BMW or Cadillac — what we actually found
Side by side from 299 BMWs and 58 Cadillacs buyers asked us to inspect before purchase. The average car we check scores 60/100.
Head to head
| BMW | Cadillac | |
|---|---|---|
| Cars inspected | 299 | 58 |
| Average condition | 65/100 | 56/100 |
| In good shape (60+/100) | 64% | 35% |
| Holds up to (avg dips below decent) | ~111k mi | ~86k mi |
| Repainted or replaced panel | 73% | 72% |
| Structural repair found | 2% | 5% |
| Fault codes recently cleared | 27% | 21% |
Green = the better number of the pair. Condition reflects the mix of cars that came to us — age, price, model — so treat small gaps as a tie.
How they score
How long do they stay good?
Good cars by mileage
▬ BMW▬ Cadillac▬ all cars
Good cars by age
▬ BMW▬ Cadillac▬ all cars
Share in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). Dashed grey = all cars we check.
Most common faults
Oil leaks · Engine
57%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
42%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
35%
Low coolant / cooling system issues · Engine
27%
Electronic components issues · Engine
19%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
55%
Oil leaks · Engine
55%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
48%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
36%
Dirty or low engine oil · Engine
26%
Trajectory by generation
BMW
▬ Consistent across generations
Cadillac
Not enough Cadillacs at the 5–10 year checkpoint yet to draw a generation trend.
Share in good shape when inspected at the same age (5–10 years, age-adjusted), by model-year generation; dashed = all-brand average. All brands →
Whichever badge wins on paper, the car in front of you is its own story. Get it inspected before you pay.
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Based on 357 inspections · updated Jul 12, 2026