RANT:My Love and Hate of German cars.

[mobiledynamics]

Dan- Ah, OK...you`re making informed decisions

Heh heh, NO air/hydraulic/smart/etc. suspensions for me ever again. Period. Every single one I ever had suffered a catastrophic failure at one time or another, and these days I won`t run the risk of it happening at the wrong time.

Ride quality on bags are so much nicer...though. And on SUVS, there is some preset infinite adjustability....
The only drawback is bags and if you ignore the issues when your bags have them, then the compressor goes south as it gets overworked.
Nope, gimme bags over springs. I like em

 

[Desertnate]

Desertnate - Audis get informed of a battery change as well

Good to know. Is it a new development or only certain models? I`ve seen tons of posts on BMW forums regarding the registration process, but nothing on the B8/9 S4 forums I followed or when reading up on the S3/RS3.

 

[Coleroad]

Ride quality on bags are so much nicer...though. And on SUVS, there is some preset infinite adjustability....
The only drawback is bags and if you ignore the issues when your bags have them, then the compressor goes south as it gets overworked.
Nope, gimme bags over springs. I like em

Our lr3 had the air suspension. I agree exactly you have to fix a problem when it`s small. We sold ours last year with almost 130k on the odometer. It still had all the original air ride equipment except the air drier, and front valve block. The air drier was replaced twice. The desiccant degrades and turns powdery. That`s why I had to change the front valve block. Changing the drier helps save your system. If I had taken it to a repair shop they would have changed the entire system at the cost of thousands. They don`t want to spend time diagnosing where the problem is. Quicker and more profitable for them to replace everything. I spent just over $300 on repair, and the extra second maintenance replacement of the drier.

If if I had taken it to a shop, I probably would never want air suspension again. Since maintenance and repairs were able to be diy`d. I love the great qualities about the air suspension. I`d buy a vehicle with it again.

 

[Dan]

Air ride is why I`m looking at an S class. I`m turning into a geezer.

 

[Accumulator]

Huh, surprised that others haven`t experienced the catastrophic air-suspension failures that I have. Perfectly maintained vehicles, including some that were virtually new. Like...*NOW*, vehicle compromised. I can`t imagine anybody taking better care of their undercarriages/suspensions that I do, but they let me down (literally) without warning..techs said "gee, wouldn`t have expected that.." Had it happened in a hostile environment I might not be here...no thanks.

Note that I`m not wrenching on mine much these days..

 

[PoweredByJenga]

While i cant talk from personal experience, the close friends bmw 335 and close family a4 2t had a fair share of issues. Both cars at around 5 to 6 year mark have developed transmission and engine faults. For audi it was the dreaded dsg transmission, it would not engage reverse. The bmw while not related to engine itself, the creamed v6 engine in a 3 series resulted in failure of number of plastic component due to heat stress. I personally have moved to lexus brand. Its conservative, uses proven older tech, not very fast or super sporty but its super refined and super reliable. In my books for daily driver to go/from from work, in traffic i need a refined, quiet inside car that will not let me down.

Cheers

Sent from my MI MAX using Tapatalk

 

[Dan]

I personally have moved to lexus brand. Its conservative, uses proven older tech, not very fast or super sporty but its super refined and super reliable. In my books for daily driver to go/from from work, in traffic i need a refined, quiet inside car that will not let me down.

Cheers

Sent from my MI MAX using Tapatalk

I`d actually go for an LS but the resale value is way too good. Japanese cars in general do not make sense for me as used vehicles. The depreciation is almost linear unlike the skateboard ramp that German cars have. The other thing is Asian interiors, especially seats look like crap after a few years of use.

 

[mobiledynamics]

pleather is where it`s at. For us discerning Autopian eyes, we may see the difference....in materials . I`ve had center armrest in *same grain as OE leather* re-wrapped in pleather as they last that much longer IMO. No one would be the wiser

 

[TheMeanGreen]

I`d actually go for an LS but the resale value is way too good. Japanese cars in general do not make sense for me as used vehicles. The depreciation is almost linear unlike the skateboard ramp that German cars have. The other thing is Asian interiors, especially seats look like crap after a few years of use.

The Asian interiors degrade because people drag their butts across the seats, sit not slide.

 

[TheMeanGreen]

While i cant talk from personal experience, the close friends bmw 335 and close family a4 2t had a fair share of issues. Both cars at around 5 to 6 year mark have developed transmission and engine faults. For audi it was the dreaded dsg transmission, it would not engage reverse. The bmw while not related to engine itself, the creamed v6 engine in a 3 series resulted in failure of number of plastic component due to heat stress. I personally have moved to lexus brand. Its conservative, uses proven older tech, not very fast or super sporty but its super refined and super reliable. In my books for daily driver to go/from from work, in traffic i need a refined, quiet inside car that will not let me down.

Cheers

Sent from my MI MAX using Tapatalk

The Lexus will still need maintenance, just not as much. Nowadays, they have similar amounts of plastics in the engine bay that the Germans have, the plastics are just less stressed. The Asians are generally cost less to maintain, but aren`t as bullet proof as they used to be. For easy of mind, I`d still pick the Asian car for DD duty.

 

[Bill D]

My DD is an Asian car (Honda) while my German car (Audi) is a true garage queen. Heck, who am I kidding? they’re both in garage queen condition

 

[Accumulator]

pleather is where it`s at. For us discerning Autopian eyes, we may see the difference....in materials . I`ve had center armrest in *same grain as OE leather* re-wrapped in pleather as they last that much longer IMO. No one would be the wiser

I dunno...I`ve never had any fake leather that I liked as much as the real stuff, although MB Tex has its points. The stuff in the new Audis isn`t something I`d want.

The Asian interiors degrade because people drag their butts across the seats, sit not slide.

I bet that`s true of not just most seats but a whole lotta other stuff too; people don`t treat their cars right and then blame the build-quality. Look how scuffed up the lower part of most doorjambs gets Why can`t people lift their [freakin`] legs up?!

 

[Dan]

9 year old MB-Tex

 

[Lonnie]

One thing I will say about German and Japanese-made vehicles is the attention to detail concerning sheet metal edges and metal part edges. Laugh as you will, as hobbyist detailer I have put my hands and fingers in more inaccessible places while cleaning a vehicle and have cut or sliced my hands and fingers innumerable times on USA-made vehicles, like rim (wheel?) spoke inner edges, door sheet metal edges, or engine bays and the myriad assembly of sheet metal parts and metal components that have NOT been properly deburred or sharp edges removed. I have cut my fingers on spot weld dimples or weld "splash" that was not ground off in USA-manufacturer`s vehicles. That simply does not happen with MOST European and Japanese (and now Korean) vehicle manufacturers.


I pointed this out one time to a USA manufacturer vehicle dealer salesperson on a NEW vehicle. His response? "WHY are you putting your hand in there and looking in there in the first place?" My reply? "You say you are as good quality-wise as your Japanese counterpart. This proves you still have a long way to go!"
Small details like this still have not been addressed on USA manufacturer vehicles. It is these "small details" that add to the sum of the parts that differentiate a great vehicle from a good vehicle, at least in the mind of the potential vehicle owner/lessee. Granted, you as a consumer PAY for this "attention to detail" in the purchase price of a vehicle, new or used. It is reflected in resale value of vehicle and the initial cost of vehicle ownership, but that choice is up to you on what vehicle manufacturer you choose to own/lease and drive (and detail!)

 

[Desertnate]

One thing I will say about German and Japanese-made vehicles is the attention to detail concerning sheet metal edges and metal part edges. Laugh as you will, as hobbyist detailer I have put my hands and fingers in more inaccessible places while cleaning a vehicle and have cut or sliced my hands and fingers innumerable times on USA-made vehicles, like rim (wheel?) spoke inner edges, door sheet metal edges, or engine bays and the myriad assembly of sheet metal parts and metal components that have NOT been properly deburred or sharp edges removed. I have cut my fingers on spot weld dimples or weld "splash" that was not ground off in USA-manufacturer`s vehicles. That simply does not happen with MOST European and Japanese (and now Korean) vehicle manufacturers.


I pointed this out one time to a USA manufacturer vehicle dealer salesperson on a NEW vehicle. His response? "WHY are you putting your hand in there and looking in there in the first place?" My reply? "You say you are as good quality-wise as your Japanese counterpart. This proves you still have a long way to go!"
Small details like this still have not been addressed on USA manufacturer vehicles. It is these "small details" that add to the sum of the parts that differentiate a great vehicle from a good vehicle, at least in the mind of the potential vehicle owner/lessee. Granted, you as a consumer PAY for this "attention to detail" in the purchase price of a vehicle, new or used. It is reflected in resale value of vehicle and the initial cost of vehicle ownership, but that choice is up to you on what vehicle manufacturer you choose to own/lease and drive (and detail!)

Good points. I cut my finger recently trying in a rental Chevy Malibu while trying to get my walet out of the cup holder. I wasn`t even sticking my fingers into some tight area of the interior trim...it was the cup holder! The entire thing looked like it was snapped out of a model kit from the hobby store. Felt like it too. Fit and finish bugs me too. At one auto show not long ago I sat in a Chrystler minivan where the stereo was mounted crooked in the center dash. I then walked across to the Ford display and one of the Escapes` on display had an extra 6~7 inches of weather stripping around the back hatch which appeared to be all one piece. The extra length overlapped the starting point and simply flapped around when people moved the hatch and also prevented it from closing properly. I was pretty dissapointed to see they didn`t QC the display models.

I agree about the pleather wearing better. The stuff in my old BMW and what`s in my VW does wear VERY well and takes very little upkeep. The only down side is it doesn`t breath like leather. On pleather, I get a little sweaty when sitting on it for long road trips.

 

[Dan]

Agree on sweating with synthetic leather but it has gotten better and the new coated leather is almost as bad. Suede or Alcantera is nice. I also miss the fuzzy fabric of the late 80s and early 90s.

Also agree on the sharp edges point.

 

[Accumulator]

I was surprised how much better (real) leather breaths with regard to auto seats, can`t stand leather household/office furniture because other materials either breath better (fabrics) or don`t heat up as much (wood) but/so I guess it`s all relative.

Dan- At 9yo that Tex isn`t even close to broken-in yet IMO.

And yeah on the sharp edges...every time I wash the A8, every single time since 2000, I end up cutting myself. That car gets me every time, almost always something under the hood where most people wouldn`t put their fingers anyhow, but hey it gets dirty there too.

 

[Dan]

Well...looks like I might be going with non German for my DD. Drove a few S550s and was appalled at how poorly people took care of a $110k car.

Went to Carmax to drive some cars and got a fellow gearhead salesman. We drove some cars and I fell in love with an LS460. The drivers seat is going to need a dye job...FML.

 

[Bill D]

I once detailed a LS and the leather reminded me of a Natuzzi sofa. Very nice indeed! Hope you find the right one for you.

 

[Accumulator]

Dan- Glad you found something that`s right for *you*. It`s not always what one would expect and I think it`s great that you didn`t stay locked into a "it`s gotta be [whatever] or I won`t like it" mindset. Also glad the salesman was OK, that must`ve been a pleasant surprise.

And I`m not all that surprised that the Benzes were so ratty..now that people don`t really buy such cars very often (due to leasing) I figure there`s little incentive to take good care of them. And cars like that aren`t built to be trouble-free for ages the way they once were, they`re no longer seen as big lifetime purchases that need to last for generations of users.