Things to look out for in 100k+ mileage E92 M3

[carzaddict]

looking to purchase a super cheap toy car to drive to the grocery store on occasions...stumbled across a 2008 E92 M3 with 110k miles thats priced in my budget. What are some things i should be weary about other than the usual (brakes, tires,etc)....what are some common failures at that mileage? transmission? its a 6MT

[kolosy]

check out the sticky at the top, but it's rod bearings, throttle actuators and engine mounts. the rest is standard 100k mile car stuff.

[Scrippy]

Originally Posted by kolosy

check out the sticky at the top, but it's rod bearings, throttle actuators and engine mounts. the rest is standard 100k mile car stuff.

I approve this message 😂

[carzaddict]

Originally Posted by kolosy

check out the sticky at the top, but it's rod bearings, throttle actuators and engine mounts. the rest is standard 100k mile car stuff.

thank you, this is good. rod bearings seems like the big ticket. engine mounts seem normal to me, not sure how easy/difficult throttle actuators are (from a mechanic perspective, not DIY)

[718GT4]

Any easy solution to repair peeling black interior trims?

[kolosy]

Originally Posted by carzaddict

thank you, this is good. rod bearings seems like the big ticket. engine mounts seem normal to me, not sure how easy/difficult throttle actuators are (from a mechanic perspective, not DIY)

if you're used to wrenching, replacing the actuators is pretty straightforward. pull the plenum and they're right there. some people are scared of pulling the plenum but it's cake, you just need a 6mm socket and long extensions.

[kolosy]

Originally Posted by 718GT4

Any easy solution to repair peeling black interior trims?

why the threadjack? the soft touch can't be repaired really. you can either peel it off fully and live with what's underneath or replace the parts. i think the newer versions aren't as susceptible to peeling.

[jd501]

Originally Posted by kolosy

why the threadjack? the soft touch can't be repaired really. you can either peel it off fully and live with what's underneath or replace the parts. i think the newer versions aren't as susceptible to peeling.

Post history looks like a scammer. He's been getting banned fairly quickly on M5 / X5 boards, same guy keeps making new accounts.

[Redd]

Only rod bearings. Throttle actuator preventive replacement is overrated and its cheap to replace these days. TA failure won't cause engine damage, so they're not urgent. Do them when they start to give errors.

Other items are wear and tear related. Engine mounts yes. Check for oil leaks at the transmission and engine valve covers. Other than that, there's really not much to worry about.

[kolosy]

Originally Posted by Redd

Only rod bearings. Throttle actuator preventive replacement is overrated and its cheap to replace these days. TA failure won't cause engine damage, so they're not urgent. Do them when they start to give errors.

Other items are wear and tear related. Engine mounts yes. Check for oil leaks at the transmission and engine valve covers. Other than that, there's really not much to worry about.

Not preventative, no, but def something to budget for as it’s a minimum of $700 for a rebuilt set.

[e92ben]

Like everyone says. RB TA and new one to look out for (expensive) fuel injectors.

[drwankel]

Rod bearings - These will destroy the engine when they go. Replacement bearings are available that claim to cure the issue such as BE Bearings.

Throttle actuators - I recommend doing proactively, if they are OEM and have more than 40K. While it wont damage the engine when it fails, it will leave you in limp mode. That would suck quite a bit if you were not close to home. There are 3rd party lifetime warranty replacements available that supposedly wont fail.

Fuel injectors- Over the last few years there has been a large increase in fuel injector failures taking out engines. I wouldn't even hesitate to have them replaced if they haven't already been done at this point.

VANOS Covers- Also a newer failure that is starting to show itself with age. The plastic covers on the end of the vanos units are getting brittle and cracking, and eventually break. Once they do they can clog the oil pickup tube blowing the engine. Can be permanently fixed with metal replacements.

For a car with 110K, I would plan on tackling everything above unless its already been done.

The rest of the car is pretty solid. In fact, it's been the most reliable car I've ever owned. All of the major issues can be addressed. One thing to keep in mind, the S65 engine is not cheap. A new one was around ~$25K last I heard. The cost of fixing the issues above permanently is easily justifiable.

[CamasM3e93]

I bought an e90 with 98k miles and did a 100k refresh in ‘22.

Agree: rod bearings and throttle actuators if not addressed, and engine mounts if worn (you can inspect them with a fiber optic scope). Of the three on this list, I only had to do the motor mounts.

This has been my other list:
Belts
Pulleys
Water pump
Coolant hoses
Thermostat
Alternator
AC compressor (failed)
Plugs
Injectors
Fuel tank breather valve
Valve cover gaskets (do the Vanos covers while you’re in there)
Manual transmission fluid and transmission mounts
Rear differential fluid
Rear differential axle seals
Brake fluid flush
Replaced every control arm, front and rear

I did most of this myself over 6 months, most of it preventative or when I was swapping out the ESS for the Harrop supercharger. I drive my now 115k mile m3 with total confidence, including long remote car trips.

Enjoy it!