aside from valve adjustments and more expensive oil, what other maintenance requirements do M3s have that the regular 3 series don't?? i have a non M e46 and as far as maintenance is concerned, i've done virtually everything myself, and i don't find the parts to be that expensive if you buy them online. i've done valve adjustments on hondas before and i can't imagine it being that much harder to do on an M3. so are there any maintenance items for the M3 that is not doable for a DIYer and must absolutely be done by a BMW mechanic?

 

I think it's worth noting the only people who don't think it's expensive are those who DIY. You can DIY a lamborghini and probably do OK. Most people do not have the time or energy to be working on their cars other than for enjoyment. All the issues my M3 had were not regular maintenance, the throw-out bearing failed, premature steering wheel wear, the list goes on. If it's a weekend car, that's one thing, but if you are using it as a DD how are you going to garage it for days while doing the valve maint. in case you need a tool you don't have or don't finish it quickly?

 

You're misinformed. I can't speak about BMW or Mercedes from personal experience, but my Cayman S so far has had very reasonable operating costs.

One $200 oil change @ 9K miles (wasn't due until 20K, but I didn't want to wait that long), and that's it. I'll take it in for it's 2 yr./20K mile service in Nov. (I have 12.5K on it now), which should set me back ~ $600. After that, I'll be good for another year when I need to change the oil again. They give me a loaner car, too, so no inconvenience w/ arranging a ride.

I could save a lot of money by doing it myself, but my free time is more valuable than the extra cost these days.

 

Chris, you still own a relatively new car. Why would anyone expect significant issues with only 12k miles on their car? Most people are referring to cars with 50-100k miles, 4-6 years old, in which many german makes start having issues whereas japanese cars typically don't have any unexpected issues til over the 100k mark.

That being said, Porsche is probably closer to an exception then the rule due to the extremely high build quality and attention to detail. There is a real reason as to why MB's especially, BMW's to a lesser extent, fall off a cliff in value after a few years and 50k miles. Pcars also don't follow that same trend.

 

Fair enough, but it's not that uncommon for Porsches to rack up 200K miles, and something like ~75% of all Porsches sold in the US (since ???, not sure of the date, but something like 50 yrs.) are still on the road.

Looking at all the old Porsches owned by fellow PCA members, they seem to age pretty well when given proper care & maint.

 

x2

 

porsches are cars that most owners find it worthwhile to maintain and repair, mainly due to the fact that they retain resale value. many cars can go 200K miles if owners are willing to maintain/repair them when necessary. unfortunately most cars drop in value to the point where it's no longer financially feasible to spend the money to maintain/repair, including most bmws and mercedes.

 

Get a late 90's early 2000's 911

 

M3 = luxurious, faster, more practical, etc. The S = fun, fun, fun, agile and tossable.

 

if you get an e46 i would recommend getting a 03.5 + and stay away from smg