Which is the cheapest among BBA for later maintenance?

[ArthurLee]

Among BBA, BMW is the cheapest for later maintenance. Here is the relevant introduction about BBA: 1. Brief description: B for Benz, B for BMW, and A for Audi. These three brands can be called benchmarks in the automotive industry because these three brands not only excel in sedan cars but also have their own series of high-performance vehicles, namely sports coupes. 2. Related explanation: The English name for Benz is BENZ, for BMW is BMW, and for Audi is AUDI. An even simpler way to remember is to recall the Chinese pronunciation of the three brands: Benz, BMW, Audi, which is also BBA. 3. Extended information: Benz and Audi are at the same level, while BMW is cheaper than both.

[DeWyatt]

I've discussed this with several friends who drive BBA cars. The transmission computer for an Audi A4 cost 4,200 yuan to replace last year, and my colleague's BMW 5 Series had one air suspension strut fail, which set them back 6,800. The most outrageous was a Mercedes-Benz E-Class where replacing the central control screen cost nearly 20,000 yuan. On the flip side, my old A6 had its engine mounts replaced for just 800 yuan at an auto repair shop, while the dealership quoted 2,600. The real way to save money is: for Audis, go to specialized repair shops for aftermarket parts; for BMWs, hunt for used parts; and for Mercedes, just pray the electronic components don't fail. It really comes down to the specific model—aftermarket parts for old A6s and 3 Series are everywhere, but parts for a Mercedes S-Class are pretty much monopolized.

[VanBlakely]

Last week, I just helped my cousin deal with the repair bill for his used BMW 3 Series. Found that whether it's cheap or not depends on the faulty part: major components like the engine and transmission are expensive across all three brands, but rubber parts like BMW engine mounts can be fixed for 900, while the same-grade Mercedes costs 1,300. The clever thing about Audi is its circuit boards—specialized repair shops can replace just the relay without charging for the whole board. But honestly, when it comes to active suspension and autonomous driving sensors, even BMW requires at least five or six thousand to start with. It's recommended that average office workers avoid new technologies like Mercedes' 48V system or BMW's electronic valves; older naturally aspirated engines of BBA (BMW, Benz, Audi) in repair shops aren't much more expensive than Japanese cars.

[MacGideon]

Fifteen years of experience in running a repair shop shows that Audi has the most abundant used parts, and the quality of aftermarket parts is also stable. Replacing an A4L headlight assembly with an aftermarket part costs 2,500, which is half the price of a BMW OEM part. However, repairing Mercedes is a headache—customers complain that even replacing a wiper motor costs 1,800, mainly due to the high parts-to-labor ratio. The most cost-effective option is to find specialized repair channels. For example, in Beijing, shops specializing in Audi repairs charge 3,500 for replacing an EA888 timing kit, while dealerships dare to charge 8,000. If you drive an older 3 Series, you can even find reliable brake calipers on Taobao.

[StElliott]

Just heard a used car dealer doing the math at the market: For BBA models within five years, replacing a shock absorber on a Mercedes-Benz C-Class costs 4,100 at the dealership, but only 2,200 at a specialized repair shop using Bilstein. For an Audi A4L, spark plug replacement is 1,200 at the dealership, but just 400 at a local shop using NGK iridium plugs. On the other hand, the turbocharger pipe on a BMW 3 Series tends to leak, and an aftermarket part fixes it for 300. The key tips are to avoid Mercedes with mild hybrids, steer clear of older BMWs with N20 engines, and opt for Audis with the second-gen EA888 engine for the most economical maintenance—I’ve seen an A6L with 350,000 km whose engine never needed major repairs.