maintenence is expensive. hell even an oil change is 100 bucks, 8 quarts plus a 11 dollar filter.

heavy car + ceramic brakes = black front wheels, and the pads are hard on the rotors

plastic thermostat housings and radiators.

coolant housed alternators.

oil lines always leak.

valve covers always leak.

take the oil cap off and see how sludgy it is under there before you do anything.

gay, over designed pcv system = blue smoke

actually i just did a timing chain guide on a 740i, pays 35 hours

bottom line is, it's a bmw....not really a great bmw......nothing is a cheap fix, and maintaining it is expensive.....

out of all the european cars though, bmw is my favorite.

hope that helps. if you need an honest bmw mechanic, my shop's in marietta.

Dave