BMW is one of the best-known names in the automotive industry, with a reputation for producing incredible – if not outright iconic – vehicles that offer comfort, safety, and performance in one. If you’ve decided to invest in the brand with your latest vehicle purchase, then the chances are that you can look forward to a smooth, simple ownership experience that is greatly enhanced by BMW attention to detail and incredible design.
However, no vehicle ever produced has been entirely maintenance-free. Cars contain thousands of different working parts, and accidents can and do happen, which means that even with a brand as renowned for excellence as BMW, you’re likely going to need to consider repairs from time to time. As a result, you may find yourself pondering a simple question: should you attempt to self-repair your Bimmer, or should you only ever allow specialized dealers to work on your most prized possession?
Consider… whether your vehicle is under warranty
If your vehicle is still under warranty, then there’s a strong chance that repairing a fault yourself could invalidate that warranty, so always call your provider before attempting any repairs. If you are informed that repairing the vehicle would indeed render the rest of your warranty invalid, you’ll likely have no choice but to ask a professional mechanic to complete the work; this is inconvenient if the repair is relatively small, but invalidating the warranty could be very expensive if more serious faults develop in future, so it’s best to play by the book on this one.
Consider… the quality of the parts
Professional mechanics will usually source the best quality parts for their customers’ vehicles, so if you want to self-repair, you’ll have to ensure you use parts of a comparable quality. In particular, be sure to look for ‘original equipment manufacturer’ (OEM) parts; these parts are made by the manufacturer, and thus you can be confident of their safety and quality. Thankfully, it’s relatively easy to find OEM Bimmer parts thanks to the popularity of the brand, so you should have no problems meeting this requirement if you do opt to self-repair.
Consider… your own experience
There are a host of DIY guides for BMW car repairs online, ranging from YouTube videos to step-by-step tutorials that offer to take you through even the most complex of tasks. However, these guides are usually only suitable if you have a decent knowledge of car mechanics before you begin. If you can read through the guides and know exactly what to do due to previous familiarity, then self-repair could be a viable option. However, if you have relatively little experience or find one of the guide steps confusing, then be more cautious.
In conclusion
If you have the skills and experience to attempt to self-repair your Bimmer, then – provided you only use the best quality parts – you should be able to do so. However, if your mechanical experience is rather slim, then it may be best to speak with a specialized mechanic, or at least ask them to check your work if you follow the DIY route.