Sorry guys, I've been off the boards for a while. I got so fed up with all the continuous problems with my 06 Navigator over the past 12 months (and hearing my wife continuously tell me that something else is wrong with her Navigator) that I traded it in last week. (got a whopping $9,000... thanks Ford....) I was going to buy another new Expedition for 45K, but my wife threatened to leave me if I did, so we wound up getting rid of our entire fleet of Detroit Iron and bought two BMW's.

It's official, after 40+ years bleeding Ford blue I quit. My 6 year old Navigator with only 95K miles supposedly built Ford Tough (or Lincoln Tough) has been the biggest piece of junk I've ever bought. This engineering catastrophe has needed dozens of repairs to the engine, transmission, rear end, catalytic converter, suspension, suspension, shocks, air bags, wheel bearings, brakes and then to make matters worse, it has crappy leather seats that are wearing way too fast, carpet that wears like an econobox, and some of the most pitiful scratch prone grey plastic interior pieces out there and switches and controls that look nice but are an ergonomic nightmare.... And don't even get me started on the spark plug issues.....

Nearly every other weekend for the past 5 years I've helped one of my fellow Ford owners repair a faulty transmission, blown head gasket, cylinder head, cooling system, drive-train, window regulator, exhaust leak, or some other type of problem that just shouldn't happen on cars with 60-140k miles on them, and nearly every one of them were Fords....

No more, I wish you all well and good luck. My BMW dealer promises me that as long as I can prove that all the recommended maintenance is kept up to date on the two BMW's I just bought, they will cover any major defect in the engine and transmission long after the written warranty period has expired.... Ford won't even return my calls....

These boards have been a godsend over the past few years and I hope you all fare much better than I did with your current and next generation of Ford products.

Regretfully,
Max

 

Congrats and what model did you buy? I would have gotten a used X5 had it been big enough for my growing family. BMW are nice cars, they have their share of problems, I have three myself.

 

I got a 2011 528i and a 2005 X5. Never thought I'd ever be caught dead driving anything that wasn't made by the big three, but after driving these two BMW's I realized just how much better engineered and well put together these cars actually are and they don't seem to be any more difficult to work on than Detroit's latest stuff and god knows there is no way on earth they could break even half as much as my last Navigator did.

Everything on the BMW's inside and out fits the way it should, (and the way Ford products used to) all the controls are right where they should be, it doesn't feel like a bunch of corners were cut in the design phase to make the parts fit or function just good enough, they drive soo much better, deliver more than 50% better MPG than what I was driving before, and their inline 6 cylinder engines that they have been making for 40+ years are truly works of art and mechanical masterpieces that require zero maintenance aside from oil changes, new spark plugs (that don't break in half or blow out of the cylinder heads), thermostat and coolant system service every 100k miles.

What else can I say but sorry Ford you lost a loyal customer who you could have kept for life if only you stood behind your products and focused a little more on engineering more reliable vehicles that could make it 100-200k miles without experiencing numerous major engine, transmission, suspension, and drive-train problems/defects.

 

I feel your pain, and did almost the same thing however I kept our 2001 Expedition specifically for towing the boat and transporting large groups. We bought a CPO BMW 328 xi last fall and the vehicle's quality is not even comparable to anything else we've owned. It's nice to get in a vehicle that's built with attention to detail and comfort as well as style and performance. Judging by the customer traffic at the BMW dealership we bought from they must be doing something right.

Good luck. You won't regret your decision.

 

Nice! very nice.

Agree, their inline 6 is the Benchmark of BMW. However, their cooling and crank case ventilation systems are the weakest points, make sure you keep an eye on these then you will be all set.

 

Nice buy!!!!

 

My wife threatened me like that once. I immediately asked her how many pieces of luggage she needs me to get down from the attic for her. She knows me well enough to know I was dead serious over the threat and has never made it again. Next time try to be an Alpha-Male about it okay!?

 

That is funny, because I think the same thing every time I see a statement like that. For a split second I almost feel sorry for those men, but then I realize that they are the ones that allow it soooooooo. Ya get what Ya get

 

Of course, maybe they're "gettin" is well worth it.

 

Nobody is worth selling your soul over. I've taught all 3 of my sons that women are like busses, another one will be along in 20 minutes and the ride is the same.

 

As long as Lincoln is rebadging Ford products, you'll never see me in one. Lincoln should build it's own line-up and Lincoln owners deserve better.

Kudos on the Beemer. I hope it works out.

 

maybe so to some people, but as for me I will hang on to my pride.
Probably a Marine thing, but I was raised that way also, and at 40 years old here next Jan. I have managed to not let anyone walk on me. In the almost 14 years that I have been married I have also reminded her where the door was a few times (mostly in the beginning years) but just wanted to let her know that no one was forcing her to stay. Well she is still here along with two more (kids that is Not wives Yikesss what a thought) so it must not have been that bad.
I am sure there are going to be good and bad in just about anything that is mass produced. I have an 03 Navigator and have had very minimal issues with it so far (knock on wood). It is at 130k so I am expecting to do some things to it.
As I am not against the Beemers and Audi's I will more than likely never own one, but I do like a few of them and who knows what the years to come will bring.
I say good luck to all in whatever they decide to go with.
I will be happy as long at this site keeps kicking out this valuable info for those of us that are not affraid to work on our rides.

OUT

 

A man gots to do what I mans got to do. I have been on Septa(PA), Dart(DE) and NJ transit, those bus rides and train rides are not the same,lol....

Seriously good luck with your new rides! I appreciate all rides worth loving. Sometimes you just get tired of something and have to move on and try/test other waters. I thought I would never want to own any Mopar vehicle, have fallen in love with a 66 Fury III. I didn't purchase it at the time, but now I wish I did. Looking for one in a couple of years, to have an old school to go to shows with alongside 88 5.0 stang.