M3 3.0 what to check - I'm seeing one tomorrow morning

[Flipatron]

Hi,

I'm going to see a 94 M3 3.0 tomorrow and apart from the vanos noise I've no idea what to check. Anyone give me a quick buyers guide?

Its done just over 100,000 miles but has patchy service history.

Cheers.

[ASBO]

If you do a search on here you will find all the info you'll ever need.

Alternatively try www.e36coupe.com for all the info you could possibly imagine. Resistration takes weeks though.

If you're still struggling I'll write you a list of pointers.

[Cliffv8]

Flipatron said:

Hi,

I'm going to see a 94 M3 3.0 tomorrow and apart from the vanos noise I've no idea what to check. Anyone give me a quick buyers guide?

Its done just over 100,000 miles but has patchy service history.

Cheers.

don't know if you've been to see it yet, but if not there not much that really to go wrong with them but you need to make sure that the venos bolts and filter have been changed regularly and the tappets have been adjusted when needed, this is why service history is so important with M3's and it should rev cleanly all the way to the limiter with no stuttering and make sure you get it HPI'd their a lot of dodgy ones about, toke me 4 mouths to find a nice one

Edited by Cliffv8 on Friday 15th February 17:29

[david40blade]

Hi, the vanos is not a problem on the 3.0 litre (single chain) as the only odd horror story is from the double vanos on the 3.2. I had one and went to 145,000 miles before p/x for an E46 M3 and never had any engine issues at all!