BMW 1-Series reliability

[neo97]

I'm with you. Look forward to the information.

[mkaresh]

Originally Posted by Zed 2.0

As to your comparison to the 3-series above, are you comparing all 1s to all 3s? I think you would see a significant statistical difference if you compared just the 135 to the 335, or 128 to 328. My impression is that a high percentage of 1s are "35" spec with the N54 engine, but a much lower percentage of 3s have the N54 engine.

Seeing as how the N54 is inherently going to require more servicing, you might want to compare the two cars based on engine type.

Looking over the repairs reported, the chief cause of the 1's higher repair rate is the tendency of the 3rd brake light to become detached. There aren't currently enough engine-related problems (not even the HPFP) to warrant splitting the results by engine. As the cars age, though, this will likely change.

The main impediment to reporting results by engine is getting a large enough sample size of each. We should get there by the time this becomes necessary--each car helps. Those of you who just signed up--thanks.

[mkaresh]

Originally Posted by neo97

I'm with you. Look forward to the information.

Sorry, missed this last time because of the page break. I certainly appreciate your help, and will have updated results next month, for the 2009 as well as the 2008. The result for the 2009 will be a partial one--especially need more responses for these.

Car reliability research

[cagekicker]

signed up!

[mkaresh]

Thanks, I appreciate it. We especially need more 2009s and up. We'll have a full result for the 2008 tomorrow on the site, but only a partial result for the 2009. We'd like to have full results for all years.

Car reliability research

[mkaresh]

We've updated the results for the 1-Series to include owner experiences through June 2009. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009: 23, better than average

2008: 77, about average

A big thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in November and February. The more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone. Especially need more 2009s and 2010s.

BMW 1-Series reliability comparisons

[mkaresh]

We've updated the results for the 1-Series to include owner experiences through September 30, 2009. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009: 29, better than average, small sample size

2008: 73, about average

We've also introduced two new statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

For the 2008, the percentage with no repairs is about 53, and the percentage of lemons is about 7. These aren't great numbers.

Nada-odds and Lemon-odds car reliability stats

A big thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in February and May. The more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone. Especially need more 2009s and 2010s.

BMW 1-Series reliability comparisons

[DBFIU]

Cool website.

[mkaresh]

Glad you like it.

135 1-Series owners now signed up. A very good start, but more are needed to provide precise results for all model years and to provide separate results for each engine. Especially need more 2009s and 2010s.

Not yet signed up? Details here:

Car reliability research

[soupy]

I use you guys a lot when checking invoice prices (since you guys can adjust options), so to return the favor I signed up my car.

[mkaresh]

We've updated the results for the 1-Series to include owner experiences through December 31, 2009. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009: 10, better than average, small sample size

2008: 79, about average

If they were reported separately, the 135i would score just a little worse than the 128i. Fuel pump failures never as high as for the 3-Series and seem to have tapered off.

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

For the 2008, the percentage with no repairs is about 40, and the percentage of lemons is about 7. These aren't great numbers.

Nada-odds and Lemon-odds car reliability stats

A big thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May and August. The more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone. Especially need more 2009s and 2010s.

BMW 1-Series reliability comparisons

[mkaresh]

150 1-Series owners now signed up. A good start, but more are needed to provide precise results for all model years. Especially need more 2009s and 2010s.

Not yet signed up? Details here:

Car reliability research

[melesk]

I have had my 135i for 4 months and have had following issues:
- rear defoger stopped working - changed "connector relay box" to fix
- service soon "car on hoist" idiot light came on intermittently and disapeared after a couple of days - always before could get it to the dealer They could not find a stored fault
- heater fan will pause for a second as if gone off then returns to full power
- radio would go off when engine off for a minute then battery light would go on. Ok to start car but 1st time dealer said battery down by 50% and recharged
- two weeks later same issues above, this time the dealer diagnosed battery was "gassing" and corroding posts so they replaced baterry
- two weeks later (last night) heater fan sympton retuned and this morning car failed to start - not even turning over (radio works fine for minutes though) when starter pressed all guages flicker wildly but engine doesn't engage
- dealer not sure this afternoon - fault indicated something left on for 8 hours (not). service manager taking it home himself tonight to observe

Anyone else seeing these kind of electrical faults?

I am on the verge of declaring it a lemon and demnanding a new car - I love the 135 and want another one even if I have to pay for some usage

what do you all think?

[spellbmw]

Originally Posted by melesk

I have had my 135i for 4 months and have had following issues:
- rear defoger stopped working - changed "connector relay box" to fix
- service soon "car on hoist" idiot light came on intermittently and disapeared after a couple of days - always before could get it to the dealer They could not find a stored fault
- heater fan will pause for a second as if gone off then returns to full power
- radio would go off when engine off for a minute then battery light would go on. Ok to start car but 1st time dealer said battery down by 50% and recharged
- two weeks later same issues above, this time the dealer diagnosed battery was "gassing" and corroding posts so they replaced baterry
- two weeks later (last night) heater fan sympton retuned and this morning car failed to start - not even turning over (radio works fine for minutes though) when starter pressed all guages flicker wildly but engine doesn't engage
- dealer not sure this afternoon - fault indicated something left on for 8 hours (not). service manager taking it home himself tonight to observe

Anyone else seeing these kind of electrical faults?

I am on the verge of declaring it a lemon and demnanding a new car - I love the 135 and want another one even if I have to pay for some usage

what do you all think?

Thus far, none of these problems. Seems like it should be easy to resolve...but modern cars...computers...'nuf said...
I'd get dealer's response and computer read-out, then if it is inconclusive & without a satisfactory solution, start the papertrail with BMWNA for possible lemon.

[mkaresh]

I don't think your experience is remotely typical. Seems you've got one or two problems that the dealer just can't figure out.

Updated reliability stats next month. Additional participants remain needed, especially for the 2009 and up.

Car reliability research

[mkaresh]

We've updated the results for the 1-Series to include owner experiences through March 31, 2010. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009: 28, better than average

2008: 87, worse than average

If they were reported separately, the 135i would score just a little worse than the 128i. Fuel pump failures never as high as for the 3-Series and seem to have tapered off.

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

For the 2008, the percentage with no repairs is about 32, and the percentage of lemons is about 6. These aren't great numbers.

Nada-odds and Lemon-odds car reliability stats

A big thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in August and November. The more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone. Especially need more 2009s and 2010s.

BMW 1-Series reliability comparisons

[mkaresh]

We've updated the results for the 1-Series to include owner experiences through June 30, 2010.

Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the more recent months until the summer or even fall of next year.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009: 42, about average

2008: 99, worse than average -- common problem with the third brake light

If they were reported separately, the 135i would score just a little worse than the 128i.

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

For the 2008, the percentage with no repairs is about 40, and the percentage of lemons is about 13. These aren't great numbers.

Nada-odds and Lemon-odds car reliability stats

Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in November and February. The more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone. Especially need more for 2009 and up.

To see how competitors compare, and sign up to participate:

BMW 1-Series reliability comparisons

[mkaresh]

Starting this month we have a new question to measure, as objectively as possible, the severity of a problem. Many people have been asking for reliability stats that weight problems by how severe they are, and once we have enough responses with the revised survey we'll start providing this.

Also, updated reliability stats this month.

As always, the more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone.

Car reliability research