Hello everyone. I am new to Bimmerpost but have been directed here by many people. I am a 17-year-old boy looking to get a 2008 E92 M3. I have a couple of questions. Are there any common problems with an E92 M3 that I should look out for? I'm asking because my previous car was a 2011 528i and I had to pay 5k for some VANOS error in the engine only 2 months after having it. My other question is are there any purchasable warranties that would cover the M3 and which ones would you recommend?
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10-28-2024LAST POST
No
No to which part?
Jeagle25 wroteA 17 year old in an M3No to which part?
Please read this, I just wrote a few things a few days ago
M340i vs f80 Advice
Jeagle25 wroteget a bicycle and a skateboardHello everyone. I am new to Bimmerpost but have been directed here by many people. I am a 17-year-old boy looking to get a 2008 E92 M3. I have a couple of questions. Are there any common problems with an E92 M3 that I should look out for? I'm asking because my previous car was a 2011 528i and I had to pay 5k for some VANOS error in the engine only 2 months after having it. My other question is are there any purchasable warranties that would cover the M3 and which ones would you recommend?
Just read it. Sorry to hear about what happened! I know many people would be against the idea of a teen driving a fast car and I understand that but that's bc many teens lack self-control. I have been driving for 3 years and have a lot of road sense now. When I first started driving, I got pulled over going 99 in a 45 (I know it was stupid). I got my license suspended and paid my own ticket as I should and I learned a lot. I saw that your worry was about how fast the M3 was and a teen driving one. However, I have been driving my mom's Tesla Model Y and I believe that it's faster than an E92 m3 and I haven't had any incidents with it. My main focus though was the reliability of an M3. I don't want to have my car in the shop for months again.
lol!
Jeagle25 wroteHow did you find this forum if you haven’t heard of rod bearings?Hello everyone. I am new to Bimmerpost but have been directed here by many people. I am a 17-year-old boy looking to get a 2008 E92 M3. I have a couple of questions. Are there any common problems with an E92 M3 that I should look out for? I'm asking because my previous car was a 2011 528i and I had to pay 5k for some VANOS error in the engine only 2 months after having it. My other question is are there any purchasable warranties that would cover the M3 and which ones would you recommend?
I've heard of rod bearings but I don't really know what they are. My main wonder from this post is how likely is it that an E92 M3 will break down own me.
Jeagle25 wroteOfficial S65 Rod Bearing Condition Example ThreadI've heard of rod bearings but I don't really know what they are. My main wonder from this post is how likely is it that an E92 M3 will break down own me.
Everyone has to start their BMW fandom somewhere! 
When I was your age there was no cooler car than an E39 M5.
Is it reliable? The crummy answer is “that depends”. One one hand we are talking about a BMW roughly 11-16 years old and most cars that age are going to have something to deal with. Is it less reliable than cars of a similar age? In my experience: no! Don’t buy any car that you can’t afford a 2-3k repair. You could have bad luck and have bad rod bearings but you can have bad luck in a lot of cars.if you get one in good condition it’ll treat you right.
When I was your age there was no cooler car than an E39 M5.Is it reliable? The crummy answer is “that depends”. One one hand we are talking about a BMW roughly 11-16 years old and most cars that age are going to have something to deal with. Is it less reliable than cars of a similar age? In my experience: no! Don’t buy any car that you can’t afford a 2-3k repair. You could have bad luck and have bad rod bearings but you can have bad luck in a lot of cars.if you get one in good condition it’ll treat you right.
Ok. Thanks! I am already prepared for a lot of maintenance and potential big repair costs. I just want to make sure that getting an M3 won't just be a recipe for disaster and a money pit. On my old 528i, the person who sold it to me said he did an oil change but idk and I never did one in the 6 or so months of having the car. I also treated the car pretty poorly revving it up and whatnot. I won't rev the M3 up too high but in the case that I did, would anything bad happen?
Jeagle25 wroteRead these forums, research.Ok. Thanks! I am already prepared for a lot of maintenance and potential big repair costs. I just want to make sure that getting an M3 won't just be a recipe for disaster and a money pit. On my old 528i, the person who sold it to me said he did an oil change but idk and I never did one in the 6 or so months of having the car. I also treated the car pretty poorly revving it up and whatnot. I won't rev the M3 up too high but in the case that I did, would anything bad happen?
Brandoch wroteThis. Do your research. This forum is the place to be. Have plenty of cash set aside. All running costs (gas/tires/insurance/oil) will be much higher than you are used to.Read these forums, research.
I know about all of that. My last car was a BMW as well. From what I have seen, as long as I maintain it properly, especially the oil, I should be good.
Get an E90 328i plenty quick for a beginner (250 HP ish) and reliable as hell.
I definitely would not recommend an M3 for a teenager, especially if you're worried about cost. While the M3 is fairly reliable, it takes some preventive maintenance to make it so. Rod bearings are the major item, but if you're getting a used car - and probably a cheap-ish one - you need to be prepared for some upfront preventive maintenance. M3 parts are 2-3x the price of non-M 3-series, so you need to be prepared for that. The S65 V8 is a complex engine and various wear and tear items could need replacing including throttle actuators, idle control valve, etc. The costs will add up.
If you’re worried about money, probably not a good choice. I daily drive a coyote mustang because it’s a quarter the running cost and does nearly the same thing. If you grew up watching Tiff Needell reviewing these and it’s a dream car, then it’s worth the price and hassle.
Maybe read the thread below for some more insight.
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1418410
That being said If repair costs are a concern to you then I’d personally advise against it. BMW m cars are not cheap to work on. Parts are pricey.
They can be expensive to dial in when first purchasing one if some of the major preventives have not yet been tackled by the previous owners(s)…….At the end of the day it’s your decision.
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1418410
That being said If repair costs are a concern to you then I’d personally advise against it. BMW m cars are not cheap to work on. Parts are pricey.
They can be expensive to dial in when first purchasing one if some of the major preventives have not yet been tackled by the previous owners(s)…….At the end of the day it’s your decision.
Redd wroteI'm not really worried about the cost. I just want to make sure it's reliable. I plan on doing maintenance and doing an oil change asap.I definitely would not recommend an M3 for a teenager, especially if you're worried about cost. While the M3 is fairly reliable, it takes some preventive maintenance to make it so. Rod bearings are the major item, but if you're getting a used car - and probably a cheap-ish one - you need to be prepared for some upfront preventive maintenance. M3 parts are 2-3x the price of non-M 3-series, so you need to be prepared for that. The S65 V8 is a complex engine and various wear and tear items could need replacing including throttle actuators, idle control valve, etc. The costs will add up.
e92dud wroteI'm not too worried about the price but I just want to make sure it's somewhat reliable.If you’re worried about money, probably not a good choice. I daily drive a coyote mustang because it’s a quarter the running cost and does nearly the same thing. If you grew up watching Tiff Needell reviewing these and it’s a dream car, then it’s worth the price and hassle.
oil change is just like 1/10th of the maintenance in owning a M3. Answer your question is yes, the M3 is reliable as long as do the maintenance, drive it properly and take good care of it. Just like any other car that it will be reliable if you throw enough money at it. Be prepare to do more than just an oil change.
My advice, start off with a cheaper car. If you like BMW you can start off a 3 series. Learn how to work on your car, do your own service and maintenance. Because you are going to screw up along the way, but a 3 series is a lot cheaper to screw up on than a M3. Learning how to work your own car is a fun experience and you're gonna meet a lot of good people and make a lot of friends a long the way. So enjoy that process and not rush into things.
My advice, start off with a cheaper car. If you like BMW you can start off a 3 series. Learn how to work on your car, do your own service and maintenance. Because you are going to screw up along the way, but a 3 series is a lot cheaper to screw up on than a M3. Learning how to work your own car is a fun experience and you're gonna meet a lot of good people and make a lot of friends a long the way. So enjoy that process and not rush into things.
