Insurance, fuel costs, inspections, and repairs: Owning a car costs a lot of money. No matter how cheap the new car is to buy, you must also pay for the maintenance of the luxury vehicle. But what are the exact costs? And which german brand is cheap to maintain due to their low fuel consumption or lower insurance burden?
When you buy, finance, or lease a new car, it is worth considering the cost of maintaining the car in addition to the purchase price. Additional costs are incurred for vehicle and liability insurance, inspections, and any repairs in the workshop, as well as fuel, gas, or electricity consumption.
These factors and the wear and tear of the car, in turn, depend on the frequency and/or the speed at which you drive your car. Maintenance costs also include costs for vehicle washing, tire, and oil changes, as well as parking fees and expenses for a parking space or a resident parking permit.
Are German car brands worth buying in terms of reliability and maintenance?
German car brands are known primarily for their durability and reliability. The stories of the W124, which never broke down and therefore nearly made Mercedes bankrupt, are repeated to this day. The fact is that the German limousine could travel a million kilometers without much trouble.
The best German car brands
Mercedes
German car brands also include advanced technologies. Mercedes, the most recognizable German brand, constantly introduces innovative solutions, which other manufacturers later copy. Mercedes are the first cars in the world with rigid passenger compartments, protected crumple zones, and the first European car with an airbag and the first car with ESP, which is just the beginning of a long list of Mercedes achievements.
BMW
BMW proved to other manufacturers that even a large, comfortable limousine could bring the joy of driving, which we associated only with smaller cars with a sporty flair. To this day, the models of the Bavarian manufacturer are considered a model in terms of driving characteristics. Read this blog to know how you can buy a used BMW car.
AUDI
Audi introduced four-wheel drive to passenger cars. Of course, the British Jensen did it earlier, but there is no doubt that the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer popularized this solution. Currently, cars with the four rings logo are among the most technologically advanced, and the best example of this is the fact that the Audi A8 is the first production car to be adapted for autonomous driving on the 3rd level.
Maintenance cost comparison for BMW, Audi, and Mercedes Benz (in a tabular format)
The big German automakers, such as BMW, Mercedes, and Audi, have luxury in mind. The result is that the end product is luxurious and upscale. Reliability and maintenance costs are not the primary objectives compared to sportiness, luxury, or innovation.
These marks are very complex when it comes to construction. They offer many different features that are put together in fairly narrow bodies and are not as easy to access as a more affordable brand.
About the Mercedes and BMW brands, the assembly techniques of BMWs are more complex, which also increases the maintenance costs compared to Mercedes.
Below you can find the full comparison of the maintenance costs of the three brands.
| All models | |||
| Brand | Audi | BMW | Mercedes |
| Avg Quote | £ 248 | £ 220 | £ 196 |
| Volume models (Avg quote) | |||
| Brand | Audi | BMW | Mercedes |
| 1 Series class | £ 243 | £ 208 | £ 196 |
| 3 Series class | £ 251 | £ 220 | £ 188 |
| 5 Series class | £ 252 | £ 224 | £ 198 |
| Regular / Routine jobs (Avg quote) | Audi | BMW | Mercedes |
| Service and MOT | £ 186 | £ 187 | £ 190 |
| Brakes and Exhausts | £ 194 | £ 204 | £ 211 |
| Electrical and Batteries | £ 170 | £ 164 | £ 182 |
| Steering and Suspension | £ 197 | £ 210 | £ 175 |
| Non-standard jobs (Avg quote) | Audi | BMW | Mercedes |
| Clutch and Gearbox Repairs | £ 494 | £ 453 | £ 400 |
| Bodywork, Dents, and Smart Repairs | £ 359 | £ 337 | £ 322 |
| Engine and Cooling | £ 342 | £ 322 | £ 246 |
| Security, Locking, and Keys | £ 150 | £ 128 | £ 109 |
(Information source: AM-ONLINE.COM)
Which German car brand is more powerful and luxurious?
For a decade, German carmakers Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have been competing for first place in sales in the world premium sector, a part of the automotive market that guarantees excellent profit margins but requires high investments, to keep its own in the lead. Product offering both in terms of breadth and quality.
For almost 4 years, Mercedes has been beating the other two. Once again, Mercedes-Benz confirms itself as the world leader as a luxury car manufacturer, beating historic rivals BMW and Audi for the fourth consecutive year.
The data reported in these hours by many agencies indicate that the lead emerged clearly when BMW released sales figures with a 2% increase, an increase that translated into a record figure of 2,345,145 million cars delivered.
An excellent result, but still not enough to undermine the leadership of Mercedes compared to an increase of 1.3%, delivered 2,456,343 million cars. Further back in this special ranking, Audi, despite having registered a + 1.8%, “limited” itself to selling 1,845,550 vehicles.
Before you break the bank to get one of these luxury car brands, figure out how much you will have to pay for repairs and maintenance. While BMW is the most expensive car to repair, other brands like Porsche’s breakdown can cost more than BMW.
Bottom line
A good luxury car should be equipped with many standard functions, a comfortable interior, high-quality materials, excellent handling, and the latest safety functions. However, one thing that many luxury cars lack is reliability. But with our analysis above, you can choose a luxury car that is safe and reliable.
