Alfa Romeo Forum banner

why shouldnt i buy a bmw??

Tags
bmw buy
6K views 79 replies 39 participants last post by  mave 
#1 ·
ive had my 147 for over 6 months now and im dissapointed to say the least. i have had every common 147 problem and the rest!!! coming from a toyota with absolutley no problems in 9 years is making the alfa experience even worse. The only thing that i like about the 147 is the feeling when i put my foot down but that is getting a little annoying now as im only averaging 26 mpg!!!! i know this sounds like alfa bashing but honestly its not, i wouldnt dream of such a thing!!! I know im probably gonna get hammered for this thread but im only looking for honest unbiast opinions. soooo has anyone owned a bmw and an alfa (316 and 147) preferably, and if so how did they compare? Is there such a thing as car with alfa looks/desirability with toyota/bmw reliabilty???
 
G
#2 ·
ive got a 318 and its no better or worse than my alfa in terms of reliability, ive also had a 525 which was better than the alfa and only ever had 1 problem with it in over 2 years

if you do get a beemer go for a 320d as the 316 is very very underpowered
 
#3 · (Edited)
Is there such a thing as car with alfa looks/desirability with toyota/bmw reliabilty???
That last sentence is a good question!

I'd say it's virtually impossible to get the 'spirit' (whatever that is) of Italian motoring and the reliability of the BMW/Jap brigade. In any case there is strong evidence that the Japs are reliable, but you will die of boredom in the process; or that the German brigade are not quite as reliable as you're led to believe, are certainly more expensive propositions than the likes of Alfa Romeo, and ultimately once fleeced of your money you may die of boredom anyway:lol:

So the answer may be to have both types of car on the driveway. Or have one Alfa Romeo and look after it meticulously, in the hope that it won't go wrong. Or perhaps several Alfa Romeos to spread the mileage and interest. Either way you can never get bored, frustrated perhaps, but not bored:lol:
 
#4 ·
Well I moved from a string of Alfa 156's to a BMW 120D Coupe, so it's almost comparable. I have to say I was never dissatisfied with the Alfa's on reliability, the only issues in 8 years were an electrical problem on a 156JTS and numerous suspension bushes, which I was resigned to being a service item on 156's on our crappy roads. The BMW has needed a new clutch and flywheel and has the baulkiest gearchange of any car I've owned.

Whilst I enjoyed my 156's especially the last (a GTA) the BMW definitely handles better and is way more efficient on fuel whilst being a match for the 2.0JTS on performance. It's not without it's faults though, the ride is harsh, the steering has an odd sort of feel and the throttle response is woeful.

But the main thing and this is the clincher for me, it doesn't make me WANT another BMW and I DO want to go back to Alfa, hopefully in the Guilletta I can justify that too. Would I change from a 147 to a 316?.... no, might to one with a better engine, but not the runt of the range like a 316.
 
#6 ·
I owned 3 Alfa's 155 146ti 156 and loved all of them and still do... but I went over to the dark side
and bought a Porsche 911 (I'm afraid I will be shot on sight now by the AO members)
no boredom here !! the 911 is a car that needs constant attention and being used to the selespeed
system for 9 years, it is like a rebirth to motoring... 3 pedals !!!! and the throttle response is
unbelievable... its like a jet on AB when I push the throttle at green traffic light !!!
But the Alfa is still the car I carry in my heart... thats the difference with all the Japs and even BMW's (although an M3 or M5 is also on my list !!) everyone has one... my street is plastered with Toyotas and 1.6 Beemers...
 
#11 ·
ive changed from a 316 to a 156 1.6, i kno im still in the honeymoon period with the alfa at the moment but im much more impressed with the alfa. neither the 316 or the 1.6 156 are rockets but the alfa engine is much more exciting to drive, the way the power increases through the rev range. with the beemer you got much more instant tourqe but then you got flatspots around 4,000 rpm. As for reliabilty im yet to find out with the alfa but as for the beemer it developed a really annoying steering fault which meant the steering reacted (pulled) really badly to bumps and ruts in the world. tried to have it identified but several indy bmw specialists failed to ever indentify the fault. this was all at 65000 miles aswell. on a personal note the beemer never really interested me, i love my cars but at no point did i ever really care for the car!

Having said that though a friend of mine has a e46 330 coupe which he got for 5 grand, and it is one of the most impressive cars ive ever been in! Really smooth and powerfull and with an interior to rival even alfa! and im really not trying to slate beemers as there are some i think are gorgeous!
 
G
#15 ·
Beemers? All the reliability stuff is a myth, there are good cars and bad cars in all brands. My wife's BMW 318 E46 Touring has had two new clutches and one new flywheel in the space of 10000 miles, and has had loads of minor niggles. We bought it second hand at 40K miles with FSH but paid a lot for the supposed reliability. It's been the most expensive car to repair I have ever owned. And the dealerships vary in quality - some are good, but one big one we used was full of snotty sales and service guys with spiky hair who didn't give a t*ss about customer service unless you were buying a big new car.

Cheers,

Nigel
 
#16 ·
OP you don't say what your budget is, I'm very happy with our BMW and given the choice of a 1.6 147 i'd have our E92 3 Series M Sport Coupe (even though it is a 2.0 auto disiesel) over a 1.6 147 any day of the week :)

Might even prefer one to my GTA, I do wish we'd waited and got the Alpina D3 though instead but they weren't doing auto's when they came out :(
 
#18 ·
I suppose its only human nature that stereotypes people by what car they buy/own/drive.

we live in a crazy, image concious world :rolleyes:..

Do your research thoroughly and buy the car that you are most comfortable with! You can't buy Bad cars nowadays, just different cars at different prices!


ps. i await the onslaught of bad car examples :eek:
 
#19 ·
I've had a few BMWs the last being an E39 5 Series up until last summer when I sold it to buy the 166. The BMW was undoubtedly more comfortable but then it was a softer set-up and less sporty compared the the 166. The only thing I had to continually change on the BM just before MOT time was the front drop-links for the anti-roll bar - they were lucky to last 6k miles and seemed, like Alfas front wishbones, to be almost servicable items!

Any second hand buy is a risk and you can be lucky or unlucky with any make. You sound like you've had enough of the car and will end up selling so for you it is probably time to part company with the 147 but just be wary of anything else you do buy. My dad is on his fourth 3 series in a row. He started with an E46 316i which he sold because it was woefully underpowered, bought an E46 320i which he sold because it was too thirsty, bought an E46 320d M-Sport which he loves and has now just traded that in for the new shape 320d M-Sport. He had problems with his first two as they have known problems with the mechanics of the clutch, which he ended up having to modify on both cars. The 320ds have major problems with the swirl flaps disintegrating and consequently destroying the engines. E46 330 Ci on the otherhand is the one (affordable) car that would temp me from my 166! :)
 
#22 ·
Here's my 2 penneth!
316, Put it into a corner and your into dice rolling territory, **** ends a nightmare! Its totally underpowered and titchy as hell. In the 12months I had it cost me a new starter, new head and about £1000 in handbrake, suspension and other issues.
156(I KNOW NOT QUITE THE SAME) Put into a corner and it laughs at you! (RAILS) Driving position is awesome, I felt like Mansell very time I sat in her. Always smiling, always got that look, always got that comment..."is that your motor" Always felt like a driving experience rather than the boredom of the 316 except the dicing with death in corners.
Would I have another beemer? yes. Another 316? never!!! Another Alfa? any day of the week!!

Paul.
 
#46 · (Edited)
Here's my 2 penneth!
316, Put it into a corner and your into dice rolling territory, **** ends a nightmare! Its totally underpowered and titchy as hell. In the 12months I had it cost me a new starter, new head and about £1000 in handbrake, suspension and other issues.
Paul.
Thankyou paul... IDK how the OP is putting toyota in the same bag as reliability as the bimmers... aside from the brakes scandal, toyotas are pretty good and have low parts and service costs... bimmers don't...

if you want reliability and mpg, then i suggest toyota... a bimmer 1.6 isn't gunna get you anything over your 1.6 besides rwd and a different badge...

funny when bosch breaks in bimmers they're good german cars... when bosch breaks in alfas, they are temperamental and unreliable italians...
 
#23 ·
Over priced and over rated. I've driven many at work and besides the 525 diesel there all s**te in my opinion. The ones we've had at work have not been that reliable either. Personally I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole. If I was moving from Alfa I'd go for either another Saab or dare I say it a Vauxhall Monaro.
 
#24 ·
Definitely do not get a 316, my mrs old fiesta 1.4 excites me more. In a 316 you put your foot down and get absolutely nothing. You pay way over the odds for a car that has no charisma and nothing inside.
What's your budget btw?
 
#29 ·
I'm actually in the market for a new motor as the missed totalled my 156, Got £5k to play with so I had the daft Idea to have a look at what the Germans could offer for £5k, maybe up to £8k at a push for the RIGHT car.
Both BMW and Merc's absolutely nothing, other than boring bland reps cars.
Whats your budget Mick?
 
#30 ·
The only way I'd get a beemer is with the 3 year warranty when bought new, after that when you're on your own the repair bills seem to be horrendous! My Dad has a 116i he got nearly new and has regretted it ever since, as well as being very, very under-powered and nowhere near as economical as his trusty old Avensis, his bills for things that have went wrong (if he hadn't been covered under warranty) would have been crazy! I think its a conspiracy to get you to buy a new one, he hasn't even had the car 2 years and he is tortured every time he is in the garage to buy a new one again..
 
#42 ·
:cheese: How did I know that would be your response;)

All cars have their problems, I up on till last worked for Land Rover (Auto-elect, Doing reworks on pre-launched cars, L319 & L320's) and you couldn't go near one until 2008. The warranties we're killing us!
 
#33 ·
if you have £5K and want the opposite of boring, buy an E36 M3 Evo !!..i have had several, none have ever let me down, buy the right car and you will be mighty impressed by this supremely accomplished piece of engineering, seats 4, practical, 30 mpg (cruising) and appreciating in value (i was buying them for £3-£5K a few years ago, they are more now!)

Try it, you can always move an M3 on easily if it's not your thing!
 
#35 ·
I think the problem may be that you need a more exciting Alfa. The 147 1.6 is a nice car, but it doesn't have the thrill of some of the larger engined versions. I was lent a brand new 147 1.6 by the dealer for 3 days while my own 156 2.5 was being repaired and I have to say I was thrilled to get my (much older) 156 back.

BMW's are overrated IMHO. I have driven a 318 and a 525 and thought they were "OK but not great". A relative has bought several BMWs brand new and had quite a few problems with them.

I think the bottom line is this: if your Alfa really lights your fire every time you drive it (as mine does after 8 years of ownership) then you can put up with a fair amount of grief when it comes to repairs.
 
#36 ·
My choice for a non alfa in the 5k bracket would be a Subaru Legacy B4, 2.0 litre twin turbo, 198bhp. It's a little different and pretty reliable if you can find an abused example. For 5k you should get a pretty damn good one.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top