mkaresh

I wanted more up-to-date car reliability information that made the differences between cars clearer. So a few years ago I started getting people together to make this possible. TrueDelta now updates actual repair frequencies, not just dots, four times a year, to track cars closely as they age.

We've had excellent participation by BMW owners. Participants simply report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, following the end of each quarter.

To encourage participation, participants receive full access to all results, not just those for the 5-Series, for free. I'll share results for the E60 in this thread after each update.

To sign up to help:

TrueDelta | Enrollment

mkaresh

We've updated our reliability stats for the 5-Series to include owner experiences through June 30, 2013. (Another source is about 14 months behind.)

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

2010 5-Series: 76, high
2009 5-Series: 66, moderate, small sample size
2008 528 / 550 / M5: 80, high
2008 535: 99, high
2007 5-Series: 63, moderate
2006 5-Series: 68, moderate
2005 5-Series: 66, moderate, very small sample size
2004 5-Series: 74, moderate

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:

2008 528 / 550 / M5: 57, 11
2006 5-Series: 50, 4

We'll have further updates in November and February.

To view competitors' scores and descriptions of reported repairs:

BMW 5-Series reliability ratings and comparisons

mkaresh

We've updated our reliability stats for the 5-Series to include owner experiences through September 30, 2013.

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

2010 5-Series: 99, high
2009 5-Series: 43, low, small sample size
2008 528 / 550 / M5: 88, high
2008 535: 117, high
2007 5-Series: 56, moderate
2006 5-Series: 81, moderate
2004 5-Series: 100, moderate

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:

2008 528 / 550 / M5: 50, 7
2006 5-Series: 45, 7

We'll have further updates in February and in May. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

BMW 5-Series reliability ratings and comparisons

mkaresh

We've updated our reliability stats for the 5-Series to include owner experiences through December 31, 2013.

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

2010 5-Series: 94, high
2009 5-Series: 41, moderate, small sample size
2008 528 / 550 / M5: 96, high
2008 535: 117, high
2007 5-Series: 65, moderate
2006 5-Series: 95, high
2004 5-Series: 94, moderate, small sample size

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:

2008 528 / 550 / M5: 39, 4
2006 5-Series: 30, 4

We'll have further updates in May and in August. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

To see the repairs behind these stats, and to sign up to help improve this information:

BMW 5-Series reliability ratings and comparisons

mkaresh

Our reliability stats for the 5-Series now include owner experiences through March 31, 2014, making them nearly a year ahead of other sources.

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

2010 5-Series: 63, moderate
2009 5-Series: 71, moderate, small sample size
2008 528 / 550 / M5: 85, high
2008 535: 115, high
2007 5-Series: 54, moderate
2006 5-Series: 100, high
2004 5-Series: 98, moderate, small sample size

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:

2008 528 / 550 / M5: 55, 4
2006 5-Series: 28, < 1
2002 5-Series: 39, 4

Thank you, once again, everyone who has been helping. Next update in August.

For a deeper dive, including the stats for other cars and repair descriptions, and to sign up to help improve this information:

BMW 5-Series reliability ratings and comparisons

mkaresh

We've updated our reliability stats for the 5-Series to include owner experiences through June 30, 2014 (making them about 14 months ahead of some others).

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

2010 5-Series: 46, moderate
2009 5-Series: 76, high, small sample size
2008 528 / 550 / M5: 78, moderate
2008 535: 91, high
2007 5-Series: 54, moderate
2006 5-Series: 90, moderate
2004 5-Series: 117, high, small sample size

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:

2008 528 / 550 / M5: 44, 3
2006 5-Series: 40, 7

Next updates in November and in February. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

For repair descriptions, the stats of other cars, and to sign up to help improve this information:

BMW 5-Series reliability ratings and comparisons

texasmr2

I purchased my '04 525i in 02-'14 with 86.5K and now have barely have over 90K and the car is flawless, stats vary and are subjective.

mkaresh

Reliability definitely varies from car to car. We provide a better sense of this with the "repair odds" stats. From these, unlike with an average, you can tell what percentage of cars had no repairs in the past year, or 3+ repair trips. We need more data to publicly provide these stats for the 5--though I share some with marginal sample sizes in the thread. For the 3-Series:

BMW 3-Series Lemon Odds and Nada Odds

Subjective, not so much. The great majority of the problems reported through the survey would be noticed and considered a problem by any owner: the window stops working, the wheel bearing starts humming, etc.

BrandonSS

Youve had the car for 3500 miles... Thats really not enough to make claims of reliability.

mkaresh

We've updated our reliability stats for the 5-Series to include owner experiences through September 30, 2014.

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

2010 5-Series: 41, moderate
2009 5-Series: 82, high
2008 528 / 550 / M5: 76, moderate
2008 535: 111, high
2007 5-Series: 60, moderate
2006 5-Series: 100, high
2004 5-Series: 87, moderate, small sample size

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:

2008 528 / 550 / M5: 45, 4
2006 5-Series: 42, 4

Additional participants always helpful.

To view the repairs behind these numbers, check the stats for other cars, and sign up to help improve this information (next update in February):

BMW 5-Series reliability ratings and comparisons