It has been a common perception of the car world that there are cars built to last and cars that are cheap and cheerful. I have worked in the motor trade for over 10 years and my perception of how long cars last has often caught my eye. For instance i'd say a Vauxhall or Ford would be happy until you reached around the 150,000 mile mark then it could spell trouble whereas the germans and japs seem to have a long engine life.

What I want to know is how many miles your cars have done (current and previous) as I want to see how BMW compares to the lastability of others. Also I want to know if you have had any major engine work done in this time or had to sell/scrap due to engine failure?

My cars are as follows:

Vauxhall cavalier - 1987 1.6lx - 110,000 - engine failure, had new engine fitted then sold!

BMW 525e 1984 140,000 miles, no problems in 2 years of ownership. Sold and still going strong.

530iSE - Said 130,000 on clock, later found was probably 230,00 but still went like a storm and started every time, first time. Sold and part exed for current motor.

540i Touring- bought at 120,000 now done 154,00 no problems. Had new block at 70,000 due to nikasil problem, runs as sweet as ever. Still going!

Cheers

Mike

e23 82 735 177 still going

e28 525 147 still going (no oil change for 4 years poor car) not me but oil ways all mint?? no were to cam or rockers replaced spray bar.

land rover 3.9 v8 148 still going no probs

e30 91 316i 189 still going strong 25k in the last year 200 + end this year we hope :)

All have engine flush and add every 6k e30 motaway all the time.

at present 135k e39 520i 00D reg

prev 46k micra 00D reg

Nissan Almera 1.4 - 104k when sold, I reckon this thing will run until the end of time, just very slowly!

e46 2003 320d - 74k. New turbo at 69k.

Pretty limited experience unfortunately

E34 535 1989 F reg 194,500 MILES - INDICATOR FLASHER UNIT AND SECOND HAND BREAK CALIPER , 2 NEW FRONT SHOCKS REMOVAL OF SEIZED O/F BREAK CALIPER - 150.00 LABOUR AND 100.00 PARTS LOOSE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER - BOTTLE OF WINE TO FIX - car bought for 750.00 quid with a year's mot (cost the guy a new windscreen, rear shocks and some break pipe work to pass that MOT plus headlamp adjustments)

E36 328I R reg - 80,000 miles 700.00 NEW POWER STEERING UNIT - normal servicing costs

E30 318i - H reg 115,000 over 1000.00 for breaks/tyres and suspension to pass MOT

E39 535i V8 V reg 2000 - 85,000 miles 500.00 for new radiator, 400.00 new discs and pads - engine was cutting out when traded in for the 320d plus normal service costs

E46 320d 2001 Y reg - 69,000 miles 276.00 rear abs sensor nothing else so far due for a inspection 1 or 2 next month)

both the E34 and E46 due for MOT's this month and next month

Alfa Romeo 1998 156 2.0 Twin Spark engine failure at 65,000.  New engine from Alfa and ran the car for a further 45,000.  Numerous air flow metres and other associated Alfa problems.  £3200 for new engine and cluch .

E36 M3 GT 1995 104,000 miles new air con condenser.

nessiemark wrote: Alfa Romeo 1998 156 2.0 Twin Spark engine failure at 65,000.  New engine from Alfa and ran the car for a further 45,000.  Numerous air flow metres and other associated Alfa problems.  £3200 for new engine and cluch . E36 M3 GT 1995 104,000 miles new air con condenser.

Thats a big NO for Alfa's then!?

Some interesting answers so far chaps, more mileages though as I wan't to see which cars are getting the high miles with no problems and which ones are failing early. Looks so far like the Germans n Japs are solid though, good stuff!

One I forgot to mention was my brothers car. He used to have an e36 320iSE. He had it for 8 years, ragged the living daylights out of it and had several sets of tyres and brakes (a good indicator of how he drove it) He got it at about 80,000miles and sold it at about 150,000 then he decided to tell me he'd NEVER EVER SERVICED IT!!!! No brake fluid, antifreeze, oil changes, NOTHING EVER, I kid you not!!!!!

It always started flick of the key and never had any major components at all. It ran as sweet as a nut, drove like a storm (quite pokey for a  2.0) and never missed a beat. A true tribute to BMW engineering. He has had a golf V5 for the last few years and it's cost him a lot and doesn't drive anywhere near as nice as his beemer. His missus says she wans a beemer as her next car and he regrets not getting another. He is currently looking at getting an alpina e39

Mike

nessiemark wrote: Alfa Romeo 1998 156 2.0 Twin Spark engine failure at 65,000.  New engine from Alfa and ran the car for a further 45,000.  Numerous air flow metres and other associated Alfa problems.  £3200 for new engine and cluch . E36 M3 GT 1995 104,000 miles new air con condenser.

Me too. 00 d 156 Crankshaft bairing failure at 58K. Put in secondhand engine from Crashed 156.... 1K later same problem Sold it for parts.

HAd a 98 Mondeo with 145K Great car I traded it in in 2001 and its proberly still going. Nothing went wrong with it.

HAd a 92 Pug 405 GLDturbo 60K head cracked (common problem)

Nissan Almera Gearbox bairings failed a 58K. God bless Nissan Warranty. (60k or 3 years)

Not to mention My 2000 E39 with the dodgy AutoBox that never got fixed.

Lots of other cars most forgetable so they proberly didnt give much trouble.

O lets not forget my current ride 02 d 525i bought it last year with 12K.

Now at 35K  afraid to even say it, but no problems.

Mick

My current 523i has 117k and its the highest mileage car I've ever had.  Its also the longest I've ever kept a car, by a long margin, 4.5 years and I still can't come up with a logical reason to get rid of it.  No tales of woe with any of them and I've put around 200k on various BMW'd through the past 9 years and Mrs D has put another 40k on her 3 BMW's too. 

Biggest bill was €2500 for a real nuts and bolts service at my main dealer on the 320i convertible.  Worth every penny though.  It only had 45k miles up on it in its 10 years when I took custody and just needed a good going over, an Insp2, things like brake lines, an exhaust box, etc.  It genuinely felt like a new car afterwards.  I put another 15k on it and enjoyed every one of them immensely.  The car cost me virtually nothing in depreciation because the condition and mileage meant it sold in a flash when it came time to move it and it only cost me the price of another oil service in two years so it was still cheap motoring overall.

My 530 has 182000 on the clock, still going strong, does need the valve clearances adjusting as a bit tappety, but still returns 30 mpg on a run and sails through the MOT

Paul

1992 Honda Accord 2.2i - bought with 64K on the clock, driven to 477,000 miles, only ever needed regular oil changes, a reconditioned auto/box and a CV joint.  It was then hit by a light truck and written off but stilld rove smooth!

1997 BMW 328i - 123,555 miles going OK, but needs regular TLC and maintenance.  IMO, not as reliable as people think but cheaper to maintain that what people think.

2000 Volvo C70 T5 - 120,000miles, drives just like its come out of the show room, really gob smacked by it, its damn perfect and has only had brakes done outside the normal service schedule items. I'll never sell it! 

1987 E30 320I - Headgasket replaced at 180000KM by previous owner. Never found out why. Car now on 241000KM and going strong. Power steering pump needed an overhaul as it used to grind all the time. Needed recon steering rack. I have just replaced the timing belt, water pump, thermostat and all the V Belts...which are preventative maintenance items. Engine is a little tappy as one of the rockers is badly worn! Power steering leaks like a pig...

1995 E34 525I - Headgasket replaces at 215000KM due to a service attendant leaving the coolant cap off. Not the cars fault!!! She was going perfectly before this. Even after this, the head was fine and it was a straight gasket swop. I was told by the mechanic that the engine was in perfect condition and all it needed was a new Vanos Cog and the lifters needed replacing. Got 226100KM and is going VERY STRONG!!! I can still pull away from most cars! Slight tappy noise, which I think is the injectors...only fault is that car seems to have a crap load of leaks from coolant and brake fluid lines. All been solved with either new hoses or grommets...power steering leaks a drop every couple of days...

BB

E34 518i bought with 118k up on it and knackered cam due to no oil changes. Changed this & followers etc and twas still running on past 160k

E34 525i - H/G failure @ 113k when I bought it. Did that and a few other bits, and trucking along past 150k, though ate through suspension components.

E36 328i nikasil failure @ 60k. New engine - still trucking past 120k

E36 M3 - solid out past 100k

E39 525TDS. Threw a conrod @ 131k. rebuilt, and trucking past 183k, on original turbo etc.. Suspension done around 160k

Neighbours E38 735i on 190k. Needed some work done around 140k, and going strong again now.

156 1.8 Sportwagon. 95k and variator is a bit noisy. Fingers X'd

155 2.0 gearbox rebuilt & exploded 80miles later. Otherwise mint

my mate has an 86 Peugeot 205 diesel with 466000 miles and the engine and box untouched except for servicing. Had a couple of back axles in it for wear to the swinging arm bushes.

Looking a bit tired now but self limited to 50mph it still chugs around.

Well so far the winner appears to be a Honda along with some Fords and a vauxhall! Seems my initial perceptions of some cars have been quashed though a lot of it is still down to how well the car is looked after. As for Honda's, they have always been known to have solid engines. A friend of mine went for a job as a mechanic for a Honda dealer a few years ago. One of the questions was what the most common jobs they undertook was (this guy used to work for Rover and frequently did engine re-builds and major work!) The reply from his posible future boss was "All we do is servicing and wear and tear items, oh and the odd scuff goes into the bodyshop"

My mate didn't take the job, he wanted to take engines and gearboxes apart which you just don't do at Honda garages!

Mike

I forgot to throw in a few of the others simply as they weren't really that high milegae.  These ones are mainly BMW's.

1989 325i Sport - At 83,000miles it consistently started snapping rocker arms ... so I sold it after 2 top end rebuilds at 88,000miles.  religiously serviced since I bought it at 75,000miles and had been maintained to a comprehensive standard up till then.

1995 E34 M5 - 30,000miles = lacking power - BMW replaced engine under warranty.  Vehicle was 1 onwer FBMWSH and serviced on time.  It was then trouble free upto 68,000 miles and was then hit by another car and written off.

2001 M5 - fine uptil 83,000miles, then was lacking power on a rolling road - BMW said a new bottom end is required - despite scheduled servicing.  Vehicle was then sold.

53' Jaguar XKR - 41,000miles bloody brilliant except needed brakes doing again under warranty due to poor workmanship the first time round.  Not put a foot wrong so far and only receives scheduled servicing.

1994 mondeo 1.8 diesel 225,000 miles just sold for £40 to a scrappy. Nothing wrong whatsoever just needed room for my 51 plated 330ci msport. (58000)

Loved that red beast.

nessiemark wrote: Alfa Romeo 1998 156 2.0 Twin Spark engine failure at 65,000.  New engine from Alfa and ran the car for a further 45,000.  Numerous air flow metres and other associated Alfa problems.  £3200 for new engine and cluch . E36 M3 GT 1995 104,000 miles new air con condenser.

New coil pack and some minor faults

645 (Aug 05) - 14,000 miles.  No problems, but I'd be a bit miffed if I had!

320d (Sep 04) - 38,000 miles.  No problems, but again I'd not expect it.

A4 1.9Tdi Sport (Sep 04) - 54,000 miles.  No problems again.

Previous cars:

E46 M3 Coupe - 23,000 miles - no problems.

E46 M3 Cab - 23,000 miles - airflow meter and rear springs replaced

However, if you were to ask me about a new Jaguar X-Type 2.5 V6 that I bought in a moment of madness a good few years back, and kept a matter of months, then I could bring the internet down....seriously.

my e34 on 117k still like new.

ady   

Dergside wrote: I was in Portugal last week and on one eveing got a taxi to a restaurant.  It was a pre '83 W123 Mercedes with 724,000km on the clock (just over 452k miles).  Felt like it needed a few bushes done on the back but otherwise I've no doubt it'll easily hit 7 figures (assuming this is the original speedo!).  The following night the taxi was a mere toddler of a Skoda Octavia with only 374,000km (over 230k miles).

The portugese ay, they know how to look after a car! Mind you, dare I say it (I better duck as I do) the Mercs do put on the mileage well!

Mike

nn_dd wrote: Alfa GTV 2.0 to 72K - Rear subframe replaced. But best car ever owned. '86 Nissan Bluebird - 150K, head gasket, clutch and rad @90K, was layed up for two years - put new battery in and started up first time, drove it down the road and sold it for €300, was burning oil - still going today. E36 M3 - @110K, few misfire issues, new coils, injectors and signal cables replaced, new clutch and roundabout issue!!, dearly love it and will hang on for a while yet. S40 - to 66K - No issues, was a brilliant car, soft bushes though. A3 - to 35K - Piece of utter utter crap, was towed 4 Times in 1 year all different problems, brake fail, clutch fail, water pump, complete electrics failed...........although probably a blip has put me off Audis for a very long time.

One of the few to praise an Alfa!

I have never really warmed to Audi's either!

and by golly, even back then the Japs got it right, look out the germans! (though in my experience, the Jap stuff is cheaper to buy the cars but more expensive on parts by a long way!)

Mike

My working colleague's 1999 2.0l Ford Mondeo 185k on the clock and still going strong, usual parts replaced brakes & zorst with no other major things... he's had it since new.

My old BMW E21 coupe 320i (6pot) I had for 2 years and nothing required other than oils/fluids.. 109k when bought, 123k when sold.

Had my E30 318i loon for eight years, 102k when bought renewed petrol tank, brake pipes, rear axle bushes, RTA bushes, rear chrome bumper (E30 roof drain problem), coolant thermostat and brake pads. 127k when she was sent to the Yard in the sky, due to tin worm along the sills and scuttle plate - not economically viable to sort

Now my E36 318iS Coupe 72k when bought (sept 2005), new zorst when bought (previous owner), new rear springs as both had broken at the same time. Currently on 85k and (touch wood) ok, although I expect the rta bushes to go within the next year or so.

(time to get the poly bushes on all the back end when these do go )

I had a Renault 19 16V which I ran from 6 000 to 118 000, Head gasket at 65 000 and new brakes all round about 90 000 . I loved the car and it had a hard life and did well to survive that long.

I have not run anything else past about 50 000. the Zed3 has 56 000 and is as sweet as a nut

Rhys wrote: 318ti currently 74k was 46 1/2k  when I bought it about 2 years ago. had new set of boots all round - thats about it so far.

Small but perfectly formed and very effective

Mike

My 99 M3 has reached 29,707 miles crisp & tight!

My old Renault Master diesel Van 2.8td 337,569 miles & still popping on & being overloaded !Regular oil & filter chags semm to be the key along with only using OE parts .

I was in a rented Transit van last week in letterkenny Donegal.

It was 1 year old with 280,000klm's on the clock. (175,000mls) thats nearly 500 miles per day.

Thats alot of going in 1 year. Seemed to drive ok too.

Mick

A few years ago, a BMW delivery lorry which we looked after had done over 1,000,000km delivering BMW parts up and down the country almost running 24 hours a day!

The driver looked after it so well, it only needed it's first clutch at 900,000km!

Mike

IamSpartacus wrote: 540 V8 wrote:  BMW lorry They make trucks too?

No, it is a M....Mer......(dunno if I can say it on here ) Mer....*COUGH* Mercedes *COUGH*

but in the BMW livery as it is one of their service vehicles which the dealership I work for looks after. I'm sorry to have confused you Derek, I know how you are easily lead astray!

Mike

ok  guys whos got the oldest BMW with the lowest milage my

 1994 e34 sport with 74000 miles to start  (13 yrs)

   Alan   

I have a 1987 E30 320I with 140000 miles on it... (20 in October)

BB

My E21 is 27 years young and only covered 56K mls. And she is still flying. see here

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/8028/dsc5367yy9.jpg - http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/8028/dsc5367yy9.jpg

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/522/dsc5365ye7.jpg - http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/522/dsc5365ye7.jpg

Mick

86 e23 735 just cum past 100k

H reg e30 now on 193k still going well