Bought an E46 M3 - would you buy a warranty ?
Discussion
I think there are only a few common issues with the E46 M3:
Subframe cracks
Head gasket
Big-end bearings (though I believe this to be extremely rare)
Would a warranty cover those things? I see all of them as being things that fall under general maintenance and would be a few thousand in all to have done before they become an issue.
Subframe cracks
Head gasket
Big-end bearings (though I believe this to be extremely rare)
Would a warranty cover those things? I see all of them as being things that fall under general maintenance and would be a few thousand in all to have done before they become an issue.
bennyboysvuk said:
I think there are only a few common issues with the E46 M3:
Subframe cracks
Head gasket
Big-end bearings (though I believe this to be extremely rare)
Would a warranty cover those things? I see all of them as being things that fall under general maintenance and would be a few thousand in all to have done before they become an issue.
I have thought the same thing. Then again I have never really had a warranty on a car either, but have seen a few (including my dad and a mate or two) get bitten by warranties barely worth the paper they are written on (spending caps and excesses etc.).Subframe cracks
Head gasket
Big-end bearings (though I believe this to be extremely rare)
Would a warranty cover those things? I see all of them as being things that fall under general maintenance and would be a few thousand in all to have done before they become an issue.
The subframe crack is a hard one. I'm getting mine reinforced although BMW did give it the all clear during the airbag recall. The way I see it, if the floor cracks too badly it's a £4-5k job to sort ; the plates should remove that possibility.
There is another thing. Forums make out that everything goes wrong on the car and that it will go wrong. I've had things go wrong on cars before but not as much as forums would have you believe and I've covered some large mileages in some cars.
SebringMan said:
I have thought the same thing. Then again I have never really had a warranty on a car either, but have seen a few (including my dad and a mate or two) get bitten by warranties barely worth the paper they are written on (spending caps and excesses etc.).
The subframe crack is a hard one. I'm getting mine reinforced although BMW did give it the all clear during the airbag recall. The way I see it, if the floor cracks too badly it's a £4-5k job to sort ; the plates should remove that possibility.
There is another thing. Forums make out that everything goes wrong on the car and that it will go wrong. I've had things go wrong on cars before but not as much as forums would have you believe and I've covered some large mileages in some cars.
BMW charge a lot for fixing subframe cracks, but people like Redish Motorsport and another place in Kent not far from Brands Hatch whose name escapes me make it much more bearable.The subframe crack is a hard one. I'm getting mine reinforced although BMW did give it the all clear during the airbag recall. The way I see it, if the floor cracks too badly it's a £4-5k job to sort ; the plates should remove that possibility.
There is another thing. Forums make out that everything goes wrong on the car and that it will go wrong. I've had things go wrong on cars before but not as much as forums would have you believe and I've covered some large mileages in some cars.
I think you're right regarding the exaggerated issues, mine didn't skip a beat during the 30,000 miles I had it.
SebringMan said:
I have thought the same thing. Then again I have never really had a warranty on a car either, but have seen a few (including my dad and a mate or two) get bitten by warranties barely worth the paper they are written on (spending caps and excesses etc.).
The subframe crack is a hard one. I'm getting mine reinforced although BMW did give it the all clear during the airbag recall. The way I see it, if the floor cracks too badly it's a £4-5k job to sort ; the plates should remove that possibility.
There is another thing. Forums make out that everything goes wrong on the car and that it will go wrong. I've had things go wrong on cars before but not as much as forums would have you believe and I've covered some large mileages in some cars.
I have a nice letter from BMW stating that my inspected rear subframe was free from cracks. Redish begged to differ and from the photos they supplied pre-repair I'd say a BMW inspection isn't worth the paper it's written on. The subframe crack is a hard one. I'm getting mine reinforced although BMW did give it the all clear during the airbag recall. The way I see it, if the floor cracks too badly it's a £4-5k job to sort ; the plates should remove that possibility.
There is another thing. Forums make out that everything goes wrong on the car and that it will go wrong. I've had things go wrong on cars before but not as much as forums would have you believe and I've covered some large mileages in some cars.
GregorFuk said:
I have a nice letter from BMW stating that my inspected rear subframe was free from cracks. Redish begged to differ and from the photos they supplied pre-repair I'd say a BMW inspection isn't worth the paper it's written on.
Technically the subframe was crack free 
.It's not the subframe that cracks but rather the mounting points, or the Rear Axle Carrier Panel (RACP)/Boot floor as it is now.
You're right about the paper bit!
bennyboysvuk said:
BMW charge a lot for fixing subframe cracks, but people like Redish Motorsport and another place in Kent not far from Brands Hatch whose name escapes me make it much more bearable.
I think you're right regarding the exaggerated issues, mine didn't skip a beat during the 30,000 miles I had it.
The price I gave was for replacing the boot floor if it is too far gone ; there is a point where the floor can crack where a welded repair is no longer effective ;it's one reason I turned down buying another car. I understand ETA and Redish charge similar amounts for that work. The reinforcement is as you say a lot cheaper. It's one reason I am getting mine done.I think you're right regarding the exaggerated issues, mine didn't skip a beat during the 30,000 miles I had it.
id be very surprised if any company with a good reputation would offer a warranty on an e46 M3.
they're getting on now, best bet would be to try and maintain any warranty you had from its original BMW warrantied period. much better to just have a slush fund for the bigger bills.
they're getting on now, best bet would be to try and maintain any warranty you had from its original BMW warrantied period. much better to just have a slush fund for the bigger bills.
Edited by pidsy on Friday 17th March 14:34
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