Getting my M3 Tomorrow, 08 Saloon 6spd

geartech · 09-23-2012, 08:39 AM

Buying my first M3 tomorrow. Bought it thru the dealer I work for( Porsche)
I've seen a few post about what are typical failures. The only one I've got a question about are the vanos adj failures and how common is it?

We have a similar failure with our valve timing adj on the Panamera V6
the adj asym bolts break and allow the adj outer drive section to spin and loose cam timing and you know the rest on a interference motor.
Bad bad things happen. Last one I saw happened at partial load and 4k rpm.
After the heads of the valves broke off of the intake valves it lauched 2 rods thu the block. Broke the exh cam in half. The car still ran, Not well but I could get it in the shop.

m3an · 09-23-2012, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geartech

Buying my first M3 tomorrow. Bought it thru the dealer I work for( Porsche)
I've seen a few post about what are typical failures. The only one I've got a question about are the vanos adj failures and how common is it?

We have a similar failure with our valve timing adj on the Panamera V6
the adj asym bolts break and allow the adj outer drive section to spin and loose cam timing and you know the rest on a interference motor.
Bad bad things happen. Last one I saw happened at partial load and 4k rpm.
After the heads of the valves broke off of the intake valves it lauched 2 rods thu the block. Broke the exh cam in half. The car still ran, Not well but I could get it in the shop.

vanos is redesigned and not the same HP unit found on the older m v8s. I have not heard of vanos issues to date.

geartech · 09-23-2012, 09:15 AM

Thanks, thats the answer I was hoping for.
Now to find an exhaust for it.

silverspoon · 09-23-2012, 09:36 AM

Congrats!

What packages does it have? How many miles? And how much did you got it for? If you can tell of course...

geartech · 09-23-2012, 10:01 AM

Got the car for 30k with 57k miles, I know the owner that traded it in for a 911
Car has ecd, carbon leather, Navi, 6spd, Memory seats if thats an option.
I'm not really sure what all was optioned for the M3 and what was standard.

It appears to have most all the options except the DCT trans. Not sure what the color is called on the interior but it's the rust red leather seats with black and rust trim on the door panels.
For the milage it looks like new inside and out. He took really good care of it and he had all the maint. records from our BMW dealer up the block.

NoM3ForMe · 09-23-2012, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geartech

Got the car for 30k with 57k miles, I know the owner that traded it in for a 911
Car has ecd, carbon leather, Navi, 6spd, Memory seats if thats an option.
I'm not really sure what all was optioned for the M3 and what was standard.

It appears to have most all the options except the DCT trans. Not sure what the color is called on the interior but it's the rust red leather seats with black and rust trim on the door panels.
For the milage it looks like new inside and out. He took really good care of it and he had all the maint. records from our BMW dealer up the block.

Get the VIN# and you can look at all the options that car has online.

karussell · 09-23-2012, 10:21 AM

porsche tech driving a bimmer to work. that should be good conversation starter for clients cross shopping.

Makingitsomeday · 09-23-2012, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karussell

porsche tech driving a bimmer to work. that should be good conversation starter for clients cross shopping.

geartech · 09-23-2012, 10:46 AM

Yea, I still have my 91 944 turbo track car. And a Porsche in that price range to me isn't nearly as nice a car or practical.
The M3 is just much more practical and a GT3 ( the M3's compitition from Porsche ) is not the most fun thing to drive every day. On the track it's great it's just not a comfortable car. BMW just got it right with the M3 series. It handles great, good power and plenty of room inside.
We have lots of customers that have both, A BMW and a Porsche in their stables. ( must be nice)

Rich_Jenkins · 09-23-2012, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geartech

Buying my first M3 tomorrow. Bought it thru the dealer I work for( Porsche)
I've seen a few post about what are typical failures. The only one I've got a question about are the vanos adj failures and how common is it?

We have a similar failure with our valve timing adj on the Panamera V6
the adj asym bolts break and allow the adj outer drive section to spin and loose cam timing and you know the rest on a interference motor.
Bad bad things happen. Last one I saw happened at partial load and 4k rpm.
After the heads of the valves broke off of the intake valves it lauched 2 rods thu the block. Broke the exh cam in half. The car still ran, Not well but I could get it in the shop.

Welcome. Only common problem I've noted across several boards is the idle control valve issue, here is a good recent capture of the parts involved. My '09 had this within a few months of purchase by the original owner.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=744557

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoM3ForMe

Get the VIN# and you can look at all the options that car has online.

Yep.

www.bmwvin.com

Rich_Jenkins · 09-23-2012, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geartech

Yea, I still have my 91 944 turbo track car. And a Porsche in that price range to me isn't nearly as nice a car or practical.
The M3 is just much more practical and a GT3 ( the M3's compitition from Porsche ) is not the most fun thing to drive every day. On the track it's great it's just not a comfortable car. BMW just got it right with the M3 series. It handles great, good power and plenty of room inside.
We have lots of customers that have both, A BMW and a Porsche in their stables. ( must be nice)

Good assessment. I saved up for my M3 and bought it used. It's my DD as well. I plan to be buried in it.

PhillyNate · 09-23-2012, 12:48 PM

Welcome aboard Geartech. Sounds like you bought a great car. You will be happy and as others may have said, this is currently the most reliable BMW made and possibly the most reliable M car ever. I am personally thrilled to have a Porsche tech on the board as a lot of us M3 owners cross shop. I love my M3 but if I ever go Porsche, I'll be looking to you for help. Congrats.

Mr. ///M3 RD · 09-23-2012, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geartech

Buying my first M3 tomorrow.

Welcome to the forum and congratulations, enjoy your car ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMME30W

Good assessment. I saved up for my M3 and bought it used. It's my DD as well. I plan to be buried in it.

Promise us you will enjoy your car while you are with us ... for after that it will be forever at standstil ~grin~

BTW this is an actual tombstone in England

THE TECH · 09-23-2012, 03:29 PM

Congrats.

e46e92love · 09-23-2012, 03:34 PM

Congrats.....car should be relatively reliable and as tech, you will be able to fix most that goes wrong after a short conversation with a BMW tech assuming its complicated.

She may just surprise you with her track abilities as well

Cheers,
e46e92

Detroit M3 · 09-24-2012, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geartech

Thanks, thats the answer I was hoping for.
Now to find an exhaust for it.

eisenmann!!!

Detroit M3 · 09-24-2012, 01:35 AM

Congrats on the car buddy

geartech · 09-24-2012, 08:14 PM

Got her home tonight. These cars are GRRRRRate as Tony the tiger would say
Just a really nice car all around, comfortable and very intuitive to drive.
I-drive is a little hard to get used to but it's just new to me.
Even got the orig. window sticker with it.
Thanks again to all for the info.

PhillyNate · 09-24-2012, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geartech

Got her home tonight. These cars are GRRRRRate as Tony the tiger would say
Just a really nice car all around, comfortable and very intuitive to drive.
I-drive is a little hard to get used to but it's just new to me.
Even got the orig. window sticker with it.
Thanks again to all for the info.

Congrats and good luck.

V8FunNaturally · 09-24-2012, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geartech

Got the car for 30k with 57k miles, I know the owner that traded it in for a 911

wow congratulation ! that is an insane deal. On autotrader the only two 08 M3 that are under 35k have a compromised carfax record (= been in an accident). Even >70kmiles 08 M3 don't get in these waters after negociations. It seems to me your employer is counting on you for the business and decided this would be a good investment rather than to sell it at retail price. Good business leadership if you ask me for a porsche dealership. I think i would buy my porsche there.

Carl L · 09-24-2012, 10:54 PM

You stole it. Congrats, you're going to love it. Not even Porsche make a 4 seater that handles and sounds like one of these....

09-23-2012, 08:39 AM	#1
geartech New Member 1 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2008 Jerez Swartz M3 6spd Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Birmingham Al iTrader: (0)	Getting my M3 Tomorrow, 08 Saloon 6spd Buying my first M3 tomorrow. Bought it thru the dealer I work for( Porsche) I've seen a few post about what are typical failures. The only one I've got a question about are the vanos adj failures and how common is it? We have a similar failure with our valve timing adj on the Panamera V6 the adj asym bolts break and allow the adj outer drive section to spin and loose cam timing and you know the rest on a interference motor. Bad bad things happen. Last one I saw happened at partial load and 4k rpm. After the heads of the valves broke off of the intake valves it lauched 2 rods thu the block. Broke the exh cam in half. The car still ran, Not well but I could get it in the shop.
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09-23-2012, 09:15 AM	#3
geartech New Member 1 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2008 Jerez Swartz M3 6spd Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Birmingham Al iTrader: (0)	Thanks, thats the answer I was hoping for. Now to find an exhaust for it.
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09-23-2012, 09:36 AM	#4
silverspoon New Member 2 Rep 9 Posts Drives: Not a BMW... Yet. Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (0)	Congrats! What packages does it have? How many miles? And how much did you got it for? If you can tell of course...
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09-23-2012, 10:01 AM	#5
geartech New Member 1 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2008 Jerez Swartz M3 6spd Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Birmingham Al iTrader: (0)	Got the car for 30k with 57k miles, I know the owner that traded it in for a 911 Car has ecd, carbon leather, Navi, 6spd, Memory seats if thats an option. I'm not really sure what all was optioned for the M3 and what was standard. It appears to have most all the options except the DCT trans. Not sure what the color is called on the interior but it's the rust red leather seats with black and rust trim on the door panels. For the milage it looks like new inside and out. He took really good care of it and he had all the maint. records from our BMW dealer up the block.
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09-23-2012, 10:21 AM	#7
karussell Lieutenant Colonel 356 Rep 1,749 Posts Drives: 4 wheels Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: NorCal iTrader: (1)	porsche tech driving a bimmer to work. that should be good conversation starter for clients cross shopping. __________________ "It gave you amazing satisfaction, but anyone who says he loved it is either a liar or he wasn't going fast enough." - Jackie Stewart on racing at the Nurburgring
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09-23-2012, 10:46 AM	#9
geartech New Member 1 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2008 Jerez Swartz M3 6spd Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Birmingham Al iTrader: (0)	Yea, I still have my 91 944 turbo track car. And a Porsche in that price range to me isn't nearly as nice a car or practical. The M3 is just much more practical and a GT3 ( the M3's compitition from Porsche ) is not the most fun thing to drive every day. On the track it's great it's just not a comfortable car. BMW just got it right with the M3 series. It handles great, good power and plenty of room inside. We have lots of customers that have both, A BMW and a Porsche in their stables. ( must be nice)
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09-23-2012, 12:48 PM	#12
PhillyNate ENTHUSIAST 135 Rep 2,097 Posts Drives: 2010 Porsche Cayman Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 Porsche Cayman [0.00]	Welcome aboard Geartech. Sounds like you bought a great car. You will be happy and as others may have said, this is currently the most reliable BMW made and possibly the most reliable M car ever. I am personally thrilled to have a Porsche tech on the board as a lot of us M3 owners cross shop. I love my M3 but if I ever go Porsche, I'll be looking to you for help. Congrats. __________________ "what I'm driving here...is an ending." Jeremy Clarkson 2010 Carrara White Porsche Cayman 6mt 2014 Whiteout Toyota GT-86 6mt(Sold 05/23/15) 2011 Alpine White BMW M3 6mt ZCP Coupe(forced retirement 06/06/14) 2008 Alpine White BMW 328i 6mt Coupe(retired 06/21/11)
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09-23-2012, 03:29 PM	#14
THE TECH BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 307 Rep 13,093 Posts Drives: BPMsport 2012 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kansas iTrader: (45) Garage List 2013 Nissan GTR [0.00] 2019 Sierra Denali ... [0.00] 1999 Nissan Silvia [0.00] 1999 Nissan Skyline ... [0.00] 1998 Toyota Supra [0.00]	Congrats.
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09-23-2012, 03:34 PM	#15
e46e92love Brigadier General 236 Rep 3,303 Posts Drives: e92 ///M3; X3 (wife's) Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: The East Side of Things iTrader: (0)	Congrats.....car should be relatively reliable and as tech, you will be able to fix most that goes wrong after a short conversation with a BMW tech assuming its complicated. She may just surprise you with her track abilities as well Cheers, e46e92 __________________ "...it's not about the money and not about the brand of the car, it's about handling,performance and passion......And that, no other car has all together like an M3........when you talk about the most complete car the M is invincible." --Tony Kanaan.
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09-24-2012, 01:35 AM	#17
Detroit M3 Major 31 Rep 982 Posts Drives: Murdered E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Bloomfield Hills iTrader: (0)	Congrats on the car buddy __________________ E92. ModeCarbon. iND. eisenmann. ACM Test Pipe. BPM Sport. KW.
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09-24-2012, 08:14 PM	#18
geartech New Member 1 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2008 Jerez Swartz M3 6spd Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Birmingham Al iTrader: (0)	Got her home tonight. These cars are GRRRRRate as Tony the tiger would say Just a really nice car all around, comfortable and very intuitive to drive. I-drive is a little hard to get used to but it's just new to me. Even got the orig. window sticker with it. Thanks again to all for the info.
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09-24-2012, 10:54 PM	#21
Carl L Major 196 Rep 1,248 Posts Drives: '15 M3 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: West Coast iTrader: (0)	You stole it. Congrats, you're going to love it. Not even Porsche make a 4 seater that handles and sounds like one of these....
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