M3 Maintenance Costs During 3 Year Lease

[VirtualMayhem]

Hello,

I am about to pull the trigger on a new car and in the process of narrowing down my choice (M3 or 550i) I am trying to see if there are any other maintenance costs during the 3 year lease period.

How long do the stock tires last on the M3? This will be a daily driver in AZ and not taken on the track. Should I expect 20K miles on a set of tires, more or less?

I am sure part of this depends on your driving habits but just trying to get a typical idea of wear. How much does a new set of tires cost?

Anything else I should be thinking about here? I know this may seem a bit crazy - maintenance costs will not make or break a sale here I just would like to know what I am signing up for

Regards,
Craig

[MysticBlue]

I wouldn't think you would have much if any maintenance costs. Everything will be covered for 3 years. Windshield wipers, air filters, everything. If no track, then you probably won't need brakes, but if it does, they cover. I went through my first set of tires in 14k, but there was a couple track days and some pretty aggressive driving. They were the old PS2's. I don't know if they still come with those or if they have the newer version PSS, which supposedly have longer wear. In any case, depending how you drive, I wouldn't expect too much more than 20k on a set of tires, and possibly less. If you are trying to decide between the M3 and the 550i, I can't imagine tire wear is enough of a difference to tilt your decision one way or the other. I wouldn't even know what the difference between the two would be, if any. Just get the one you want. I think maintenance costs for a 3 year lease on a BMW is not even worth considering (since there are none) unless you were comparing to non-BMW, then of course it's a big positive.

[MysticBlue]

btw, 4 new tires at tire rack are $1600 for an M3. PS2's. PSS's, which are actually better are quite a bit less... $1100. Plus a couple hundred for shipping, mounting, balancing.

[bimdo]

i would seriously consider extra oil changes.you get a break-in oil change at 1200 miles,and then you get free ones about every 15000 miles or so,which i definitely don't think is enough. i think you should change it every 5000 to 7500 miles,and you'll have to pay for the extra ones ,which will be at least $200 each.if you get the car,do those for yourself if you plan to keep it a while,for any future owner,or just out of respect for the machinery.
when i was looking for a used m3,i looked for one with extra oil changes.

[rjd598]

Nothing

[Prince_of_Persia]

Originally Posted by robbiedawg

i would seriously consider extra oil changes.you get a break-in oil change at 1200 miles,and then you get free ones about every 15000 miles or so,which i definitely don't think is enough. i think you should change it every 5000 to 7500 miles,and you'll have to pay for the extra ones ,which will be at least $200 each.if you get the car,do those for yourself if you plan to keep it a while,for any future owner,or just out of respect for the machinery.
when i was looking for a used m3,i looked for one with extra oil changes.

It depends if OP plans to keep the car after the 3 year lease is over.

[Transfer]

M3 vs 550 will have similar costs all around. Pick which one your like better for your uses because they are very different cars. There are no maintenance costs and tire wear shouldn't be that much different.

[dmw16]

Both will be similar I would think.

However I can't see cross-shopping the 550 and the M3. Unless you are going for the M purely for the name they are very different cars. The M3 won't be as comfy or roomy, but is much more performance oriented. The 550 will be great for hauling people and consuming highway miles.

[URBAN LEGEND]

I went from 09 M3 to 11 550i. I hated the 550i! I jumped ship to 13 M5 as soon as possible. Go M3! Tires should get around 10k miles.

[PurM3]

Get the M3.. 550i is just a fast boat!!
For tires, my front has about 20k prolly 10k more to go. Rear were replaced at around 23k.
It is a bargain if u consider rear tires on C63 that only lasts 7k.