I have to say, the quality of BMW’s has really declined as the prices have skyrocketed. They force you to spend an extra $500 on 4 tires because they can’t engineer a spare tire compartment. I’ve had electronic tire pressure monitors fail and cause the total car electronics to fail - terrible. Not sure if the 3 series will remain a perennial Car and Driver Top 10 if they don’t focus on quality again.
It may be nice handling, but they need to last past 60,000 without major failures.
I’m a VW fan. Love VW’s. REAL VW’s. The ones that use water only in the windshield washer. I have a 69 Beetle.
In 2008 I bought a New Beetle. In 18 months it went in the shop EIGHT times for warranty repair. First one was at six months for a new A/C compressor. At that time the New Beetles were built in Mexico, and I must have gotten one assembled on Cinco De Mayo.
I still have the 69, but my other vehicles are a Nissan and a Honda.
It can be pricey to maintain - but it's a BMW. Duh.
We’re on our 5th BMW in 15 years. If anything, the cars keep getting better and better. Zero quality issues.