M3 E46 Running Costs?

[fidgits]

Can anyone give me an idea of the running costs of the last M3?

I'm looking for average MPG, service costs, tyre prices (and how long they last) etc...


Also, is the VANOS thing an issue on these cars?

what other common problems are there?

[mondeoman]

between 22 - 25 mpg, more on a motorway jaun, less if you cane it cross-country.

Servicing every 13000 - 15000 miles, ususla BMW - Oil, Insp 1, Oil, Insp 2, Oil, Insp 1 etc...

About £400 IIRC for an Insp 2, about £180 for an Oil, less if you provide your own, Insp 2 somewhere in the middle.

Compared with the dieseales I ran, mine was a much less frequent visitor to the dealers, and i did high miles in mine, it just kept on going.

Recommended buy if ever there was one, as long as it has been looked after.

[Zod]

I'm more of a 20mpg man.

[fidgits]

okay, so not as bad as i expected then..

what about the VANOS issue?

[MattOz]

fidgits,

VANOS issues tend to be few and far between on the E46's. There was a recall for bottom end bolts or something similar for pre-2002 or 2003 cars. These should all have been done by now. I do more motorway/dual carriageway than most and get 27mpg as an average.

Come service time, I suggest supplying your own oil, as this saves £40 or so. I think that the Insp.1's are geneally about £600 and Insp.2's are about £800. Depends on where it's serviced. Main dealer or good independent? A good indy would be my choice for a car that was 3 years old or more.

I love mine, and it's wide breadth of ability always puts a smile on my face, and has made me laugh out loud on a few occasions. Surely a sign of a great car.

All the best
Matt

[john_p]

I wish the services were £400!

Factor £180 or so for the Oil Service, £700-£800 for inspection I, maybe touching £1k for an inspection II
If you are buying one, I'd go for one that's just had insp 1 or 2 done - two years till the big bill

Tyres - depends how you drive and what tyres you buy, rears every 12-15k, fronts probably 20k

Brakes - pads probably every couple of years? £150 or so

This is all main dealer prices though - if you're out of warranty then straight to the independent I would go..

[fidgits]

can anyone advise of a good independant around swindon/bristol way?

[Egbert Nobacon]

mondeoman said:

between 22 - 25 mpg, more on a motorway jaun, less if you cane it cross-country. Servicing every 13000 - 15000 miles, ususla BMW - Oil, Insp 1, Oil, Insp 2, Oil, Insp 1 etc... About £400 IIRC for an Insp 2, about £180 for an Oil, less if you provide your own, Insp 2 somewhere in the middle. Compared with the dieseales I ran, mine was a much less frequent visitor to the dealers, and i did high miles in mine, it just kept on going. Recommended buy if ever there was one, as long as it has been looked after.

The final sentence says it all.

I would suggest you try and find one with an existing warranty - you can then get it just so and you have the option to renew it or not next time around.

Mine has just come back from the stealer having had new box, prop, various suspension bits (£6k + with labour) all under warranty and thats at 23k miles !

Cracking car though, but drove an E39 M5 yesterday - now I want one of those....

[gazzab]

Egbert Nobacon said:

mondeoman said: between 22 - 25 mpg, more on a motorway jaun, less if you cane it cross-country. Servicing every 13000 - 15000 miles, ususla BMW - Oil, Insp 1, Oil, Insp 2, Oil, Insp 1 etc... About £400 IIRC for an Insp 2, about £180 for an Oil, less if you provide your own, Insp 2 somewhere in the middle. Compared with the dieseales I ran, mine was a much less frequent visitor to the dealers, and i did high miles in mine, it just kept on going. Recommended buy if ever there was one, as long as it has been looked after. The final sentence says it all. I would suggest you try and find one with an existing warranty - you can then get it just so and you have the option to renew it or not next time around. Mine has just come back from the stealer having had new box, prop, various suspension bits (£6k + with labour) all under warranty and thats at 23k miles ! Cracking car though, but drove an E39 M5 yesterday - now I want one of those....

I was going to say but those warranties are such a rip off. Then I saw your £6K bill. Day light robbery. I would hope that an indie and some shopping around for parts could have reduced that bill somewhat!!!

[Egbert Nobacon]

gazzab said:

Egbert Nobacon said: mondeoman said: between 22 - 25 mpg, more on a motorway jaun, less if you cane it cross-country. Servicing every 13000 - 15000 miles, ususla BMW - Oil, Insp 1, Oil, Insp 2, Oil, Insp 1 etc... About £400 IIRC for an Insp 2, about £180 for an Oil, less if you provide your own, Insp 2 somewhere in the middle. Compared with the dieseales I ran, mine was a much less frequent visitor to the dealers, and i did high miles in mine, it just kept on going. Recommended buy if ever there was one, as long as it has been looked after. The final sentence says it all. I would suggest you try and find one with an existing warranty - you can then get it just so and you have the option to renew it or not next time around. Mine has just come back from the stealer having had new box, prop, various suspension bits (£6k + with labour) all under warranty and thats at 23k miles ! Cracking car though, but drove an E39 M5 yesterday - now I want one of those.... I was going to say but those warranties are such a rip off. Then I saw your £6K bill. Day light robbery. I would hope that an indie and some shopping around for parts could have reduced that bill somewhat!!!

I have no doubt you are right, but the BMW specialist(ex BMW technician)who looks after my ordinary E39 528i has an E39 M5 of his own - and he has kept the BMW warranty running....

Until Bmw changed the terms recently his advice was not to get an M3 or M5 without an existing warranty as they can throw up some surprising bills.

I will probably out the M3 before the warranty expires and try and find an M5 under warranty to replace it with.