Used M3 Warranty

[Darlo74]

I'm sure this one has been debated to death, but would appreciate a few thoughts. I'm in the market for a used M3 - probably looking at 3 years old and understand the BMW warranty is around £900 plus you pay an excess on each claim. Doesn't feel like I'd want to take that, but are there any other warranty companies out there anyone has experience of and are they worth it?

Or would you take a calculated risk and go without a warranty? Are there any major known problems that could make this a very expensive decision in the long run?

[Darlo74]

Thanks for your comments. I guess when it comes down to it if my head was ruling my decision I'd stick with a 5-year old Peugeot 206 which costs about £600 a year to run! But these cars are all about the experience and that's where your heart comes in...

Interesting to read the comment about the 997 or even a 996 which could be a potential if I didn't need rear seats for my 8 month old daughter. Having said that the annual cost of my Boxster turned out to be £6,500 per annum over 3 years of ownership from new (not including petrol) so I think the perception of Porsche's not losing value is a misguided one. Plus the problems with the Boxster were extremely dissapointing given the 'quality' marque.

[Darlo74]

Derin - you've intrigued me now, tell me what car's you have driven in the last 3 years since that decision not to go for the M3?

[Darlo74]

deutscher said:

Mr. National Average does not drive an M3. His car is Ford Focus.

You can't enter the junior supercar league and pretend it's economy motoring.

However, £ for £, if you love cars, the M3 is the best you will get.

I guess part of me is Mr National Average as well then! Nothing wrong with the Focus - top family transport. And I agree buying an M3 is never going to be economy motoring and personally I believe buying a 3yr old M3 now and keeping for another 3 won't end up making as big a dent in my pocket as, say a new 335i, used 996 or RS4. And I'm not sure anything would give me as much of a smile on a daily basis...

[Darlo74]

derin100 said:

Darlo

First off when I decided not to buy the E46 M3 I bought this:

www.bmwclassics.co.uk/alpina_b3/index.html

I drove it as a more or less daily driver (well, as my main car anyway)for 18 months.

I then had this:

www.bmwclassics.co.uk/840cisport/index.html

Somewhere in bewteen I had this:

www.bmwclassics.co.uk/blue740i/index.html

Then this:

www.bmwclassics.co.uk/840cisport02/index.html

Throughout that period I've also kept this:

www.bmwclassics.co.uk/page_m3.html

And an E32 735i of which I can't find any pics at the moment - anyway it's a Lachs Silber 1989 one with genuine 45K miles on the clock. I've had both of the last two cars above for about the past 6 years.

Additionally, I now have this:

www.bmwclassics.co.uk/840cisport01/index.html

This:

www.bmwclassics.co.uk/e28_528i/index.html

Which I'm currently selling.

And this (which is current my daily driver!):

www.bmwclassics.co.uk/images/DSCN1014.JPG

My wife drives a 1995 E34 525i Touring (about the only thing that will stand-up to the abuse three kids can hurl at a BMW!)

AND...(pauses for breath)...As of today I've just bought another BMW!!! Should be collecting it tomorrow!

Taking me to a new all-time high of seven BMW currently owned!

Edited by derin100 on Monday 12th February 14:53

Edited by derin100 on Monday 12th February 15:04

That's a fantastic collection!

I love the 840i - but that's not what I'm after and I just think the E46 M3 ticks all the right boxes for me right now. I also have a good friend who is a BMW mechanic so I know I'll be able to find a good example that hopefully won't give me any large bills in the short term as I certainly don't like the idea of paying £900 for a warranty and £250 excess. It seems to make sense to me to bank that money and put it towards any problems if they happen.

Edited by Darlo74 on Monday 12th February 20:11