What to look for when buying used M3?

[Elldon]

Hello guys,

Finally decided to buy an used M3 (E90) 2009 and newer. As I began my search, I was wondering - is there anything in particular I should look for so that I don't buy a car that will cost me twice as much in repairs etc.? :-)

What is most likely to go wrong?

Thanks a lot for your advice.

[Poppin Fresh]

Make sure it's an LCI or '09 and up at least. You get the better idrive and the idle valve issues have been sorted out for the most part.

[uvrmd]

Low miles and CPO would be best.

[SGMe90]

Sorry for the thread jack OP, I searched for the idle control valve issues for my car and didn't find anything on google. Please explain, thanks
Good luck in anything you get and enjoy it in best of health

[tibra1]

Abuse..go over the undercarriage carefully especially the rear subframe and diff

[Rich_Jenkins]

Originally Posted by SGMe90

Sorry for the thread jack OP, I searched for the idle control valve issues for my car and didn't find anything on google. Please explain, thanks

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=260255

[Rich_Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Elldon

Hello guys,

Finally decided to buy an used M3 (E90) 2009 and newer. As I began my search, I was wondering - is there anything in particular I should look for so that I don't buy a car that will cost me twice as much in repairs etc.? :-)

What is most likely to go wrong?

Thanks a lot for your advice.

- Evidence of dealer service per or exceeding OEM standards
- In particular the 1,200 mile service
- Non-lease owners
- Fewer, preferably one, number of owners
- In service date as late as possible (longer warranty for you)

[shendrick]

The prior posts cover the important stuff. I would look for whether the previous owner really cared about the car. Quantity of dings, scratches, wear on the interior, etc. all speak to whether the owner cared about the car or just treated it like some just piece of diposable transportation. When I was buying my daughter's CPO X3 I could tell the city cars and fleet cars from the privately owned cars garaged in the burbs just by looking at them.

[Elldon]

Thanks a lot for your advice. How likely is it that DCT will be damaged/will break soon? I heard it was very expensive and that after guarantee, BMW almost always replaces it with a new one if it gets broken - no repairs. Whats your experience with DCT?

[quadpipes]

Bimmer or Roundel magazine contributor Mike Miller has an excellent general FAQ list for buying used or CPO BMWs that he will email to readers upon request. Find either mag to get his email address. And incidentally his columns and buying guides are excellent reads. Good luck.

[eternallx]

Great info so far as I am looking to get a CPO soon too!
Thanks everyone

[lawrenc967]

Originally Posted by Poppin Fresh

Make sure it's an LCI or '09 and up at least. You get the better idrive and the idle valve issues have been sorted out for the most part.

This might be a stupid question, but what is LCI?

[Elldon]

Originally Posted by lawrenc967

This might be a stupid question, but what is LCI?

Life Cycle Impulse. Its an update during a model year. (source: Wiki)
When I searched for it when he mentioned LCI, I found out it it was the '09 facelift (with some technological changes too).