Just bought E46 M3 - low mile use, Still service each year?
Discussion
The on-board computer uses fuel used (approx 2500 litres) and converts it to a mileage estimate. There is also a 720 day countdown.
On purchase, I would do an Inspection 2 and change ALL the fluids.
After that, I agree with the change oil (and filter) and inspect once a year. Service as per indicator.
No need to bother with gearbox or diff oils as they are lifetime oils. Change them if you drive the car hard, but you only need to for peace of mind.
On purchase, I would do an Inspection 2 and change ALL the fluids.
After that, I agree with the change oil (and filter) and inspect once a year. Service as per indicator.
No need to bother with gearbox or diff oils as they are lifetime oils. Change them if you drive the car hard, but you only need to for peace of mind.
pingu393 said:
No need to bother with gearbox or diff oils as they are lifetime oils. Change them if you drive the car hard, but you only need to for peace of mind.
Not sure where you get that info from but in any case it's incorrect.Gearbox and diff fluids should be changed as part of the Service 2 interval.
NotNormal said:
pingu393 said:
No need to bother with gearbox or diff oils as they are lifetime oils. Change them if you drive the car hard, but you only need to for peace of mind.
Not sure where you get that info from but in any case it's incorrect.Gearbox and diff fluids should be changed as part of the Service 2 interval.
Sorry to resurrect this thread, but this is the exact question I have!
This is not my daily, so I've only driven 3k miles since my last inspection/service, last year.
My plan is bring it into my BMW specialist and have the subframe reinforced and clutch replaced as well as a service in the new year. It will still be under two years between oil changes. I will most likely only do at most, 1.5k additional miles until then.
No trackwork, and only very occasional hard driving.
Is it worth me doing an oil change now? or will I be ok for another few months?
This is not my daily, so I've only driven 3k miles since my last inspection/service, last year.
My plan is bring it into my BMW specialist and have the subframe reinforced and clutch replaced as well as a service in the new year. It will still be under two years between oil changes. I will most likely only do at most, 1.5k additional miles until then.
No trackwork, and only very occasional hard driving.
Is it worth me doing an oil change now? or will I be ok for another few months?
Not an M3 owner but I do have a Z4MC with the same S54 engine.
I had the rod bearing shells renewed in August 2020 and don't plan to have an oil change until next year as I still haven't done 4,000 miles yet!
I know some people recommend an oil change every year, but with such low mileage it seems a bit excessive to me.
I had the rod bearing shells renewed in August 2020 and don't plan to have an oil change until next year as I still haven't done 4,000 miles yet!
I know some people recommend an oil change every year, but with such low mileage it seems a bit excessive to me.
Would be surprised if it needs a new clutch, my original is on 176k and still going strong.
My mileage has been around 5k a year for the last few years and I've changed the oil every other year. No doubt people will be along to berate my actions shortly but nothing has exploded or worn through so I'm happy with my choices.
Prior to that I followed the BMW suggested schedule and the same as above. I'm in my tenth year with the car now, the single previous owner also followed the BMW schedule and it's on 176k. My point being people will tell you it needs changing every 6k miles or similar and they may be right but in my experience following the manufacturers schedule has been fine.
Also rod bearings, I had mine done at 167k due to internet provoked fear but when they came out were absolutely fine. Total waste of money for me. Worst part is I already knew because I was doing oil analysis at Millers every 12 months and whilst the copper reading had gone from 7ppm to 16ppm the bearings themselves showed minimal wear across them all rather than the heavy wear to a pair which the internet people convinced me would be the case.
These cars are not as fragile as people think.
My mileage has been around 5k a year for the last few years and I've changed the oil every other year. No doubt people will be along to berate my actions shortly but nothing has exploded or worn through so I'm happy with my choices.
Prior to that I followed the BMW suggested schedule and the same as above. I'm in my tenth year with the car now, the single previous owner also followed the BMW schedule and it's on 176k. My point being people will tell you it needs changing every 6k miles or similar and they may be right but in my experience following the manufacturers schedule has been fine.
Also rod bearings, I had mine done at 167k due to internet provoked fear but when they came out were absolutely fine. Total waste of money for me. Worst part is I already knew because I was doing oil analysis at Millers every 12 months and whilst the copper reading had gone from 7ppm to 16ppm the bearings themselves showed minimal wear across them all rather than the heavy wear to a pair which the internet people convinced me would be the case.
These cars are not as fragile as people think.
Herr Schnell said:
Also rod bearings, I had mine done at 167k due to internet provoked fear but when they came out were absolutely fine. Total waste of money for me. Worst part is I already knew because I was doing oil analysis at Millers every 12 months and whilst the copper reading had gone from 7ppm to 16ppm the bearings themselves showed minimal wear across them all rather than the heavy wear to a pair which the internet people convinced me would be the case.
These cars are not as fragile as people think.
Look on the bright side, at least you've got peace of mind for at least another 20 years at your current mileage!These cars are not as fragile as people think.
Leins said:
This and only this IMO. Fixing them just when they break either gets very expensive or increases the value of everyone else's cars through increased rarity! 
It depends really- servicing regularly is different to replacing things because of the big jobs brigade. I mean there are people who’ll tell you they’ll do the vanos and head gasket when there are no issues- that’s just silly. However a nice to have done is rod bearings and IF subframe has minor cracking get that sorted. euroandjdmfan said:
Sorry to resurrect this thread, but this is the exact question I have!
This is not my daily, so I've only driven 3k miles since my last inspection/service, last year.
My plan is bring it into my BMW specialist and have the subframe reinforced and clutch replaced as well as a service in the new year. It will still be under two years between oil changes. I will most likely only do at most, 1.5k additional miles until then.
No trackwork, and only very occasional hard driving.
Is it worth me doing an oil change now? or will I be ok for another few months?
I’d change the oil- it’s not a huge cost. Have the subframe properly inspected- if it needs doing I would do it. A lot of subframe work done can get cracks again - and stuff done by some of the so called best in the game! This is not my daily, so I've only driven 3k miles since my last inspection/service, last year.
My plan is bring it into my BMW specialist and have the subframe reinforced and clutch replaced as well as a service in the new year. It will still be under two years between oil changes. I will most likely only do at most, 1.5k additional miles until then.
No trackwork, and only very occasional hard driving.
Is it worth me doing an oil change now? or will I be ok for another few months?
Mr Tidy said:
Not an M3 owner but I do have a Z4MC with the same S54 engine.
I had the rod bearing shells renewed in August 2020 and don't plan to have an oil change until next year as I still haven't done 4,000 miles yet!
I know some people recommend an oil change every year, but with such low mileage it seems a bit excessive to me.
Did the rod bearings show signs of wear or did you do this as a precaution.? What sort of costs are involved.? I have two low mileage S54 Models with no evidence of this been done.I had the rod bearing shells renewed in August 2020 and don't plan to have an oil change until next year as I still haven't done 4,000 miles yet!
I know some people recommend an oil change every year, but with such low mileage it seems a bit excessive to me.
CRA1G said:
Did the rod bearings show signs of wear or did you do this as a precaution.? What sort of costs are involved.? I have two low mileage S54 Models with no evidence of this been done.
I bought it 2 years ago on 76K miles. But it had 7 previous keepers and it looked like the first was BMW UK as that is where it had its 1,000 mile service! So I thought it was quite likely at least one of those keepers may have thrashed it before it was properly warmed up and as I plan to keep it I thought I might as well get them done for peace of mind as I'd probably need to do it sometime anyway.
This is what the old ones looked like.
I have seen worse, but they were well past their best so I was glad I had them replaced. Especially as what I had read suggested that if one span it was likely to mean a new crankshaft and block.
Anyway while the cross-member was off I got new engine mounts fitted too. Cost at a local ex-Sytner Indy was just shy of four figures.
If you know the history of your two and warm them right up before any right foot action I doubt they need doing.
Checking them isn't really a viable option - by the time the cross-member and sump are off it doesn't cost much more to get them replaced!
The only other option is oil analysis, but from what I have read you need to have had it done a few times so you can compare results and track any deterioration, but that only works for long term ownership.
A few other experiences at higher mileages here:-
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=132627&...
HJG said:
Those big end shells are quite bad. Mine looked far better at 138K.
It's all about letting it get to temperature (remember oil takes longer to get to temp than coolant) and halving BMW's recommended oil intervals, and importantly on the S54 using 10w/60 oil.
Does the E46 M3 have an oil temp gauge? I know the Z3s do - I'm not sure about the Z4s. The main reason for letting the oil warm up is for the VANOS, but it's good practice no matter what.It's all about letting it get to temperature (remember oil takes longer to get to temp than coolant) and halving BMW's recommended oil intervals, and importantly on the S54 using 10w/60 oil.
It takes me about four to five times longer to get the oil up to full temp than coolant...
Blue = coolant temp
Red = oil temp
http://www.porterbility.co.uk/Files/JPG/BMW/TestO/...
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