re: How can European cars be so nice while at the same time require so much maintenance?

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Case in point, most VAG and Mercedes products have a relay feature that automatically rolls down the window a quarter of an inch or so when you open the door, then rolls it back up when you close it.

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This isn't anything new. They do this so the doors are easier to close by relieving pressure. Weatherstrip would last longer if the windows never opened.

My wife’s Volvo S90 has 16,000 miles on it & needs new brake pads & they told her it’s not covered under warranty, and that it’s going to be just under $1000 to replace them.
I can’t wait for them to tell me it’s not covered under warranty. I’ve highlighted it in the owners manual for them regarding the coverage.

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The expansion tank (BMW calls it something else) is a terrible design. It's pressurized yet has square corners which leads to failures. When it fails of course you lose your coolant and you overheat the engine. And when you overheat a BMW engine you usually need a new engine.

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I had an E39 with the 2.8 I6 and had to replace the coolant system twice. Each time was that tank exploding. That car lasted 200k miles but left me on the side of the road 3 times and I couldn’t justify keeping it.

The maintenance issues are somewhat exaggerated for the BMW, Mercedes and Audi brands. The cost of repairs tend to be higher, but so are Lexus repairs compared to others.

Not only is the Porsche 911 the most dependable car on the road, when bought as a late model used car with remaining warranty, considering their amazing resale value they may one of, if not the single cheapest car to own as well. When all was said and done, it was by far the least I'd ever had to spend on a car for sure.

Taking how much I paid when I bought the car, plus what I spent during the years I drove it (except for gasoline), then subtract the amount I received at re-sale, the total out-of-pocket cost of ownership of the actual car, even with depreciation and adding 32,000 miles to the odometer, what it cost me to own and drive the car for three and a half years averages out to just a little over $50 per month.... I consider that almost free compared to other cars I've had. I did pay $120 a month for insurance but that was also a pleasant surprise compared to the two dozen or so other cars I've owned.

Another J.D. Power Most Dependable Car Brand Ramkings from a few months ago:

LINK

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My car has this. I always thought it was to reduce the amount of air pressure in the car when you close the door to keep the window from getting jarred and knocked around over and over.

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Usually see this on cars with frameless windows. When the door opens the window drops so it doesn't catch on the seal. When the door is closed it pushes back up into the seal for a tight fit.

How can Women be so nice while at the same time require so much maintenance?

It's from the island.

It's a former Commonwealth Tata

Japanese cars are reliable because they are relatively simple. European cars have cutting edge technology and luxury/handling. I think to have those things it just requires a lot of upkeep