Consensus on car brands - Page 4

Uncle Erick was wrong on this one.  Fuel tanks do not need to be replaced - or even disassembled from the car to replace the Fuel pumps, these are as always beneath the rear seats the pumps do have a sediment sieve, but isn't the actual fuel filter.  The actual fuel filter is underneath the vehicle covered by undertrays - these are not specified to be replaced for the life of the vehicle in Australia since about 2000ish - or since the M54 motors were  introduced.  Diesel BMWs only appeared on the Australian market since about 2006 - their filters tend to be under the vehicle as always, they're specified to be changed in due time. 

A regular "mechanic" may try to drop the tank to fit the fuel lines and pumps into the tank...a qualified technician knows dropping the tank wont help and patiently fits it all "blind", ie, unable to see at all with his 1 arm in the 1 hole to feed two fuel pumps and lines...going purely by "feeling" his way around...in the process squirting fuel in his eyes and getting a petrol high from all the gas fumes.  The current crop are a pain in the royal ass.

It was getting ridiculous with new cars...I had to rip the front bar and front 1/4 panel of the X6 to replace a blown headlight light globe, I had to remove the headlight...which I couldn't unless I stripped the panels away!  I have since left the trade.

He was right about the current crop of BMWs needing to "reset" the battery state in the engine electronics everytime the battery is replaced...but there is nothing stopping someone from changing the battery themselves.  This "battery monitor" is simply a kind of "black box" where technicians can monitor your battery history, how many times you ran the battery flat by not driving it enough, or leaving the ignition on for too long.  They can use this to deny warranty replacement of the battery as damage was done due to customer negligence.

The rich are smart...they drive a car only for as long as it's within warranty.  The car gets replaced once warranty is out with a new one.  This is how manufacturers like it.

I've been pulling front bars off most cars to remove the headlight.  Whats stupid is not being able to change a light globe without removing the headlight...and if this was the case...it was plain idiocy to have to disassemble a vehicle like that to change a light globe....light globes go out all the time...admittedly they're all Xenon globes and the factory doesn't expect you to change them often...but that hasn't been my experience.  Blown globes happen every second of everyday I think.  What kinda German weed were these German engineers smoking when they were at studying at university?  That's what I want to know.

Its kinda like having to saw a hole in your roof where the light is every time a globe needs changing in your house.

Thats a relief. I though BMW had completely lost it.

In E39 diesels there is a fuel filter is in the engine room too, on the righthand side. A big highpressure (I think it is called. or was it heavyduty...) filter and that definetly needs to be changed periodically as it does get clogged up as time passes.

They never did released a E39 diesel in Australia, but they did release the X5 diesal from about 2000ish.  All diesels have a high pressure fuel pump bolted to and driven by the engine...this should never need replacing in regular servicing, only in case of component failure.  There certainly will be a diesel fuel filter and will certainly be under the car ... any handyman can replace this in his own garage.

That is debatable. Atleast here in north with extreme temperature changes, it gathers condensed water or so I heard. Also when the cold weathers hit and if you still have some "summer-diesel" in the tank (summer and winter diesel do not mix well), it might jellify and clog the filter.

On the water thing I may be riding on old informatio though. Still, never needing to change th fuel filter makes no sense. Its not like the fuel is always 100% pure, especially cheap one. Gunk do gather as time passes. What does the filter do, make it dissappear?

M96 engined Porsche have issues with the Intermediate Motor Shaft bearings and Rear Main Seals that can destroy the engine and require a > $15k replacement. Same deal with N54 engined BMWs and their fuel pumps. MY1999-MY2003 Honda Odysseys have major transmission issues, both in 4sp and 5sp variants. Early Subaru MY2009 EJ255 engines cracked blocks with depressing regularity. Honda S2000s suffer from weak transmissions that will grenade if you drive them hard; this prompted Honda to install a clutch delay valve in AP2 models. 5S-FE and 1MZ-FE Toyota engines are prone to engine destroying sludge, same for MY1998-MY2004 Passats and MY1997-MY2004 A4s.

The list goes on and on if you look hard enough.

Did you read the rest of my post?  You will find an one answer.  If you think maintenance and inspection will solve electrical and mechanical design/production flaws you would be wrong.

 If you want me to make a comprehensive list you need to pay me what they do at Consumer Reports and JD Power.

Yes I read your post. A $200k car that failed in an hour. How does that mean maintenace isn't necessary? Any car can fail soon. One little wire is all it takes, and isn't evidence of a POS. You still have to change the oil and filters.

Reliability and longevity are dependent upon regular maintenance and inspections, not so much the brand you buy.

Those cars need no maintenance at all? I was saying that there is no car in which maintenace does not matter.
 

You must replace the diesel fuel filter.  The filter is easy to change.  You were describing the pump near the enigine, its the pump that doesn't need replacement as long as it doesnt break....also you are right - Australia doesn't snow, we are spared cold climate related problems, the problems here are high temperature related.