Buy Car

[Robert Yn]

I am planning to buy new car in bangkok. 

Back home in Europe I drive BMW, so i have personal attachment to it.

Here I am  worry about maintance cost in BKK.

Anybody can help me to let me know how much is yearly maintance cost for BMW X1 vs Honda Civic Turbo RS (my second option).

I spoke to dealer during my visit, but seems they don't clearly give me detail. so its better to ask people who use it.

 

Cheers folks!

[fredob43]

I would have thought that maintenance cost would be the least of your problems. Paying 200% more Tax for a vehicle here would be my problem.

Unless you have monies to burn I would stick to anything that's built here in Thailand. Regardless of costs the ease of service for a Toyota or Honda would be much better bet. 

[steve187]

Honda will be cheaper as will the price new, 2.3 million for the bmw x1 service costs seem to be included or may have to pay, but not sure of details, link here - https://bit.ly/2OcKU9r

against 1.2million for the civic turbo rs service cost every 10,000k up to 100,000k = 28,300 baht - https://web.honda.co.th/service/periodical/result

 

but the 2 cars a different style

Edited November 15, 2019 by steve187

[kingofthemountain]

37 minutes ago, Robert Yn said:

how much is yearly maintance cost for BMW X1 vs Honda Civic Turbo RS (my second option).

Your second option is clearly the best here in Thailand (On a financial point of view)

[DavisH]

You can see them and more at the Motor Expo at the end of this month at Impact in Nonthaburi. You can ask questions about them there. The civic will be cheaper to buy and to maintain. There is a new civic rs hatchback juat released now. The the x1 and civic are a different style of car. If you want an suv style, think about the crv, x-trail, cx-5, etc. They are more comparable to the x1. In standard for the civic will have more than enough power though, but is quite low to the ground. So it depends on what you are looking for in a car, as to which one you should consider. 

[Just Weird]

On 11/15/2019 at 12:05 PM, fredob43 said:

I would have thought that maintenance cost would be the least of your problems. Paying 200% more Tax for a vehicle here would be my problem.

Unless you have monies to burn I would stick to anything that's built here in Thailand. Regardless of costs the ease of service for a Toyota or Honda would be much better bet. 

"...I would stick to anything that's built here in Thailand"'

Such as the X1.

[KhunBENQ]

As long as you move around Bangkok/Pattaya etc. a proper BMW workshop/garage may be close.

From me it's a 100 km to the next BMW dealer/garage.

 

Edited November 16, 2019 by KhunBENQ

[JAS21]

A first post, written in pretend broken English, asking about to vastly different choices......

[transam]

I thought BMW's were expensive to maintain in any country...????

 

But, if you are looking for reliability, value for money and no ploblems with maintenance nationwide, then the Honda is the way to go, in my humble opinion....????

[Wiggy]

I’ve had a Honda Civic RS for three and a half years. To date, I’ve spent around 20,000 baht total in services (around 2,500 each time and I’ve had 7) and one new battery. No tyres yet as I’ve only done 20,000km in it. I get it done by Honda and I’ve found the after sales service to be very good. I can’t see an X1 being comparable to that cost wise, although I’ve never owned a BMW.  

[Jaxxper]

If you're starting to worry about maintenance costs now, wait until you get some out of warranty work done on the BMW. That will bring tears to your eyes.

I'd have to go with the Honda, reasonably priced, quality build and good service back up.

My H-RV will be three years old next February. Only out of warranty item was a new battery last service. I'd say average cost of a service for the Honda over 3 years is Thb 3-4k a service. No idea on BMW's but assuming a lot more.

[emptypockets]

3 hours ago, Wiggy said:

I’ve had a Honda Civic RS for three and a half years. To date, I’ve spent around 20,000 baht total in services (around 2,500 each time and I’ve had 7) and one new battery. No tyres yet as I’ve only done 20,000km in it. I get it done by Honda and I’ve found the after sales service to be very good. I can’t see an X1 being comparable to that cost wise, although I’ve never owned a BMW.  

7 services and under 20,000 kilometres? The service people must love you.

[transam]

8 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

7 services and under 20,000 kilometres? The service people must love you.

Not really, a service is a service, whether mileage or time related....

[ianezy0]

BMW services are normally affordable if you buy the car from new. I bought mine in 2007, travelled 80,000km, 3 services at 25k intervals at a total cost of under a AUD$1000. Trouble is the cost of tyres and battery both of which I purchased during this time. Battery AUD$700 and full set tyres AUD$1,900....ouch.

[canthai55]

Buying a BMW is spending money on the badge on the hood.

Many reliability studies point out that they are worse than normal.

In the distant past - when dinosaurs roamed the earth, BMW and Mercedes were much more hands-on during assembly, and the paint and interiors were a cut above.

Now this is no longer true.

As the post above this shows - a crying sham to force you to pay those outlandish prices for a steel and plastic box, the same as the other steel and plastic boxes which surround it on the hiway

But ... UP 2 U

[steve187]

2 hours ago, emptypockets said:

7 services and under 20,000 kilometres? The service people must love you.

a 42 month old car with a service interval of 6 months is correct at 7 services. the link i posted above shows this with the service costs,  docx attached with full servicing details

civic service costs.docx

Edited November 17, 2019 by steve187

[Jeffrey346]

BMW has an option to include 3 years of service. The price is model dependant but averages B40,000. 

Just a drop in the bucket when you consider the price of the vehicle. 

 

** Price with BSI STANDARD package; 3 years of maintenance or 60,000 km. (whichever comes first) and 3 years unlimited mileage warranty.

[Wiggy]

17 hours ago, emptypockets said:

7 services and under 20,000 kilometres? The service people must love you.

Every six months. I like to keep my car up to scratch; it may have only done 20,000km but it also spends a fair amount of time in traffic, some of the worst conditions for an engine and gearbox.

Edited November 18, 2019 by Wiggy

[Henryford]

You are worried about service costs but willing to throw millions away on a hiso car !!

[Huckenfell]

Parts , new or used are very expensive in Thailand.  I needed an auto transmission for a Ford Escape 2007-8 model.   A reconditioned one Bht 55,000.   A used one Bht 23,000.  Plus Bht 17,000 to remove and refit replacement.

Edited November 18, 2019 by Huckenfell

[canthai55]

You need to find a shop who won't bend you over

[DavisH]

1 hour ago, Huckenfell said:

Parts , new or used are very expensive in Thailand.  I needed an auto transmission for a Ford Escape 2007-8 model.   A reconditioned one Bht 55,000.   A used one Bht 23,000.  Plus Bht 17,000 to remove and refit replacement.

And that's a ford....not even luxury Euro brand! They would be 3x to 5x as expensive. 

[DavisH]

23 minutes ago, canthai55 said:

You need to find a shop who won't bend you over

There is a local independent BMW garage near my place. It's always packed with cars in various states of disrepair. Even some realtively new cars as well. I guess once the bsi has exprired, the owners are finding cheaper alternative repair shops. 

[DeeMoney]

New BMWs come with a few years of free scheduled maintenance called BSI. 

 

However, if you need to service some parts that are not part of the scheduled maintenance (let's say your  headlights got smashed up) the cost is general 3 to 4 times the cost of Japanese and American brands to replace that part. 

 

However, labor costs here are still low compared to the west so the bulk of the maintenance cost is parts, which cost the same as in the west.

[Master Expert]

Maybe BMW pre-owned car is your value choice. You can find the newest model 2016 BMW X1 with reasonable mileage (like this) include BSI or 1 years / 25,000 km. warranty. If you need the older model (MY2013) you can find much lower price starts at THB 685,000 (like this).

 

cheers.

[Pilotman]

I love BMWs and had them for 25 years back in the UK  However, I would not get one here.  They are great cars, but take a lot of setting up and adjustment, in both the engine, but more importantly the suspension, which is highly sensitive to pot holes, rough roads, high kerbs and such like.  The older models may be better, but the more up to date ones (post 2010) are a nightmare of electronics.  I wouldn't trust that the mechanics here are good enough, nor have the technology available to them,  to set up and keep the set up correct.  Maybe I'm wrong and doing them a big disservice, but I wouldn't spend that kind of money finding out.  An Asian build Toyota, for example,  is far more robust for Thailand's roads.

Edited November 22, 2019 by Pilotman

[richard_smith237]

On 11/19/2019 at 1:34 PM, DeeMoney said:

New BMWs come with a few years of free scheduled maintenance called BSI. 

 

However, if you need to service some parts that are not part of the scheduled maintenance (let's say your  headlights got smashed up) the cost is general 3 to 4 times the cost of Japanese and American brands to replace that part. 

 

However, labor costs here are still low compared to the west so the bulk of the maintenance cost is parts, which cost the same as in the west.

 

Your 1st Class insurance would cover you for any damage. 

Insurance costs on a BMW will likely be higher than a Japanese car (i.e. 25-60,000 baht compared to about 15-30,000 baht - at a guess).

 

BMW generally come with 3 - 5 years free maintenance, after which time you can use a local garage with may specialise in BMW, then it will be more than a honda etc - but not vastly. 

 

If BMW is what you like, ignore what other posters say above the inflated costs, most of that is jealousy. It's your money, you've earned it (perhaps), spend it as you like. 

 

I've had 2 BMW's in Thailand (5 Series and X5), both excellent cars - Maintenance was free (included in the BSI). 

 

 

Wife's AC failed on her Merc (4 yrs old out of service period), she was quoted 70,000 baht for a replacement. She went to a local garage and got the same time, but non-merc brand for 25,000 baht. 

Edited November 22, 2019 by richard_smith237

[canthai55]

2 hours ago, Pilotman said:

 The older models may be better, but the more up to date ones (post 2010) are a nightmare of electronics.

Good U-Tube video on this.

New model BMW. Transmission problem. Went to the dealer they bought it from, as well as 2 other BMW certified garages. No one could find the problem.

Finally a German mechanic, over 2 or 3 days, found the problem. Faulty sensor in the auto box. Internally, so a major PITA to replace.

Just goes to show you that a good mechanic is essential on these newer model cars.

Is there one in LOS ? Unknown.

But - if 3 German mechanics - including the dealer, could not find it, the odds of a local mechanic doing so are - how shall I put this - slim

[Pilotman]

1 hour ago, canthai55 said:

Good U-Tube video on this.

New model BMW. Transmission problem. Went to the dealer they bought it from, as well as 2 other BMW certified garages. No one could find the problem.

Finally a German mechanic, over 2 or 3 days, found the problem. Faulty sensor in the auto box. Internally, so a major PITA to replace.

Just goes to show you that a good mechanic is essential on these newer model cars.

Is there one in LOS ? Unknown.

But - if 3 German mechanics - including the dealer, could not find it, the odds of a local mechanic doing so are - how shall I put this - slim

My last BMW was a 2013, 528i Sport, lovely car, the best I have ever driven, but very expensive to run and  service and whatever went wrong never seemed to be covered by the extended warranty.  It had its suspension re alighted 4 times in 3 years due, I assume, to hitting pot holes.  The run flat tyres had to be replaced in pairs on the same axle and I had 3 punctures, not BMWs fault of course, but still expensive. Great cars, but too fragile  and expensive to fix would be my overall assessment.  Definitely not a car for Thailand, in my opinion. 

[Robert Yn]

On 11/17/2019 at 7:31 AM, JAS21 said:

A first post, written in pretend broken English, asking about to vastly different choices......

glad you understand.