E36 M3, E39 M5, E46 M3 running costs?
Discussion
Hello all. I've just been browsing the Cotswold BMW website and noticed something that has got me thinking.
I noticed their servicing costs are as follows:
E36 M3 Inspection I £550
E36 M3 Inspection II £750
E39 M5 Inspection I £300
E39 M5 Inspection II £500
E46 M3 Inspection I £600
E46 M3 Inspection II £800
I've been considering getting an E36 M3 to go with my wife's Mini One D or realising a dream, selling the Mini and having one car - the E46 M3 (early model). However, a spanner has now been thrown into the works as I have just realised that E39 M5's are cheaper to service (and are a real bargain to buy). Does this indictae that they are of a similar cost to run as the M3's excluding fuel?
I noticed their servicing costs are as follows:
E36 M3 Inspection I £550
E36 M3 Inspection II £750
E39 M5 Inspection I £300
E39 M5 Inspection II £500
E46 M3 Inspection I £600
E46 M3 Inspection II £800
I've been considering getting an E36 M3 to go with my wife's Mini One D or realising a dream, selling the Mini and having one car - the E46 M3 (early model). However, a spanner has now been thrown into the works as I have just realised that E39 M5's are cheaper to service (and are a real bargain to buy). Does this indictae that they are of a similar cost to run as the M3's excluding fuel?
Dude, servicing is the cheap bit.
A clutch for the M5 is £650 (ish) fitted. Tyres £600 a set. Brakes £500. Etc etc.
Its everything else that goes with keeping them in good nick. They cost a fortune. Do a search, the question has been asked dozens of times. In fact, just go back a couple of pages, you will see threads.
They are old cars now and require fairly regular work and it doesnt come cheap.
Neil.D
A clutch for the M5 is £650 (ish) fitted. Tyres £600 a set. Brakes £500. Etc etc.
Its everything else that goes with keeping them in good nick. They cost a fortune. Do a search, the question has been asked dozens of times. In fact, just go back a couple of pages, you will see threads.
They are old cars now and require fairly regular work and it doesnt come cheap.
Neil.D
Neil.D said:
Dude, servicing is the cheap bit.
A clutch for the M5 is £650 (ish) fitted. Tyres £600 a set. Brakes £500. Etc etc.
Its everything else that goes with keeping them in good nick. They cost a fortune. Do a search, the question has been asked dozens of times. In fact, just go back a couple of pages, you will see threads.
They are old cars now and require fairly regular work and it doesnt come cheap.
Neil.D
Thought as much to be honest. A clutch for the M5 is £650 (ish) fitted. Tyres £600 a set. Brakes £500. Etc etc.
Its everything else that goes with keeping them in good nick. They cost a fortune. Do a search, the question has been asked dozens of times. In fact, just go back a couple of pages, you will see threads.
They are old cars now and require fairly regular work and it doesnt come cheap.
Neil.D
Is the E36 M3 that bad in comparison? I can do some spannering and maintenance myself.
Hi mate,
Its impossible to say really. They are older still and therefore could have potentially more bills.
With my M5 Im having a couple of gaskets go causing a couple of oil leaks. Valve cover gaskets + VANOS solenoid gaskets need doing as I have an oil leak. I would be happy with change form £350 - and that bill was unexpected. Most of these cars have their BMW warranties elapsed now and those still with cost about 1k more.
Without wanting to scare you - as they are all brilliant cars, you just need to own one with your eyes open.
Like I say, an Insp 2 for mine is as low as £330 but I always budget up to 1k for each service. That way anything less is a bonus!
Unless you are very lucky, a lot are very tatty and haven't had the care they deserve. Take your time and look on owners websites as to buy from an enthusiast is ideal. For M5's try M5 Board for a point of reference. There are several buying guides.
Neil.D
Its impossible to say really. They are older still and therefore could have potentially more bills.
With my M5 Im having a couple of gaskets go causing a couple of oil leaks. Valve cover gaskets + VANOS solenoid gaskets need doing as I have an oil leak. I would be happy with change form £350 - and that bill was unexpected. Most of these cars have their BMW warranties elapsed now and those still with cost about 1k more.
Without wanting to scare you - as they are all brilliant cars, you just need to own one with your eyes open.
Like I say, an Insp 2 for mine is as low as £330 but I always budget up to 1k for each service. That way anything less is a bonus!
Unless you are very lucky, a lot are very tatty and haven't had the care they deserve. Take your time and look on owners websites as to buy from an enthusiast is ideal. For M5's try M5 Board for a point of reference. There are several buying guides.
Neil.D
Neil.D said:
Dude, servicing is the cheap bit.
A clutch for the M5 is £650 (ish) fitted. Tyres £600 a set. Brakes £500. Etc etc.
To be fair, none of that is going to be any cheaper on an E46 M3, and if it's on 19" wheels, then tyres will be quite a bit more. A clutch for the M5 is £650 (ish) fitted. Tyres £600 a set. Brakes £500. Etc etc.
E36 will be a bit less expensive on tyres and brakes.
Edited by M5Dave on Wednesday 23 September 12:50
BOR said:
An E39 M5 should be cheaper on routine servicing purely because it has hydraulic tappets instead of mechanical, so avoids the additional costs of checking/adjusting them.
I imagine an M5 has higher tyre and brake consumption due to its additional mass.
Rears do indeed go quite quickly I imagine an M5 has higher tyre and brake consumption due to its additional mass.
Fronts can do LOADS of miles.
I get through a set of pads every 15k miles or so ....
My experience of BMW running costs started with an E46 M3, and it wasn't cheap, I reckon I spent about £4k in one year on routine maintenance, tyres, servicing and suspension geometry. When I traded it in it needed a further £2k of rectification work before it could be an approved used car at BMW. This was on a 47000 mile car with FBMWSH and myself being only the 3rd owner
Buying is the easy bit, but if I were you stick with the 2 cars and buy an E36 as the 2nd car, as I feel in the long run it would be most coat effective, moreso if it was a 3.0 model
Buying is the easy bit, but if I were you stick with the 2 cars and buy an E36 as the 2nd car, as I feel in the long run it would be most coat effective, moreso if it was a 3.0 model
My Evo hasn't been particularly expensive to run - just make sure you give it a thorough going over before you buy it, as a lot of owners choose to sell when work needs doing.
I can't see the 3.0 being any cheaper to run than the 3.2, apart from brake discs I guess - but then you're talking about £50 difference on a £5k car.
If you're worried about cost then I'd say keep the Mini and get an E36 Evo to go with it - then if it does need something major that you can't afford straight away, it doesn't leave you without a car.
I can't see the 3.0 being any cheaper to run than the 3.2, apart from brake discs I guess - but then you're talking about £50 difference on a £5k car.
If you're worried about cost then I'd say keep the Mini and get an E36 Evo to go with it - then if it does need something major that you can't afford straight away, it doesn't leave you without a car.
Well, I've thought about it and I think it's going to be an E46 M3. High servicing cost but I have always really wanted one. Was thinking of being sensble and getting a remapped 330d or 330i. Sod it, we can afford an M3 and as we'll be running one car and have a local indy nearby it won't be that bad. The missus is on board with the idea also so If igure do it before we really settle down. Really can't wait to get out and start looking (have to wait 'til we're back from Vegas first, if I win I'll be having a GT3 RS!).
A bit put off by M5 MPG as we regularly do a motorway run from Kent back home to Wales (for me) and Ireland (the missus) so don't want to put off going due to mega fuel costs. Can't wait to get up into the Beacons and the Evo triangle in an M3! Such a great looking car with an amazing engine. Will be the most expensive to service but should have other running costs that are lower than the M5. Will also have to get back over to the 'ring seeing as we are so close currently being in Kent.
Just a shame they seem to have gone up £1500 in price recently. looks like £10.5k is the starting point.
Anyone know if the SMG cars are reliable? Heard they aren't great on the E36.
A bit put off by M5 MPG as we regularly do a motorway run from Kent back home to Wales (for me) and Ireland (the missus) so don't want to put off going due to mega fuel costs. Can't wait to get up into the Beacons and the Evo triangle in an M3! Such a great looking car with an amazing engine. Will be the most expensive to service but should have other running costs that are lower than the M5. Will also have to get back over to the 'ring seeing as we are so close currently being in Kent.
Just a shame they seem to have gone up £1500 in price recently. looks like £10.5k is the starting point.
Anyone know if the SMG cars are reliable? Heard they aren't great on the E36.
E36GUY said:
M5Dave said:
chris7676 said:
And how often do you need to check/adjust valve clearances?
Every inspection service on the E46 and E36 Evo. Not sure about the E36 3 litre.Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff