It can be said that BMW has cracked the code to make the ultimate driving machine. However, having this status symbol brings some burdens.

BMW is known for making flawless high-performance cars that exude sophistication, comfort, fashion, performance and beauty. As one of the most well-known and well-known German car manufacturers in the world, BMW continues to prove its dominance. The impressive 3 Series is still the benchmark for high-end sports cars, and sports cars such as the E30 M3, 328 and M1 ensure that BMW will change the rules of the game forever.

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Despite the praise, achievements and high-quality status, BMW is not blameless. Like other European cars, BMW is plagued by problems that everyone seems to ignore. Admittedly, there are many reasons not to buy a second-hand BMW, but the novelty of even interesting new toys will eventually begin to fade. Therefore, if you own a BMW, or even consider owning one, you need to be prepared for these common problems.

For some time, BMW has been working to perfect the window regulators of certain models, partly because it insists on installing plastic regulator clips. The biggest challenge in using plastic is that it is easily broken or smashed. If this happens, your windows will not be able to move up and down.

In some cases, you may notice that the windows move very slowly. This annoying problem is the first sign of a regulator or window motor malfunction. Fortunately, solving these problems is not expensive. You can visit your BMW dealer for a quick repair, or better yet, if you have the necessary DIY skills, you can choose to solve it yourself.

Door locks are another core area that BMW focuses on. If you decide to buy a second-hand BMW, don't forget to test the lock. You should stand 10 feet away from the car, press the lock/unlock button, and check that all doors are properly locked and unlocked.

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In addition, use the buttons on the center console to test whether all the doors have the same problem. Usually, due to the failure of the door lock actuator, only one of the door locks cannot be operated. If the car is a new car, then the car lock should be one of the most important issues, when the terrible wear and tear begin to appear, you need to be careful.

Overheating is not uncommon in BMWs, although the underlying factors may vary. Certain parts of the BMW cooling system use plastic fittings and parts, which become brittle and fail as the car ages. The precursor of this failure may be a coolant leak or a water pump failure; therefore, low coolant and high temperature warnings should prompt further review.

In other cases, overheating may be caused by a malfunctioning thermostat. When the thermostat fails in a closed manner, the coolant will not flow through the radiator and may open a severely damaged Pandora's box. However, models with modern electronic thermostats tend to malfunction when stuck in the open position. The best way to avoid cooling system problems is to have regular 360-degree health checks after 50,000 miles.

Over the years, BMW has conducted several recalls on the grounds of electrical system failures. In 2013, unexplainable power losses caused more than 500,000 cars to be recalled. Also in 2017, more than 700,000 devices were recalled due to the risk of fire due to overheating of the wiring.

Although these are some examples of extreme conditions, BMW also has a considerable number of electrical failures. Depending on the model, common electronic problems include CCC iDrive complications, automatic headlight failure, windshield wiper stuck, ignition system problems, alternator belt damage, fuse failure, battery safety terminal sensor failure, and cable damage .

Most BMW cars purchased from dealers are equipped with fashionable brand alloy wheels. These alloys are made of lightweight aluminum, coated with shiny silver or flat metallic colors, and finished with a clear coat. Like all other external components, these alloys are affected by the elements and eventually succumb to corrosion.

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In a relatively short period of time, these beautiful alloys proved to be more style than substance. Corroded or cracked alloy wheels can cause slow leakage or sometimes cause tire punctures, which can lead to accidents. The only way to avoid these consequences is to take care of alloy wheels, such as the paint coating of a car, and ensure proper wheel and tire maintenance.

Although steering wheel vibration is common in BMW cars, it can happen to any car that shares similar suspension and braking systems. Nonetheless, steering wheel vibrations need to be dealt with urgently because they indicate potential safety issues.

Especially for the BMW 3 series, steering vibration may occur during braking, which indicates that there is a problem with the thrush arm bushing. However, other possible causes of BMW vibration include misalignment of wheels, worn front suspension, bent brakes, damaged rims or damaged wheel bearings.

The "battery discharged" message on the BMW dashboard usually indicates that the battery is exhausted and it takes time to recharge before the engine can be shut down again. Now the worry has become, what caused the loss? The most common factors are keeping lights on, running on old batteries, malfunctioning alternator diodes, electrical problems, and corroded or loose battery connections.

Warning signals for battery failure include intermittent start, the vehicle needs to jump start, the light is not on, or the engine is running but unable to start. Sometimes, short-distance driving while using a lot of power-hungry accessories, such as heated seats, heated steering wheels, stereo speakers, and headlights, may drain the battery. The solution to this problem is to adjust driving habits and maintain the battery regularly.

If you find a puddle of oil or burning oil under the car while driving, it is very likely that your BMW is leaking oil. Other less common signs include vehicle splashes when accelerating from idling, smoke from under the hood, cracking or sizzling noises, overheating, and light on.

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The biggest challenge of an oil spill is to determine the root cause. Leaks may come from the oil pan gasket, valve gasket cover, oil filter housing gasket, timing cover gasket, rear main seal or drain plug. However, cars over 60,000 miles are more likely to leak oil, so your BMW needs to be repaired regularly after this mark.

While making full use of your sweet BMW, VANOS hardware has been vigorously exercised in its conscientious life. It is conceivable that as the mileage of a car increases, the VANOS system has a variety of ways to wear and make noise. The system uses seals throughout its construction; therefore, they should usually be replaced at around 50,000 miles.

The first signs of VANOS failure are slow response when stepping on the accelerator, limp mode, loss of horsepower and torque, reduced drivability, unstable idling, poor fuel economy, slow cold starts, and terrible clicks. The noise comes from excessive axial play or excessive wear between the VANOS shaft and the cam gear. Although regular service can avoid problems with VANOS, sooner or later this noise will bother you.

The fuel pump is undoubtedly one of the most critical components in your BMW car. Over time, components in the fuel pump (such as seals on pipes or hoses) can wear and cause fuel leakage. Sometimes, complications stem from smaller parts that are usually overlooked.

In addition to wear and tear, driving with low fuel, dirty fuel, and water mixed in the fuel can cause fuel pump problems. Signs and symptoms that need attention include high engine temperatures, high-temperature stalls, engine splashes, reduced fuel consumption, loud pump noise, surging, starting problems, and reduced engine power.

Muscle cars also look beautiful and exciting to drive, but owning them is another matter.

Simon Kim has been passionate about machines since he was a child, and this obsession continues into adulthood. As an avid reader and creative content writer, he found joy and satisfaction in sharing his love for cars and bicycles with other machine leaders. Currently, Kim is committed to publishing exciting and informative articles about HotCars. He likes music and art, and dabbles in active sports and virtual games in his spare time.