BMW was once a storied automaker, a fine German brand with a rich history, and an awesome collection of cars roaming the Earth. But sadly, things have changed for the folks at the Bavarian Motor Works. An emphasis on making mass-market cars that don't age well has forever tarnished the brand with previous owners and DIY tinkerers.

Updated August 2021: If you're considering buying a used BMW, you'll be happy to know that we've updated this article and explain in greater detail the various problems you may encounter as the owner of a Bavarian car. Hopefully, this will help you make the best possible decision for your next automotive purchase.

Many experienced owners and mechanics will tell you to stay far away from used BMWs, especially ones from the last 20 years, or so. They are simply not worth the money you will no doubt have to pour into them. They break easily, the parts are expensive, and the labor costs are astronomical.

Sure, they look cool and have that certain amount of allure about them. But that sweet siren song will eventually hit a series of bad notes as you make it rain personal checks down at the local Euro repair shop. Here are 15 solid reasons to not buy a used BMW.

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15 Electrical Problems

2008 BMW 530i moves down the road

BMWs are notorious for their electrical problems. But the problems aren't just caused by the fancy gadgets — even basic things, such as power windows and batteries, mysteriously stop working. Ultimate Bimmer Services offered a hint of what lies beneath by saying that, "some of the older models, the drainage systems weren’t appropriately placed, causing water damage to the electrical system."

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14 It's A Ticking Time Bomb

This is what a BMW 135i ValveTronic Motor Failure looks like

YouTuber Tavarish put it best when he wrote in Jalopnik that, "starting and running a high-strung BMW engine that’s destined for daily driver duty without incident is like finding a briefcase with a big red LCD display with five seconds left, with the choice of cutting the red wire or the blue wire... It’s a literal time bomb." We couldn't have put it better ourselves, and if that's not a good enough reason to avoid buying a Bimmer, who knows what it takes to keep someone away from the Bavarian brand.

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13 BMW Makes More Money Selling Parts

Yet another BMW getting repaired

A conspiracy theory that BMW makes much more off the repair parts than by selling new cars is taking root. On one forum, Jo Mamma Wallace commented, "Every BMW I had from 1996–2006 was brilliant (...) Post-2006 something bad happened to the brand (...) things break WAY MORE frequently than prior years and the cost of the parts skyrocketed."

It seems many mechanics and BMW enthusiasts tend to agree with this statement. The cars coming out of Munich these days aren't what they used to be.

12 Well-Documented Reliability Issues

BMW engine bay at its best

Consumer Reports tells you everything you need to know. They have not scored the brand as "above average" since 2007. Now add the fact that published data shows that BMWs are more likely than any other brand to be off the road after four to eight years. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for brand reliability, but surely BMW is aware of the situation, so why aren't things improving?

11 Are Those Bavarians A Bunch Of Sneaky Cost-Cutters?

BMW on a lift

Sneaky cost-cutting has hurt BMW as a brand over the years. They occasionally use cheaper parts that can cause the cars to not last as long. It's usually not affecting those who buy brand-new BMWs though, but their manufacturing decisions have cast a plague on their used vehicles. What saved BMW $5 on the front end could end up costing you hundreds or thousands on the back end if you're the type who holds on to a car for more than a couple of years or you usually buy used cars.

10 What Don't You Get About The Entry-Level Concept

The BMW E21 is a classic

Sure, new BMW 3 Series cars are more fun to drive than a Toyota. But you'd better hope that you leased that thing because it is certain to fall apart quickly after just a few years, according to the data. Remember, these are cheap BMW-branded models made for people who don't know any better. Don't fall for it.

9 Enjoy The Best Years Of The Car, Lease A New BMW

A family affair: BMW MK2 classics

If getting a 2005 7-series is the answer to your automotive dreams, go back to sleep. They are extremely expensive to repair and break down frequently enough for you to have the towing company on speed dial. Whereas some cars will nickel and dime you into poverty, BMWs tend to grab huge chunks of cash out of your account at once. The known problems with these cars can easily cost you thousands to diagnose and repair, such as connecting rod bearing failures, issues with the crankcase ventilation, faulty cooling systems... just to name a few.

8 Break My Wallet

BMW getting routine maintenance

Word on the street: is that BMW actually stands for "Break My Wallet." For every good-luck Johnny with a banging 528e, there are six more sad-faced Bimmer owners with maxed-out credit cards. Both 3 and 5 Series cars with six-cylinder engines are famous for cooling systems that leak and burst open.

7 The Thing Is Just Worn Out

BMW handling has fallen over the years according to Car and Driver

Let's face the facts, older BMWs are not factory fresh and likely not that precise anymore. The thing is simply worn out and not getting any better. However, if you want to buy an old classic and restore it, it will certainly be a better option than buying a late model BMW that's also guaranteed to have more than its fair share of issues. At least old models are appreciating and a lot of fun to drive. New BMWs are getting steadily worse when it comes to "steering feel" according to a detailed Car and Driver analysis.

6 Didn't You Read The Signs?

BMW repair done at JSI European Specialist

Back in 2001, someone posted on the Edmunds Forum that they'd spotted a sign at an auto repair facility that read "Toyota repairs $40/hr, BMW repairs $65/hr." Since then, auto repair prices have increased drastically, even more so for certain luxury brands. This is the service up-charge you pay when driving a Bimmer. Add to that, the parts mark-up and seemingly innocuous repairs can quickly escalate into the thousands. Signs, everywhere signs.

5 Does BMW Make Too Many Different Flavors?

We wish you luck with classic BMWs

Perhaps BMW is spreading itself too thin trying to meet the demand of the hungry market they have created. Do they really need a model for everyone? Why not focus on making a few great cars instead of a bunch of bad ones? They have the potential for greatness — instead, they swim (and will eventually drown) in the mass market.

4 Old BMWs Should Not Be Daily Drivers

2012 BMW 7 Series
Via: Atlanta Autos

If you plan on using an old BMW 7 Series as your daily driver, expect problems. Service experts at Prescott Import offer this: "Though you can buy the car for under $10,000, you will probably pay more than that for insurance premiums, maintenance, repairs, and gas over the course of a single year."

3 Not Exactly A National Treasure

Not a surprise to find BMWs in a garage

It takes a lot of research to know which used BMW models are actually worth purchasing and sinking money into. Most of us don't have that kind of time. With so many models, engine variants, and known issues to stay away from, you need to become a BMW savant to successfully wade the minefield that is the used BMW market. In general, the older, the better, and BMWs from the 70s, 80s, and 90s are now seeing their prices skyrocket.

2 Inexperienced Owners Means Poor Maintenance

The BMW E30 is a classic. But is it too expensive to fix?

With the relatively cheap prices for used examples, a lot of inexperienced drivers buy BMWs and do not maintain them properly. That means there's a lot of cars out there for sale that have had little or no scheduled maintenance done on them. Many non-car enthusiasts don't really care about that kind of thing and just drive them until they die, and even many enthusiasts insist on doing the work themselves, is that really something you'd want to buy? And if the warranty has run out, it's even worse.

1 A Lot Of Jerks Drive BMWs

Service technician adding oil to a BMW

A study revealed that the biggest road ragers "were men, age 35-50, with blue BMWs." Those Bavarian Motor jerks are too busy stinking up the place to care about changing the oil or committing other random acts of maintenance kindness on a financed 3- or 5-series.