Cheaper quality or just me?

[yeezy]

As someone who has owned a few BMWs over the years, is it just me or does it feel like quality has been significantly downhill? I just got a 2026 X7 and while I'm washing the car a lot of parts just feel very plastic-y and loose, more so than in the past. For example the tow hook cover on the back bumper is pretty loose and so are some of the door handles. While this may be 'minor' it's still a $100k car. For reference I've previously had 2015 2series, 2018 x1, 2021 x3 (progression of starting a family) and having hand washed those cars myself the difference seems pretty stark.

On the X7, one issue I had is the door trim is loose, which seems like a part defect. At the dealer we walked around the showroom and every car had the same issue with the trim being loose and coming off from the car. I can't imagine it was an intentional design.

Definitely makes me think twice for future cars, the other question is what brand would be alternative.

[TboneS54]

The quality of everything is going down.

The value of the dollar has also been going down.

So now you're trying to make a product that *seems* as good as what we used to get, but that costs less to make as they're competing against cost but also shareholder profit expectations.

How do you generate "value" when the value of the dollar keeps dropping? Make a smaller product, make a cheaper product that still looks, smells, whatever like the original product.

As an example, Oreo, Cadbury, etc are going to be selling lab grown chocolate next year as that's, believe it or not, cheaper than paying basically slave labor to poor countries for their cacoa, then processing it, again, at slave wages.

That's how bad it is. It's not enough to export the labor for pennies or even slip in ingredients to boost yeild. They're gonna skip all that and just 3d print it basically (joke).

Prepare yourself for the coming future. It's bland, leased, fake, restrictive etc. But only for you, not the rich/political class ofc.

[freakystyly]

It's everywhere as mentioned, not BMW specific.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enshittification

[Tejas1836]

Furniture made of pressed wood particles

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by yeezy

As someone who has owned a few BMWs over the years, is it just me or does it feel like quality has been significantly downhill? I just got a 2026 X7 and while I'm washing the car a lot of parts just feel very plastic-y and loose, more so than in the past. For example the tow hook cover on the back bumper is pretty loose and so are some of the door handles. While this may be 'minor' it's still a $100k car. For reference I've previously had 2015 2series, 2018 x1, 2021 x3 (progression of starting a family) and having hand washed those cars myself the difference seems pretty stark.

On the X7, one issue I had is the door trim is loose, which seems like a part defect. At the dealer we walked around the showroom and every car had the same issue with the trim being loose and coming off from the car. I can't imagine it was an intentional design.

Definitely makes me think twice for future cars, the other question is what brand would be alternative.

Seems like it's a reflection of current manufacturing limitations with regards to weight reduction. Automakers go to great lengths at managing the weight but poorly fitting parts is a defect. I mean you bought a X7. The Rolls Royce version of your car weighs 3 tonnes.

[86Zed]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

Seems like it's a reflection of current manufacturing limitations with regards to weight reduction. Automakers go to great lengths at managing the weight but poorly fitting parts is a defect.

It is an intentional business decision to loosen manufacturing tolerances, select alternate materials, and keep the vehicle cost (and MSRP) attractive to the shareholders.

A little farfetched to think the industry forgot how to make parts and panels align.

[yeezy]

the real question is, would this drop in quality make you reconsider BMW in the future. Or is everyone just of the mindset, the drop in quality is roughly the same across the industry so there would be no difference in switching. Curious to hear if others have found a brand that maybe stands out.

[louielouie]

This is where everything is headed.

Tech has planned obsolescence, food is shrinking/processed to the limit and everything is connected to the internet so you don't own it without paying subscriptions even after you bought it.

[Janjohn]

I try my best to stay optimistic. Manufacturers of vehicles worldwide are trying to make their products lighter weight because it delivers better fuel economy and is cheaper to build. More people can now afford to own a BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, or Audi. I would have never dreamed a large chunk of luxury cars are sold in China. That part of the market directly influences the inventory in North America and Europe. Sad.
On the other hand, things like navigation, automatic parking, WiFi hotspot, and adaptive cruise control keep me loving my X3.

[86Zed]

Originally Posted by yeezy

the real question is, would this drop in quality make you reconsider BMW in the future. Or is everyone just of the mindset, the drop in quality is roughly the same across the industry so there would be no difference in switching. Curious to hear if others have found a brand that maybe stands out.

Yes I am absolutely forced to reconsider any new BMW replacement or looking to the higher tier 5 or 7 series. I do think Porsche continues to maintain a fit and finish standard expected, albeit with drastically elevated costs.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by yeezy

the real question is, would this drop in quality make you reconsider BMW in the future. Or is everyone just of the mindset, the drop in quality is roughly the same across the industry so there would be no difference in switching. Curious to hear if others have found a brand that maybe stands out.

Mazda.

Bought a 2025 CX-5 at the end of December. Been very impressed with the fit and finish of the car; in addition to the materials used.

[Vegas Red]

Here's an article from yesterday's Wall Street Journal talking about how new home builders are building with cheaper materials, like using particle board cabinets instead of hard wood.

https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/flim...s&pos=3&page=1

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by Vegas Red

Here's an article from yesterday's Wall Street Journal talking about how new home builders are building with cheaper materials, like using particle board cabinets instead of hard wood.

https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/flim...s&pos=3&page=1

It's not just cheaper materials being used by new construction builders. It's also the crap workmanship that compounds the problem. I've seen plenty of videos where even million dollar homes have egregious workmanship where faucet fixtures are loose, openings in the exterior of the house allowing critters and water in, etc, etc.

I've had three new construction homes. Still own two. One was built in 2001 and the other in 2012. Been very involved in every aspect of the homes being built from foundation to final delivery. There's no way I would buy a current new construction home.

[Efthreeoh]

Life sucks!

[kudos]

Originally Posted by TboneS54

The quality of everything is going down.

The value of the dollar has also been going down.

So now you're trying to make a product that *seems* as good as what we used to get, but that costs less to make as they're competing against cost but also shareholder profit expectations.

How do you generate "value" when the value of the dollar keeps dropping? Make a smaller product, make a cheaper product that still looks, smells, whatever like the original product.

As an example, Oreo, Cadbury, etc are going to be selling lab grown chocolate next year as that's, believe it or not, cheaper than paying basically slave labor to poor countries for their cacoa, then processing it, again, at slave wages.

That's how bad it is. It's not enough to export the labor for pennies or even slip in ingredients to boost yeild. They're gonna skip all that and just 3d print it basically (joke).

Prepare yourself for the coming future. It's bland, leased, fake, restrictive etc. But only for you, not the rich/political class ofc.

The reason they are using lab chocolate has nothing to do with the labor costs and everything to do with crop growing issues due to environmental problems.

[Emily172013]

My 1987 was built like a tank, my 2005 less so but still very impressive. My 2020 and 2024 that I own now are still very impressive. What I've noticed over the years is the effort to save weight. The body metal and glass especially are lighter. The leather interiors use more vinyl. BMW's are still very well built cars compared to others, that's why you pay the difference between them and lower priced cars.