Buying a BMW M3 E92 - things to consider?

[Tony B2]

vsonix said:

I was actually having this conversation with a mate earlier today - possibly it's a little early to tell yet. The early cars are only just coming up to a decade old, I don't know how old the E46 was when people started to notice a pattern with the subframe mounting/boot floor cracks, but discovering the E36/Z3 having the same issue seems to be a later phenomenon. If the issue with the E46 wasn't so well documented when these cars came out it's highly likely it'll be an issue with these as well.

Are they really going to make the same mistake 3 times over? The original cause was - from memory - insufficient additional stiffening plates in the high stress areas. It has cost them a fair bit for warranty remedial work on the E46, for sure.

[vsonix]

Tony B2 said:

Are they really going to make the same mistake 3 times over? The original cause was - from memory - insufficient additional stiffening plates in the high stress areas. It has cost them a fair bit for warranty remedial work on the E46, for sure.

Yet apparently it's not serious enough an issue to warrant a full recall... That's what I'm saying though, when the E9x came out the problem with the E46 was just starting to become common knowledge and it's only after the E46 started to gain notoriety that people realised that the previous generation was prone also... so potentially they might have made the same mistake three generations running. IDK for sure though - I'm just postulating.

[stuno1]

2013 coupe dct models with competition pack seem to be able to be had for 27k ish with 30k miles on them. Are these values likely to change much in the next 3 years. Being a non turbo v8 and how well regarded the car is inwouod assume not much depreciation but I have only just started looking.

[Eviltad]

stuno1 said:

2013 coupe dct models with competition pack seem to be able to be had for 27k ish with 30k miles on them. Are these values likely to change much in the next 3 years. Being a non turbo v8 and how well regarded the car is inwouod assume not much depreciation but I have only just started looking.

Sounds Cheap, buy it.

[Wills2]

stuno1 said:

2013 coupe dct models with competition pack seem to be able to be had for 27k ish with 30k miles on them. Are these values likely to change much in the next 3 years. Being a non turbo v8 and how well regarded the car is inwouod assume not much depreciation but I have only just started looking.

Who knows but if you want one buy one becuase you like it and can afford it.

Worrying about a cars value spoils the ownership experience.

[stuno1]

Wills2 said:

Who knows but if you want one buy one becuase you like it and can afford it.

Worrying about a cars value spoils the ownership experience.

I agree to a point but the value of the sale from one car funds the next car. Depreciation is a part of ownership but for me they are toys and will see 3-5k per year. My isf was sold 2 years later for the same price I paid for it and my lotus Evora was sold for 2k less than i paid after 2 years of ownership.

[laingy]

I just bought an v8 m3 comp pack, brilliant cars. I preferred it to the 997.

[Ecosse79]

If anyone is interested, my E92 M3 comp pack is for sale.

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[Jez m]

Just came across this thread as i'm looking to buy an M3 in the new year. Looking for a DCT / EDC car around 17k mark. Seems to be a decent amount of choice out there.

Regarding the throttle actuator issues, many for sale listings say how it has been done but was this ever an official recall? I would guess that any car that hasn't had it done will do at some point in it's future..

[stuno1]

Jez m said:

Just came across this thread as i'm looking to buy an M3 in the new year. Looking for a DCT / EDC car around 17k mark. Seems to be a decent amount of choice out there.

Regarding the throttle actuator issues, many for sale listings say how it has been done but was this ever an official recall? I would guess that any car that hasn't had it done will do at some point in it's future..

Don’t believe its a recall it’s just an issue that is well documented and known about.

Other item seems to be rod bearing failure. Apparently this is rare but can cause engine failure if they pop. Roughly 1k to replace them before failure. You can get an oil check done to check for metal in the oil. This is the item that is concerning me as I am also looking for one next year.

It’s items like this that contributed to me buying my Lexus isf when I was looking 5 years ago. Still not sure what I’ll do this time around.

[bennyboysvuk]

Jez m said:

Just came across this thread as i'm looking to buy an M3 in the new year. Looking for a DCT / EDC car around 17k mark. Seems to be a decent amount of choice out there.

Regarding the throttle actuator issues, many for sale listings say how it has been done but was this ever an official recall? I would guess that any car that hasn't had it done will do at some point in it's future..

It wasn't an official recall, no. There are lots of options nowadays though ranging from paying BMW vast sums to replace a single unit to visiting people like Rebuild.org.

I'm fully expecting mine to go during my ownership (mileage is currently 60k).

[Jez m]

Thanks, i've just had a look on rebuild.org.. will keep that bookmarked! Not the end of the world price wise if they do need doing and perhaps something to help negotiate on purchase price if they haven't been done.

Rod bearings i've not heard much about.. must be rare. However, the oil analysis seems like a good idea, especially as i intend to track mine.

[ftypical]

Fckitdriveon said:

My first E92 was a Manual in interlagos blue, the DCT wasn't available at the time, and even on the drive home I was questioning my decision, not that the car wasn't great but living in London manual isn't practical for me.

This is why Leg Day is Important...

[bennyboysvuk]

Jez m said:

Rod bearings i've not heard much about.. must be rare. However, the oil analysis seems like a good idea, especially as i intend to track mine.

Rod bearings seem to be a bigger worry in the US, however in the UK it seems like the safe thing to do is have them replaced at around 100k miles at a cost of around £1500. Pricey, but it's still cheaper than IMS failure or bore scoring on similarly performing 911s.

Additinally, there are some service intervals to think about too. Spark plugs are £15 each and need replacing every 37k. Gearbox oil and diff oil need doing every 30k. BMW charge approx £200 for gearbox oil and the same again to do the diff. Spark plug service was £350 or something like that. Air filter is £65.

So, full service on that day including engine oil and the blasted microfilter will be something like £1150...unless you go to an independent.

Edited by bennyboysvuk on Tuesday 28th November 07:35

[Jez m]

bennyboysvuk said:

Rod bearings seem to be a bigger worry in the US, however in the UK it seems like the safe thing to do is have them replaced at around 100k miles at a cost of around £1500. Pricey, but it's still cheaper than IMS failure or bore scoring on similarly performing 911s.

Additinally, there are some service intervals to think about too. Spark plugs are £15 each and need replacing every 37k. Gearbox oil and diff oil need doing every 30k. BMW charge approx £200 for gearbox oil and the same again to do the diff. Spark plug service was £350 or something like that. Air filter is £65.

So, full service on that day including engine oil and the blasted microfilter will be something like £1150...unless you go to an independent.

Edited by bennyboysvuk on Tuesday 28th November 07:35

I'd had a brief look in to costs but maybe my head refused to acknowledge just how pricey they are to maintain! Luckily i only do around 5k miles per year and often only use a car at the weekends. I'm looking at car's around 60-75k milage mark so i'd probably be moving it on before it got to the 100k mark.

Luckily i have a BMW specialist (independant) not too far from me who has been great at maintaining my Z4 so i'll probably use them for any servicing needs.


Next question: Having watched a lot of youtube vids.. the stock exhaust is on the quiet side. I don't want something silly loud but just something that let's a bit more of that lovely V8 soundtrack escape un-filtered! Any recommendations?

[stuno1]

Evolve do a primary cat delete that frees up more sound and more ponies! You will get roughly 30-35 hp and torque across the Rev range and a fruity note. That’s what I’ll be doing. They also do a dct tune that improves speed and smoothness of gear changes.

[Jez m]

Ah, sounds good: https://www.evolveautomotive.com/evolve-ecu-stage-...

Not too bad a price for the extra power / sound.

[bennyboysvuk]

Jez m said:

I'd had a brief look in to costs but maybe my head refused to acknowledge just how pricey they are to maintain! Luckily i only do around 5k miles per year and often only use a car at the weekends. I'm looking at car's around 60-75k milage mark so i'd probably be moving it on before it got to the 100k mark.

Luckily i have a BMW specialist (independant) not too far from me who has been great at maintaining my Z4 so i'll probably use them for any servicing needs.

Next question: Having watched a lot of youtube vids.. the stock exhaust is on the quiet side. I don't want something silly loud but just something that let's a bit more of that lovely V8 soundtrack escape un-filtered! Any recommendations?

Fortunately, they costs are absolutely worthwhile.

I fancy a new exhaust to let some extra noise through too and reduce a little weight, however even on the standard exhaust, during a cold-start at 6:30am my car vibrates mine and my neighbours house.

[Jez m]

Haha! Maybe this slightly less noisy mod?

http://www.exhaustmods.co.uk/e92-m3-exhaust-mod

[SebringMan]

toasty said:

Throttle actuators is the most common one and can cost a couple of grand to fix at a main dealer. This is mitigated now by specialists who can refurb the actuators with better gears and upgraded circuit boards.

Rod end bearings are the potential catastrophe scenario but not common. They can be replaced as a preventative measure but most don't bother.

ETA told me that even the specialist fix doesn't last forever ; he's changed a couple. But TBH it's less likely to happen than many issues on an E46.

Thermobaric said:

No love for the manual here?

Plenty. But plenty otherwise. For me it would be a hard one. Push came to shove I'd probably go DCT. There are IMHO better cars out there to have if a manual 'box is a priorty. Porsche 996 is one.

vsonix said:

I was actually having this conversation with a mate earlier today - possibly it's a little early to tell yet. The early cars are only just coming up to a decade old, I don't know how old the E46 was when people started to notice a pattern with the subframe mounting/boot floor cracks, but discovering the E36/Z3 having the same issue seems to be a later phenomenon. If the issue with the E46 wasn't so well documented when these cars came out it's highly likely it'll be an issue with these as well.

The floor design is different on the E9xs. The E46 was an evolution, albeit a radical one of the E36.

Edited by SebringMan on Wednesday 29th November 08:51