E90/92 M3 Buying advice

[510135]

Hello,
I am soon to be in the market for a new/used car, I am currently looking at E90/92 M3 or C63. I currently drive a 135i and would like to upgrade into something a little bigger and more practical (hence the 4 door options above). I am just asking for some buying tips from you guys as the 135i has prooven to have a few surprises along the way with ownership.
Are there any year models to avoid?
Known problems with DCT?
Known engine problems?
Recalls on any components?
I dont particulaly want to move to Mercedes as I like the BMW brand and their styling more. I have found that C63's before 2011 had head bolt issues so im not to keen to jump into anything before that.
Cheers

[aussiem3]

Originally Posted by 510135

Hello,
I am soon to be in the market for a new/used car, I am currently looking at E90/92 M3 or C63. I currently drive a 135i and would like to upgrade into something a little bigger and more practical (hence the 4 door options above). I am just asking for some buying tips from you guys as the 135i has prooven to have a few surprises along the way with ownership.
Are there any year models to avoid?
Known problems with DCT?
Known engine problems?
Recalls on any components?
I dont particulaly want to move to Mercedes as I like the BMW brand and their styling more. I have found that C63's before 2011 had head bolt issues so im not to keen to jump into anything before that.
Cheers

Five years on it has remained bulletproof. There is nothing wrong with DCT or 6MT. It's your personal choice. Good luck with your impending purchase.

[E92325i]

I've heard about the C63 (and M156 engine in general) headbolt issues although I'm not too sure on how widespread or how severe the problem is. I believe forums and the Internet in general tend blow any such issues way out of proportion and make it out to be far more widespread than they truly are.

I remember reading about rod bearing failure issues with the S65 motor a long time ago and although people made it out to be a huge issue that was rumoured to affect all S65 engines at the time, it appears that many M3's have racked up plenty of km's since then and it didn't turn out to be a widespread issue with the S65 engine

A quick search regarding the rod bearing issues can reveals this thread which provides for a decent read.

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=361456

I'd personally swing for the C63 for a daily driver myself as I spend a whole heap of time in stop start traffic and love the torque of the M156's but in saying that, I've spent quite a bit of time driving a friend's 6MT E92 M3 and it is an unbelievably good car too! The character and experience of an M car is totally different to a BMW series car

The best advice I could give is to drive both cars and think about how you intend to use them and go from there. Good luck with your search

[510135]

Thank you both for the replies. It pretty much confirmed what I have read elsewhere. A friend of mine just bought a e92 m3 and he told me about the bearing issue (Apparently earlier models). I will go for a drive of both to determine which is more suitable.
On a side note the RS5 is also quite the package, I have never been into Audis but this one looks quite nice with a v8 to match.

[E92325i]

I've never been a huge fan of Audi's except for the R8

I've always respected their cars and the level of engineering that goes into them but they have never been my first choice when looking at a new car. Personally, I'd go with either the M3 or C63 over the RS5 however I haven't driven the RS5 so I guess I am not qualified to comment

IMO, The RS5 sits in an odd place in the sense that it isn't as focused or precise as the M3 nor as brutish as the C63 however some would argue that it represents the perfect balance between the two.

[510135]

Originally Posted by E92325i

I've never been a huge fan of Audi's except for the R8

I've always respected their cars and the level of engineering that goes into them but they have never been my first choice when looking at a new car. Personally, I'd go with either the M3 or C63 over the RS5 however I haven't driven the RS5 so I guess I am not qualified to comment

IMO, The RS5 sits in an odd place in the sense that it isn't as focused or precise as the M3 nor as brutish as the C63 however some would argue that it represents the perfect balance between the two.

+1 I have always wanted an m3. It's funny I was talking to a friend who works at a Brisbane dealership and I said "are the m3 sales slowing on the e90/92 seeing as the new m3/m4 will be out soon" he said its the opposite as people are rushing in to get the last of the purest m3 NA, turbos are here to stay.
I

[GrayFoxZR1]

I'll be looking to buy a M3 (E92 or E46) when I graduate from uni at the end of this year (so buying January next year).

What do you guys think the value of the E92 will drop to in that time considering the new M3 is coming out. Do you think it will hit low $50s by that time seeing as you could pick up one up high $60s low $70s right now?

I'd be keeping the car for atleast 3 years and am really tossing up between E46 (cheaper but higher risk of somethig going wrong since its older) or E92 (more expensive, younger and better car). Whilst the 135i would hit the sweet spot in terms of age and price, I just cannot enjoy a turbo car as much as a non-turbo car, so it's kind of out of the question unless it really makes sense to and like the poster above mentions it will be special to own the last NA V8 ever.

[Kosta1968]

No offence intended but I just bought a 2010 E90 M3 DCT with Competition Package for 110k (incl onroads) so Im hoping to god your completely wrong and the values of the E9Xs stay high.

[GrayFoxZR1]

Originally Posted by CON G

No offence intended but I just bought a 2010 E90 M3 DCT with Competition Package for 110k (incl onroads) so Im hoping to god your completely wrong and the values of the E9Xs stay high.

That's probably about right for a 2010

Look at this 2007 manual (I want manual) with 94,000 kms could haggle down to $65k.

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...&sort=%7ePrice

[drjekl]

Originally Posted by GrayFoxZR1

I'll be looking to buy a M3 (E92 or E46) when I graduate from uni at the end of this year (so buying January next year).

What do you guys think the value of the E92 will drop to in that time considering the new M3 is coming out. Do you think it will hit low $50s by that time seeing as you could pick up one up high $60s low $70s right now?

I'd be keeping the car for atleast 3 years and am really tossing up between E46 (cheaper but higher risk of somethig going wrong since its older) or E92 (more expensive, younger and better car). Whilst the 135i would hit the sweet spot in terms of age and price, I just cannot enjoy a turbo car as much as a non-turbo car, so it's kind of out of the question unless it really makes sense to and like the poster above mentions it will be special to own the last NA V8 ever.

No chance of buying one that cheap mate ($50k ish by Jan 14) unless it has 300k kays or its been a repairable writeoff.

These ///M cars hold their value quite well and since a 10 year old M is still pulling $40 odd kay this should give you an idea of how well they retain their value.

Also just because a new model is coming out doesnt mean the arse will drop out of them and every E9X owner will be flogging their car off to get into a M4, like the E46 the E9X is the last of its kind (NA V8)

But hey who knows maybe i'm just a blithering fool and we shall be buying cheap M3's in 6 months time

[drjekl]

Originally Posted by GrayFoxZR1

That's probably about right for a 2010

Look at this 2007 manual (I want manual) with 94,000 kms could haggle down to $65k.

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...&sort=%7ePrice

It looks pretty neat also, but once a car hits 100k kms they always seem to take a hit on resale...

[Kosta1968]

Originally Posted by GrayFoxZR1

That's probably about right for a 2010

Look at this 2007 manual (I want manual) with 94,000 kms could haggle down to $65k.

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...&sort=%7ePrice

If the service history is good and t he car hasn't been tracked then the Kms don't matter. But it is a private sale so perhaps go in harder.

[BMWGTR]

A 2008, alpine white, 90,000 kms, M-DCT, e92 sold for 74k I think at Pickles auction in Sydney recently...

[reggiegums]

Just put mine up for sale.

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...&sort=%7ePrice

[aussiem3]

Originally Posted by reggiegums

Just put mine up for sale.

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...&sort=%7ePrice

Hey Reg, so you have made up your mind?

[reggiegums]

Hi Kumar

Sellind due to too many cars at the moment and I might get posted to HK for a few years.

That being said, my top choices for a replacement car in no particular order are:
1. 997 Turbo
2. Audi R8
3. GTR
4. E60 M5

My mate has just pushed his e60 m5 to 600hp at the wheels.

[MMMGuy]

Nice car Reg...good luck with the sale ...

[aussiem3]

Originally Posted by reggiegums

Hi Kumar

Sellind due to too many cars at the moment and I might get posted to HK for a few years.

That being said, my top choices for a replacement car in no particular order are:
1. 997 Turbo
2. Audi R8
3. GTR
4. E60 M5

My mate has just pushed his e60 m5 to 600hp at the wheels.

Hope things work out for you. Good luck! Lets catch up soon. Cheers.