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Coupes & Convertibles BMW M/M3/M6 BMW M3 Maintenance and Repair
228 messages, Last post on Nov 05, 2009 at 9:24 PM
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Hey all, seems like there is a lot of people here who know their stuff, so I am seeking some help....I am shopping around for a 2002 or 2003 M3, but obviously with a car that is out of warranty, I am a little nervous shelling out for a used vehicle that could potentially have a lot of reliability issues. Any thoughts on reliability, maintenance costs, etc? Any "horror stories" out there with an M3? I am kind of torn between an M3 and a 2005-2006 G35, solely for the fact that there are tons of certified pre-owned G coupes in the Chicago area for a comparable price. As one poster said earlier, however, I would be willing to "roll the dice" on an M3 out of warranty if the reliability is sound. Thanks in advance! |
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Replying to: blumtown (Jan 29, 2008 8:20 pm) If it were me, I'd: 1. Find out all the problem areas by doing research 2. Buy the BEST M3 you can afford. No projects, no question marks, no salvage titles, no cars with zero service history, no cars titles from Louisiana, Alabama or New Hampshire. 3. Have the car meticulously inspected by an M3 specialist. Doing all this, you've improved your odds 90%. Is all this a guarantee of a happy life? No, it isn't but you are WAY ahead of the average buyer. Here, this will get you started! http://edgemotorworks.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=55- #cooliris
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Replying to: blumtown (Jan 29, 2008 8:20 pm) What you must keep in mind is that you need to service any BMW by the book. Cutting corners on maintenance will end up costing more in the end. |
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I do agree with the advice above that is best to have a certified BMW mechanic to go through the inspection before purchasing a used M3. I bought mine a month ago. The car looks, feels, sounds and drive like a new car. But luckily I ask the dealer to do the same list of visual inspection check as they would for their own certified pre-own. That cost about $125. But more importantly, I also asked them to do a compression test to make sure the engine is stil fresh and do a driving inspection. That cost another $400. It was $ worth spend because they found leaks from the oil seperator and power steering hose which could cause some major damage. I would have never been able to discover that myself from test driving it. Now I am driving my M3 cautiously until I get it fixed. This is where I'm stuck and need help I need to change the oil separator, part # 11-15-7-830-948 and the new O-ring. I purchase the Bentley repair manual and join the BMWCCA as recommended. However, the manual did not have any torque specification for installing a new oil separator. Some of the TSA that I have contacted from BMWCCA either couldn't help me or told me to call a dealership. I was not able to get the info from a local BMW dealer either. I have the parts and the diagram. I'm sure I know how to do it right if I have the torque spec so I don't over or under tigten. And I really don't want to spend over $800 in labor if I can do it myself. If anyone know the specification or know who I can speak to that can help me, I would appreciate the assistance.
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Replying to: dwjl (Jan 28, 2008 3:16 pm) |
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Replying to: blumtown (Jan 29, 2008 8:20 pm)
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Replying to: gmonkies (Feb 01, 2008 7:42 pm) The M3 is a bloated, understeering land barge compared to the 911.
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Replying to: fedlawman (Feb 02, 2008 9:41 am)
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Replying to: gmonkies (Feb 01, 2008 1:29 pm) You might try posting your question on some other M3 forums. I'd also recommend joining the Yahoo E46 M3 group. If all else fails, you can always go to the BMW NA Online Tech site and pay $30 for 24 hours of access. |
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Replying to: gmonkies (Feb 02, 2008 12:18 pm) True enough, but I have to agree with fedlawman in that the 911 is more agile and involving, primarily due to its lighter weight and compact size. Don't take it as a knock on your M3, as it's a great car. Still, given the choice I'd also go with the 911- assuming I didn't need a usable rear seat... |
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