2008 M3 -- 20k miles Update

[Maymun]

As I read an learn lot from these boards, wanted to contribute back some of my personal experiences.

2008 M3 -- 20k miles Update
Car Usage:
- Bought Mid May 2008
- Did 3 road trips 1k each or so, smoot and comfortable, moved my son to college, go go Sedan...!
- Daily driver, 50% highway
- Drive very nice first 5k by the book
- Did some heavy driving, M mode and such for 2k or so, this baby drink gas/oil
-Back to "family driving"
- My sons, 16yr and 18yr, learn to drive stick!

Any issues/Maintenance:
- 1200mile service - no issue
- 1yr service - no issue
- Upgrade iPhone ->3GS, had to buy a converter from firewire 12V to 5V USB, in glove compartment type connection setup.
- Daylight running light went out on me Saturday, need to take to dealer to see whats up. Xeons and such all ok, no message from the computer. Will do a follow up, if anything interesting...

Things I don't like:
- Location of the windows controls
- Electronic oil gauge ( it takes forever to tell me crap)
- As daily driver, have to be much more picky where I park. Low clearance is an issue on covered parking garages, in out of street entrance of the garages.
- A hate for the iDrive is building up

Other Info:
- Mileage:
Current average: 17.2miles /gallon
Family driving : 18.4miles/gallon
Fun driving : 14 miles/gallon
M3 Real driving: 7-8 miles/gallon
- Replaced set of rear tires due to "M3 Real driving", and showing my son "what not to do"
-Long road trip (3x 1k or so same route): Avg 21.4miles/gallon. Max speed 150miles/hr, avg speed on trip meter is 103miles/hr
- Jerez Black is not for everyone, I like my car shiny, it takes an effort to keep it shine.

Things surprised me:
- This car likes Exxon gas better than Shell available in my area
- How much I like the Jarez Black
- Stealth mode 4door, most cops ignore you unless they can hear your engine. Very happy I choose 4dr as it is my daily driver.
- # of people want to know more about it in gas stations
- 2 additional M3's in my 3 block radius after my purchase!
- No tickets yet, not planning on one
- Did not bought/use radar detector, yet
-Amount of re-conditioning on leather seats I need to do to keep it perfect condition.

Learned new about the car:
- It locks itself 3-5 min if left unlocked. (news to me, did not research if default or comfort access option)

I am extremely happy with my decision, and its a joy to drive! Looking forward to next 10k miles, will be back with 30k mile update.

For reference my 10k update is at http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=235398

update: quick fix typos now!

[schnell325]

Very nice writeup!!!

[isugoo]

Very real life everyday driver's (not racer, track junky things that I have nothing to do of) review/feedback. Good one. thanks, I enjoyed reading it and now I'm confidence that this car has ALOT less issue than very first year E46M3.

[ToddM3FutureOwner]

great info, thanks for sharing. Nice to read especially since I will be considering one of these as my next daily driver in the next 12 months or so. Continued enjoyment for you!!

[10M3MAN]

Nice, love the after purchase, down the road comments.

[M3PGH]

good to hear!

[saildoc]

Do you need to set something to make it autolock? I have comfort access and I know it doesn't autolock for me.
Sorry about the Idrive. My 09 has the new Idrive-which frankly really works well. Don't miss my manual controls on my non Idrive 335i. It really lets you run everything from one hand position....they added 6 "goto" buttons in front of the spinny thing to bypass the all the steps.

[tuco44]

Thanks for the report, sounds good.

Fortunately, I have the updated iDrive and I love it. Much improved over the previous one.

[JCtx]

Originally Posted by Maymun

Other Info:
- Mileage:
Current average: 17.2miles /gallon
Family driving : 18.4miles/gallon
Fun driving : 14 miles/gallon
M3 Real driving: 7-8 miles/gallon

-Long road trip (3x 1k or so same route): Avg 21.4miles/gallon. Max speed 150miles/hr, avg speed on trip meter is 103miles/hr

No way in hell you can get 21.4 mpg with an average speed of 103 mph. I was getting your 'family driving' numbers when driving at the ton; maybe 19 at best.

[Big Windy]

Originally Posted by elp_jc

No way in hell you can get 21.4 mpg with an average speed of 103 mph. I was getting your 'family driving' numbers when driving at the ton; maybe 19 at best.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. I can't recall my exact average speed, but I drove my M3 down to Switzerland one time and averaged 22.1 mpg over several hundred kilometers. The entire drive was on Autobahn, and I think that I easily could have averaged ~100 mph.

[JCtx]

Originally Posted by Big Windy

I wouldn't be so sure about that... one time and averaged 22.1 mpg

I bet you my house if you want . I got 18.7 at 4K' of altitude, so at sea level it's probably worse. Car is rated at 14/20; how do you expect it to give you 22 at 100 mph? Maybe downhill, but not on a straight road with the engine screaming past 4K rpm.

[smokinjoe64]

I'm at 19K with an e92 and share most the same sentiment about all execept the coupe' is sexier...

[PoorMan]

Nice right up thanks for sharing!


LOL! Every time someone mentions mpg etc.. Some people seem to want their car to be the most gas guzzling vehicle ever.

A few actually seem proud that their M3, eats more gas than other M3's.. And then cry conspiracy when others get more miles than they do..

But to be fair in high school I drove 1970 Olds 442 with a fair amount of trimmings Heads, Carbs and Cams etc..etc.. Hell the M3, mpg wise is a honda compared to that car..

[d_dot]

very nice write up . did some research on the auto lock check here mabye there are some more updates as well. http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=286205

[edcvin]

Glad to hear its been a pretty positive experience.


-Vin

[King Tut]

My buddies 2008 E90 M3 also had a driver side DRL go out on him. Dealer replaced it no problem without an appointment and he was back on the road.

[MrHarris]

Thank you for the detailed and easy to read write-up. Exxon gas, did you mean Mobil?

[Maymun]

Originally Posted by MrHarris

Thank you for the detailed and easy to read write-up. Exxon gas, did you mean Mobil?

Around Houston, they labeled Exxon, so I guess just branding.

[Maymun]

Originally Posted by d_dot

very nice write up . did some research on the auto lock check here mabye there are some more updates as well. http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=286205

Himm, in my instance, i use my remote to unlock, and it autolock within 3-5min, as I was on the phone. Need to try driving around and parking and see what happens. It may be just unlock->no activity->re-lock feature. Thanks for the info.

[wuzupfoo]

Originally Posted by MrHarris

Thank you for the detailed and easy to read write-up. Exxon gas, did you mean Mobil?

Nice review, Im approaching 15K about 7K under my ownership and Im in agreement its a very nice ride for daily driving.

Also MrHarris, in other parts of the country Exxon has a strong retail presence, in Cali they are non existant and you only see Mobils.. I noticed that when I moved from the East coast to Cali. I think it has to with the breakup of Standard Oil way back in the day, hence why you see Chevrons everywhere here, but dont quote me on that.. Im just guessing..

EDIT: Yup verified http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Oil, granted hes in TX so dont know why that is but anyways it at least explains why there are no Exxons in SoCal, as far as I can tell. Anyways, obviously I need to get back to work and stop wasting time! :

Standard Oil of New Jersey (SONJ) - or Esso (S.O.) – renamed Exxon, now part of ExxonMobil. Standard Trust companies Carter Oil, Imperial Oil (Canada), and Standard of Louisiana were kept as part of Standard Oil of New Jersey after the breakup.

Standard Oil of California – or Socal – renamed Chevron, became ChevronTexaco, but returned to Chevron.

[skywalker562]

very nice writeup~ if you upload one or two picture of ur car w/ w/out u or ur family would be perfect =)

[Mr.AK]

The 1 year service??????? please explain. I thought service was by milage only.