Maintenance & Cost

JoseRonaldoVargas · 01-14-2013, 02:57 PM

What do you guys recommend I do daily/weekly/monthly/yearly to keep an M3 running strong ?
About how much do you spend in maintenance ?
Reason why I ask is i'm looking forward into buying one

Thanks in advance .

corNIC · 01-14-2013, 03:38 PM

I just got one last week and I'm sort of wanting to know the same thing, and I'm also sort of not wanting to know the same thing lol.

S54Dan · 01-14-2013, 03:52 PM

I'd say after 100k miles, prepare to spend some money. My M3 went through a bit of a depression in 2012. I track the car a lot so I'm sure I put the parts on more strain, but it would have gone out eventually.

2012 repairs: Fuel pump, fuel filter, RTABs, fan clutch, t-stat, water pump, coolant tank, front brakes complete (pads, rotors, sensor), rear pads, new tires, belts, and all four wheel bearings.

Edit; Forgot to mention inner and outer tie rods, steering column guibo, driveshaft guibo, and center support bearing.

choxor · 01-14-2013, 04:33 PM

Go to the e46 section of m3forum.net and read the stickies.

taylor192 · 01-14-2013, 05:18 PM

Do this daily:

Do this monthly:

Do this yearly:

NICKBRUM · 01-14-2013, 08:49 PM

^ Puahahahaha!!! But seriously OP there are too many factors, to pin down a number. Owing a E46 M3 is like a mothers unconditional love. Despite all its faults you love it, regardless of the stupid sh!t that fails. No matter what it is not a low maintenance car. Working on it yourself can save a whole lota mooola.

turbo_f22_pilot · 01-14-2013, 08:50 PM

^^^bwahhhhahahhahhhahh

Just expect to spend $2500 yearly. And if you don't, the next year will make up for the difference.

JoseRonaldoVargas · 01-14-2013, 10:30 PM

Lmao @taylor

JoseRonaldoVargas · 01-14-2013, 10:31 PM

$2500 not bad . Thanks .

Grendelsbane · 01-14-2013, 10:33 PM

taylor192 FTW!!!!

rcsummers · 01-14-2013, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbo_f22_pilot

^^^bwahhhhahahhahhhahh

Just expect to spend $2500 yearly. And if you don't, the next year will make up for the difference.

this. I've spent roughly that every year since I've had the car on maintenance. Although a lot of it is preventative stuff. But if your mechanically inclined with a set of tools, you can save yourself some money here and there.

JoseRonaldoVargas · 01-14-2013, 11:26 PM

Do you guys get a PPI and use that as a guide for the maintenance ? Still $2.5k ?

rcsummers · 01-14-2013, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoseRonaldoVargas

Do you guys get a PPI and use that as a guide for the maintenance ? Still $2.5k ?

I got a PPI before I purchased the car. Only way to know what your getting into.

Grendelsbane · 01-15-2013, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoseRonaldoVargas

Do you guys get a PPI and use that as a guide for the maintenance ? Still $2.5k ?

I know a mechanic and he looked at the car before I bought it. Most of my expenses last year were just preventative or an upgrade. New shocks and springs to lower the car, new radiator and water pump, new RTABS and FCAB, and motor and tranny mounts.

This year I am going to change out my fuel pump and the alternator.

taylor192 · 01-15-2013, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoseRonaldoVargas

Do you guys get a PPI and use that as a guide for the maintenance ? Still $2.5k ?

Dude, it just depends on the car you get. My car checked out fine, yet in 1 year I have had to fix:
- leaking steering hose
- vanos solenoid
- convertible top hydraulic cylinders

and decided that after 80K miles I should replace:
- RTABs
- FCABs
- end-links
- brake pads front and rear
- shocks

and almost once a year you'll need an oil change.

Thus in my first year I'm out $800 in necessary repairs, and $1100 of maintenance plus my own sweat and tears cause I did everything myself. Double or triple that total if you need a shop. I suspect I'll need a water pump and fan clutch at some point soon, so tack on another $500.

I've spent more on discretionary stuff (grills, lights, springs, diffuser, lip, SSK, wheels, ...) than I have on maintenance.

JoseRonaldoVargas · 01-15-2013, 06:26 AM

Alright . Thanks . Thanks for replying guys .
Another thing how much did that convertible hydraulics cost ?

alkemyst · 01-15-2013, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoseRonaldoVargas

Do you guys get a PPI and use that as a guide for the maintenance ? Still $2.5k ?

An M3's maintenance is basically a checklist at mileage intervals. I drive roughtly 2200 miles a month, in my first year of ownership my maintenance was about $4500. Not counting a full set of tires and 2 oil changes @ $200 a pop.

JoseRonaldoVargas · 01-15-2013, 11:06 AM

How about insurance ? Anyone got allstate ?

taylor192 · 01-15-2013, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoseRonaldoVargas

How about insurance ? Anyone got allstate ?

Dude, you need to ask less and research more. Insurance varies by region, record, age, sex, martial status, ... so asking what others pay is just a shot in the dark unless you can find your twin online, and even then...

taylor192 · 01-15-2013, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoseRonaldoVargas

Another thing how much did that convertible hydraulics cost ?

$110 per cylinder to rebuild. There are 6 cylinders, 4 of which are very easy to remove, 2 of which are a PITA to remove. I'll let you guess which 2 I had to service...

A shop would easily charge $2K for this, while I DIY for < $300. I have a thread in the convertible section about this repair.

01-14-2013, 02:57 PM	#1
JoseRonaldoVargas Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Atlanta Posts: 22 My Ride: My feet View My Garage	Maintenance & Cost What do you guys recommend I do daily/weekly/monthly/yearly to keep an M3 running strong ? About how much do you spend in maintenance ? Reason why I ask is i'm looking forward into buying one Thanks in advance .

01-14-2013, 03:52 PM	#3
S54Dan Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Atlanta Posts: 247 My Ride: '05 M3 '03 ZHP View My Garage	I'd say after 100k miles, prepare to spend some money. My M3 went through a bit of a depression in 2012. I track the car a lot so I'm sure I put the parts on more strain, but it would have gone out eventually. 2012 repairs: Fuel pump, fuel filter, RTABs, fan clutch, t-stat, water pump, coolant tank, front brakes complete (pads, rotors, sensor), rear pads, new tires, belts, and all four wheel bearings. Edit; Forgot to mention inner and outer tie rods, steering column guibo, driveshaft guibo, and center support bearing. __________________ 2005 M3 6MT \| Weekend toy & Track rat 2003 330i ZHP 6MT \| Wife Mobile 1994 325i 5MT \| DD BMW NA Accessory Champion \| Twitter \| Instagram @S54Dan Last edited by S54Dan; 01-14-2013 at 03:53 PM.

01-14-2013, 04:33 PM	#4
choxor Fully Deeked Out Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,814 My Ride: An Automobile View My Garage	Go to the e46 section of m3forum.net and read the stickies. __________________

01-14-2013, 08:49 PM	#6
NICKBRUM Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Vancouver, Wa Posts: 59 My Ride: 2004 M3 View My Garage	^ Puahahahaha!!! But seriously OP there are too many factors, to pin down a number. Owing a E46 M3 is like a mothers unconditional love. Despite all its faults you love it, regardless of the stupid sh!t that fails. No matter what it is not a low maintenance car. Working on it yourself can save a whole lota mooola. __________________ \|Carbon Fiber Intake\|AA GEN3\|AC Strut Brace\|Eibach/Koni's\| \|Victory UDP's\|HPF Sub Frame Plates\| PF Subframe Bushings\|Rtab Limiters\| Last edited by NICKBRUM; 01-14-2013 at 08:50 PM.

01-14-2013, 08:50 PM	#7
turbo_f22_pilot Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mid-Atlantic Region Posts: 949 My Ride: 2 pedals - 2 paddles View My Garage	^^^bwahhhhahahhahhhahh Just expect to spend $2500 yearly. And if you don't, the next year will make up for the difference. __________________ In order to finish FIRST, you MUST first FINISH ! Joy is future proof Get your "M" on . . . Reading is FundaM3ntal CAR: 2003 TIAG Coupe / Blk Interior / SMG / HK Premium MODS: EU-CSL Coded / Macht Schnell intake / OEM CSL Wheels / OEM CSL Diffuser / Dinan Exhaust Full LED Conversion / HID fog / Aurora AE / RE RTAB FCAB BMWCCA NCC Last edited by turbo_f22_pilot; 01-14-2013 at 08:51 PM.

01-14-2013, 03:38 PM	#2
corNIC Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 31 My Ride: '01 M3, '06 x3 View My Garage	I just got one last week and I'm sort of wanting to know the same thing, and I'm also sort of not wanting to know the same thing lol.

01-14-2013, 05:18 PM	#5
taylor192 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: The Best Place on Earth Posts: 750 My Ride: 2003.5 M3 View My Garage	Do this daily: Do this monthly: Do this yearly:

01-14-2013, 10:30 PM	#8
JoseRonaldoVargas Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Atlanta Posts: 22 My Ride: My feet View My Garage	Lmao @taylor

01-14-2013, 10:31 PM	#9
JoseRonaldoVargas Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Atlanta Posts: 22 My Ride: My feet View My Garage	$2500 not bad . Thanks .

01-14-2013, 10:33 PM	#10
Grendelsbane Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Seattle Posts: 293 My Ride: M3 View My Garage	taylor192 FTW!!!! __________________ 2004 Silver M3 / SMG / Koni Yellow shocks and struts / Vogtlands lowering springs / Eibach front and rear sway bars / Proflex bushings / Predator Orion V2 Multi-Color LED Angel Eyes / Laser Interceptors / Clear Bumper Reflectors / Mishimoto Aluminum Radiator / AKG Motor mounts / Rogue Engineering Transmission Mount / AKG differential bushings / Euro mirrors / B&B Exhaust / CSL SMG tune / Last edited by Grendelsbane; 01-14-2013 at 10:34 PM.

01-14-2013, 11:26 PM	#12
JoseRonaldoVargas Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Atlanta Posts: 22 My Ride: My feet View My Garage	Do you guys get a PPI and use that as a guide for the maintenance ? Still $2.5k ?

01-15-2013, 06:26 AM	#16
JoseRonaldoVargas Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Atlanta Posts: 22 My Ride: My feet View My Garage	Alright . Thanks . Thanks for replying guys . Another thing how much did that convertible hydraulics cost ?

01-15-2013, 11:06 AM	#18
JoseRonaldoVargas Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Atlanta Posts: 22 My Ride: My feet View My Garage	How about insurance ? Anyone got allstate ?

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