BMW E46 M3 - REAL LIFE running costs?
Discussion
BalhamBadger said:
leeson660 said:
I've done 5k miles in my CS since I bought it in december 2011 and its cost me around 5k.
This does include absolutely everything including fuel, insurance, full set of super sports (1k trade), tracker, all the cleaning stuff, mot, tax.
Would it be possible to give a rough breakdown of the £5k?This does include absolutely everything including fuel, insurance, full set of super sports (1k trade), tracker, all the cleaning stuff, mot, tax.
I'm budgeting fixed costs of £800 for insurance, £270 for tax. Interested to know where the other £3k went after your tyres.
This thread has been really useful to me. I'm happy to say things are more or less in line with my expectations; M3 ownership is definitely something you want to go into with your eyes open. I think the line about it being a 170mph car puts things into perspective.
Miles: 3800
Michelin Super Sports full set: £1075
Fuel: £1250
Insurance: £1000
Vmax
£225Tracker: £179
Tax 6 months: £149
Repairs: £100
MOT: £35
Cleaning products: £200
Speeding ticket: £60
The rest of the money:
Around 800 miles from 01/04/12 - present
Various costs relating to buying the car - paying a mate to drive me up etc.
I know many wouldn't include some of the above into 'running costs' of an M3 but for me I wanted to record exactly what it is costing me.
I hope this helps - if you need any further info just let me know.
Cheers
James
PS: go for it
leeson660 said:
Of course no problem. Just checked my spreadsheet and its updated as far as 10/12/11 - 01/04/12. Although I have added in VMAX Carbon which I went for in late April because if you buy an M3 you will end up wanting to properly stretch her legs one way or another
Miles: 3800
Michelin Super Sports full set: £1075
Fuel: £1250
Insurance: £1000
Vmax £225
Tracker: £179
Tax 6 months: £149
Repairs: £100
MOT: £35
Cleaning products: £200
Speeding ticket: £60
The rest of the money:
Around 800 miles from 01/04/12 - present
Various costs relating to buying the car - paying a mate to drive me up etc.
I know many wouldn't include some of the above into 'running costs' of an M3 but for me I wanted to record exactly what it is costing me.
I hope this helps - if you need any further info just let me know.
Cheers
James
PS: go for it
Loving your spreadsheet :-)Miles: 3800
Michelin Super Sports full set: £1075
Fuel: £1250
Insurance: £1000
Vmax
£225Tracker: £179
Tax 6 months: £149
Repairs: £100
MOT: £35
Cleaning products: £200
Speeding ticket: £60
The rest of the money:
Around 800 miles from 01/04/12 - present
Various costs relating to buying the car - paying a mate to drive me up etc.
I know many wouldn't include some of the above into 'running costs' of an M3 but for me I wanted to record exactly what it is costing me.
I hope this helps - if you need any further info just let me know.
Cheers
James
PS: go for it
OP
I recommend a BMW Insured Warranty Comprehensive cover
Remember £40k plus BMW when new so the running costs will be like that
For me so far ....
Insurance 1.8k
Servicing BMW Oil Service plus extras I wanted done 1k
Parts .... Floor mats, New BMW Roundels for the wheels, New Screwdriver, New Torch, New BMW M Mobiity Tyre Sealant .... 200 pounds
Fuel .... I have kept all my receipts and have used Shell V-Power all the time except once when I could not find a Shell petrol station .... Around £500
MOT .... 60 pounds .... Well just under
Warranty .... About 100 pounds per month
Had BMW replace input seal on the BMW M Differential as was weeping under BMW Insured Warranty (Comprehensive)
Only done 1k miles so far
Remember OP
Biggest costs are Servicing, Insurance, Brakes, Tyres, BMW Warranty
Edited by thepony on Tuesday 25th September 20:42
kI owned one for about 2 years and, aside from petrol etc used to bung £200 a month in a savings account for servicing / repairs. to be honest i never dipped into it, ran it from my current account and had a few grand to put towards a new car when i sold.
warranties are ok, but, imo, if you buy wisely you're better off self insuring. having said that there are scary stories out there!
good luck.
warranties are ok, but, imo, if you buy wisely you're better off self insuring. having said that there are scary stories out there!
good luck.
I have had one since April 2011.
I bought a 2002 (52 plate) with 94k miles. I spent 10k on the car, and bought based on condition of the car, vs 2004 plates with 50k for 12k etc.
Since i have had the car i have paid for......
20.2 mpg (at 101k miles now)
Insurance (£500, at 28 £450 at 29)
2 front tyres (£400 fitted)
Diff oil.... TWICE (£160 in total)
Rear lights (£150, i suppose this was an upgrade and didnt need done)
2 Front wishbones and bushes (£500)
2 Rear springs and brake lines (£350)
Subframe (Goodwill gesture from BMW)
Vanos solenoid (£150)
Oil service (£150)
Door lock (£120 plus half day of my time and skin)
Handbrake bits and bobs (£120)
Headlight adjustment (£40, this was manually adjusted for MOT, auto adjust rods were fine)
Caliper (£160)
Days detailing work (buddy did it, and really got the paint up looking nice)
Door seal sagging (£7 for glue)
Currently have a knocking from rear which is most likely rear brake discs, but no one can tell me 100% what it is.
When i bought the car the bloke had bought just before i bought it.
Front brake discs and pads (£700)
Inspection 1 (£600 from indy)
Headlight adjustment rod (£150)
Rear boot unit, buttons and lights (?)
Anyway this is all i can think of....... yes its expensive, much more than the jap turbo toys i have had in the past. I still enjoy it, i would rather it didnt break though. But it drives well, i use it everyday for my trip to the train station, then at nights for runs into the next town, weekends for fun. So it does get used a lot.
I bought a 2002 (52 plate) with 94k miles. I spent 10k on the car, and bought based on condition of the car, vs 2004 plates with 50k for 12k etc.
Since i have had the car i have paid for......
20.2 mpg (at 101k miles now)
Insurance (£500, at 28 £450 at 29)
2 front tyres (£400 fitted)
Diff oil.... TWICE (£160 in total)
Rear lights (£150, i suppose this was an upgrade and didnt need done)
2 Front wishbones and bushes (£500)
2 Rear springs and brake lines (£350)
Subframe (Goodwill gesture from BMW)
Vanos solenoid (£150)
Oil service (£150)
Door lock (£120 plus half day of my time and skin)
Handbrake bits and bobs (£120)
Headlight adjustment (£40, this was manually adjusted for MOT, auto adjust rods were fine)
Caliper (£160)
Days detailing work (buddy did it, and really got the paint up looking nice)
Door seal sagging (£7 for glue)
Currently have a knocking from rear which is most likely rear brake discs, but no one can tell me 100% what it is.
When i bought the car the bloke had bought just before i bought it.
Front brake discs and pads (£700)
Inspection 1 (£600 from indy)
Headlight adjustment rod (£150)
Rear boot unit, buttons and lights (?)
Anyway this is all i can think of....... yes its expensive, much more than the jap turbo toys i have had in the past. I still enjoy it, i would rather it didnt break though. But it drives well, i use it everyday for my trip to the train station, then at nights for runs into the next town, weekends for fun. So it does get used a lot.
E30M3SE said:
You can buy from anywhere you like, just has to have FSH (inc running in service), can be put on any age of car, it just gets more costly at 60k miles, and at 100K a comprehensive warranty or named component cannot be purchased only the Driveline option is applicable.
BMW Insured Warranty
Just a quick one on this, it says on that link that you need to have a letter 'inviting' you to join the warranty scheme.. How would one go about gaining membership for the warranty if there is no inviting letter?BMW Insured Warranty
Am I right in saying that if BMW can see on their systems that the car has been serviced at main dealers and on time then they will allow for the car to be covered.
If you have had it serviced at independant garages then there is no chance of buying a BMW warranty.
thanks
Hi guys - my two pence worth
I have had mine for 18 months. It's serviced by BMW and was an AUC Car. It's now done 100,500 miles and I drive it everyday. It's great. Since I have owned it, I have spent cash on the following -
I have had an inspection 1 done - about 900 quid
Brake fluid service - 150
Rear springs - 300
4 tyres - continental contisport m3 spec tyres all round - 800
About to do the brakes 600.
About to get the wheels refurbed - 450
In my view, the cars have hit the bottom, so what you don't pay in depreciation, you pay in running costs. That's the difference between cars for sale.
Simply put, you have to spend a lot of time interrogating the providence of the car. Without it, you might find your self spending more that this. For me, I am comfortable with putting 2500 away each year to make sure that I have all the work the old girl needs done without cutting corners.
Hopefully useful...
Cheers
Trevor
I have had mine for 18 months. It's serviced by BMW and was an AUC Car. It's now done 100,500 miles and I drive it everyday. It's great. Since I have owned it, I have spent cash on the following -
I have had an inspection 1 done - about 900 quid
Brake fluid service - 150
Rear springs - 300
4 tyres - continental contisport m3 spec tyres all round - 800
About to do the brakes 600.
About to get the wheels refurbed - 450
In my view, the cars have hit the bottom, so what you don't pay in depreciation, you pay in running costs. That's the difference between cars for sale.
Simply put, you have to spend a lot of time interrogating the providence of the car. Without it, you might find your self spending more that this. For me, I am comfortable with putting 2500 away each year to make sure that I have all the work the old girl needs done without cutting corners.
Hopefully useful...
Cheers
Trevor
Hi guys - my two pence worth
I have had mine for 18 months. It's serviced by BMW and was an AUC Car. It's now done 100,500 miles and I drive it everyday. It's great. Since I have owned it, I have spent cash on the following -
I have had an inspection 1 done - about 900 quid
Brake fluid service - 150
Rear springs - 300
4 tyres - continental contisport m3 spec tyres all round - 800
About to do the brakes 600.
About to get the wheels refurbed - 450
In my view, the cars have hit the bottom, so what you don't pay in depreciation, you pay in running costs. That's the difference between cars for sale.
Simply put, you have to spend a lot of time interrogating the providence of the car. Without it, you might find your self spending more that this. For me, I am comfortable with putting 2500 away each year to make sure that I have all the work the old girl needs done without cutting corners.
Hopefully useful...
Cheers
Trevor
I have had mine for 18 months. It's serviced by BMW and was an AUC Car. It's now done 100,500 miles and I drive it everyday. It's great. Since I have owned it, I have spent cash on the following -
I have had an inspection 1 done - about 900 quid
Brake fluid service - 150
Rear springs - 300
4 tyres - continental contisport m3 spec tyres all round - 800
About to do the brakes 600.
About to get the wheels refurbed - 450
In my view, the cars have hit the bottom, so what you don't pay in depreciation, you pay in running costs. That's the difference between cars for sale.
Simply put, you have to spend a lot of time interrogating the providence of the car. Without it, you might find your self spending more that this. For me, I am comfortable with putting 2500 away each year to make sure that I have all the work the old girl needs done without cutting corners.
Hopefully useful...
Cheers
Trevor
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