BMW

Buyers can expect to pay a premium for servicing and maintaining European manufacturers like BMW here in Australia due to the cost of importing OEM parts from overseas and labour costs at BMW’s network around the country. 

Having said that, BMW uses high-quality components while maintaining and replacing hardware, but buyers should be aware of the fact that it can be an expensive process to maintain a BMW here in Australia.

The question of which BMW SUV is best depends on your needs, and the size of your vehicle. 

For example, those looking for a compact SUV for a small family with young children, the X1 platform is perhaps the best SUV option for you. For growing families, the added space inside the X3 and X5 SUV makes it one of the best midsize options in its class. For those looking for the largest and leading premium SUV, the X7 remains a great option.

Due to the fact that many BMW vehicles share platforms, powertrains, transmissions and electrical components, it’s difficult to say exactly which BMW Series is the most reliable. 

It also takes quite a long period of time to accurately judge vehicle reliability, so the winners here are all at least a decade or so old. BMW Series vehicles that rank high in terms of reliability include the BMW 318i, 325i, E90 328, 528i, i3, X3 and the 750i.

BMW’s Assist system, otherwise known as the accident management feature provides the driver with contact with roadside assistance and emergency services in the event of an accident or breakdown. This includes accident assistance, help with a breakdown, towing of the vehicle, help with accommodation or alternative transport and more. 

The BMW Assist feature does not track the location of the vehicle while you’re driving, instead, it transmits the location of the vehicle only when activated by the driver, or in the case a heavy impact is detected and the airbags are deployed.

The main difference between the X series SUV lineup is the higher the number, the larger the SUV becomes. For example, the X1 is BMW’s smallest compact SUV, which grows in size as you step up to the X3 and X5, while the largest BMW SUV comes in the form of the range-topping X7.

Consumer reports state that the most common problems with BMW vehicles include oil leaks, failing gaskets, issues with the vehicle’s cooling system that causes it to overheat, vibrations through the steering wheel under braking, battery terminal issues and electrical problems with the head and tail lights. 

Keep in mind that these are problems that impacted previous-generation vehicles, which have more than likely been addressed and fixed by BMW in its latest lineup, although no car is immune to mechanical and electrical issues.