Yearly E46 M3 Typical Running Costs
Discussion
Hi All, considering one to replace my 130i M-Sport. I'm looking at a 2004/5 M3 - what annual running costs can I expect and am I about right with my estimates?
1. Fuel - £60 per fill up, 300 miles per tank? - say £2400 per year
2. Insurance (35 yr, male, no points, living in Buckinghamshire) - £600 per year
3. Road Tax £235 per year?
4. Servicing? £400 per year on average?
5. Consumables? £500 per year on average?
1. Fuel - £60 per fill up, 300 miles per tank? - say £2400 per year
2. Insurance (35 yr, male, no points, living in Buckinghamshire) - £600 per year
3. Road Tax £235 per year?
4. Servicing? £400 per year on average?
5. Consumables? £500 per year on average?
daveknott5 said:
Hi All, considering one to replace my 130i M-Sport. I'm looking at a 2004/5 M3 - what annual running costs can I expect and am I about right with my estimates?
1. Fuel - £60 per fill up, 300 miles per tank? - say £2400 per year
2. Insurance (35 yr, male, no points, living in Buckinghamshire) - £600 per year
3. Road Tax £235 per year?
4. Servicing? £400 per year on average?
5. Consumables? £500 per year on average?
1. Cost £75 to fill mine up, roughly 270 miles per tank. So £3300 ish per year.1. Fuel - £60 per fill up, 300 miles per tank? - say £2400 per year
2. Insurance (35 yr, male, no points, living in Buckinghamshire) - £600 per year
3. Road Tax £235 per year?
4. Servicing? £400 per year on average?
5. Consumables? £500 per year on average?
3. Road tax is £245 except models registered after 26th March 2006 which are £400+
4. Going from your milages of 12k miles a year you'll need a service a year. If you go to main dealer this will alternate from oil service £180ish to inspection services £600-800ish. Specialists will obviously be cheaper although when you are comparing prices make sure that the specialists are quoting for the valve clearances to be done as many don't.
5. Consumables, tyres are around £600 for a set, I'd imagine you'd get more than a years motoring from a set though. Brakes, again about £600 a set, but again won't be needed every year. Not sure how long they last to be honest.
I got rid of mine last week, I'd had it for a little under two years and did 14-15k miles in that time. It was still on the front tyres that came on it which weren't new and I'd changed the rears, however with 8k miles on them they could easily have done the same again. I didn't have to change the brakes in the period I own it, but have no idea when they had been done before my ownership.
sjj84 said:
daveknott5 said:
Hi All, considering one to replace my 130i M-Sport. I'm looking at a 2004/5 M3 - what annual running costs can I expect and am I about right with my estimates?
1. Fuel - £60 per fill up, 300 miles per tank? - say £2400 per year
2. Insurance (35 yr, male, no points, living in Buckinghamshire) - £600 per year
3. Road Tax £235 per year?
4. Servicing? £400 per year on average?
5. Consumables? £500 per year on average?
1. Cost £75 to fill mine up, roughly 270 miles per tank. So £3300 ish per year.1. Fuel - £60 per fill up, 300 miles per tank? - say £2400 per year
2. Insurance (35 yr, male, no points, living in Buckinghamshire) - £600 per year
3. Road Tax £235 per year?
4. Servicing? £400 per year on average?
5. Consumables? £500 per year on average?
3. Road tax is £245 except models registered after 26th March 2006 which are £400+
4. Going from your milages of 12k miles a year you'll need a service a year. If you go to main dealer this will alternate from oil service £180ish to inspection services £600-800ish. Specialists will obviously be cheaper although when you are comparing prices make sure that the specialists are quoting for the valve clearances to be done as many don't.
5. Consumables, tyres are around £600 for a set, I'd imagine you'd get more than a years motoring from a set though. Brakes, again about £600 a set, but again won't be needed every year. Not sure how long they last to be honest.
I got rid of mine last week, I'd had it for a little under two years and did 14-15k miles in that time. It was still on the front tyres that came on it which weren't new and I'd changed the rears, however with 8k miles on them they could easily have done the same again. I didn't have to change the brakes in the period I own it, but have no idea when they had been done before my ownership.
£600 might just get you a set of budget tyres but a set of something like PS 2's will cost you at least £1000,but you should get at least 15k miles from them.
Servicing-I had Insp 2 done at main dealers 3 years ago and it was £1100. God knows how much it would be now!
Just had insp 1 done at a reputable indy and it was £565 including valve clearence check.
Brakes-I got 30k miles out of front pads and discs (light use) and they were £560 fitted to replace at indy.Rear pads and discs last for ever!
On the whole they are quite expensive cars to run.In the first year of owning mine i covered about 12k miles and it cost me about £7k running costs but this included Insp 2 and 4 tyres.
It all depends on what the car needs at the time. One year it might cost you a packet,the next year it might cost you very little.
Thanks all for the replies, very informative - while there are some good deals to be done re: buying an M3 - the running costs can easily mount up it seems.....
My assumption re: consumables was that on average, you'd probably need a set of rear tyres every 15k, and a set of fronts every 20k. I also assumed that front pads would need annual/bi annual replacement.
Re: Servicing, I'd take the car to Birds of Uxbridge (reputable Indy) rather than a main dealer.
My assumption re: consumables was that on average, you'd probably need a set of rear tyres every 15k, and a set of fronts every 20k. I also assumed that front pads would need annual/bi annual replacement.
Re: Servicing, I'd take the car to Birds of Uxbridge (reputable Indy) rather than a main dealer.
Edited by daveknott5 on Tuesday 8th February 10:17
Nedz said:
A bit conservative on a few things there.
£600 might just get you a set of budget tyres but a set of something like PS 2's will cost you at least £1000,but you should get at least 15k miles from them.
Servicing-I had Insp 2 done at main dealers 3 years ago and it was £1100. God knows how much it would be now!
Just had insp 1 done at a reputable indy and it was £565 including valve clearence check.
Brakes-I got 30k miles out of front pads and discs (light use) and they were £560 fitted to replace at indy.Rear pads and discs last for ever!
On the whole they are quite expensive cars to run.In the first year of owning mine i covered about 12k miles and it cost me about £7k running costs but this included Insp 2 and 4 tyres.
It all depends on what the car needs at the time. One year it might cost you a packet,the next year it might cost you very little.
There are other perfectly suitable tyres than PS2's. Vredesteins are more than capable and very popular amongst M3 owners, full set, £600.£600 might just get you a set of budget tyres but a set of something like PS 2's will cost you at least £1000,but you should get at least 15k miles from them.
Servicing-I had Insp 2 done at main dealers 3 years ago and it was £1100. God knows how much it would be now!
Just had insp 1 done at a reputable indy and it was £565 including valve clearence check.
Brakes-I got 30k miles out of front pads and discs (light use) and they were £560 fitted to replace at indy.Rear pads and discs last for ever!
On the whole they are quite expensive cars to run.In the first year of owning mine i covered about 12k miles and it cost me about £7k running costs but this included Insp 2 and 4 tyres.
It all depends on what the car needs at the time. One year it might cost you a packet,the next year it might cost you very little.
Servicing, I'm guessing yours was under 4 years old when you had it done? As they are all over 4 years now they qualify for the 4+ scheme. My local dealers charge £800 for the inspect 2 service. There was also a main dealer, Cotswolds I think it was, that were advertising the same service for £650 last year.
Front discs from main dealer can be had for £300, easy enough to fit yourself if you are that way inclined or probably a hours labour to have them done by a garage. Discs for a 330 would still be around the £200 mark, so hardly an earth shattering cost when required which at 12k miles a year would probably be every 2-3 years.
Some BMW dealers give pretty good discounts on labour on older cars, I was paying £65 an hour at mine. The local specialist charges £60 an hour.
sjj84 said:
Nedz said:
A bit conservative on a few things there.
£600 might just get you a set of budget tyres but a set of something like PS 2's will cost you at least £1000,but you should get at least 15k miles from them.
Servicing-I had Insp 2 done at main dealers 3 years ago and it was £1100. God knows how much it would be now!
Just had insp 1 done at a reputable indy and it was £565 including valve clearence check.
Brakes-I got 30k miles out of front pads and discs (light use) and they were £560 fitted to replace at indy.Rear pads and discs last for ever!
On the whole they are quite expensive cars to run.In the first year of owning mine i covered about 12k miles and it cost me about £7k running costs but this included Insp 2 and 4 tyres.
It all depends on what the car needs at the time. One year it might cost you a packet,the next year it might cost you very little.
There are other perfectly suitable tyres than PS2's. Vredesteins are more than capable and very popular amongst M3 owners, full set, £600.£600 might just get you a set of budget tyres but a set of something like PS 2's will cost you at least £1000,but you should get at least 15k miles from them.
Servicing-I had Insp 2 done at main dealers 3 years ago and it was £1100. God knows how much it would be now!
Just had insp 1 done at a reputable indy and it was £565 including valve clearence check.
Brakes-I got 30k miles out of front pads and discs (light use) and they were £560 fitted to replace at indy.Rear pads and discs last for ever!
On the whole they are quite expensive cars to run.In the first year of owning mine i covered about 12k miles and it cost me about £7k running costs but this included Insp 2 and 4 tyres.
It all depends on what the car needs at the time. One year it might cost you a packet,the next year it might cost you very little.
Servicing, I'm guessing yours was under 4 years old when you had it done? As they are all over 4 years now they qualify for the 4+ scheme. My local dealers charge £800 for the inspect 2 service. There was also a main dealer, Cotswolds I think it was, that were advertising the same service for £650 last year.
Front discs from main dealer can be had for £300, easy enough to fit yourself if you are that way inclined or probably a hours labour to have them done by a garage. Discs for a 330 would still be around the £200 mark, so hardly an earth shattering cost when required which at 12k miles a year would probably be every 2-3 years.
Some BMW dealers give pretty good discounts on labour on older cars, I was paying £65 an hour at mine. The local specialist charges £60 an hour.
I actually put the wrong prices up in the previous post.It was £465 for the insp 1 and £460 for front pads and discs.
The reason i used PS 2s is because they were what was on the car at the time and as i changed the fronts at a different time to the rears i wanted to keep all the tyres the same.My car is a convertible and as such dosen't really get driven hard so i will very probably try a cheaper tyre myself next time as they seem to be wearing at a similar rate,although i am thinking it might be time for a change of car this year.
PigFilth said:
Slightly off topic, but do these wear the miles well? I have seen one that has done 130K and wondered if there are any major issues to contend with (assuming it has been well maintained and not thrsahed to death)?
Dont know about 130k but mine has covered over 70k and feels and drives superb,and apart from a few minor stonechips on the front end is in mint nick.As with any car it all depends how it has been driven and maintained.
I think your budget is fair except for fuel as the tank will take £75-80. My experience is similar. They're a pretty reliable car other than some minor things (RTABs, rear springs). As said, just budget for inspection services, brake discs and tyres (Vreds are good at £600 per set). Otherwise you'll be fine. I thoroughly recomend getting one. A great car.
Don't be put off by higher mileages. Just check that bushes have been refreshed or budget for replacements. Rear trailing arm bushes, rear top mounts (both cheap enough) and front lower wishbones may be suspect. Wishbones are expensive to replace (£200ish for the part, each).
Don't be put off by higher mileages. Just check that bushes have been refreshed or budget for replacements. Rear trailing arm bushes, rear top mounts (both cheap enough) and front lower wishbones may be suspect. Wishbones are expensive to replace (£200ish for the part, each).
I would say use someone like phoenix motorsport, they come to me and servicing is very good value on our E46 M3.
Costs wise we keep it all to a minimum, tyres (sometimes part worns - due to the number of nails and screws the tyres pick up - or avons zz3's not as grippy but you dont want that with a lovely rear driver!! slide-tastic), oil changes are done by myself at about £8 per litre (6 litres req), brake pads £35 per set from ebay, oil filter £8, air filter £11, spark plugs £40ish....
important thing is to buy one with reasonable mileage, with maybe just two owners on a 2004....
This is our 3rd straight 6 powered m-car, and the difference between m cars and the other bmw's is the lovely diff for me, makes for a brilliant drive....
Costs wise we keep it all to a minimum, tyres (sometimes part worns - due to the number of nails and screws the tyres pick up - or avons zz3's not as grippy but you dont want that with a lovely rear driver!! slide-tastic), oil changes are done by myself at about £8 per litre (6 litres req), brake pads £35 per set from ebay, oil filter £8, air filter £11, spark plugs £40ish....
important thing is to buy one with reasonable mileage, with maybe just two owners on a 2004....
This is our 3rd straight 6 powered m-car, and the difference between m cars and the other bmw's is the lovely diff for me, makes for a brilliant drive....
I always find it interesting to see what others spend on their M3.
Only buy PS2's (now either the PS3 or Super sport). There are other tyres available but they arn't as good. £1000 a set if you shop around.
It drives better on the 18" wheels but looks better on the 19" wheels. Don't underestimate how much better it drives on the 18's
£1100 on an Inspection 2 is beyond ludicrous. I have heard of some people getting it for £600 from a dealer which is more realistic. One of the reasons its so expensive is because the shims need checking which means leaving the car overnight (should only be checked from cold) and the cam cover needs taking off and the valve clearences checked.
I do all the servicing myself bar anything that it needs putting on a ramp for or the shims, then I save my money for the best tyres. Brakes are £120 a disc (ish) and good pads are about £60. They last a while.
Rear tyres if you are 'keen' last around 10,000 miles but fronts alot longer.
I have 3 friends who own them and one gets 17mpg everywhere, the other gets 35mpg on the motorway and the last gets about 26mpg driving around. Those figures should help you figure out how much it will cost you but remember super is now £1.35 for the decent stuff so a tank is £80.
Get SMG and Nav as the SMG makes it the car it should be and Nav (even if you don't use it) makes it look alot better and it will be easier to sell on.
Only buy PS2's (now either the PS3 or Super sport). There are other tyres available but they arn't as good. £1000 a set if you shop around.
It drives better on the 18" wheels but looks better on the 19" wheels. Don't underestimate how much better it drives on the 18's
£1100 on an Inspection 2 is beyond ludicrous. I have heard of some people getting it for £600 from a dealer which is more realistic. One of the reasons its so expensive is because the shims need checking which means leaving the car overnight (should only be checked from cold) and the cam cover needs taking off and the valve clearences checked.
I do all the servicing myself bar anything that it needs putting on a ramp for or the shims, then I save my money for the best tyres. Brakes are £120 a disc (ish) and good pads are about £60. They last a while.
Rear tyres if you are 'keen' last around 10,000 miles but fronts alot longer.
I have 3 friends who own them and one gets 17mpg everywhere, the other gets 35mpg on the motorway and the last gets about 26mpg driving around. Those figures should help you figure out how much it will cost you but remember super is now £1.35 for the decent stuff so a tank is £80.
Get SMG and Nav as the SMG makes it the car it should be and Nav (even if you don't use it) makes it look alot better and it will be easier to sell on.
yep 18"s are much better - i have them on our car.....tyres £1k a set christ, dont think either of the cars Ive ever spent that even owning the E39 M5 at the same time as the M3, your tyre man must love you....lol...
The Mich PS2's on my R26 are a great tyre, but cost me £40 each part warn as its the trackday car and the corners wear etc etc...
SMG - yep try it agree, but personally driving the M5 E60 was just a bit of a strange sureal experience with that SMG...shame i did love the thought of owning one....
The Mich PS2's on my R26 are a great tyre, but cost me £40 each part warn as its the trackday car and the corners wear etc etc...
SMG - yep try it agree, but personally driving the M5 E60 was just a bit of a strange sureal experience with that SMG...shame i did love the thought of owning one....
daveknott5 said:
Hi All, considering one to replace my 130i M-Sport. I'm looking at a 2004/5 M3 - what annual running costs can I expect and am I about right with my estimates?
1. Fuel - £60 per fill up, 300 miles per tank? - say £2400 per year
2. Insurance (35 yr, male, no points, living in Buckinghamshire) - £600 per year
3. Road Tax £235 per year?
4. Servicing? £400 per year on average?
5. Consumables? £500 per year on average?
I don't have an M3 nor have I ever had one, however i'd say just by looking at it you are way too low on your estimates.1. Fuel - £60 per fill up, 300 miles per tank? - say £2400 per year
2. Insurance (35 yr, male, no points, living in Buckinghamshire) - £600 per year
3. Road Tax £235 per year?
4. Servicing? £400 per year on average?
5. Consumables? £500 per year on average?
your fuel looks really wishful for a start.
insurance - ok well if its 600 there's no arguing that.
road tax well again you can find out for a fact, i'd have thought more than £235
you seem to be just pointing out how much it would be to run a run of the mill vectra or mondeo there to me mate.
punctures, tyres, exhaust, suspension bits, brakes, engine bits, big jobs and so on all cost money. £400 for servicing seems cheap too.
i'd say more than that sadly
dave9 said:
I don't have an M3 nor have I ever had one, however i'd say just by looking at it you are way too low on your estimates.
your fuel looks really wishful for a start.
insurance - ok well if its 600 there's no arguing that.
road tax well again you can find out for a fact, i'd have thought more than £235
you seem to be just pointing out how much it would be to run a run of the mill vectra or mondeo there to me mate.
punctures, tyres, exhaust, suspension bits, brakes, engine bits, big jobs and so on all cost money. £400 for servicing seems cheap too.
i'd say more than that sadly
He is not far off actually.your fuel looks really wishful for a start.
insurance - ok well if its 600 there's no arguing that.
road tax well again you can find out for a fact, i'd have thought more than £235
you seem to be just pointing out how much it would be to run a run of the mill vectra or mondeo there to me mate.
punctures, tyres, exhaust, suspension bits, brakes, engine bits, big jobs and so on all cost money. £400 for servicing seems cheap too.
i'd say more than that sadly
Servicing is about every 16000 miles depending how driven, so if you only do 8k a year thats £800 budget which is fine. My insurance was only £400, however its increased since. Also Tax is spot on.
There are a lot of scaremongers who actually know very little apart from what their mates say down the pub.
nottyash said:
He is not far off actually.
Servicing is about every 16000 miles depending how driven, so if you only do 8k a year thats £800 budget which is fine. My insurance was only £400, however its increased since. Also Tax is spot on.
There are a lot of scaremongers who actually know very little apart from what their mates say down the pub.
true, but i have had performance cars and still do have a few and there is always something else going wrong or needing doing.Servicing is about every 16000 miles depending how driven, so if you only do 8k a year thats £800 budget which is fine. My insurance was only £400, however its increased since. Also Tax is spot on.
There are a lot of scaremongers who actually know very little apart from what their mates say down the pub.
i'd say more and I have experience of many cars but obviously some are less but its a risk you take and an answer youd don't know until 'if' your gearbox goes bang.
it's the discs, pads and tyres that really cost the money. The rest isn't so bad.
It also depends how picky you are about your cars. I change the oil in my cars every 5000 miles maximum.
These cars are now 5 years new at the most, so they do need regular maintenance, especially if driven properly.
OEM disks and pads front and rear £800, tyres anything from £500 for rubbish up to £1000 for premium brand.
It also depends how picky you are about your cars. I change the oil in my cars every 5000 miles maximum.
These cars are now 5 years new at the most, so they do need regular maintenance, especially if driven properly.
OEM disks and pads front and rear £800, tyres anything from £500 for rubbish up to £1000 for premium brand.
Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff