Where do people get this idea that German cars are somehow mechanically better than
insert any random manufacturer here?
All cars have problems. Aren't BMW's getting a reputation for drinking oil?
Yes, I've sat in/driven many BMW and Mercedes cars; they're OK but nothing special, certainly not worth the ***-ton of money they charge solely for the right to say you drive one. Try working on one sometime and after you buy your brand-specific tool sets and overpriced specialty parts, tell me how much better they are than everything else.