Bmw e46 M3 running costs

[Lannister902]

I've always dreamt of owning a e46 M3 since I was a teenager, and I'm finally in a position to afford one. Prices are high, an e92 can be brought for similar money, but I was just wondering if the running costs would be to much to handle on a e46.

Should I leave it as a pipe dream and move on, as I wouldn't be able to look after it?

I've done research on it, and there is things that can go wrong, cracked chassis being one, the pump on the SMG gearbox going are two big ones.
What other potentially big bills may pop up that may surprise me?

If I need to ask this question means I should avoid the car?

Thanks.

[Mr Tidy]

Lannister902 said:

I've always dreamt of owning a e46 M3 since I was a teenager, and I'm finally in a position to afford one. Prices are high, an e92 can be brought for similar money, but I was just wondering if the running costs would be to much to handle on a e46.

Should I leave it as a pipe dream and move on, as I wouldn't be able to look after it?

I've done research on it, and there is things that can go wrong, cracked chassis being one, the pump on the SMG gearbox going are two big ones.
What other potentially big bills may pop up that may surprise me?

If I need to ask this question means I should avoid the car?

Thanks.

To be fair I think the running costs of an E92 M3 would be even more painful!

But you can avoid the SMG issues by buying a manual E46 M3, and avoid the boot-floor issues by getting a Z4M that has the same S54 engine but no SMG option!

But be prepared to spend some money whatever you buy.

My Z4MC needed an Inspection 2 when I bought it but it also turned out the cam-chain tensioner was ineffective and leaking oil, so that was a 4 figure bill overall.

Then I had the crank rod bearing shells replaced as a preventative measure which was another 4 figure bill.

I don't care because I love my car, but having a war-chest may be a plan!

[joema]

i think there was some info on the other thread about collectability.

If you plan to drive it a lot, perhaps 6k miles per year it will cost a lot. They are getting on. If you drive it occasionally, probably not a lot.

It's a risk and a possibility that you'll have some big bills. Can you live with that?

Just think what you want to do with it.

Personally with the prices of the V8's, I'd go for the v8 now, just to experience a V8. A big niggle for me is the values of the E46 going up which means I'm thinking twice about using mine, which I hate as I want to use it. Sounds silly

[nickfrog]

Really tricky decision between generations. I can totally see the appeal of the older N/A engined cars. But I can also see the uncertainty over values and potential big bills, not to mention servicing.

The other aspect is, how to they drive with a few miles and without a (also costly) suspension refresh?

[Mark83]

Mine (manual) was relatively trouble-free in my ownership. Off the top of my head...

RTAB needed replacing and were a pain.
Front wishbone bush went and needed a new wishbone from memory.
Rear spring snapped but replaced the springs and dampers with KW V3s.
Tyres and brakes were relatively cheap.
Inspection 2 can get spendy but oil changes and Inspection 1s aren't bad.

Had I kept it much longer, I'd have had to replace the rear brake lines and exhaust back box. My boot floor was ok in my ownership but wouldn't buy one without rectification work.

I'd have thought the zero depreciation should offset the running costs. Running costs are all relative though.

[robbiekhan]

Lannister902 said:

I've always dreamt of owning a e46 M3 since I was a teenager, and I'm finally in a position to afford one. Prices are high, an e92 can be brought for similar money, but I was just wondering if the running costs would be to much to handle on a e46.

Should I leave it as a pipe dream and move on, as I wouldn't be able to look after it?

I've done research on it, and there is things that can go wrong, cracked chassis being one, the pump on the SMG gearbox going are two big ones.
What other potentially big bills may pop up that may surprise me?

If I need to ask this question means I should avoid the car?

Thanks.

Fuelio's recent update adds a nice feature for braking down costs, and I add every cost to my one inc wiper blades even




I have not read all replies to this thread yet but am sure most of these have been mentioned.

- SMG pump is a big bill if you get an SMG model. Low 4 figures at the minimum.
- Clutch and Flywheel. These should be done in combo and typically buying one used now will have worn clutch/flywheel due to the number of owners the cars go through and the lack of mechanical sympathy typically at this age. Mine was good but made sense to have them done at 100k miles or so when Redish Motorsport had it in doing an engine swap when rod bearings failed...
- Rod bearings. These must must must be done. Think about it being done at 80k miles but don't leave it much beyond 100k miles all assuming the car has been driven with some mechanical sympathy through ownerships. Worn bearing shells will tank the engine needing a rebuild or donor engine and it will happen out of the blue like it did to me around the 100k mark.
- Boot floor mounting cracks. Some say all E46 M3s crack here, others say later models have less an issue (if at all). I had mine inspected by ETA Motorsport who said they have seen road examples with loads of cracks but even some track day cars with none. It's a lottery mostly but later models from 2005/6 seem to fair better and convertibles even more so. Mine still has no cracks (2005 convertible).

Those are the biggest costs really, everything else just adds up over time. I've had most of them all done, some are tedious or easy DIY, others need the car raised on a lift.

I can export the a full breakdown of maintenance costs which shows what I had done and what it cost and where if you'd like.

Someone mentioned getting a Z4M instead but for me the Z4m interior is lacklustre and the sound is not as nice as the E46. It has a different exhaust setup and as such it's less metallic/raspy and the induction noise isn't as prominent either.

I have a carbon airbox (Eventuri) and it's like a CSL. 2005/6 models share the CSL manifold too so sound a bit meatier from factory.

Edited by robbiekhan on Thursday 17th June 13:33

Edited by robbiekhan on Thursday 17th June 13:35