Also it is far to easy to drive really fast in! resulting in my sig!

 

a guy at work picked up a 5yr old with 110,000 miles for 11k.
it needed service and new clutch: total cost

 

You have to think about what and who these cars are designed for. BMW aimed them at the rich and the affluent who wouldn't moan about the running or maintenance costs.

It was inevitable that they would appeal to enthusiasts and image conscious people (because they are drivers cars and the BMW tag), who couldn't necessarily afford them.

Even though they remain a very good machine, now owning an E46 M3 is really nothing to write home about. I have two immediate friends and know four people personally who have an E46 M3.

One of them has had nothing go wrong with it other than the clutch and the other seems to drive it less than the BMW technicians.

M5's although considerably rarer, would probably be similar in principle. Some good some bad.


I agree with gaddafi though those than complain about running costs whilst/after owning them are fur coat and no knickers types. You don't have to have owned one to work out M cars are not cheap to maintain (relatively). If you cant afford it, save yourself the headach.


But as usual... its your money, your situation. Make up your own mind.

 

I've always been amazed by statements like this. I think some people just have no natural affinity with machines or mechanical sypathy.

Out of all my cars and motorcycles I have never replaced a clutch or blown an engine. In fact the only big things to ever really go wrong are consumables. I have mates who drive similar vehicles who kill them in a matter of weeks.

 

do some searches on the forums under VANOS

you'll find that's the one 'weakness' of the engine

slight mods were made to later cars (another good reason for getting a facelift model - late 2001 on)

VANOS can fail at 50,000 miles or never fail

most people would say the engine is easily good for 150,000 miles without major repairs

it's hard to say though - the cars aren't that old and so really high milers are quite rare

so, in essence, if the car has been looked after, and there are no VANOS problems, it will only be bad luck that will catch you out

evidence of care is important

the cars use oil - particularly the older ones - not unlike the S2000

unfortunately, if the levels have been neglected, the payback may only occur many thousands of miles down the line

 

I was talking about defects, not wear and tear.

The clutch was replaced under warranty so it was a defect. The others were things like headlight xenon ballast and window regulator etc.

 

M5 clutches tend to go at around 55,000 miles

I expect M3 clutches last longer - given that they are considerably less powerful

of course that's an average

but given the power you have, I don't see it as unreasonable

you have to remember, that will probably outlast the first three years and first owner, so they are going to be happy

the