High mileage E92 M3s....worth a punt?
Discussion
At the moment I've got a mint 2006 335i with just 42k on the clock. However I'm approaching my late 20s and realise time for sensible cars could be soon therefore want something silly. An E92 M3 to be exact.
I've had M cars before and know the M tax well but the issue is more the outlay initially. I can justify £18-19k. That gets me in to a 70k+ example.
How tired are they likely to be? I have a bit of a thing about high mileage cars which is probably all in my head, but if I'm doing it I want to make sure I'm getting a cut down experience with knackered suspension and a tired engine.
I've had M cars before and know the M tax well but the issue is more the outlay initially. I can justify £18-19k. That gets me in to a 70k+ example.
How tired are they likely to be? I have a bit of a thing about high mileage cars which is probably all in my head, but if I'm doing it I want to make sure I'm getting a cut down experience with knackered suspension and a tired engine.
My E92 has 90k mile on it. Has been well looked after, all work done as and when needed using all OEM parts - throttle actuators, discs, suspension bars etc. it is as sweet as ever to drive and is still in very good nick. If it is well looked after there will be no problem. Just look for a good service history and invoice bundle.
Yep I'd say so.
I've mentioned in a post before that when I so wanted an E92 M3 in my twenties I bought a 6 owner, isle of Mann import M3 from an Indy dealer on an industrial estate. (full BM history though).
Furthermore I didn't bother with any form of warranty. Just saved £250 a month into an account to cover anything that went wrong..... Three issues of ignition coils occurred which my savings covered and other than general maintenance all was well.
I owned it for 2 years took mileage from 58k to 80 odd k.
I appreciate my strategy could have gone spectacularly tits up. But the car felt right when buying it and I just went with instinct.... In fact I've seen and driven many low mileage AUC cars which I sometimes treat with a great deal of suspicion. Rightly or wrongly I've always thought a well used well maintained car is often better than a barely used one.
I've mentioned in a post before that when I so wanted an E92 M3 in my twenties I bought a 6 owner, isle of Mann import M3 from an Indy dealer on an industrial estate. (full BM history though).
Furthermore I didn't bother with any form of warranty. Just saved £250 a month into an account to cover anything that went wrong..... Three issues of ignition coils occurred which my savings covered and other than general maintenance all was well.
I owned it for 2 years took mileage from 58k to 80 odd k.
I appreciate my strategy could have gone spectacularly tits up. But the car felt right when buying it and I just went with instinct.... In fact I've seen and driven many low mileage AUC cars which I sometimes treat with a great deal of suspicion. Rightly or wrongly I've always thought a well used well maintained car is often better than a barely used one.
Edited by whp1983 on Saturday 14th March 08:50
GroundEffect said:
At the moment I've got a mint 2006 335i with just 42k on the clock. However I'm approaching my late 20s and realise time for sensible cars could be soon therefore want something silly. An E92 M3 to be exact.
I've had M cars before and know the M tax well but the issue is more the outlay initially. I can justify £18-19k. That gets me in to a 70k+ example.
How tired are they likely to be? I have a bit of a thing about high mileage cars which is probably all in my head, but if I'm doing it I want to make sure I'm getting a cut down experience with knackered suspension and a tired engine.
I bought my 335i in my late 20's (quite a few years ago now I've had M cars before and know the M tax well but the issue is more the outlay initially. I can justify £18-19k. That gets me in to a 70k+ example.
How tired are they likely to be? I have a bit of a thing about high mileage cars which is probably all in my head, but if I'm doing it I want to make sure I'm getting a cut down experience with knackered suspension and a tired engine.
)as a sensible replacement for my 350Z, I really wanted a M3 but my wife refused to even sit in one!!Looking back it was probably the best decision I made. I've spent about £6k modding my 335i, remap, LSD, downpipes, suspension etc..So it's real life performance is pretty much on par with a M3, but because it's essentially still a 335, running costs are minimal. So desipite us about to start a family there is no pressure or need to get rid of the 335
At the same time as I got my 335i, a mate also bought a E90 M3, lovely sounding car, but he sold it after a baby arrvied. Mainly due to 18mpg, and general 'M' tax...
So it's all up to you, if you have the cash spare I'm sure you love the M3, but if not, the 335i isn't a bad second choice to be stuck with...Providing you mod it
I hear you that you can make the 335i just as fast but to be honest that's not what I want.
I don't much like the lack of 'sharpness' to the first few mm of throttle inputs. I don't much like that there's no use in revving passed 6000rpm. I do love the noise and the mid range whack but the M3 is my kind of engine. I adored the S54 in my Z4M and I physically need to own a V8 so its the best combination.
I don't much like the lack of 'sharpness' to the first few mm of throttle inputs. I don't much like that there's no use in revving passed 6000rpm. I do love the noise and the mid range whack but the M3 is my kind of engine. I adored the S54 in my Z4M and I physically need to own a V8 so its the best combination.
Running a early E92 M3 with 76k on the clock... Manual, Silverstone blue with EDC.
I have had the famous throttle position sensor go, which was £1k to repair. There are two so if the other one breaks then I may start to regret buying it.
Also my spring snapped which was unlucky but pretty expensive to change the front two along with realignment.
I'd say go for it, get a very good warranty... Regret not getting one from the likes of Warranty Direct etc.
I paid a disgustingly low amount (17k) for it and would hope to get that if I sold it this year.
I have had the famous throttle position sensor go, which was £1k to repair. There are two so if the other one breaks then I may start to regret buying it.
Also my spring snapped which was unlucky but pretty expensive to change the front two along with realignment.
I'd say go for it, get a very good warranty... Regret not getting one from the likes of Warranty Direct etc.
I paid a disgustingly low amount (17k) for it and would hope to get that if I sold it this year.
Mine is on 71k.
Some of the trim pieces do wear out quicker then previous M3's (side bolster and drivers door grab)
Biggest expense has been the much talked about throttle actuator failure, bank 2 failed, got both done, as i didn't want to faff about with another failure on bank 1.
Other then that; battery safety terminal, new battery, and a electric cooling fan have gone wrong.
Fully comprehensive BMW warranty is 3k+ for post 60k mileage cars. I do suggest some form of repair fund or warranty purchase.
Some of the trim pieces do wear out quicker then previous M3's (side bolster and drivers door grab)
Biggest expense has been the much talked about throttle actuator failure, bank 2 failed, got both done, as i didn't want to faff about with another failure on bank 1.
Other then that; battery safety terminal, new battery, and a electric cooling fan have gone wrong.
Fully comprehensive BMW warranty is 3k+ for post 60k mileage cars. I do suggest some form of repair fund or warranty purchase.
Mine is on 71k now.
Still feels like a virtually new car to me!!
Sure some side bolster wear but that is literally the only wear and tear I can see.
Needed a new battery in my ownership (£100), and the weird access panels in the wheel arches fell out (£40!).
Oh and the missus stuffed a one-day-old Michelin into a kerb tearing the sidewall (£250).
Still feels like a virtually new car to me!!
Sure some side bolster wear but that is literally the only wear and tear I can see.
Needed a new battery in my ownership (£100), and the weird access panels in the wheel arches fell out (£40!).
Oh and the missus stuffed a one-day-old Michelin into a kerb tearing the sidewall (£250).
As a recent owner of a low mileage E92 M3, I have no interest in stoking the fires of internet doom (especially on US fora) but the rod bearing issue (affecting both the S65 (V8) and S85 (V10) engines) as well as the throttle actuators are concerns, especially on a high mileage M3.
An oil analysis can reveal high lead content (until 2010, when the rod bearings were changed to a non-lead content type) as a possible warning of failing rod bearings, while the throttle actuators (x2) are probably consumables due to their plastic gears that fail due to wear.
That said, the V8 is otherwise a robust engine and at the price point mentioned a fantastic performance car!
An oil analysis can reveal high lead content (until 2010, when the rod bearings were changed to a non-lead content type) as a possible warning of failing rod bearings, while the throttle actuators (x2) are probably consumables due to their plastic gears that fail due to wear.
That said, the V8 is otherwise a robust engine and at the price point mentioned a fantastic performance car!
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