E46 m3 -'good news / bad news / good news
Discussion
Folks,
Recently spent 600 quid getting new brakes on the old girl at my local bmw dealers. The brakes now feel awesome again. So I am driving around enjoying the car, and thinking of moving it on now all is well - good news.
Then, I start to notice a clunking noise in the transmission. Every time I depress the clutch. Hmmmmm.... So, I take it to my local bmw dealers again.. After some time behind the wheel, it's clear. That the clutch is not engaging / disengaging properly. Down to worn clutch and springs etc to have it replaced by bmw will be 1200 quid sir..... bad news.
So the car is going in on Monday to get the work done.... Having looked at my bills for the last 2 years, I will now have spent more than 5 grand on having the car maintained by bmw. So in the event that I come to sell the old girl, every single big job will have been done... Hopefully this will give the. New owner some peace of mind and I will be able to get a good price for the car.....good news....
So all is well....
Recently spent 600 quid getting new brakes on the old girl at my local bmw dealers. The brakes now feel awesome again. So I am driving around enjoying the car, and thinking of moving it on now all is well - good news.
Then, I start to notice a clunking noise in the transmission. Every time I depress the clutch. Hmmmmm.... So, I take it to my local bmw dealers again.. After some time behind the wheel, it's clear. That the clutch is not engaging / disengaging properly. Down to worn clutch and springs etc to have it replaced by bmw will be 1200 quid sir..... bad news.
So the car is going in on Monday to get the work done.... Having looked at my bills for the last 2 years, I will now have spent more than 5 grand on having the car maintained by bmw. So in the event that I come to sell the old girl, every single big job will have been done... Hopefully this will give the. New owner some peace of mind and I will be able to get a good price for the car.....good news....
So all is well....
Im in same boat,
Tunrs out i have spent/lost 12k through repairs and depreciation on the car within 2.5 years.
Took an M135 out, and an E90 M3..... was offered an awesome deal on the M135!! so quite tempted right now.
Im 50:50 to be honest
12k i lost on the M3, id pay less 15k in PCP paymenets + deposit, and i would be driving a new car. Mmmmmmmmmmmm
Tunrs out i have spent/lost 12k through repairs and depreciation on the car within 2.5 years.
Took an M135 out, and an E90 M3..... was offered an awesome deal on the M135!! so quite tempted right now.
Im 50:50 to be honest
12k i lost on the M3, id pay less 15k in PCP paymenets + deposit, and i would be driving a new car. Mmmmmmmmmmmm
161
The brakes on the back are fine and have lots of life in them.
Annoyingly so did the front discs and pads, but they had warped a little. It wasn't too bad, but I still didn't feel comfortable, so got them replaced at specialist cars bmw in stevenage.
The car is still an awesome car and I still love it, and that's the problem. I don't object to spending the cash on it all and that's the dilemma - do I keep it as its great and needs nothing, or try to sell it for the same reason.
Damn car!
The brakes on the back are fine and have lots of life in them.
Annoyingly so did the front discs and pads, but they had warped a little. It wasn't too bad, but I still didn't feel comfortable, so got them replaced at specialist cars bmw in stevenage.
The car is still an awesome car and I still love it, and that's the problem. I don't object to spending the cash on it all and that's the dilemma - do I keep it as its great and needs nothing, or try to sell it for the same reason.
Damn car!
[quote=shibby!]Im in same boat,
Tunrs out i have spent/lost 12k through repairs and depreciation on the car within 2.5 years.
Bloody hell, mate! How many miles have you done in this time? I bought mine 17 months ago and have done 10k miles. Last month I was offered £250 less than I paid for it (very tempting! lol - I didn't as there isn't anything i'd want instead of it for the money, although that may change soon if I end up moving house!). I have needed to do NOTHING to mine in that time, apart from an inspection 2 service (£550 at local indie) and 4 new tyres. Mine now has 35k on it. I have paid for the BMW warranty though just in case
Cheers
Simon
Tunrs out i have spent/lost 12k through repairs and depreciation on the car within 2.5 years.
Bloody hell, mate! How many miles have you done in this time? I bought mine 17 months ago and have done 10k miles. Last month I was offered £250 less than I paid for it (very tempting! lol - I didn't as there isn't anything i'd want instead of it for the money, although that may change soon if I end up moving house!). I have needed to do NOTHING to mine in that time, apart from an inspection 2 service (£550 at local indie) and 4 new tyres. Mine now has 35k on it. I have paid for the BMW warranty though just in case
Cheers
Simon
Angry apples,
I hear you and I think it is a good way to own an m3 and make sure it's fully maintained.
For me, I just want to maintain it by the folks at bmw who have looked after my cars for 10 years or more.
I know it's a bit more cash for me, but I feel good about it now having over 105k miles and I don't have to worry about it
I know the dealers well enough now that they don't charge me unnecessarily.
Cheers
Trev
I hear you and I think it is a good way to own an m3 and make sure it's fully maintained.
For me, I just want to maintain it by the folks at bmw who have looked after my cars for 10 years or more.
I know it's a bit more cash for me, but I feel good about it now having over 105k miles and I don't have to worry about it
I know the dealers well enough now that they don't charge me unnecessarily.
Cheers
Trev
siovey]hibby! said:
Im in same boat,
Tunrs out i have spent/lost 12k through repairs and depreciation on the car within 2.5 years.
Bloody hell, mate! How many miles have you done in this time? I bought mine 17 months ago and have done 10k miles. Last month I was offered £250 less than I paid for it (very tempting! lol - I didn't as there isn't anything i'd want instead of it for the money, although that may change soon if I end up moving house!). I have needed to do NOTHING to mine in that time, apart from an inspection 2 service (£550 at local indie) and 4 new tyres. Mine now has 35k on it. I have paid for the BMW warranty though just in case
Cheers
Simon
Ha, only around 12k miles maybe less. Lol! Tunrs out i have spent/lost 12k through repairs and depreciation on the car within 2.5 years.
Bloody hell, mate! How many miles have you done in this time? I bought mine 17 months ago and have done 10k miles. Last month I was offered £250 less than I paid for it (very tempting! lol - I didn't as there isn't anything i'd want instead of it for the money, although that may change soon if I end up moving house!). I have needed to do NOTHING to mine in that time, apart from an inspection 2 service (£550 at local indie) and 4 new tyres. Mine now has 35k on it. I have paid for the BMW warranty though just in case
Cheers
Simon
Bought it for just over 11k, right when the prices were still high, then they bombed, offered about 5k for it there.
Tyres all round
Springs
Rear discs and pads
Handbrake
Vanos solenoid and diagnosis
Service
Door lock motor
Costs associated with subframe
Sagging window seals
Heaight covers
Bmw badges
Exhaust rusting and clamp.issues
2 front wishbones
Grinding diff
Insurance
So while some of this are normal running costs, if I bought a new car, and the miles I did I would only have to do the oil service and probably a set of tyres. Everything else under warranty, AND I would be driving a brand new car, instead of a 10 year old car with 100k, never mind how nice it still is, these things always play in your mind I guess. Joys of second hand car ownership!
shibby! said:
Ha, only around 12k miles maybe less. Lol!
Bought it for just over 11k, right when the prices were still high, then they bombed, offered about 5k for it there.
Tyres all round
Springs
Rear discs and pads
Handbrake
Vanos solenoid and diagnosis
Service
Door lock motor
Costs associated with subframe
Sagging window seals
Heaight covers
Bmw badges
Exhaust rusting and clamp.issues
2 front wishbones
Grinding diff
Insurance
So while some of this are normal running costs, if I bought a new car, and the miles I did I would only have to do the oil service and probably a set of tyres. Everything else under warranty, AND I would be driving a brand new car, instead of a 10 year old car with 100k, never mind how nice it still is, these things always play in your mind I guess. Joys of second hand car ownership!
Wow, there's a fair few bits and bobs there, mate! Like you say, the joys of owning a 100k plus car. I've seen your other thread and cant imagine what you'd get for the same money(apart from the newer M3 at £20k more!) If I can afford to keep it, my car would be 20 years old before I get to this mileage so hopefully they'll be going up in price by then! Bought it for just over 11k, right when the prices were still high, then they bombed, offered about 5k for it there.
Tyres all round
Springs
Rear discs and pads
Handbrake
Vanos solenoid and diagnosis
Service
Door lock motor
Costs associated with subframe
Sagging window seals
Heaight covers
Bmw badges
Exhaust rusting and clamp.issues
2 front wishbones
Grinding diff
Insurance
So while some of this are normal running costs, if I bought a new car, and the miles I did I would only have to do the oil service and probably a set of tyres. Everything else under warranty, AND I would be driving a brand new car, instead of a 10 year old car with 100k, never mind how nice it still is, these things always play in your mind I guess. Joys of second hand car ownership!

Haaha such a low milage car you have! Pretty special!
A few bits and bobs yup, none were all that major I suppose, with exception of subframe and vanos solenoid (masking itself as whole vanos issue) I came from jap turbo things which just needed an oil change, and to drive the balls off them. Nothing else.
So when things started breaking or needed repairing it was quite irritating! It is a good car, a fun car and I do enjoy it 90% of the time I use it, and everytime I play in it.
A few bits and bobs yup, none were all that major I suppose, with exception of subframe and vanos solenoid (masking itself as whole vanos issue) I came from jap turbo things which just needed an oil change, and to drive the balls off them. Nothing else.
So when things started breaking or needed repairing it was quite irritating! It is a good car, a fun car and I do enjoy it 90% of the time I use it, and everytime I play in it.
Well, they aren't exactly cheap to run but they are definitely worth it.
I've had mine for about 4 years now (since 06/2009), only extra spend has been
Front pads and discs £390 (for BMW front discs and pads inc labour)
Alternator £320 (inc labour)
All using BMW parts. Servicing and insurance has been on top of this of course
I find the services at BMW has been the most expensive part of ownership (It has the full BMW service history)
Oil service £200 at BMW
Inspection 1 £699 at BMW
I guess I have been lucky (it has sailed through inspections and MOT's), it has cost me less in 4 years then a 1.8L honda accord has cost in the same period.
I've had mine for about 4 years now (since 06/2009), only extra spend has been
Front pads and discs £390 (for BMW front discs and pads inc labour)
Alternator £320 (inc labour)
All using BMW parts. Servicing and insurance has been on top of this of course
I find the services at BMW has been the most expensive part of ownership (It has the full BMW service history)
Oil service £200 at BMW
Inspection 1 £699 at BMW
I guess I have been lucky (it has sailed through inspections and MOT's), it has cost me less in 4 years then a 1.8L honda accord has cost in the same period.
Edited by BenGismo on Wednesday 10th July 21:43
AngryApples said:
Surely one lesson here is find yourself a highly regarded indy?
If I had taken mine to BMW for the 120k+ miles I've done I'm pretty sure I'd be bankrupt by now and in a lot of cases I think the service is better at a good indy than the MD
Out of interest where do you take yours? If I had taken mine to BMW for the 120k+ miles I've done I'm pretty sure I'd be bankrupt by now and in a lot of cases I think the service is better at a good indy than the MD
Mine is coming up for MOT, and although it's not due a service of any kind for another 8k miles I won't hit that distance for at least another year so I'd quite like to have an interim oil service done.
shibby! said:
Haaha such a low milage car you have! Pretty special!
A few bits and bobs yup, none were all that major I suppose, with exception of subframe and vanos solenoid (masking itself as whole vanos issue) I came from jap turbo things which just needed an oil change, and to drive the balls off them. Nothing else.
So when things started breaking or needed repairing it was quite irritating! It is a good car, a fun car and I do enjoy it 90% of the time I use it, and everytime I play in it.
Aye, it's pretty mint. It's funny though as I bought it from a ph'er and he had very little interest in it due to not having sat nav/tv (now rectified!)- crazy. It's wasted on me though as the 2 previous owners used it purely as a weekend car. I use it as a daily driver and don't use it much at the weekends (due to mostly being in the pub!) A few bits and bobs yup, none were all that major I suppose, with exception of subframe and vanos solenoid (masking itself as whole vanos issue) I came from jap turbo things which just needed an oil change, and to drive the balls off them. Nothing else.
So when things started breaking or needed repairing it was quite irritating! It is a good car, a fun car and I do enjoy it 90% of the time I use it, and everytime I play in it.

Although I do get the chance to drive it properly every day. Hopefully the bmw warranty will cover most, if not all eventualities so i'll just keep paying for that year on year. Good luck with yours going forward!!
BalhamBadger said:
AngryApples said:
Surely one lesson here is find yourself a highly regarded indy?
If I had taken mine to BMW for the 120k+ miles I've done I'm pretty sure I'd be bankrupt by now and in a lot of cases I think the service is better at a good indy than the MD
Out of interest where do you take yours? If I had taken mine to BMW for the 120k+ miles I've done I'm pretty sure I'd be bankrupt by now and in a lot of cases I think the service is better at a good indy than the MD
Mine is coming up for MOT, and although it's not due a service of any kind for another 8k miles I won't hit that distance for at least another year so I'd quite like to have an interim oil service done.
He covers BMW, TVR, Bentley/Rolls and lots of other exotica
A business thats going to grow quite a bit in the next few years from what I can gather
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