Am I about out of the maintance woods for 80k miles?

[Cmassey3]

So I've owned this M3 since June of 2020 and I've done about $18-$20k in maintenance from the 73k-80k mile interval with the following jobs

• Rod bearings + motor mounts
• DCT mechatronics seal leaking - reseal transmission
• Alternator failing - replace alternator
• Throttle body actuators failed - replaced both
• New spark plugs + 2 new ignition coils
• All new fluids - power steering/rear diff/main oil (consumables)
• All new pads/rotors (consumables)
• Fixed headlight washer leak
• Cosmetic repairs: headliner, various trim, front undertray

Now I've got valve and timing cover seals needed along with new valve covers needed due to corrosion.The work is getting done, but I'm about at the end of my budget with this, I think I'm on track to clock around $10k a year in maintenance consistently.

Would there be any common major services needed before 100k miles or has this likely leveled out?

[happydude]

I had thermostat and starter fail around that mileage. I would recommend diy a lot of the stuff if you worried about the cost. There’s plenty of good guides here in the forums for that.

[Cmassey3]

Originally Posted by happydude

I had thermostat and starter fail around that mileage. I would recommend diy a lot of the stuff if you worried about the cost. There’s plenty of good guides here in the forums for that.

Yeah, I'd really like to transition to more DIY. I think a jack might be a good place to start. Is thermostat an easy DIY?

[Rino924]

This is a pretty helpful video

[Ximian]

You're out of the woods and entering the forest.

[chutak]

I'm in the same boat at about 85k miles, and I'd say you're just about there. Other items I've replaced that's not on your list are:

1. Thermostat (as mentioned by others)
2. Fuel tank breather valve
3. Low pressure fuel sensor (easy diy)
4. Header-to-exhaust donut gaskets (diy)
5. DCT mechatronics wire harness o-ring (not sure if you already got that)
6. Brake vacuum sensor (probably wait until get fault codes)
7. Idler pulley (I think '08 models were problematic but I did mine anyway)
8. Upgrade Vanos covers?
9. Refresh suspension

I'll agree that maintenance and preventive repairs for the M3 has been quite expensive compared to other cars I've owned. Glad I got it for a good price before Covid happened.

[Ximian]

Originally Posted by Cmassey3

Yeah, I'd really like to transition to more DIY. I think a jack might be a good place to start. Is thermostat an easy DIY?

This car is ridiculously expensive to own if you're paying someone else to fix it. I remember paying $230 for an oil change at an indy when I had less free time.

Apart from rod bearings, everything else on your list is pretty much an easy DIY if you have a day or two. You'll spend about $800-1000 on a jack, jack stands, and miscellaneous tools which will save you thousands a year. I got a $150 mechanics toolkit from Home Depot, jack and jack stands from Lowes, and added various sockets specific to the car. It was enough for brake jobs, spark plug changes, and fluid changes.

[tdott]

Originally Posted by Cmassey3

Would there be any common major services needed before 100k miles or has this likely leveled out?

Probably not before 100k unless you get unlucky and it fails, but I did my tstat and water pump at 120k preventatively. They were fine and probably could have lasted longer, but I was doing a bunch of things and wanted to refresh it while in there.

[DrFerry]

Originally Posted by Cmassey3

So I've owned this M3 since June of 2020 and I've done about $18-$20k in maintenance from the 73k-80k mile interval with the following jobs

• Rod bearings + motor mounts
• DCT mechatronics seal leaking - reseal transmission
• Alternator failing - replace alternator
• Throttle body actuators failed - replaced both
• New spark plugs + 2 new ignition coils
• All new fluids - power steering/rear diff/main oil (consumables)
• All new pads/rotors (consumables)
• Fixed headlight washer leak
• Cosmetic repairs: headliner, various trim, front undertray

Now I've got valve and timing cover seals needed along with new valve covers needed due to corrosion.The work is getting done, but I'm about at the end of my budget with this, I think I'm on track to clock around $10k a year in maintenance consistently.

Would there be any common major services needed before 100k miles or has this likely leveled out?

Take a look at the battery, or service record history, to determine how old the battery is. IF the clock starts running slowly or weird codes appear, the battery might be suspect. E9X M3s are hard on their AGM batteries due to these cars being rolling cyborgs. Hence, when the car is parked in the garage keep it on a good Battery Tender.

IF the motor idle fluctuates after filing up with gas, then the fuel tank breather valve might need replacing. Cleaning the fuel injectors, replacing the serpentine drive belts and tensioners, as well as the O2 sensors all might need doing around (in some cases) or before the 100K mile mark. Just as you mentioned, the valve covers and gaskets are probably the next highest priorities.

[PAM3Guy]

Looks like you've got most of the important stuff. I refreshed a number of the front suspension parts at around 60K and it definitely made a difference in feel and response - front thrust arms, LCA's and sway bar links.

[MLife614]

In term of Maintenance: Oil, filter, spark plugs...etc...start sourcing your parts and products through FCP Euro....Lifetime Warranty will be your best friend for long term ownership....as others have mention...keep an eye on your battery....I also replaced my 02 sensors at roughly 90k ....and also decided to replaced Power Steering reservoir easy DIY as well...and flushed my power steering fluid. Coil Packs would be something that you could always replace as needed...I just did a preventative and replaced all of my at 100k...OEM are pricey...so keep an eye out for deals out there...they sell quick. good luck

[spammysammich]

If you can stomach the cost I'd rather replace the fuel injectors instead of cleaning them. It may not hurt to run fuel injector cleaner in your gas once in a while but pulling the injectors and sending them off to get cleaned isn't as good as replacing them if they show signs of clogging or stuff like e85 damage. There have been a couple cases of stuck fuel injectors hydrolocking or bore washing in the community lately and injectors are a huge point of failure in the S85 apparently.

[Cmassey3]

Originally Posted by spammysammich

If you can stomach the cost I'd rather replace the fuel injectors instead of cleaning them. It may not hurt to run fuel injector cleaner in your gas once in a while but pulling the injectors and sending them off to get cleaned isn't as good as replacing them if they show signs of clogging or stuff like e85 damage. There have been a couple cases of stuck fuel injectors hydrolocking or bore washing in the community lately and injectors are a huge point of failure in the S85 apparently.

What injector cleaner are you running?

[spammysammich]

I use Techron now and then on all my cars. One bottle during a fill up

I got pretty lucky. Previous owner of my car changed all the injectors out last year. And fuel sender/pump and fuel pressure sensor.

[fs34]

Originally Posted by GotV8?

In term of Maintenance: Oil, filter, spark plugs...etc...start sourcing your parts and products through FCP Euro....Lifetime Warranty will be your best friend for long term ownership....

This.

I’m on my 4th oil change with FCP, 2nd diff fluid, the list goes on. This year $800 or so in fluids, filters, wiper blades. I’ll get about $700 of that refunded. It definitely helps if you don’t mind bottling up the old stuff and shipping it back. They promote this and tell you how to do it on their site. I buy everything from FCP, their warranty and customer service has earned that.

At your mileage be on the lookout for the oil filter housing gasket. Not a bad job but takes some time to do.

[jd501]

• Seatbelt extenders failed on both, don't care enough to fix, plust would be replacing with the same part that fails

Originally Posted by Cmassey3

So I've owned this M3 since June of 2020 and I've done about $18-$20k in maintenance from the 73k-80k mile interval with the following jobs

• Rod bearings + motor mounts
• DCT mechatronics seal leaking - reseal transmission
• Alternator failing - replace alternator
• Throttle body actuators failed - replaced both
• New spark plugs + 2 new ignition coils
• All new fluids - power steering/rear diff/main oil (consumables)
• All new pads/rotors (consumables)
• Fixed headlight washer leak
• Cosmetic repairs: headliner, various trim, front undertray

I'm on my second E92 (first was totaled at 110k, second is at 85k now), list above is comprehensive on everything I've had to do between both, would add:

• Starter failed on both, first on around 100k and the second at 85k (just got it back from the shop today)
• Valve covers seeping on both

and of course

• Seat belt extenders failed on both

Don't care enough to fix that, plus it would be replacing with the same part / design that failed

[Cmassey3]

Shop just hit me up saying front wheel bearings are needed. Declined that addition. It looks simple enough of a DIY?

[BeaterM3]

Originally Posted by Cmassey3

So I've owned this M3 since June of 2020 and I've done about $18-$20k in maintenance from the 73k-80k mile interval with the following jobs

• Rod bearings + motor mounts
• DCT mechatronics seal leaking - reseal transmission
• Alternator failing - replace alternator
• Throttle body actuators failed - replaced both
• New spark plugs + 2 new ignition coils
• All new fluids - power steering/rear diff/main oil (consumables)
• All new pads/rotors (consumables)
• Fixed headlight washer leak
• Cosmetic repairs: headliner, various trim, front undertray

Now I've got valve and timing cover seals needed along with new valve covers needed due to corrosion.The work is getting done, but I'm about at the end of my budget with this, I think I'm on track to clock around $10k a year in maintenance consistently.

Would there be any common major services needed before 100k miles or has this likely leveled out?

Bought mine with 75K almost 3 years ago. Have almost 97K on it now. It is my daily driver.

In that time, I have done:

Rod bearings replaced
Transmission pan replaced
Clockspring replaced
Battery replaced
Tensioner pulleys replaced
Transmission replaced (due to mechatronics failure)
Driveshaft replaced
Thermostat replaced
Hood latch replaced
Front/rear rotors/pads replaced
Heater core replaced

[Cmassey3]

Originally Posted by BeaterM3

Bought mine with 75K or so 3 years ago. Have almost 97K on it now. It is my daily driver.

In that time, I have done:

Rod bearings replaced
Transmission pan replaced
Clockspring replaced
Transmission replaced (due to mechatronics failure)
Driveshaft replaced
Tensioner pulleys replaced
Thermostat replaced
Front/rear rotors/pads replaced
Heater core replaced

That sounds like an immense amount of work.

[BeaterM3]

Originally Posted by Cmassey3

That sounds like an immense amount of work.

Oh yes lol you are definitely not alone with the $$ being put in!

I have been thinking of parting ways with it at some point this year ... so whoever it is passed along to won't have much to worry about for preventative maintenance. lol.

[Cmassey3]

Originally Posted by BeaterM3

Oh yes lol you are definitely not alone with the $$ being put in!

I have been thinking of parting ways with it at some point this year ... so whoever it is passed along to won't have much to worry about for preventative maintenance. lol.

Yeah, I never wanted to be that guy that bit off more than he could financially chew. I thought I knew what I was getting myself into, but I'm almost out of budget and even if I did DIY for the rest, it's not looking good.

[neilum]

Originally Posted by Cmassey3

Yeah, I never wanted to be that guy that bit off more than he could financially chew. I thought I knew what I was getting myself into, but I'm almost out of budget and even if I did DIY for the rest, it's not looking good.

At this point maybe go all in the car should be good to go after the VG gaskets.

These cars aren't cheap to run but your case is definitely on the extreme end of maintenance costs.

You may end up putting all this work in just to be a nice guy and sell a well sorted M3 for the next guy to enjoy for 3 years without anything breaking.