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Hi,

I'm looking at purchasing a new car for around $5,000. Among the many ideas flying around my head is a 1997-2001 BMW 318i/320i. However, I have heard rumors that European cars in general are a certain amount more expensive to service than a Japanese car of similar age. If this is true, how much more expensive? Would it be worth it in terms of the difference in features in comparison to an equivalent Japanese car? This is the first car I am purchasing out of my own money, and I know little more than nothing about how much more expensive it is to service a car.

In short, how much more expensive would it be to service a BMW as opposed to a Japanese car of similar age and value?

Generally, European vehicles are more expensive to maintain than Japanese cars. But this can sometimes be a marginal difference depending on the type of service that is being carried out.

The thing that's often overlooked is the fact that a BMW is a luxury vehicle with a premium price when bought new. The resale value might have dropped considerably but the parts prices will be the same as it is an expensive car to build.

These vehicles do not like overheating and the plastic cooling components become brittle over time and for this reason it’s worth replacing the old plastic cooling system components before it becomes a problem. Repairs such as this can be expensive.