[Wgosma]

Originally Posted by Bilbofraggins

I just bit the bullet at the dealer for an X6M battery...paid...330 and 130 to register....$539 Canadian taxes in .

800 USD WTF.....

On this occasion the dealer was the cheapest option...but I get things I can't or won't do at my trusted indy...

Cry me a river...

...too close to the Arctic Circle again 😉.

Pep Boys down in sunshine land put a new factory spec AGM battery in my F25; U.S. $210 out the door, no charge to 'register' the battery.

[Wgosma]

Originally Posted by BIG_KID

2011 BMW X3 28i 85,000 miles N52 engine

BMW owners that have no warranty left have to be either very wealthy or very mechanically inclined. I am in the mechanically inclined catagory. Some pricing on maintenance I performed my self include;

Oil change including buying the tool for oil filter & OEM parts $60
OEM transfer case fluid $49
OEM front/rear differential fluid $52
OEM spark plugs and special socket $70
OEM transmission fluid/filter $200
Valve cover gasket kit $45
AGM battery $145
Schwaben scan tool $150 (on sale)
New glove box door $230
OEM thermostat $100 (I have the good water pump, N52 engine)

Oil cooler gaskets not leaking yet but will do that as preventative maintenance.

OP in my opinion had unrealistic expectations - anything (a machine, car, etc.) that has moving/rotating parts will see those parts wear out over time. Batteries have limited lifetime, etc. And, shit happens, stuff breaks - that is not unique to BMW.

Clearly the percentage of car owners who are able/interested/willing to DIY is rather small - that's when one need to really be a 'smart shopper' in terms of the shop they choose to do their repair and service work.

[383vett]

My 2012 X3 had been totally trouble free until last year. When we bought a 2018 X3M40I in January 2018, I was going to sell or trade it in, it but decided to keep it since it drove well and had zero problems. Then last summer at 68000 miles the water pump went out, fortunately less than a mile from home. My wife was able to drive it home. I changed the water pump and thermostat myself in my garage. It was not fun but I saved some $$$ and actually enjoy working on cars. In the fall about 3000 miles later, I was going to sell it until a noise started near the front of the car. I actually placed an ad in Craigslist. I pulled the ad and I suspected it was a wheel bearing but I couldn't tell if it was right or left. I drove it another 1500 miles until I could definitively tell it was the right front bearing. Replacing the hub wasn't difficult, and I saved $700 by doing it myself. When the car was on jackstands, I also noticed the radiator had a small leak. I was losing a small amount of coolant over the past month. I just finished the radiator and all is well. The problem with working on these cars is that few people do the work themselves so many procedures (wheel hub and radiator) are not on utube. These cars are put together like puzzles and it takes some time to figure what needs to be removed to access the part. Now the car is perfect and when the weather gets better, it'll be on the market. The moral of the story is unless you enjoy working on these things or have an extended warranty, it's time to move on as you near 70k.

[Wgosma]

DIY: you're correct, small number work in these SAV models. However, the BMW TIS online covers the procedure for just about any aspect of service/repair. If you're not aware of that resource, go here Newtis.info and take a look

[383vett]

Originally Posted by Wgosma

DIY: you're correct, small number work in these SAV models. However, the BMW TIS online covers the procedure for just about any aspect of service/repair. If you're not aware of that resource, go here Newtis.info and take a look

Thanks. I wasn't aware of this resource. Beats working in the dark.