lifted up the engine once to replace the oil pan gasket and I replaced the control arms/ bushings/ sway bar links/ brake pads/tires/ balanced tires/ and I'm going to do an engine swap if i ever get around to it.
I haven't had a chance yet, but I'll do basic stuff like oil changes. All the scheduled stuff will go to the dealer though. I mean, I get free maintenance (including brakes), so why waste it?
I think the overwhelming majority won't touch their cars and wouldn't know how either. While BMW used to be an enthusiast's car, unfortunately it's become just a status symbol. On this board, you'll still see the enthusiasts, but most BMW owners wouldn't join an internet board to talk about their cars since they only bought the car for the blue and white badge.
I think the overwhelming majority won't touch their cars and wouldn't know how either. While BMW used to be an enthusiast's car, unfortunately it's become just a status symbol. On this board, you'll still see the enthusiasts, but most BMW owners wouldn't join an internet board to talk about their cars since they only bought the car for the blue and white badge.
Wow, I wish i had money. Then i could get some sweet service plan like that. Your brakes are even covered??? Thats wonderful! Get that car on the track! ![[:D]](/images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin [:D]")
Yeah the blue and white badge has sadly become a symbol of wealth/status. Its sad because I have always viewed them as drivers cars, not grocery getters... It is a crying shame what society has reduced the blue and white to. I commend you guys for taking the initiative to destroy the stereotype.
Yeah the blue and white badge has sadly become a symbol of wealth/status. Its sad because I have always viewed them as drivers cars, not grocery getters... It is a crying shame what society has reduced the blue and white to. I commend you guys for taking the initiative to destroy the stereotype.
Yeah, brakes are covered. It's sweet. It used to be 3 years/36K miles or something like that, but I think it changed in 2002 or so to the current 4 years/50K miles to match the regular warranty. Makes more sense to me that way. Mercedes doesn't cover brakes so teh BMW plan is better. Infiniti recently added brake coverage. Guess they actually took those complaints about the $800 brake jobs to heart.
I do what I can unless the computer is throwing a code and something I can't fix myself. If I get lazy, I will pay for an oil change. I am not mister mechanic, but I can do most stuff myself. My car is a 97....so most routine stuff and troubleshooting is done by me. This message board helps alot. This is my daily driver, so I do not just tinker with the big stuff just because I am bored. I do have a backup car though and that helps. Never had anything major happen to it, besides the radiator went bad......paid the labor to replace it, got a lifetime warranty radiator. I buy parts that are lifetime if I replace them.....most on my wifes car, starter, alternator, stuff like that. For brakes, do not need them. But when I do, since it is a daily driver, going for lifetime brake pads at Midas.....you might laugh, but alot of people work on BMW pretty cheap. If I was under warranty....would go to the dealer every time......my car is way out of that zone though....so I do what I can. Most are small problems that I can ghetto rig myself and save the 50 dollar take it to a dealer to figure out what is wrong before they actually work on it.![[;)]](/images/smilies/wink.png "Wink [;)]")
I do what ever is possible on the 325es of the family, all the way to replacing the head gasket and rebuilding the head. I also do everything I can on the M3, when it doesn't involve costly parts. I really don't trust the local service departments much.
The only thing I won't touch, on an out of warranty Bimmer, is opening the tranny or dif.
The only thing I won't touch, on an out of warranty Bimmer, is opening the tranny or dif.
This is way off topic but.....
I see exactly where you are coming from, but I've always felt that Mercedes is closer to the 'grocery getter' status. We all know that Benz and BMW have high exacting standards but 9 out of 10 times you see someone driving a Mercedes, its some disillusioned 50 year old wife with plastic surgey who looks fake as crap. Yeah, that's a bold statement, but I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.
BMWs have always symbolized, for me at least, someone who is just as successful as someone with a Mercedes but who has a more aggressive personality. The sportiness of the BMW certainly agrees with that.
I see exactly where you are coming from, but I've always felt that Mercedes is closer to the 'grocery getter' status. We all know that Benz and BMW have high exacting standards but 9 out of 10 times you see someone driving a Mercedes, its some disillusioned 50 year old wife with plastic surgey who looks fake as crap. Yeah, that's a bold statement, but I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.
BMWs have always symbolized, for me at least, someone who is just as successful as someone with a Mercedes but who has a more aggressive personality. The sportiness of the BMW certainly agrees with that.
wood_e said:
Wow, I wish i had money. Then i could get some sweet service plan like that. Your brakes are even covered??? Thats wonderful! Get that car on the track!
Yeah the blue and white badge has sadly become a symbol of wealth/status. Its sad because I have always viewed them as drivers cars, not grocery getters... It is a crying shame what society has reduced the blue and white to. I commend you guys for taking the initiative to destroy the stereotype.
Yeah the blue and white badge has sadly become a symbol of wealth/status. Its sad because I have always viewed them as drivers cars, not grocery getters... It is a crying shame what society has reduced the blue and white to. I commend you guys for taking the initiative to destroy the stereotype.
