Would this be a bad idea?
Discussion
I'm assuming it would be an E46 for that sort of money.
You might be better off paying a bit more to be sure you get a good example. Service history is crucial because the S54 engine needs a lot of love on that front. Servicing should be Oil Service, Inspection 1, Oil Service, Inspection 2 and repeat. Oil Service doesn't cost much more than any other car, but Inspection 1 includes checking valve clearances and adjusting with shims if required and even at an Independent specialist will cost over £500. Inspection2 costs more because it also involves changing gearbox and diff fluids.
Then there are the big end shells that wear. BMW call the crank rod bearing shells. If one spins you'll probably need a new crank and block, so it pays to get them replaced before that. I have a Z4M with the same engine and had mine replaced at 78K miles. 6 of them were showing copper so I'm glad I did, even if it was a 4 figure bill in 2020!
They do drive brilliantly and it's a fantastic engine, but you need to go into ownership with your eyes open and budget for the cost of keeping one in fine fettle. The only upside is if you don't do many miles services only need doing every 2 years, so the expensive ones only come around every 4 years.
You might be better off paying a bit more to be sure you get a good example. Service history is crucial because the S54 engine needs a lot of love on that front. Servicing should be Oil Service, Inspection 1, Oil Service, Inspection 2 and repeat. Oil Service doesn't cost much more than any other car, but Inspection 1 includes checking valve clearances and adjusting with shims if required and even at an Independent specialist will cost over £500. Inspection2 costs more because it also involves changing gearbox and diff fluids.
Then there are the big end shells that wear. BMW call the crank rod bearing shells. If one spins you'll probably need a new crank and block, so it pays to get them replaced before that. I have a Z4M with the same engine and had mine replaced at 78K miles. 6 of them were showing copper so I'm glad I did, even if it was a 4 figure bill in 2020!
They do drive brilliantly and it's a fantastic engine, but you need to go into ownership with your eyes open and budget for the cost of keeping one in fine fettle. The only upside is if you don't do many miles services only need doing every 2 years, so the expensive ones only come around every 4 years.
The link doesn't go to a specific car, but the cheaper options are Convertibles, and there's a reason for that. By all accounts the shell is nowhere near as stiff, so they aren't the driver's choice!
A few show as Automatic, but BMW call it SMG which is an automated manual gearbox. I think it's a bit Marmite in that some love it but others don't. If you are serious about bidding it might be worth trying one first!
A few show as Automatic, but BMW call it SMG which is an automated manual gearbox. I think it's a bit Marmite in that some love it but others don't. If you are serious about bidding it might be worth trying one first!
Rod bearings are just one of a litany of issues that afflict the E46 M3.
Do your due diligence on :
Rod bearings.
Rear subframe mounting points cracking and general underside corrosion issues.
Vanos failures.
Head gasket failures
and if an SMG car, SMG pump failures.
Find a good one that's had all the above addressed and been properly looked after and maintained by a diligent owner, and it'll be great car to own and drive (unless it's convertible, which are as Mr Tidy said, more akin to driving a blancmange than a sports car)
Put bluntly, unless you know what you're buying or are prepared to pay for a full and thorough pre-purchase inspection, walk away.
Do your due diligence on :
Rod bearings.
Rear subframe mounting points cracking and general underside corrosion issues.
Vanos failures.
Head gasket failures
and if an SMG car, SMG pump failures.
Find a good one that's had all the above addressed and been properly looked after and maintained by a diligent owner, and it'll be great car to own and drive (unless it's convertible, which are as Mr Tidy said, more akin to driving a blancmange than a sports car)
Put bluntly, unless you know what you're buying or are prepared to pay for a full and thorough pre-purchase inspection, walk away.
Thanks guys, no idea why the one I was looking at isn't in the link, but fair to say given the mileage etc, it really would have been opening a can of worms most likely, just to ponce around in an open top M3 for the summer. It was just a silly idea really, just caught my eye when it popped up.
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