Advice on buying a E92 M3

[Iddz]

Hi guys,

So I am considering buying a BMW M3 as a weekend car, going to be getting a warranty on it to be on the safe side and most likely only be keeping it for a year or so. The price on these seem to have stabilized and also still look great if they have been taken care of.

Wondering is there anything I should be vary with them as it is going to be my first "Real" car as I have always ever had diesels. Any common issues? Are they reliable cars? I'm guessing they will hold their value being a M3. I am looking around the £17-20k mark, 2010 year cars.

Thanks,

[R33FAL]

There's a good guide here...

http://www.pistonheads.com/features/ph-buying-guid...

I think with the higher end of that budget you will get either a manual 2010 car or a high mileage DCT car I think.

And you are making a great choice. I cant bring myself to selling mine after 4 years and counting...

[Iddz]

Thanks for the guide R33FAL I have already read that one,

Is the DCT box to go for or is manual preferred? Is the box reliable? what do you get MPG wise? I see that the guide is saying that 22MPG is achievable which I tend to think is a little high for a 4.0L.

Cheers

[R33FAL]

I would say DCT is the consensus favoured preference. It suits the engine better being a relative high horse power, lower torque motor.

The box is bomb proof i would say- I haven't ever heard of any issues. 22MPG is probably fair to maybe slightly generous. I tend to get ~20MPG, but as its a weekend/occasional use car, 230-250miles to tank isnt too much of a bother.

[VerySideways]

The manual is great, though slightly long throw and slightly long gearing.
The DCT is very good, software changed around 2010 and later software was better, but if you get an earlier car you can have the DCT software updated.
Engine is a peach, barring minor potential issues with things like throttle bodies and exhaust manifolds. Nothing too scary.
Engine pulls smoothly and gently below 4000 rpm, it's actually very docile so easy to drive in the wet without too much worry as there isn't enough torque to get you into trouble.
Between 4k and 5k rpm the engine changes quite dramatically, and between 5k and 8k it's a genuine modern masterpiece of an engine. Great noise, great power delivery, great throttle response.

So whilst it can be a pussy cat at low rpm it's a wild thing at high rpm.
Driven gently, you might see 23mpg, probably 21/22.
Fast road is more like 17/18mpg.

Whilst I don't think the E92 M3 is a particularly spectacular car in isolation, the engine absolutely makes it. It's wonderful.

Get one while you can...