Never Buy BMW

Let me begin by saying that I deeply regret buying a new 2006 325 xi in January of 2006. Because I live in Manhattan, I wanted the smaller series, but loaded it with all the options. I spent close to $50K confidently because I believed the all the BMW brand hype around "German engineering" and the exceptional service the company supposedly provides.

What a mistake. Little did I know, this series and many more, are plagued with serious tire wear and noise problems. To a slightly lesser degree, I liken it to the Ford Explorer debacle a few years ago because when challenged, both companies point to the fact that tires are not covered under warranty (Ford has since changed its tune after killing many people and being sued by many, many more). I regret to say that BMW will not officially admit to me, or attempt to correct the problems around anything mentioned in this article.

From a quick Google search, I found out that my experience is not isolated. My car wears out the inside edge of every single tire that is put on it, as do many others. The tires have been properly balanced, aligned and have had the right air pressure. My car was put on “the rack” to insure the frame was straight twice in 2006. And yet each BMW employee that I have talked to try to tell me that they have never heard of any other car with similar issues to mine. This directly contradicts an internal Technical Service notice distributed internally to BMW service centers in January 2007. So I can only assume that each person I have talked to, some senior level in the service centers, are either liars or incompetent.

The very expensive performance tires I am required to run on my car all wear consistently uneven. The problem is drastic as the insides are eaten away within 7 to 10 thousand miles. The noise is deafening within a few thousand miles and the handling is also highly compromised. Within a year and a half of owning this car, I will have spent over $3K on 13 tires. Local service reps and and BMW North America agents all argue that I should expect to replace my tires every year (although I only drive my car two or three times a month), but adamantly deny that BMW is in anyway responsible for selling me a car that destroys tires and sounds like a monster truck on the highway.

Buyer Beware! People should be honest and stand behind their work and products. Stay away from BMW!!