Question about mileage

[xander_g]

Greeting all,

Pardon my ignorance but when people use the term "low-mileage" what does that mean? I've heard and read people use the term to refer to odometer readings of various margins.

If one was to take the condition of the vehicle out of the equation, as I am sure all of us have seen cars with high odometer readings in excellent conditions and cars with low readings that look like they've been to hell and back.

Not sure if this needs a poll but how does one define "low-mileage"?

Thank you in advance for your input.

[Ab28]

Means a lot of things to different people...

Take a random 2010 E92 M3 for example. The car is 10 years old. Assume it has 35k miles.

To me that is low mileage, but I have seen E9x M3s with sub 10k odometers. So that does make those super low mileage? It's subjective.

What's low to you may not be low to me. I'm not sure where enthusiasts draw the line regarding this (but there is always an example where we can mutually agree)

To your point about mileage not equating to condition, you'd be correct. I have seen 30k mile cars that look like rentals and 100k+ cars that look damn new.

[BimmerRookie]

less than 8k miles/year ?

[Ab28]

Originally Posted by BimmerRookie

less than 8k miles/year ?

Yea, but some guy will come on here saying that a 10yr old car with 80k isn't low mileage, even though it's significantly less than the avg. of ~12k per year for most people.

[timothy2001]

Think about how it relates to leasing which typically offer 10k, 12k and 15k miles a year with 10k considered a “low mileage lease”.

I think the 8k number from BimmerRookie is a good starting point and of course it’s subjective.

[xander_g]

Just for the sake of this thread, lets keep this to e9x M cars as Im sure an e36 M would have a difference due to the vehicle's age being a key factor.

While I do understand that the definition will likely vary from person to person, I am trying to get a general consensus.

[Ab28]

Originally Posted by xander_g

Just for the sake of this thread, lets keep this to e9x M cars as Im sure an e36 M would have a difference due to the vehicle's age being a key factor.

While I do understand that the definition will likely vary from person to person, I am trying to get a general consensus.

Ok well that helps....8k/yr is a good (reasonable) metric then.

The E9x cars have proven reliable if maintained and used as DD by many.

But then again if I saw an '08 with ~96k on the clock I don't think low mileage would be my first thought...even though I agree with 8k/yr being low haha.

[xander_g]

So lets use mine as an example then, its a 2013 that just crossed the 100k (kms) mark before i put it away for the winter, so that should be like 62-64 miles which makes it just over 9k/year, therefore its on the higher side?

[Megabrode]

Ten-year-old e9x M3s with 35K miles are rare. Properly serviced and maintained (and driven regularly, even if vigorously, as intended, but not abused), e9x M cars cars should go well beyond 200K miles without major engine work (not including throttle actuators, rod bearings, leaky seals). The less electronic gadgetry, the more likely they will be trouble-free miles. To me, low miles are 6-8K/year as a weekend funster, 8-10K as a freeway flyer. So far, my 2011.0 averages 7K/year, though closer to 14K under under my ownership. On its current trajectory, the car, approaching 70K, is likely to outlive me.

[///M Power-Belgium]

In 2 words : "Garage queen"

[hotbmwfan]

My "Garage Queen" hit 44,000 km last fall before going into winter storage. That works out to 2,600 miles per year. I would think this qualifies for super-low mileage although I would certainly like to be using the car a lot more than I actually do. I agree that a "low mileage" number would be in the 6,000 to 8,000 mile per year range.

[smyles]

Originally Posted by xander_g

So lets use mine as an example then, its a 2013 that just crossed the 100k (kms) mark before i put it away for the winter, so that should be like 62-64 miles which makes it just over 9k/year, therefore its on the higher side?

Yes. For an M3. On a prius or any other 'regular vehicle that is expected to drive 12...18k miles/year, that would be low. For a bus or semi that would be 'just broken in'.

In short, it's all relative.

[akkando]

Probably depends if you're a collector or not. 3500 miles for a collector seems reasonably low.

If you want to drive the car rather just store it maybe 2X,000 is low miles.

Feels like 50k to 60k is mid miles.

[shimmy23]

Originally Posted by BimmerRookie

less than 8k miles/year ?

This. If you think otherwise then you are special

[SAMM3Y]

How Long is a piece of string?

[nyc_dude]

e9x M3s have known defects that appear at certain mileage milestones. Also, a BMW dealer serviced car doesn't mean anything and they are generally awful.

The magic number for an e9x M3 is <70k miles. Anything over that means thousands of $$$$ per year in maintenance expenses. There is an //M Tax on most M3 parts and services vs a regular BMW 3-Series. The bonus is that there are infinite customization and upgrade options for e46, e9x, and f8x M-Cars vs other similar sport sedans/coupes.

A Garage Queen from a sunny climate is ideal. After you buy one, figure out how many years you plan to keep it and only drive it enough per year to get to 120k miles. An aftermarket warranty is a bonus.

Most sought after e9x M3 models are:

2011 e90 M3 Competition Pkg Sedan
2011-2013 e92/e93 Competition Pkg Coupe/Convertible
Individual Models
GTS Model
Lime Rock Edition
Frozen Paint Option (Not the Elsa/Anna/Olaf FROZEN)

If you are nowhere near a great BMW Indy Shop, that is No Bueno.

S65 V8 or Bust...

Good Luck,

Cheers

PS Newer $$$$ sports cars have even more defects. Nothing worst about an e9x M3.

[Scrippy]

I have 206,000 and other than paint chips my car is in better condition then most other cars. If something wears I replace it. If you treat your M3 like a garage queen I feel bad for it and you. Purl and I run around daily rain or shine. What's the point of having a badass car if you're not using it?

[VictorH]

Originally Posted by Scrippy

I have 206,000 and other than paint chips my car is in better condition then most other cars. If something wears I replace it. If you treat your M3 like a garage queen I feel bad for it and you. Purl and I run around daily rain or shine. What's the point of having a badass car if you're not using it?

Totally agree! I'm at 150,000 miles and replacing the valve covers, gaskets, breathers, spark plug tubes and all the hardware this weekend. This car is also my daily, burns about 1/4 quart of oil between changes (7,500 miles) and will be running VIR next month. What could be better?

To me low mileage would be <50,000 miles on a 10 year old car, but then, what's the point?

[Scrippy]

Originally Posted by VictorH

Totally agree! I'm at 150,000 miles and replacing the valve covers, gaskets, breathers, spark plug tubes and all the hardware this weekend. This car is also my daily, burns about 1/4 quart of oil between changes (7,500 miles) and will be running VIR next month. What could be better?

To me low mileage would be <50,000 miles on a 10 year old car, but then, what's the point?

Enjoy man. When they sit things go bad. Same thing with people lol.

[tooloud10]

Originally Posted by SAMM3Y

How Long is a piece of string?

^^ This.

There's absolutely no definition to the term 'low mileage'. All it means is that the person using the phrase thinks the vehicle has lower mileage than he would have otherwise expected.

See also "clean"...

[Perfectmax]

I have 20k on my 2009 - that’s pretty low mileage?