Longer term reliability

[crankedup]

Having just purchased a E46 M3 I have managed to alarm myself by reading horror stories in the 'cutters' forum. Thinking I had done my homework on the car and gleefully lashed out ten big' uns on a 100k example, can I look forward to wrecked engine. I am planning to keep and cherish my car as a future classic and it seems that having completed my first runs racking up 500 miles my cash is well spent .
Horror stories on the internet seem to offer a tiny fragment of real World running, BMW cannot be an engine buster, can it?

[e21Mark]

If I listened to internet horror stories I'd never have bought my E30 M3, let alone run it as an "almost daily" for the past 2 years.

Yes, M cars need proper maintenance and some parts are bloody expensive but find a trusted indie and use common sense and there's no reason why it shouldn't prove utterly reliable.

Personally, I do things like oil and filter changes more often than is strictly required. I also carry out regular checks and try and keep everything well fettered. I also use my car regularly as I find leaving it idle isn't a good thing. Just try and get into the habit of regular checks etc.

Any pics?

Edited by e21Mark on Saturday 10th December 09:20

[crankedup]

^^^^^^
Thanks, I had some really good advise prior to purchase on this forum, so I went in eyes wide open. Just reading about one unfortunate owner and his engine self destructing!
I will try to get some pic's up next week

[Beato]

Great thing is you have done your research and gone in with your eyes wide open

I am on my second E46 M3, first a 53 plate owned for 3 years 50k on the clock when sold 2nd a 55 plate CS that I still have after three years on 76k

Maybe this won't be a great comparison as different mileage etc, age now but have had different issues with both which just shows that things will randomly go wrong despite full BMW service history, preventative maintenance etc

First car other than usual service, brakes tyres etc needed new dif, front wishbones, usual Rtabs, springs etc

CS has had new clutch at 50k, new VANOS at 75k, rear springs, rtabs, gear position sensor and probably needs a new ac pump soon.

Then I have done the non essentials like new bonnet and boot badges,wheel centre caps, new SMG gear surround, new window trims, indicator lenses, new front fogs, wheels refurbed and so on

So probably between 2 and 3k a year on average for usual consumables and servicing, nice to do refresh stuff and left field major repairs.

So in theory all I still have to worry about is SMG pump,subframe and head gasket. Lol

Despite all this brilliant cars,

[crankedup]

Beato said:

Great thing is you have done your research and gone in with your eyes wide open

I am on my second E46 M3, first a 53 plate owned for 3 years 50k on the clock when sold 2nd a 55 plate CS that I still have after three years on 76k

Maybe this won't be a great comparison as different mileage etc, age now but have had different issues with both which just shows that things will randomly go wrong despite full BMW service history, preventative maintenance etc

First car other than usual service, brakes tyres etc needed new dif, front wishbones, usual Rtabs, springs etc

CS has had new clutch at 50k, new VANOS at 75k, rear springs, rtabs, gear position sensor and probably needs a new ac pump soon.

Then I have done the non essentials like new bonnet and boot badges,wheel centre caps, new SMG gear surround, new window trims, indicator lenses, new front fogs, wheels refurbed and so on

So probably between 2 and 3k a year on average for usual consumables and servicing, nice to do refresh stuff and left field major repairs.

So in theory all I still have to worry about is SMG pump,subframe and head gasket. Lol

Despite all this brilliant cars,

Interesting read, the main dealer just carried out the driver airbag replacement, the free safety inspection was all good except oil leak to engine, gearbox and diff, so not so good. I think I would say it's more very slight weep than leak. But I will keep an eye on it and when it's in for a full service have it sorted. It's been a long time since I last drove a performance car so the power and acceleration felt fairly extreme, that's a good thing.
Makes a good garage mate for my Volvo 123gt of 1968 vintage, a lovely car to drive and a stronger contrast to the M3 is hard to imagine. Both brilliant fun and a pleasure to own.

[SebringMan]

e21Mark said:

If I listened to internet horror stories I'd never have bought my E30 M3, let alone run it as an "almost daily" for the past 2 years.

Yes, M cars need proper maintenance and some parts are bloody expensive but find a trusted indie and use common sense and there's no reason why it shouldn't prove utterly reliable.

Personally, I do things like oil and filter changes more often than is strictly required. I also carry out regular checks and try and keep everything well fettered. I also use my car regularly as I find leaving it idle isn't a good thing. Just try and get into the habit of regular checks etc.

Any pics?

Edited by e21Mark on Saturday 10th December 09:20

This.

With half of my cars I wouldn't have bought them if I believed all of the horror stories.

If you believe the M3cutters you'll think:

SMG pumps will explode within miles
HGs are guaranteed to die
VANOS will go
Subframe mountings will crack
RTABs will die.

Same with a few cars I have bought previously and I have previously bought some cars with a reputation (Porsche 944 Turbo, Triumph Stag where the engine oddly enough never went wrong like pub folklore would have you believe, Peugeot 106, 205 & 306 GTi and Clio 172 & Ford Mondeo V6 where I put 150k onto it to name a few).

Oddly enough, the car that went wrong on me alot but people claim is bombproof was a 2006 B6 Passat 1.9TDi. That list included:

-Gearbox self destructing ; the scrapyards had heard of the issue before with the 5 speeds
-Camshaft wearing to the nub
-Steering lock issues
-Various electrical gremlins
-Bushes shot on the rear end
-Electric rear handbrake rear calipers seizing - they were ££££
-Other stuff I can't remember from the wretched thing.

With mine, I plan to get the subframe strengthened and keep on top of the maintenance. That and IMO the M3Cutters do like the exaggerate and willy wave a little.

[HerrSchnell]

Some good points about both reliability and cutters on the thread below

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...