BMW is trying to screw me!!!

[Bryan330i]

It's really just the Germans. BMW, Mercedes, VW, Audi. That's why I think Porsche is such an amazing car company. They deliver a great-driving sports car (for the most part) with great technology, and they just never have any problems. Just take a look at how many old Porsches you see running around every day.
In any case, problems don't really phaise me. I mean, I haven't had any problems with my car, but if I did, I just wouldn't even care (unless they were major and took away from my driving time!). Take the car in, get it fixed, and keep on driving.

Good point MrE.

But I bet it is much easier to get good service form your Infinity dealer. That is if it ever breaks down. Now why cant BMW be like that?

 

[Bimmubishi]

Porsche has plenty of problems! Evo's STIs there's a laundry list of problems for every car. Porsches are driven much less often as owners often have multiple cars. They are usually weekend cars and are garaged/well cared for as the demographic for a Porsche owner would suggest. This is why you might see a lot of old ones around.

My roomate is a BMW Master Tech. He's seen BMW replace tires under warranty! TIRES!

How can you go wrong.

 

[flashinthepan]

It's really just the Germans. BMW, Mercedes, VW, Audi. That's why I think Porsche is such an amazing car company. They deliver a great-driving sports car (for the most part) with great technology, and they just never have any problems. Just take a look at how many old Porsches you see running around every day.

I am not so sure,

My brother has a 95 993-911 & he has had the same kind of electrical problems typically associated with BMW's. Funny little warning lights, window short, dead battery etc..

Its great for me, this way I am not the only one being laughed at...

 

[bmw046series]

VW owns a portion of Porsche, which makes Porsche partially German.

 

[Wadula]

it´s only the germans? audi, bmw, merc they all are bad cause their german but porsche is great? heck porsche is as german as german can be.

every car company has those freakin problems....that´s cause they stuff so much electric shit in the new cars that they just attract problems. my old and basic 323 from 98 is solid as a rock. those 2 problems is had are a joke compared to mileage and age of the car.
take a new porsche, for instance a boxster and be amazed how many problmes owners have. leaking oil pans, leaking roofs....stuff like that that you never expect from porsche,or audi or merc or bmw.

 

[Bryan330i]

VW owns a portion of Porsche, which makes Porsche partially German.

That would depend on the portion and the agreements. Is it a strategic alliance for certain things, or a partnership in some areas?

Companies can form alliances for very small portions of their business and may exchange stock as a gesture of intent; meanwhile they maintain highly individualistic and very different companies.

 

[retso73]

Statistically, it is BMW. Their satisfaction rate and quality has declined. They have more problems per vehicle than many other makes, this is a fact. And what I am seeing and experiencing is a company not standing behind their product. It will have an effect on them.

If they want to improve they need to start showing it.

VW sales dropped significantly last quarter and I am sure BMW is not far behind if they don’t get it together.

The competition is heating up, no time for slacking.

I'm with you 100%! I think BMW has a horrible reliability issue and it's only a matter of time that it'll catch up to them -- in fact it's already starting with the new Infiniti and Acura's taking a hold with their redesigned mid-size luxury sedan. BMW needs to stand behind their product and deal with their poor workmanship. Trust me, I'm about done with them.

 

[Bryan330i]

I think the real problem is that companies get lazy. You can see this throughout history.

The unfortunate thing for BMW and other European makers is that they picked the wrong time. I feel strongly that we are beginning a phase of automotive excitement like we have not seen in a long time. Even the US makers, historically the slowest and laziest of them all are blazing forward. I just don’t think this is a good time for a company to try and ride on their name, they need to get moving or they may get trampled.

 

[mclarensmps]

porsche is german, VW or no VW... isnt it?

 

[Kirby]

I think the real problem is that companies get lazy. You can see this throughout history.

The unfortunate thing for BMW and other European makers is that they picked the wrong time. I feel strongly that we are beginning a phase of automotive excitement like we have not seen in a long time. Even the US makers, historically the slowest and laziest of them all are blazing forward. I just don’t think this is a good time for a company to try and ride on their name, they need to get moving or they may get trampled.

I totally agree with this. I have not seen this much excitement and revolutionary product development in the new car market since I was a kid (dating myself again) when the muscle cars, pony cars, etc. were all the rage in the mid and late 60s.

The 70s reeked of cosmetically ugly safety requirements and fuel/emission efficent dogs, the 80s were boxy, bean counter specials lacking any creativity, and the 90s started to reverse that trend. Now we have amazing, sexy vehicles putting out over 100 hp per liter.

When I bought the 330 I was buying a premier performance sports convertible. I am still *very* happy with it (even with the tranny issues, because ALL manufacturers have issues now and then), but I look at the new specs from Asia vs. the new specs from Germany, and they are falling behind.

On the quality subject, it would be interesting to see if BMW is really increasing in number of defects, or are the others actually reducing the number of defects, and therefore BMW is sliding in rank? Certainly, either way, BMW has to do better.