I'm looking at an 04 m3. It has 133k miles/6 sp, and the seller is asking $12k for it. Is there anything in particular I should be looking for when I test drive the car? What do you guys think about the price?

12/14/2010 2:01:06 AM

that's about 1-2k lower than it should be for that mileage and years depending on options. check seams for accident signs etc. carfax is garbage as it will not report every accident.

-ask him whether subframe was inspected for cracks.

BMW DID free inspection and repair by 9/30/10 (mine had a minor crack up front that was fixed by dealer free of charge). class action lawsuit is for REAR subframe only - i got lucky with service advisor who was nice enough to make an exception for the front. got free rental for a month. if the car was CPO they would extend the inspection longer. i have the pdf file somewhere with dates and all.

-04s had higher incidence of vanos failures, where bolts would shear off. if on start up the car sounds like it has marbles rattling near the front of the engine where vanos is located, stay away.

-other than this it is typical E36/E46 junk with bushings, suspension and less so with cooling system. ask whether front control arm bushings, rear trailing arm bushings, RSMs, were replaced.

-rear view mirror can leak out that fluid that provides auto dimming feature. happened on mine...it leaked all of the leather. it looks like ink....and it almost always happens in summer when temp inside the car soar. $75 fix...there is company that takes the core and gives you a new mirror.

-rear license plates lights guides will corrode from moisture that enters through seams. fix is retarded - you have to buy entire new trunklid handle piece, get it painted and installed as guides are integrated into the trunklid. I'm driving with my instrument cluster lit up like xmas tree as lights are out. i refuse to buy a new trunklid handle. i think bmw change the trunklid design in '03.5 that fixed this. check on forums for details on exact year.

-oil level sensor goes out along with relay that shows oil temp. fix is simple as sensor is right next to the oil pan. when you do oil change it takes 5 min to change it out. be careful as yellow oil light will be on indicating your oil level is low,, but you may not necessarily need oil as faulty sensor gives the same light. check the level first. if it's fine, just ignore the light and change it next time you do oil change.

there is more ... but these are some of the more common issues. im sure other owners will add some stuff.

[Edited on December 14, 2010 at 2:36 AM. Reason : f]

12/14/2010 2:34:15 AM

rear view mirror leak? LOL BMW

12/14/2010 7:18:56 AM

and I thought e46s were better than e36s

Looks like the only BMW that will be in my life again with be e30.

Or brand new but sold the day the free maintenance deal runs out.

12/14/2010 7:58:01 AM

every car has problems. id rather have a malfunctioning rear view mirror than weak transmission or crank walk or whatever else.

E46 M3 was voted few times...as most reliable car its segment

http://www.autonewscast.com/2010/10/30/most-reliable-cars-according-to-consumer-reports-october-2010-survey/

http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Most-Reliable-Cars-of-2010

overall it is a well built car that will withstand hard driving. yes, it had issues, rod bearing on early models and subframe issues, but all the problems were addressed and covered free of charge by BMW.

12/14/2010 9:42:37 AM

Don't forget about the VANOS gear bolts backing out. Now that is a pain in the ass.

A problem on the 04 + models. 03's seem to be the best year for that not happening.

That said I love my 03 and have kept up with all the maintenance to keep the car happy

^Like he said every car has its issues though....

My 05 STi I worry about: The oil pickup breaking off, rod knock from whatever else (reference the recent 08 STi thread), checking the oil level constantly, 4th gear synchro going, inverted struts that creak all the damn time

[Edited on December 14, 2010 at 9:54 AM. Reason : .]

12/14/2010 9:48:17 AM

ok, just talked to the seller. The car has been a CPO, so it should be properly maintained until 100k. I don't know if any of the recall/known issues have been taken care of yet. The clutch hasn't been replaced yet. How much does it usually cost to replace the clutch on the M3? I am taking a look at the car on friday. Will report back

12/14/2010 12:16:51 PM

^CPO is good news. Clutch should be good if it wasn't abused. It is almost the same clutch (slightly less reinforcement) than E39 M5 clutch in a car with far less torque. I am at 120k on original clutch in very good condition.

Take the car key fob to Leith BMW or wherever you live (better yet where previous owner serviced the car) and they'll be able to tell you the entire history on the car. Key stores it. Do not mention you just bought the car and are trying to figure out what is the history as dealer is sometimes hesistant to read the key if you are not the owner that performed the service...due to privacy issues. If they confront you just tell them you only need what service was done and at what mileage. No further info.

[Edited on December 14, 2010 at 1:23 PM. Reason : f]

12/14/2010 1:19:20 PM

E30 FTW

12/14/2010 1:31:37 PM

The peak of BMW's engineering and road cars is OBVIOUSLY the e36 M3. :p

12/14/2010 6:45:54 PM

considering it came out in '92 i would agree for its time it was way ahead of competition. i wouldn't own two of them if i didn't like them and you wouldn't own what, 6,7 of them? LOL

12/14/2010 8:04:52 PM

Quote :

"what, 6,7 of them? ALL OF THEM"

12/14/2010 8:55:46 PM

Funniest was when I stopped at a dealer in Cary to check out an e36 M3 sedan, guy was trying to tell me they were so rare, and that was one of the only 4 door/manuals in NC... Except I had one (I'd actually driven it there, not the most observant salesman), as did Derrick, Dan, etc. Yea, I've had a few. I'd buy another one, but I want something turbo dang it. The Saab 9-3 faux viggen is so much fun to modulate the throttle and make it dance around, w/out going a million miles an hour, +consumables are SO much cheaper. Dang that thing for not being RWD. :'(

12/14/2010 9:14:47 PM

Here's your rare e36.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ctd/2113027268.html

Seriously considering going to take a look at this one.

12/15/2010 12:41:29 AM

You do not need the key for the dealer service records. You only need the last 7 digits of the VIN and the service advisor should print you out the service report.

12/15/2010 10:00:39 PM

^neat. learned something today.

12/16/2010 12:28:32 AM

^^^ If you do get serious about it make sure they have their paperwork in order before you sign anything..
http://www.nc4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62490&highlight=amg

12/16/2010 1:09:13 AM

Thanks for the heads up skack.

12/16/2010 9:13:15 AM

http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/sdo/968512408.html

12/23/2010 2:23:10 PM

^looks fatal ?

12/26/2010 10:44:24 AM

I have some bloodstained parts from the junkyard in my car. It adds character. And a slight odor.

12/26/2010 11:25:03 AM

thanks for the comments guys. I bought the car last week, will post pics soon.

12/26/2010 11:29:12 AM

awesome man! congrats! pictures or ban

I think there are 3 of us on the board now?

12/27/2010 2:22:22 AM

03 IR here

12/27/2010 1:11:39 PM

IR is gorgeous. What is your interior?

12/27/2010 1:55:44 PM

thanks i agree , black leather with the titanium silver trim

Your M is TiAg with black?


[Edited on December 27, 2010 at 2:39 PM. Reason : ,]

12/27/2010 2:29:08 PM

Yep! piano black trim, which they sadly only made that year.

12/28/2010 12:20:51 AM

i'll hopefully be joining yall sometime next year.

12/30/2010 5:14:43 AM

took me a while, but here are the pics.

1/8/2011 4:31:57 PM

....... For a

1/8/2011 4:52:41 PM

^but it's Florida. That means I would have to wait forever.

1/8/2011 4:56:51 PM

lol true.

1/8/2011 5:04:30 PM

nice man. looks like you have ZHP shift knob and maybe short shifter.

see if you can clean up that steering wheel.

1/9/2011 10:46:46 AM

have you lost a street race to a V6 Mustang yet?

1/9/2011 7:40:31 PM

only faggots street race

1/9/2011 9:30:58 PM

well, i sold the m3. i love how M cars don't lose any value. they are literally an investment. got a e92 335i, 6-speed, jet black on red leather. it's mighty torquey, but i still prefer S54. m3 has better steering, but structural rigidity on E92 is very tight. composed over expansion joints and potholes. creature comforts are nice as well.

1/15/2011 8:26:28 PM

does it have the latest high pressure fuel pump? didn't BMW redesign it before they did the recall?

1/15/2011 8:42:28 PM

don't know don't care. will worry about it when it leaves me on the side of the road
car is CPO until nov of 2012 and HPFP is anyway warrantied for 10 yrs or 120k....and anyway i will sell the car before that and upgrade to E9x M3 before either of those happens.

..but yeah they went through like 4 iterations of the pump. current one is ordered in 27,000 quantity so they are thinking this is the final version...hopefully a right one.
ill write more later on differences, but i will say e46 m3 is one mean son of a bitch and way more driver's car than any 335. i will miss it...

got '07 model ZSP/ZPP/ZCP, rear sunshade (no navi tho)

[Edited on January 15, 2011 at 10:01 PM. Reason : f]

1/15/2011 9:59:10 PM

Congrats on the new car. Pics?

Just curious, how much did you sell your M for? PM me if you would like.

1/15/2011 10:27:57 PM

thanks. will post after i shovel all the snow ....

i sold it for $15k. bought it for $18 3 years ago.

[Edited on January 15, 2011 at 11:30 PM. Reason : kl]

1/15/2011 11:30:04 PM

Just picked up a 02 e46 M a week ago I'm loving it so far...I'll post pics this upcoming weekend when I have the camera.

[Edited on January 16, 2011 at 4:26 PM. Reason : .]

1/16/2011 4:26:07 PM

Me too:

but my interior looks like this:

Something doesn't add up!

Congrats to all the new M3 owners, your next assignment, don't wreck or rice out your cars. There will be strong temptations, resist them. Repeat this: "Angel eyes suck" until you believe it fully, and will never question it.
PS: E36 PWNs all.

1/17/2011 1:28:06 AM

Not going to rice it too much and yes angel eyes are

[Edited on January 17, 2011 at 4:42 PM. Reason : and congrats on the e36, sedan?]

1/17/2011 4:41:53 PM

Quote :

" don't wreck or rice out your cars."

that doesn't look like a /// shift knob to me...

1/18/2011 10:24:15 AM

here she is with e46 m3 winter tires mounted. had to use 4 15mm spacers to fit/clear the brakes. had 4 different reps from tirerack tell me "those absolutely cannot fit E9x series with or without spacers". 225/50/17!!

1/18/2011 10:24:21 AM

So I just got back from a test drive in an e92. What an amazing car. It definitely feels like you're in an M3, and then you hear that V8 when you step on it...omg, what a ridiculous sound.

I will say that it feels like a direct descendant of the e46...improved no doubt. It feels just as heavy to me. The power is really what makes up for it. It just handles the weight better. The chassis doesn't feel any stiffer, perhaps even a bit sofer? Also, it was admittedly much happier approaching redline.

It really made me miss my e46, and you know...I just might have to go for round 2.

1/26/2011 6:19:48 PM

So I agree that engine is pretty spectacular. I like the car a lot overall, though it's scary in that it's a new-ish BMW.
e46 M3 is probably the current sweet spot (between comfy, reliable and overly electronicated), but I can't stand
it's engine tone, so I've held off thus far.

Anyway, what I'm interested in is... what did you think of the steering, coming from Subarus and all?

1/26/2011 7:00:46 PM

From what little bit I experienced, I would say it's more precise with more feedback, but just as soft.

1/26/2011 7:22:52 PM

Well, I mean it's still no e36...

OK, I think the e90 ///MEH's steering is sublime, BMW really nailed that IMO. The e46 ///MEH was not bad either.
I mean, it's no e36, but...

Also, I was quite impressed w/the engine. You're probably a bit spoiled coming from the vehicles that you've come
from honestly. Also, even though it's got 400hp, it's pushing around quite a bit of piggy fat, not a light car (like the
e36 M3 FTW!!1one).

That said, it's no e36.

1/27/2011 2:05:45 AM

Finally got a couple pics from downtown:

1/27/2011 9:53:32 PM