Any model of BMW can be a great investment for any car enthusiast.
But with their higher price tags comes higher repair costs as well. For many BMW owners, this leads to the desire to DIY as many repairs as possible, in order to cut costs.
BMWs are more complex than many other types of vehicles. As a result, this can make normal repairs much more difficult. If you don’t have advanced experience as a mechanic working on BMWs, this can make it almost impossible to tackle some repairs.
If you’re ready to learn which BMW repairs you can DIY and when you should call a mechanic, keep reading.
Replacing a Windshield
Chipped, cracked, and shattered windshields are a common occurrence in any vehicle that gets driven often.
To anyone who has any knowledge of how to repair a vehicle, replacing a windshield can seem simple enough. But this is a job that is always best left to the professionals.
To begin with, each type and size of the vehicle requires exactly the right windshield for that model. Otherwise, it won’t fit correctly, which can lead to leaks or pressure on the windshield, causing it to crack.
Those same issues can arise if a windshield is not properly aligned and sealed when it is replaced.
Transmission Work
BMWs stand out among vehicles for their reputation for a smooth, fast ride. Their balanced, complicated transmissions help achieve that.
Even if you have some experience working on transmissions, repairing BMWs transmissions is very different.
Working on these systems is difficult, and requires plenty of training and experience in order to get it right.
If you’re experiencing transmission trouble with your BMW, take your vehicle to an experienced mechanic to get it fixed.
Body Work
One of the reasons why BMWs are so popular is their sleek, beautiful looks.
Proud owners spend hours washing, waxing, and detailing their ride to keep it looking great. The last thing you want to do is compromise that by trying to do your own bodywork.
Unless you have experience fixing scratches, popping out dents, etc.; you might want to leave bodywork to a professional car mechanic.
Electronic Issues
Advanced electronics like built-in navigation system, impressive radios, and safety features like automatic braking, forward collision warning, and lane-keeping assist are now available in many new vehicles.
BMWs are no exception. In fact, BMW has been ahead in adding the latest tech to their vehicles for a number of years.
While it’s rare, occasionally things go wrong with even the most advanced technology.
The internet is packed with videos and guides on how to fix a BMW electrical system, this is another repair that should be left to the pros. Messing up one system can cause a range of other issues.
Additionally, if you’re trying to fix electrical safety features and you aren’t successful, you may not be as protected as you think the next time you get behind the wheel.
Replacing a Timing Belt
The average timing belt lasts between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. While this may vary depending on the make and model of your vehicle, if you buy used, plan to keep your car for several years, or put a lot of miles on it, you’ll eventually have to replace a timing belt.
Replacing a timing belt is a relatively easy fix. If you have experience working on cars, you’ve likely replaced at least one or could figure it out pretty easily.
But while replacing the timing belt on your BMW might be easy enough, getting to that belt is a different matter.
In order to get to the timing belt, you’ll need to take many different parts of your vehicle apart. Even if you are able to take it all apart without breaking anything, you’ll then have to put it back together.
You risk not putting something back in the right place, breaking parts taking them off, or not properly affixing parts, which could cause them to become loose later on.
Having a timing belt replaced is usually a quick, inexpensive fix. It’s worth paying the price to get it fixed right and avoid other issues rather than simply trying to save some cash by DIYing it.
Suspension Component Replacement
This is another repair that on other vehicles, someone with some experience repairing vehicles could likely handle in their own home garage.
But like transmission work, suspension component replacement on a BMW is more complicated than it is on other vehicles.
Your BMW’s suspension is very complex. If you don’t get everything back exactly the way that it needs to be, you risk causing serious damage to your vehicle.
If left unfixed, this could lead to even more costly repairs and a lengthy stay in the shop.
Avoid this entirely by taking your BMW into a professional mechanic when it needs a suspension component replacement.
BMW Repairs You Can Tackle Yourself
From replacing timing belts and suspension components to bodywork and electronic issues, there are some BMW repairs that are always best left to the professionals.
Trying to DIY these fixes can lead to a number of other issues. In the end, you may end up spending more to get these fixed than it would have cost you to take your vehicle to a mechanic in the first place!
But while the fixes listed above are best left to the pros, there are plenty of other DIY BMW repairs that anyone with some experience and the right tools can tackle right in their own home garage.
Simple fixes like replacing air filters and spark plugs, oil changes, even brake pads can all be done on your own to save you some money.
Getting Your BMW Repaired
Whether you’re repairing your BMW on your own or taking it to a shop, estimating your expenses can help you figure out how much money you’ll need and what repairs might have to wait.
Check out this article next to learn what to expect for your next BMW repair cost.