M3 Servicing

[lamby_gti]

Hi,

Apologies if this has been covered already!

I'm thinking of taking the plunge and getting myself an M3! I know how important the service history is on a car like this so I will be looking for a F BMW/INDY SH car.

I presume that the on board computer will alert me to what service is due. My question is that is the service based purely on mileage or is time programmed into the coputer as well?

I have seen a few ad's where people have shown photo's of the service stamps and it seems the service intervals have been based on mileage i.e >2years between a service's.

Thanks in advanced
CL

[M3]

Be careful, I just bought one, looked at loads of sh*t cars, some dodgy ones even from dealers. Adds may say up to date service, but then you find it needs a grands worth next week.
I looked at getting a warranty on a private car, you will need a proper service for that, and an RAC check over is £300. but well worth it.


Good luck.

[lamby_gti]

The RAC check sounds like a good idea, what do they check for? - I have read that BMW do a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) is that something you considered??

[M3]

Rac check for every thing and test drive, still not 100 percent. BMW will charge a fortune, sub 60k mile cars can get a BMW warranty for about £600, Quentin Wilson does one as well...£450ish, needs to be up to date service.

Are you after coupe or conv, what money you spending, where you based, cos I have looked at most.

[lamby_gti]

Are you after coupe or conv, what money you spending, where you based, cos I have looked at most.

[/quote]

I'd consider a coupe or a vert. Havn't got any "must have's" on my list i'd rather get a solid car with plenty of history. The E46 M3 looks the dog's in almost any colour comb (not too sure on the Blue - laguna seca??) Budget's sub 15k and based in Notts but willing to travel. Where are you based??

Chris

[M3]

Like seca best but wanted later car, Ive gone for Tit silver second fav as need subtle colour, after lairy coloured police attracting 911s...

Im South, there are a lot more cars in your price bracket...more confusion and mine fields..

I was looking around £20k for about 05 with 30k miles...

£24k gets top cars

Convs seem tatty with big miles unless well looked after. There are loads on PH, a lot for a long time.

[gareth h]

I got mine checked out at a main dealer, from memory I think it cost £100 ish, worth it for piece of mind and they can give costs for repairs which is usefull when it comes to haggling.

[lamby_gti]

Thanks for that info...... Can anyone comment on my OP of the servicing needed purely based on mileage or is there a time factor?

Chris

[Chessers]

You'll get conflicting views on this I am afraid.

Some say that stick to manufacturers guidelines what with longlife oil etc and others will say get serviced every year.

I do very low miles in mine (22,000 on an April '04), so if I based purely on the guidelines then I could theoretically go well over 2 years before the next service was due.

I tend to use the in-car guide for the larger services but have the oil and oil filter changed each year for my peace of mind.

[lamby_gti]

Chessers said:

You'll get conflicting views on this I am afraid.

Some say that stick to manufacturers guidelines what with longlife oil etc and others will say get serviced every year.

I do very low miles in mine (22,000 on an April '04), so if I based purely on the guidelines then I could theoretically go well over 2 years before the next service was due.

I tend to use the in-car guide for the larger services but have the oil and oil filter changed each year for my peace of mind.

I don't plan on using the car as a daily commute but more as a weekend car so I won't do that many miles either.
I didn't want to put little miles on and then have the onboard computer telling me in needs servicing constantly. I understand that the oil change is very important and wouldn't mind doing that, I could drop the oil myself and then have it serviced properly when required.
What exactly is BMW's M3 serviceing guidelines??

[mat205125]

M3 said:

Be careful, I just bought one, looked at loads of sh*t cars, some dodgy ones even from dealers. Adds may say up to date service, but then you find it needs a grands worth next week.
I looked at getting a warranty on a private car, you will need a proper service for that, and an RAC check over is £300. but well worth it.

Good luck.

Just because it has been regularly serviced, doesn't mean that it won't need a pair of discs and pads, and a couple of tyres in the first month. A grand doesn't go a long way on an M.

Service history is just one of the things to be looking for.

[Chessers]

^^^^^^^^^^^ as above.

Ask around and I am sure someone will put you in touch with a decent indie in your neck of the woods who can give the car a check for you at a reasonable cost.

[lamby_gti]

Cheers for the info guys!!

I understand that an M car ain't gonna be a cheap "toy" think the forum calls it M tax??

Keeping a bit back form my budget to get any issuse sorted hopefully get an inspection then use any problems/worn comps as a bargining tool!

Keep ya posted.

Ta Chris

[M3]

Silly bits add up, depends on abuse, ie seat backs £70 plus vat door trim about £100, centre consol bits £40 a time etc etc. My car is good but I will get a trimmer to refresh the drivers seat, and a few minor leather skuffs.

Alloy refurb £250
tyres £700/set ish

so its worth paying a bit more for a tidy car.

[Boss Hogg]

I think the computer bases service interval on fuel consumption i.e. how hard the car is driven, i'm about 14k between services.

[mat205125]

M3 said:

Silly bits add up, depends on abuse, ie seat backs £70 plus vat door trim about £100, centre consol bits £40 a time etc etc. My car is good but I will get a trimmer to refresh the drivers seat, and a few minor leather skuffs.

Alloy refurb £250
tyres £700/set ish

so its worth paying a bit more for a tidy car.

I'd be interested to hear any stories about people having their driver's seat repaired. I want to get the in'n'out bolster replaced at some point

[M3]

Mines not bad, but taking it in for a quote next week

[Chessers]

If it's minors scratches or scuffs then sort it yourself with Gliptone or speak to Judy at TT.

It's a piece of p*ss and comes up like new. I have done this on both black leather and the light grey leather in my M3 and it comes up like new and takes around an hour.

You can get the kit for about £40 I think which is more than enought to do a whole seat or touch up the bolsters loads of times.

My drivers side bolster was very scuffed but does look like new now.

[chris7676]

Why would you change oil / filter, provided it's synthetic, every year if you do little mileage ? I think you DONT need it.

[LJTS]

mat205125 said:

M3 said:

Silly bits add up, depends on abuse, ie seat backs £70 plus vat door trim about £100, centre consol bits £40 a time etc etc. My car is good but I will get a trimmer to refresh the drivers seat, and a few minor leather skuffs.

Alloy refurb £250
tyres £700/set ish

so its worth paying a bit more for a tidy car.

I'd be interested to hear any stories about people having their driver's seat repaired. I want to get the in'n'out bolster replaced at some point

DIY Link below!

http://m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=127666