Higher mileage M3 purchase

[gatorfast]

Im considering buying a higher mileage M3 and wanted to get everyones opinion on it. It has 47xxx miles, 1 owner, 2008 E90 fully loaded (tech, prem, 19's, 6mt). Thinking I could get it for mid-low 30's. I would likely buy an extended warranty as well since the factory portion is nearly gone.



Assuming its been properly maintained and is clean would you buy an M3 with 47k miles? What kind of maintenance will I be looking at 60k+ miles? My budget is around $36/37k max so there arent many M3's for me to choose from. I could always keep my M coupe longer if I dont find the right deal. What do you guys think?

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Im considering buying a higher mileage M3 and wanted to get everyones opinion on it. It has 47xxx miles, 1 owner, 2008 E90 fully loaded (tech, prem, 19's, 6mt). Thinking I could get it for mid-low 30's. I would likely but an extended warranty as well since the factory portion is nearly gone.

Assuming its been properly maintained and is clean would you buy an M3 with 47k miles? What kind of maintenance will I be looking at 60k+ miles? My budget is around $36/37k max so there arent many M3's for me to choose from. I could always keep my M coupe longer if I dont find the right deal. What do you guys think?

It seems the E9X M3 has been pretty solid from a reliability standpoint. I would not have many qualms about it. Best if you have full service records and know who the previous owner was.

[BigAl]

Hi,

The M3 model you ask about I have owned from new for 4 years and whilst they are absolutely fantastic machines they do not come without their problems.

My car therefore is a few months older (Dec 2007) but has only 42000 miles. It has full dealer service history and recently the following has gone wrong.........

1. New battery required £250
2. New horn required £75
3. Rear control arm required £250
4. Front strut required £900
5 New steering rack required £1800
6. Seat belt pass arm required £200
7. Door check stay required £90

This is all in the past three months!!! A few of these issues you will find others have suffered from, however I am currently trying to get a steering issue sorted out (unsuccesfully at present) by my dealer. See the general forum under M3 Steering for my tale of woes.

So I guess what I am saying is if you do go for one of these M3's be sure, am gona say it again BE SURE you get an extended warranty. Like all insurance it always seems expensive until you need to use it!! The engines and drivetrain are bombproof however.

Maintainance costs at the dealer are high, much higher than other makes equivalent performance vehicles and there is really no excuse for this. However thats BMW. I sometimes wonder if M means marketing!!!

In UK we are around £250 for oil service, £500 for inspection 1 and £800 for inspection 2 so you gotta be prepared, same for tyres. Only premium will do, they do not behave properly on anything else.

So if you can handle the extended warranty costs and running costs and fuel you will be forever driving around with a big grin on your face.

If it was me I would say yes, yes, yes. They are terrific cars I have owned 6 M3's over 15 years and this model is by far the best.

Well maintained they should be good for 100K miles easy.

Hope this helps.

Big Al

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Im considering buying a higher mileage M3 and wanted to get everyones opinion on it. It has 47xxx miles, 1 owner, 2008 E90 fully loaded (tech, prem, 19's, 6mt). Thinking I could get it for mid-low 30's. I would likely buy an extended warranty as well since the factory portion is nearly gone.



Assuming its been properly maintained and is clean would you buy an M3 with 47k miles? What kind of maintenance will I be looking at 60k+ miles? My budget is around $36/37k max so there arent many M3's for me to choose from. I could always keep my M coupe longer if I dont find the right deal. What do you guys think?

The ///M3 is a very solid car. Take in account the following points;-

1) The car is designed for high speed autobahn use.

2) Before the M3 goes into production BMW designers and engineers take a basic 3 Series and replace about 50% of the parts with components that are suitable to satisfy the higher exposed speeds and handling of the Autobahn and the track.

3) A car driven in North America will never be exposed to long high speed exposure unless it was heavily used on the track.

I purchased my first M3 used (it was a one owner and a lease return after a 2 year lease having some 32,000 KM on the odometer [about 29.8K Miles]). The car was a e46 build in 2002. I paid around $46K for that car plus tax as I recall in 2004.

I sold that car in 2010 with 90,000 + ( about 56,000 Miles) on the odometer and got $25K for it. Major repair while I drove and owned this car was only one brake job and replaced one rear spring just before I sold the car. Along with normal maintenance, tires, oil changes etc.

So provided the car you are thinking of purchasing is in good mechanical shape you should be fine. I recommend that you peruse the extended maintenance / warranty. If the car is a private seller then insist on a complete inspection at a BMW dealership before purchase. While it is being inspected let them know that you are planning on the maintenance / warranty extension. I think if you mention this (even if you don't intend to get it) they will give the car a good go over. The inspection result will benefit you as a good negotiation tool for purchase of this car. If the car is sold by a BMW dealer make sure you get to see all the inspection / repair reports. Ask about how many former owners and if the car was exposed on the track or not (I don't know how truthfully the feedback will be, still it cannot hurt to ask).

If and when you check over the inspection reports, look for high cost repairs. IMHO high costs repairs point to track time and or abuse of the car, if that is the case I would walk away from the deal.

Good luck

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by BigAl

Well maintained they should be good for 100K miles easy.

Hi Al,

I certainly agree with you. I was just wondering you mentioned you spend about £ 3,565- on repairs in the past 3 months ... this must have been right after your warranty expired? Are your time periods not the same as ours 4 years or 50,000 Miles whatever comes first?

Did you inquire about extended warranty, before yours expired?

I hope you resolve your steering issue with the dealership, I issue that surfaced before the end of the 4 year warranty.

Cheers, Rolf

[TXM32B]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Im considering buying a higher mileage M3 and wanted to get everyones opinion on it. It has 47xxx miles, 1 owner, 2008 E90 fully loaded (tech, prem, 19's, 6mt). Thinking I could get it for mid-low 30's. I would likely buy an extended warranty as well since the factory portion is nearly gone.



Assuming its been properly maintained and is clean would you buy an M3 with 47k miles? What kind of maintenance will I be looking at 60k+ miles? My budget is around $36/37k max so there arent many M3's for me to choose from. I could always keep my M coupe longer if I dont find the right deal. What do you guys think?

Good luck finding an E9X M3 for low 30's. Most M3's with that mileage will still sell for upper 30's to low 40's. I own a 2009 E90 M3 (with 45,000 miles) and it has been a pretty reliable vehicle, especially for a daily driver. The only major repair I had was to replace the steering pump (under warranty). I had the battery replaced as well, but this was also covered under warranty.

[mendez]

I bought my car with mid 50K miles...(first owner use it for crusing alot...no hard driving) No major complaints..

[Rekrul]

Originally Posted by TXM32B

Good luck finding an E9X M3 for low 30's. Most M3's with that mileage will still sell for upper 30's to low 40's. I own a 2009 E90 M3 (with 45,000 miles) and it has been a pretty reliable vehicle, especially for a daily driver. The only major repair I had was to replace the steering pump (under warranty). I had the battery replaced as well, but this was also covered under warranty.

Yeah... I don't think low 30's will get you a sub 50k mileage e90/92. But if you do it, that will be one hell of a deal. I think you will probably max out your budget for that particular car.

[IFX]

Car will be around 38k.

[BigAl]

Hi again,

In the UK BMW warranty is for 3 years or 60000 miles. I did not go for the extended warranty (stupidly) and all of these factors have come to light just out of it so yeah it's been a lot of cash pouring into the car and the steering still not fixed.

But having said that BMW have shown some "goodwill" and contributed about £1000 on the retail list price of the parts. They won't be loosing tho as it will still cost them less to manufacture the parts.

I note that there was a steering pump replaced posted just there on a reply, can I ask what the symptoms were in the car before it was replaced?

Thanks for any help.

[gatorfast]

Well I decided to do it! Making the trip tomorrow to pick her up!

[IFX]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Well I decided to do it! Making the trip tomorrow to pick her up!

Hope to see it driving on Sunrise! lol

where are you headed to pick it up? congrats!

[tibra1]

These engines are one of the most solid in the BMW fleet. Congrats

[BigAl]

Glad you have decided to pull the trigger and go for it. Am sure you will have the biggest smile for days and days.

Post some pics of your new pride and joy for us all to share.

Well done!

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by IFX

Hope to see it driving on Sunrise! lol

where are you headed to pick it up? congrats!

Dealer was located just north of Jacksonville...quite a drive. Ill post up some pics soon! Its an E90 in melbourne red, 19's, black extended leather, prem, tech, etc. I love it so far!

[kwike92]

The m3 is pretty solid. I just traded mine in yesterday on another m3 with 10k miles. My car had 81k it was an 09 e92. I literally after the warranty was up had no major repairs or anything. I just did like 4 oil changes that cost me like $180. It had a minor coolant leak where I had to replace the resivor (or however u spell it. Lol ) hose, that cost me $150. And it seemed like the ball joints where going out. Power train is super solid. All in all, I drove it from 0-81k miles with very little problems. And believe me, I drove the f@#k out it!

Oh and it was going to need brakes. Which I didn't do since i traded it in. That was gonna cost me some $$ lol

[Grail05]

Im selling my 08 m3 60k miles for 36k stock and 39 with all parts included the for sale thread is somewhere here maybe page 3 LOL