BMW may be one of the best German brands to go to for sultry style and powerful engines, but it is not the most renowned for building vehicles that are cheap to run or own. Even the BMW model with the lowest maintenance costs will set you back more than $2,500 over five years. That may sound reasonable, but compared to something like the Toyota Corolla, which CarEdge says will cost you just north of $1,000 over the same period, it is relatively expensive.
However, if you are in the market for a BMW, and we can see why, some available models will cost less to maintain over five years than you might expect. We have put together a list of BMW models that cost the least to maintain, and have brought you information about maintenance costs for each one.
BMW X5
Average 5-Year Maintenance Cost: $6,116
The 2026 BMW X5 is one of those all-around luxury SUVs. It boasts an aggressive look, lots of interior options that take it from plush to sporty easily, and several engine options that can send out some serious power. Available engine options for this year’s BMW X5 are a 3.0-liter TwinPower inline-six good for 375 horsepower, a 483-horsepower plug-in hybrid inline-six, a 523-horsepower 4.4-liter TwinPower V8, and a 617-horsepower 4.4-liter TwinPower V8 for the X5 M Competition. You are very well covered across the board for power.
What also makes the BMW X5 a handy BMW SUV to own is its reasonable maintenance costs. RepairPal says that it will cost you $1,166 a year to maintain a BMW X5, while CarEdge says that, over five years, it will cost you just over $6,100 to keep it on the road. Neither CarEdge nor RepairPal has information on the high-power M models, but we can presume, because of their sportier demeanors, that they will cost more over the same period than their “standard” X5 counterparts.
BMW X3
Average 5-Year Maintenance Cost: $5,912
As the BMW X5’s smaller sibling, the 2026 BMW X3 is not only cheaper to buy, with an MSRP of $50,900 compared to the X5’s $67,600, but it is also noticeably cheaper to maintain. RepairPal quotes an annual maintenance cost of $1,034, and while the reliability score for the BMW X3 is average at 2.5 out of 5, the X3’s five-year maintenance costs of under $6,000 mean it is one of the cheapest BMW models to maintain.
Dimensions are city-friendly at 187.2 inches in length and 75.2 inches wide; a base-level 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four sends out 255 horsepower, while the top-tier turbocharged inline-six under the hood of the M model kicks out 393 horsepower, and the interior is decked out very nicely as standard with the following:
- 14.9-inch BMW Curved Display
- Veganza Leather Upholstery
- Wireless Smartphone Connectivity
- Remote Start
- Heated Front Seats
All in all, the 2026 BMW X3 is small enough for city life, powerful enough to give you a sense that you are driving a BMW, and comfortable enough to cruise about all day.
BMW X2
Average 5-Year Maintenance Cost: $5,813
Boasting an average annual maintenance bill of $968, the BMW X2 is not only stylish, powerful, aggressive-looking, and fun to drive, but also relatively cheap and hassle-free to maintain. Owners who have left a review of the 2026 BMW X2 on J.D. Power have rated it as 70 out of 100 for reliability, which is an average score anyway you look at it. However, according to CarEdge, it is only going to cost you $5,813 over five years to maintain.
That works out as roughly $1,160 a year. However, we can presume that over the first one to three years, there will be less to go wrong (and a lot of things will be covered under the BMW warranty), so the likelihood is that it will cost you less than $1,160 a year for the first few years. With a starting price of just over $45,000, the 2026 BMW X2 certainly offers a lot of luxury compact SUV grit.
BMW X1
Average 5-Year Maintenance Cost: $5,790
As the cheapest BMW SUV in 2026, the 2026 BMW X1 is also the cheapest BMW to maintain. According to CarEdge, the BMW X1 has a five-year maintenance cost of just under $5,800 and an average 10-year maintenance cost of $18,807. As we see with most models, especially luxury SUVs, maintenance costs tend to rise as they approach 10 years old, so the X1’s noticeably more expensive 10-year cost is not out of the ordinary. RepairPal also says that it will cost you $915 a year to maintain a BMW X1.
The X1 is a sorely overlooked BMW SUV; it doesn’t have the size or fame of its bigger siblings, but that is no reason not to consider one. Not only do you get the lowest maintenance costs out of all available BMW SUVs, but you also get a choice of two powerful engines: a 241-horsepower TwinPower turbo-four and a 312-horsepower M TwinPower turbo-six, and starting prices are low at just shy of $44,000. Not to mention the aggressive stance and sporty yet cozy cabin filled with tech and comfort features.
BMW M5
Average 5-Year Maintenance Cost: $5,141
You may be surprised to see a bona fide M model make it to the list of the cheapest BMW models to maintain, but according to CarEdge, the BMW M5 is one of them. With respective five and ten-year maintenance costs of roughly $5,100 and $15,628, the BMW M5 is both a prime example of what a luxury sports sedan can be and, in the grand scheme of things, relatively cheap to maintain. Up-front costs for a 2026 BMW M5, though, are not cheap. It will cost you at least $121,900 to buy.
However, if you can get over the high starting price, you do get an exceptionally alluring and powerful sports sedan. The 2026 BMW M5 can hit 60 mph in as little as 3.4 seconds, a 717-horsepower bi-turbocharged V8 sits under the hood, and it boasts performance features in the shape of xDrive AWD, M Compound Brakes, Adaptive M Suspension, and an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission. While maintenance costs for a BMW M5 may seem relatively cheap, don’t expect low fuel costs; FuelEconomy.gov estimates that it will cost you $3,450 a year on gas.
BMW Z4
Average 5-Year Maintenance Cost: $4,695
The 2026 BMW Z4 is the last model year of this legendary roadster; now is the time to get one. Available in two flavors: the BMW Z4 sDrive30i and the BMW Z4 M40i, the 2026 iteration is a sad farewell to one of the best roadsters that BMW has ever made. Starting prices are $56,100 for the 255-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbo-four-equipped sDrive30i, and $68,400 for the 382-horsepower, turbo-six-equipped M40i. Either way, not a huge amount of money for 0–60 mph times of between 3.9 and 5.2 seconds, a last-of-an-era build, and a classic BMW roadster feel and look.
Alongside the short deck, long hood, and engaging ride, one of the best things about owning a BMW Z4 is that it is reasonably cheap to maintain. According to RepairPal, it will cost you an estimated $895 a year to keep on the road, while CarEdge says that, over five years, it will cost you just under $4,700. We think that is rather good going for a legendary German roadster that oozes style, aggressive action, and an outgoing nameplate that has for years been a staple in the classy roadster arsenal.
BMW 4 Series Coupe
Average 5-Year Maintenance Cost: $4,680
Excluding warranty repairs and servicing, CarEdge estimates that owning a BMW 4 Series Coupe will cost you just south of $4,700 for maintenance in the first five years of ownership and just over $15,000 in the first 10 years. There isn’t any data for repair costs on RepairPal, but you can be relatively confident in the 2026 BMW 4 Series Coupe reliability-wise, thanks to a J.D. Power reliability rating of 84 out of 100 and a 5 out of 5 reliability rating on Kelley Blue Book (KBB).
It boasts a very sleek exterior with a sloping rear, an aggressive front end with a snarling split grille, evil-looking headlights, and a curved yet chiseled hood. To complement what it looks like, the 4 Series Coupe is available with three engine options. As standard, a 2.0-liter TwinPower B48 inline-four is good for 255 horsepower, and under the hood of the M440i, a 3.0-liter M TwinPower B58 inline-six that kicks out 386 horsepower. At the top, you get a 503-horsepower 3.0-liter M TwinPower S58 under the hood of the M4. The 2026 BMW 4 Series has the looks, the reliability, and the power to back it all up.
BMW 540i
Average 5-Year Maintenance Cost: $4,591
As part of the 2026 BMW 5 Series, the BMW 540 gets a specific special mention for low maintenance costs. According to RepairPal, the BMW 540 will cost you just $798 a year for maintenance, while CarEdge backs this up with a reasonably low five-year maintenance estimate of $4,591. CarEdge has also estimated that it will cost you just over $14,500 over 10 years for maintenance, which is not so terrible for a BMW of this caliber.
Starting prices for the 2026 BMW 5 Series are $59,900 for the base 530i sedan, but if you opt for the 2026 BMW 540i Sedan, it will set you back another $7,200. However, you do get xDrive AWD as standard, and the BMW 540i’s engine option is an impressive bit of kit. Under the hood is a 3.0-liter turbocharged B58 inline-six that kicks out 375 horsepower and gets you to 60 mph in around 4.5 seconds. In true BMW luxury sedan fashion, the 2026 BMW 540i is also equipped with oodles of luxury features, including:
- BMW Curved Display
- Panoramic Sunroof
- 19-Inch Alloys
- Remote Start
- Power Tailgate
- Ambient Lighting
- Black Veganza Upholstery
BMW 3 Series
Average 5-Year Maintenance Cost: $4,501
Long viewed as one of the most reliable BMW models all time, the BMW 3 Series benefits from low maintenance costs annually, over five years, and over 10 years. According to RepairPal, it will cost you $773 a year for maintenance, and according to CarEdge, it will cost you a touch over $4,500 over five years, and $14,345 for maintenance over 10 years.
RepairPal also says that the BMW 3 Series is rated 3.5 out of 5 for reliability, which puts it relatively high for BMW models. This sentiment is echoed by owner reviews on J.D. Power, with owners rating the 2026 BMW 3 Series 81 out of 100 for reliability. For its caliber, the 2026 3 Series can be seen as relatively well priced as well, with starting prices of between $47,500 and $49,500 for the 330i models, and between $61,700 and $87,700 for the powerful M340i and M3 models.
BMW i4
Average 5-Year Maintenance Cost: $2,614
Currently, the BMW model with the lowest maintenance costs is the BMW i4. CarEdge says that it will cost you just $2,614 over five years for maintenance. We do need to take that estimate cautiously, though, because the BMW i4 has only been on the market since 2022, so not quite five years. Current reliability ratings are impressive, with a 5 out of 5 reliability rating on KBB, and current maintenance cost estimates are alluringly low, but as more data becomes available, we will be able to see if it will be a long-term, affordable BMW to maintain.
The 2026 BMW i4 Gran Coupe is available in three grades: the i4 eDrive40, the i4 xDrive40, and the M60, with prices ranging from $59,075 to $72,000. It is available with three motor configuration options, with a 335-horsepower single motor for the base level, a 369-horsepower dual-motor rig for the all-wheel drive xDrive model, and a raucous 592-horsepower dual-motor setup for the M60 model. As it stands, the new BMW i4 is the cheapest BMW model to maintain and is one of the most impressive electric luxury sedans in terms of sporty prowess, comfort, and relatively low starting prices.
“Purists will say that BMW’s M future should burn gasoline. But drive an i4 before you say that definitively. We think this car, among maybe a few Porsche EVs, argues powerfully that the future of electric sports cars is exceptionally bright as well as entertaining.”
TopSpeed review of the BMW i4 by Michael Frank
Sources: CarEdge, RepairPal, J.D. Power, FuelEconomy.gov, and Kelley Blue Book.