Cost of upkeep in 2010 - $1762 for 911, $5535 for BMW. How bout you? Maintenance only
12-19-2010, 09:39 AM
#1
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Cost of upkeep in 2010 - $1762 for 911, $5535 for BMW. How bout you? Maintenance only
For the $608 a month average I paid for maintenance on my 2 cars, I could have leased a brand new 5 series BMW instead or 2 Japanese cars but I prefer the 2 cars I have by far. I drove the BMW 16k miles this year including a 3200 mile trip over Thanksgiving to MS, AL and Miami and back. Smooth as silk, because I kept up with maintenance. People are fortunate to buy a used car from people like us car guys. Many/most people don't keep up with their cars like we do.
I was shocked to see the BMW cost so much this past year. Argggggh! Hopefully next year it will be under $2500 instead of $5535 again for the 740i Sport... yes, that was all for maintenance only.
If I didn't have to do the SAI repair my 911 would have cost only $190 this year! And people say that 911's are SO expensive to maintain. I only drove it about $4500 miles, but still - it was a great year maintenance wise...
When you read about other people's high maintenance $$$'s it lessens the blow for me. I can't really afford these cars year over year but I do.
No, I don't do any DIY either.
How bout you? Did you sadly or happily add it up yet?
Steve
Pics from 1 year ago today...
The BMW and 911 are both is safely in the garage this year so a scene like this won't be repeated. It took 3 hours to dig my car out after the 3 ft snow. It got plowed in pretty badly with snow drifts by snow plows.
I was shocked to see the BMW cost so much this past year. Argggggh! Hopefully next year it will be under $2500 instead of $5535 again for the 740i Sport... yes, that was all for maintenance only.
If I didn't have to do the SAI repair my 911 would have cost only $190 this year! And people say that 911's are SO expensive to maintain. I only drove it about $4500 miles, but still - it was a great year maintenance wise...
When you read about other people's high maintenance $$$'s it lessens the blow for me. I can't really afford these cars year over year but I do.
No, I don't do any DIY either.
How bout you? Did you sadly or happily add it up yet?
Steve
Pics from 1 year ago today...
The BMW and 911 are both is safely in the garage this year so a scene like this won't be repeated. It took 3 hours to dig my car out after the 3 ft snow. It got plowed in pretty badly with snow drifts by snow plows.
12-19-2010, 10:34 AM
#2
Three Wheelin'
I need 2K in tires for my F-450, if that makes you feel any better.
I didn't spend too much on the 993 this year, but that does not make up for some of the expenditures the 6 years prior.
Steve, luckily you love those 2 cars, it would suck to have to dump that kind of money into a car you could give a damn about.
I didn't spend too much on the 993 this year, but that does not make up for some of the expenditures the 6 years prior.
Steve, luckily you love those 2 cars, it would suck to have to dump that kind of money into a car you could give a damn about.
12-19-2010, 10:54 AM
#5
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Steve- I'm sure that you'd agree that cherry-picking data is not the best way to show an accurate picture. I suspect that you're describing two unusual years for both vehicles.
To get valid numbers, you need to look at your annual average over 5 or 10 years. If you want to go crazy by building a 15 year budget for a V-ram car, you might even want to average in an $8,000 top end.
Can you detail the $5,500 BMW repair bill? Is that from one of those notorious DC stealers like VOB?
To get valid numbers, you need to look at your annual average over 5 or 10 years. If you want to go crazy by building a 15 year budget for a V-ram car, you might even want to average in an $8,000 top end.
Can you detail the $5,500 BMW repair bill? Is that from one of those notorious DC stealers like VOB?
12-19-2010, 11:13 AM
#6
button queen
Not too much this year. Oil change and brake flush (plus flushing the friggin' clutch slave cylinder which obviously needed it 
). Then there was the torn spoiler wall replacement (once again ), the conversion of the third brake light to LEDs, the repair of several deep paint chips, and the clay bar and wax job, not to mention all the washing and cleaning inside (including the detailing the engine). I dunno, maybe two or three hundred bucks.
All done DIY at great savings and with great personal satisfaction. Hard to put a price on the satisfaction of caring for these wonderful cars!!
). Then there was the torn spoiler wall replacement (once again ), the conversion of the third brake light to LEDs, the repair of several deep paint chips, and the clay bar and wax job, not to mention all the washing and cleaning inside (including the detailing the engine). I dunno, maybe two or three hundred bucks. All done DIY at great savings and with great personal satisfaction. Hard to put a price on the satisfaction of caring for these wonderful cars!!
Last edited by DanL993; 12-19-2010 at 03:41 PM.
12-19-2010, 11:32 AM
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On the flip side, if your maintenace average of $608.00 drops to $308.00 a month in 2011, you can go from a Mercedes to a (I use a Mazda CX-7 for example) moderate car with a lower payment. The good news if you present these facts to your wife, you may be safe in 2011 of keeping the C4S/7 series based on statistics that maintaince with go down in 2011. If you can convince her that you will average $608.00 on both vehicles, sell both and buy a $608.00 a month vehicle.
You drive old, dated vehicles and old vehicles have a tendency to have higher maintenance costs. There is 2 sides to driving old cars. One is that they are paid off (in most cases and no car payment) and 2 major service is required when they get up there in miles, in a lot of cases.
Your BMW is probably only worth $7k-8k and the ratio of money going the BMW vs. the Porsche value tells me the BMW is the money pit. Maintenance costs calculated vs. value of vehicle and turn that into a yearly percentage would equate that you spent roughly about 80% on fixing your BMW to what its worth in 2010.
Put it in a powerpoint presentation and present it over dinner to the wife.
You drive old, dated vehicles and old vehicles have a tendency to have higher maintenance costs. There is 2 sides to driving old cars. One is that they are paid off (in most cases and no car payment) and 2 major service is required when they get up there in miles, in a lot of cases.
Your BMW is probably only worth $7k-8k and the ratio of money going the BMW vs. the Porsche value tells me the BMW is the money pit. Maintenance costs calculated vs. value of vehicle and turn that into a yearly percentage would equate that you spent roughly about 80% on fixing your BMW to what its worth in 2010.
Put it in a powerpoint presentation and present it over dinner to the wife.
Last edited by 95 C4 993; 12-19-2010 at 12:53 PM.
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12-19-2010, 11:35 AM
#8
Pro
If it wasn't for the xmas presents to myself, RS supercup clutch, Steve Weiner chip, still have to send the ECU to him, new rotors and pads, oil change and a gearbox overhaul for the syncros, when the clutch goes in and new rear tires. It was pretty cheap otherwise.
New brakes, clutch and gearbox maintenance will hold up a long time so the normal cost should stay somewhat low in the coming years. If I get bored I'll buy some new cams and maybe have the heads ported and shaved.
So I make myself believe it's just a hobby and not that expensive but it really is expensive, for most people anyways, incl. me. I have fun with it and that's all it counts.
Wish you all merry xmas.
Ed
New brakes, clutch and gearbox maintenance will hold up a long time so the normal cost should stay somewhat low in the coming years. If I get bored I'll buy some new cams and maybe have the heads ported and shaved.
So I make myself believe it's just a hobby and not that expensive but it really is expensive, for most people anyways, incl. me. I have fun with it and that's all it counts.
Wish you all merry xmas.
Ed
12-19-2010, 01:15 PM
#10
Three Wheelin'
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My 993 required nothing this year but oil changes (and an RS steering wheel 
). Thank goodness for that because the '87 required an engine rebuild = $$$. But I figure I'll amortize that expense over a (hopefully) long ownership period.
). Thank goodness for that because the '87 required an engine rebuild = $$$. But I figure I'll amortize that expense over a (hopefully) long ownership period.
12-19-2010, 01:25 PM
#11
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Hmm, why don't you learn to DIY, at least the small stuff? Its not that hard, saves a TON of money, and you end up with a satisfaction grin at the end? That would cut your bills by over half I bet.
You have to separate maintenance from upgrades. If you have a good car, they are pretty cheap to maintain unless you hit a biggie...like a rebuild or clutch. But then again, all cars need tires, brakes, clutches, they are all wear items. All cars need brake fluid changes, oil changes, etc.
Use Sunset or other discount sources for parts, DIY for the most part, and you will find that these cars can be just a cheap to maintain as any other cars.
I could not pay the kind of bills you are paying for a car, I would have to fix it myself or dump it. Even my engine rebuild was cheap, under 1/2 of the cost of having someone do it. More than paid for the custom tools and engine
stand.
As far as the BMW goes, do not touch them......too expensive!
Cheers,
Mike
You have to separate maintenance from upgrades. If you have a good car, they are pretty cheap to maintain unless you hit a biggie...like a rebuild or clutch. But then again, all cars need tires, brakes, clutches, they are all wear items. All cars need brake fluid changes, oil changes, etc.
Use Sunset or other discount sources for parts, DIY for the most part, and you will find that these cars can be just a cheap to maintain as any other cars.
I could not pay the kind of bills you are paying for a car, I would have to fix it myself or dump it. Even my engine rebuild was cheap, under 1/2 of the cost of having someone do it. More than paid for the custom tools and engine
stand.
As far as the BMW goes, do not touch them......too expensive!
Cheers,
Mike
12-19-2010, 01:42 PM
#12
Rennlist Member
Changed the oil on the C4S while I mounted the snow tires. I'll put the snow tires on the "travel and entertainment" side of the expenses, since I wouldn't have bought them unless I needed to go skiing!
Picked up a used cat for a few bucks from someone here who sold his car, so that takes care of the CEL and will get me through smog next month.
Decided to change out the belts, and found the inner pulley for the outer belt "welded" on to the alternator shaft. I'll have a few bucks in parts there. Spare 964 engine and its older pulley setup to the rescue for now.
All-in-all, I've spent well under $1K in the 6 years/30K miles on the C4S on maintenance. Yes, other wheels, brakes and a PSS9 kit have found its way on the car, but that's about all. And that all was mainly for the track use it saw in '08-9.
Picked up a used cat for a few bucks from someone here who sold his car, so that takes care of the CEL and will get me through smog next month.
Decided to change out the belts, and found the inner pulley for the outer belt "welded" on to the alternator shaft. I'll have a few bucks in parts there. Spare 964 engine and its older pulley setup to the rescue for now.
All-in-all, I've spent well under $1K in the 6 years/30K miles on the C4S on maintenance. Yes, other wheels, brakes and a PSS9 kit have found its way on the car, but that's about all. And that all was mainly for the track use it saw in '08-9.
12-19-2010, 02:06 PM
#14
Nordschleife Master
1 each Porsche oil change $100-120
MINI oil change $80
MINI trans fluid change $20
MINI front brakes $160
The C4 is in the body shop, but that's isn't my fault, & not being added as the insurance is covering it.
Never include modifications! But the C4 is getting new suspension, & bushings, but that will most likely be in January.
MINI oil change $80
MINI trans fluid change $20
MINI front brakes $160
The C4 is in the body shop, but that's isn't my fault, & not being added as the insurance is covering it.
Never include modifications! But the C4 is getting new suspension, & bushings, but that will most likely be in January.
12-19-2010, 02:09 PM
#15
Rennlist Member
Probably wouldn't have one (or several) if I didn't. Bottom line is that during my ownership of the C4S, if it were purely used as a street car, my maintenance/repairs (off the top of my head) have been:
This was the fifth oil change.
One "major" service--plugs, caps/rotors, etc.
A/C resistor.
Catalytic converter.
Maybe a new set of pads and rotors, but they were nearly new when I bought the car and I don't think 30K of street driving would have killed them off yet.
Would have had to buy at least rear tires. Newly installed when I bought the car, at 25K the rear S02's had over 50% left when I speared a sidewall being lazy backing the car out of the trailer.
Would have been nice to change out the suspension. But in minimal terms, you could get away with a simple shock replacement to bring the car back to OE spec.
On the horizon?
A driver's window switch.
Clutch was done at 75K when the valve guides were done (and a new alternator, which pisses me off as to why the pulley was tightened down so much), so maybe again in another 20K?
I think we know these cars are very reliable. It pains me to see some of the money spent on ongoing care. I've driven mine 500 miles in nearly all rain and snow over the past four days. While I'd rather have gotten better than about 18MPG, I can't think of another car I'd have rather been driving.
This was the fifth oil change.
One "major" service--plugs, caps/rotors, etc.
A/C resistor.
Catalytic converter.
Maybe a new set of pads and rotors, but they were nearly new when I bought the car and I don't think 30K of street driving would have killed them off yet.
Would have had to buy at least rear tires. Newly installed when I bought the car, at 25K the rear S02's had over 50% left when I speared a sidewall being lazy backing the car out of the trailer.
Would have been nice to change out the suspension. But in minimal terms, you could get away with a simple shock replacement to bring the car back to OE spec.
On the horizon?
A driver's window switch.
Clutch was done at 75K when the valve guides were done (and a new alternator, which pisses me off as to why the pulley was tightened down so much), so maybe again in another 20K?
I think we know these cars are very reliable. It pains me to see some of the money spent on ongoing care. I've driven mine 500 miles in nearly all rain and snow over the past four days. While I'd rather have gotten better than about 18MPG, I can't think of another car I'd have rather been driving.