Expensive week for the m3 :-(

[M3isy]

Financially it has to be the worst week of ownership with my e46 m3. Having covered a total of trouble free 83k the car finally decide to pack up. Originally It was jus the alternator so I had it towed to my mechanic who did a full inspection who found that the diff was knackered it had been dragging and also the heater reostat was also faulty (heaters would stay on even when ignition off).
So far I've managed to get a brand new Lucas alternator for £140, a second hand diff with supposedly 24k miles for £375. New diff oil incl engine oil from Opie oils for £95 ( thought might aswell get it serviced too) and the rheostat for £50ish. I also need two new rear Tyres lol
Luks like I'm a grand down if u incl the labour which jus goes to these cars ain't cheap to run. If I were to purchase a new diff from the stealers- which I did enquire about I was looking at 2k plus vat which incl 10% trade discount!
Can't wait to get it back though, makes you appreciate it so much more when the courtesy u receive is a weezy 04 plate 1.2 corsa!

[mmm-five]

I'd consider £1000 in 83k miles as incredibly cheap - for an M3.

Can't see how the heater control would force the heating to stay on though - as once the ignition circuit it cut there would be no power going the the heater control panel at all.

£140 for a new alternator is very cheap (dealer price for the proper 120 amp one is probably £400+) - but you could have paid less than £50 to get the original reconditioned.

Edited by mmm-five on Sunday 29th January 15:58

[Panthro]

Thats nothing over 83k miles. I'd be thankful to have nothing go wrong for 83k then have a £1000 bill to pay after all those miles.

[M3isy]

Guess I'm quite lucky then.with regards to the reostat it's a pretty common fault on the e46

[philis]

Agreed, £1k in 83k miles is fantastic, just goes to show how strong these cars are!

Ive spent more than that on a Renault, and that was less than half of that mileage.

[AndrewO]

Swopped a diff on the trackcar last week, roughly 2hrs for us.

Top tip, don't put it on its end, there's a drain hole that will leak all the fluid out. The fluid stinks, its like ATF. Luckily that was in the garage and not in my passenger seat footwell.

[M3isy]

Thanks for the tip mate

[falkster]

I was waiting for a massive bill?? I wouldn't consider that a bad experience!

[hygt2]

The parts sounds very cheap.

When I had my Mercedes, the alternator was £670+VAT and the heater hot-cold mixer valve (Duo Valve) was £180+VAT. Labour on top of course.

Although I expect the alternator to last more than 83k - mine packed up at 140k

[Bolognese]

Ive booked mine in for tomrrow to have the front disks and pads changed. (yellow stuff pads)

Rear top mounts sorted as apparently they are "pushing through" not sure what will have to be swapped there and how much it will cost?

Suspension bushes and brake fluid change. Im expecting anything upto a 4 figure bill. Its with my local indy. What do you guys think?

[DaveR]

If that's the biggest bill you've had in 83k miles it just goes to show what a fantastic car the E46 M3 was/is!

One of the world's greatest performance engines demonstrating that kind of robustness and longevity... Bargain.

(Alternator on my 330i packed up around 155k but don't feel bad about that).