Quote:
Originally Posted by yokomo930
Euro cars tend to have more bugs because of their complexity. Totally just my
guess but I am dare to say if you take apart a MB/BMW down to individual bits and pieces and screws, it will have 2x number of parts than a Honda/Toyota.
For a simple job such as battery holder, Honda would give you a plastic base, two threaded rod, two butterfly screws, and a hold-down bar and call it for the day.
MB would put together a team of 10 designers/engineers for 2 months to come up with a super solid battery holder that will keep the battery in place
when going at 200+ km/hr. They will give you a metal base, several interlocking metal pieces that are screwed together, a factory heat shield
as it's un-wise to leave your battery in the open engine bat. The battery will be hold down at the base of the battery, instead of using a hold-down bar pressing from the top.
Complicated ? Over-engineered ? Sure, if you want to say so. But I bet it does the job a lot better than the Honda/Toyota approach.
Euro design is just more solid.
Since I am talking about battery, I recall my Dad's MB ML SUV's oem MB battery lasted him 9 years and 100K km. Between my wife and I we have had 3 new Japanese cars (Acura, Honda, Nissan) and none of their factory battery last over 5 years.
Sure, who gives a damn about battery holder or oem battery, and Honda doesn't make battery anyway... but just a tiny point to illustrate how Euro cars are more solid in design, built, and principal.
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Battery is a actually a very good example when comparing German and Japanese vehicles... It highlights the differences in design philosophy.
The battery in my '97 Integra was in the engine bay and easily accessible, but also quite prone to rust and heat. It was small, did not last very long, and was not fully reliable - but it cost about $90 to replace and weighed 25lbs, at most.
The battery in my '02 330ci is below the paneling in the trunk. Being in the trunk transfers more weight to the rear of the car (e46 has 49/51 weight distribution IIRC). To access it, you need to pull away the trunk carpet and remove the plastic tray that hides it. The OEM model lasted 8 years and 150,000km. It can run the car's stereo, headlights, and accessories for hours before running out of power. Unfortunately, it weighs over 60lbs and costs $300.
The Honda design is more simple, more practical, and more affordable... but it provides less power, doesn't last as long, and is not well protected from heat and water.
The BMW design means the owner pays 3x as much for a replacement battery, and it sacrifices practicality in order to improve the car's overall driving manner (via weight distribution) and aesthetics (battery never visible).
Which design is better? That's personal preference. For most people, the Honda design philosophy makes more sense, because it's cheaper and more practical. For me, because I love to drive and I love to own a car that's designed without compromise, the German design philosophy is preferable even though it will end up costing much more.
Now for the BMW-homer portion of my post: when I hear other people complaining about their commute - or about having to drive somewhere far away - I chuckle to myself. For me, driving anywhere is a pleasurable experience, and my commute is a highlight of the day, not an annoyance. (Of course, this comes at a cost when maintenance is needed, but I feel the trade-off is worth every penny.)