Originally Posted by za3879' post='612462' date='Jun 29 2008, 01:01 PM

I purchased my 04 545i pre-owned last year with 45XXX on it. I drive a LOT (sales role) and now I'm over 80XXX miles.
I haven't had any MAJOR problems like people on this forum have, but there have been plenty of small things that just keep adding up.
A sensor here, some nonsense there and I'm finding myself at the dealer every week or two. I recently had that emissions message pop up and it ran me a cool 500. I'm too afraid to let anyone else work on the car besides the dealer, for risk of them F'n it up.

I dont have warranty anymore, which i regret not extending. This is my first BMW, and the constant worry-some feeling of something MIGHT be going wrong again soon just sucks. I've NEVER experienced this much headache with a car, not even in my american cars. My friends with BMW's all are in the same boat.

I really LOVE the car to death, but I often question my purchase. Its just a headache - drop of the car, pick it up, blah blah blah and then always have a bill of at least a few hundred for the smallest issues.

I just got the emissions error handled, and now what i think is the belts are screeching loud as all hell. i know its at least going to run me around 300 based off of what ive read here, and have to squeeze in pickups and dropoffs during the work week.

I often here about "german engineering" being so great, but if it is that great - why do we always have problems with these cars?
I dont even think its because I bought a 'used' car, because I find a lot of new owners go through the headache as well on brand new vehicles.
Now i'm wondering how many miles I can get out of this thing w/o anything major going wrong.