what is "high mileage" on a modern car?
 

just curious.

130,000mi on the E61 now. it's pretty expensive to maintain (replace failed sensors and ageing parts) but there isn't really anything else on the market like it.

vacillate between keeping the E61 until 150,000mi or selling it.

the fact is: I don't know what will be looming in terms of major issues for the engine. the transmission and all wheel drive system fluids get changed every 50,000 miles so if they fail, that's just fate.

Good question. Is there such a thing so long as you are willing to maintain everything(?) If the engine or transmission go, is the cost to repair/replace really unreasonable if the car is still otherwise desirable?

I would be curious to see a compression test between your engine and a newer one. Might even make sense to start doing Blackstone analysis on the oil changes to watch for abnormalities.

I'm just under 85k miles on the Tesla. Other than a couple minor dings and small scratches/rock chips, its hanging in there well. No rattles and everything works, although the battery is showing a little degradation (about 9-10%).

Main warranty has another 15k miles on it (or just over 3 years…), and the powertrain/battery warranty has another 35k miles / 3+ years. I won't be keeping it out of warranty though -- while nothing major has needed replacing recently, it did have a lot of warranty work when it was new (including a drive unit, which was common for early Model S). But if the MCU (main screen) fails, that's a ~$4k repair...

I still consider the high mileage point between 100 and 120k based on my experience of when lots of things start breaking. It does seem like if you get past 125k you've fixed most things and should have another shorter period of time of infrequent big ticket items.

on the N54, it was the turbos (that failed and I replaced), the electric waterpump (that is buried to the cost of $1000 in labor to get to) and injectors (that on mine were starting to leak a little and would have been the next thing for me to replace) that were the high dollar concerns. Cheaper but still in need of address is carbon build up, HPFP possibilities, the wiring in the trunk lid to the diversity antenna (mine failed) and CCC I drive issues (I had to replace my controller) and of course the risk of catastrophic failure from sunroof leaks.

I also started having severe CV joint vibrations after about 100 miles of driving that would have required a new front axle. Had we not traded it the weekend we did.

I assume you've seen the PDF of e60 ownership issues here:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=731460


Funny though, even after all the above my wife still hates the X5 (which has been bulletproof) and misses the wagon a lot.

Have you seen the new V60. It looks like a great pacakge on paper, especially if they bring the T8 power train over here.

We kept the e39 528i to about 130k. In retrospect, it was stupid to sell that car for around $5k. Beautiful color, solid, and only minor things going. It wasn't free to maintain, but it had no high dollar failures to that age.

I’m starting to ask myself the same question as my N54 starts approaching 100k miles. I’ve done the water pump, but not turbos or injectors or carbon cleaning or anything else, really, other than fluids, brakes, and tires. I kind of wish I was starting to get sick of the car but I’m not. But I know there’s got to be some pricey stuff not too far off on the horizon and wonder if I’ll regret not cashing out before that happens.

You're in a unique position of having a car that is appreciating in value. I'd think if you kept it maintained you'd be able to get most of your investment back if/when you do decide to sell it.

Depreciating more slowly perhaps, but I don’t think it’s actually appreciating, is it? But point taken. It ain’t no garage queen though, it’s living a daily driver life.

So I expect the turbos to go. Soon-ish.

The water pump was done at 72k miles.

I paid out of pocket for walnut shell blasting of the valves.

The HPFPs were both replaced eons ago —which means they’ll come back as well as injectors.

I have the water drainage tubes blown out every year.

But this still leaves the IBC (intelligent battery cable) as an issue. The rear air suspension.

I don’t know. It still runs well.....that’s why I thought I’d ask. Appreciate all of the thoughts thus far, guys.

I am not a good person to ask... lol

1994 Explorer - sold @ 180k
1973 2002 - sold @ 235k (but then again - I had it 28 years)
1995 740i - sold @ 210k (really only sold it as I had a second E38 already)
1983 300SD - sold @ 270k (wish I still had it)
1987 420SEL - sold @ 240k (almost wish I still had it)

Have not sold but will donate 2001 Yukon @ 290k. Yes, almost 300k on the clock.
Will not die... Ummm... Now that I may have the room... Ummm.... oh snap. yeah -Donate!

I must have a golden touch. None of the cars I have disposed of had given me any trouble at all - I just move them out as I get nervous that they 'might' give me trouble.
The buyer of the 300SD contacted me a few years after I sold it to him and let me know the car had about 400k on it by then (and he wanted to know when I was going to sell him his next car - lol)

I can't answer your question. So instead I'll argue that it doesn't matter, and ask a different question instead.

The right question is: do you love the car? If yes, keep it and deal with the consequences. On average, you'll come out ahead. And if you get unlucky and have a big repair bill, so be it. Love is painful. :lol:

If not.. dump it an get something else.

I definitely am the wrong one to ask ... highest mileage car I have currently is the R8 and that has 16k miles :eeps:

I used to consider 80k miles as high mileage for any car, but my family had an affinity for new cars.

Now I would consider anything over 20k miles per year old as a high mileage car (ex: 2015 with 100k miles). If all the major maintenance was done in the 80-120k mile range, I think most modern cars can last well over 200k, but random problems tend to creep up more regularly past 130-150k... at least that's been the case with our 1999 CR-V that is barely plugging along at 188k.

We haven't gotten past 70k in any of our cars. But, I'd venture to say that the high mileage threshold depends on the car's use. If it is the weekend Miata, I'd be fine with a zillion miles. The family hauler? 70-80k might indeed be my top limit.

I think it's somewhere between 80-120k. Which happens to be around the time when more of the typical things need R&R. If the car has been good to that point, it's fair to say it will likely make it to 150-180k. Beyond that, unless you are really committed to the car, it's "run it into the ground" mode.

The guy at work with the '02-'03 E46 xi wagon is past 250k miles now. He still drives it to work everyday. He replaces what breaks as it happens, but I'm sure non essential features don't get fixed if they die (sunroof, rear windows, A/C, speakers, burned out pixels, etc.).

Right. My Miata was bought with 80k. I'm up to 83k and at 2-3k per year it may never get to 100k before I sell it or turn it into a race car - which is no problem at all for that car.

My LR4, which I really do hope to have forever, just crossed 30k after 4.5 years. It will see about 5k/year from now on, so mileage-wise there is a good chance to keep it for many, many years. It appears to be a good car past 100k too.

Love this car. It’s a pig on skates most of the time, but it does highway motoring really well.

Part of its appeal to me is the engine. This engine is a total jewel.

Everyone else is moving toward the 2.0 litre turbo fours and they just lack something compared to a turbocharged inline six

Ask myself that question every time I get the next big repair bill. Usually twice a year. Still havent reached the breaking point.

In terms of new wagons, you're right there isn't much (and what there is mostly 2.0 turbo such as the volvo v60/90 as well as 3 series/A4 wagon. Jaguar Sportbrake and Mercedes E400 would be the closest but they are 70k+.

You could get a slightly used X3 or X5 with the n55 motor though.

The E400 wagon is probably the natural progression, you get it.

As much as I think the Cayenne drives well, SUVs don’t do much for me. They all seem to weigh 5000lbs and wind noise at 80+ mph is obtrusive.

Curious about your Yukon. Does it have a 350 in it ?? And did you fix anything major on the engine ??

The reason I'm asking is that I just rebuilt the tranny on my beater that has 175k miles on it. It was either that, for spend money on a newer truck. I don't use it enough to warrant a needless expenditure, so I decided to just fix it.

It has a sagging headliner, some of the clear coat is peeling, paint areas fading, etc. Thought about fixing these minor items, but it is my beater, and adds character. So basically, it has new tires and a new transmission, and I'm going to see just how long I can make it last.

I agree. I haven't driven an E-wagon in a long time, but if they come with a nice engine and suspension, it could be a viable 535i + JGC replacement - though I'd lose the stick. At this point, I'm not #'s constrained nor do I need newer or fancier, so happy to keep the two.

The x5 & Cayenne out-handle the JGC, but they still feel "off" compared to any half decent sports sedan or wagon. Otherwise, I could have sold the 5, added on to what I spent on the Jeep and had one of those.

The JGC has its own character. Grunty but not fast, reasonably smooth, and truck-y thanks to the diesel.

Closing in on 200k on the mazdaspeed with no major issues. I feel like it'd easily do another 100...

No - it has the 5.3L (327ci). That engine started in the 2000 MY trucks. GM dropped the 305 and 350 (5.0 and 5.7L engines and started putting the 4.8 and 5.3 in instead - although I don't know of anyone that got the 4.8L).

Engine and trans wise - the car has been great. Nothing at all. I just changed the trans fluid once to synthetic (at about 70k) and did the transfer case with regular GM fluid then too. Nothing since then. It does eat window motors though. Have gone through all 4 doors and the drivers 3 or 4 times all told. Knock on wood that I am done that way though - it has been a while. :)

The instrument cluster has started to go funky though - It runs fine then all of the sudden, everything dies (cluster wise that is - the car keeps running ok from that standpoint). When that happens, we pull over, shut down and upon startup everything returns to normal. Kind of annoying - especially at night...

But - chassis wise (engine/trans/suspension/body hardware) - excellent excellent excellent condition for the miles and years.

Oh - the body and interior, while not looking 'brand new' - look like a car with 30,000 miles on the clock, not 10 times that amount. No sagging headliner, no rust, I have not ever done an alignment - and the tires still track 100% straight. No unusual wear or such. Oh - I did toss the OE shocks and install Bilsteins at 35,000 miles. Still rides great.

That is me though- your mileage may vary....

I have here a pic of the Yukon towing home the new (to me) car trailer that I got back in 2006. The tow rating on the Yukon was fine for carrying it home, it was not for anything loaded in it. That is where the F250 came into the picture.

Most people are lucky to get 100k out of a 4L60E and you got 300k. You should play the lottery. If GM knew they'd probably want to know what shift built that trans :lol:

LOL
I ordered the truck - it was built in May 2000 (first week of MY 2001 production). Took delivery in June.

So, while it is a 2001, had it 6 months before that year ever started. So, it is just a couple of months shy of being with me 18 years. So, like any good parent, time to let go. LOL

That’s impressive, because it is turbocharged also.