Daily Drive the E90?

[pbonsalb]

Apart from rod bearings that could result in catastrophic failure I think the E90M3 is reliable. Mine is an 08 with 90k and has needed only a low pressure fuel sensor, throttle actuators, motor mounts and brake rotors and pads. Rear tires last only about 12k but you don’t have to buy the most expensive ones. That is the main consumable. Suspension arms are not that much if you buy TRW which makes the yBMW part and don’t require that much labor to install. I have replaced 6 arms so far but none failed. Rather, they felt too compliant to me. Any car will need mire work as it gets up around 100k and 10 years and it will cost more for a high performance car that was expensive new. My car might be worth $25k now and there is nothing I could buy anywhere near that cost that I would rather drive so I am keeping it. And it’s it’s paid for. Repairs are like an occasional car payment.

[NoHedge]

Originally Posted by WAKman

I DD my E92, and like SYT_Shadow and many others here, I consider a day without M3 to be a day without sunshine (OK, I do live in Seattle). I bought it in June with 77K on it, and it just turned 86K today--9K miles in less than 6 months. No matter how the day is going, caning that honking V8 is always a thrill. I don't consider cars--even these--to be investments; mine have to earn their keep by being driven.

I live in the city so driving to work is not an option.

Similar to you, I bought my M3 back in March with ~77k and recently crossed 86k as well. Going into the purchase, I told myself that I would DD my accord and reserve the M3 for good weather/weekends mostly. Has not happened yet (besides inclement weather). I just cant stop firing her up every chance I get! groceries, coffee runs, short food runs whatever.

That said, I have summer tires on and don't have storage for a winter set, so I'll be driving the accord with winter tires on once it starts snowing and gets too cold.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

Apart from rod bearings that could result in catastrophic failure I think the E90M3 is reliable. Mine is an 08 with 90k and has needed only a low pressure fuel sensor, throttle actuators, motor mounts and brake rotors and pads. Rear tires last only about 12k but you don’t have to buy the most expensive ones. That is the main consumable. Suspension arms are not that much if you buy TRW which makes the yBMW part and don’t require that much labor to install. I have replaced 6 arms so far but none failed. Rather, they felt too compliant to me. Any car will need mire work as it gets up around 100k and 10 years and it will cost more for a high performance car that was expensive new. My car might be worth $25k now and there is nothing I could buy anywhere near that cost that I would rather drive so I am keeping it. And it’s it’s paid for. Repairs are like an occasional car payment.

I also consider the E9X is very reliable. I think it'll go down in history as the most reliable M of all time

[Blademaster]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

Drive the M3 or sell it. I have driven my 08 E90M3 year round in NH, including winter with snow wheels, for the 7 years I have owned it. I bought it to drive not to preserve.

If you would rather drive a GLI or Compass, sell the M3 and drive one of those cars.

If you can’t afford to own the M3 while you prepare to buy a house then sell it and buy a house. I like driving nice cars but would not if it meant I could not afford a house — I think the house is more important.

Try Toronto Canada, where a sh*ty house can run you to $1Million lol

I rent, makes more sense

[spazzyfry123]

All right... I'll keep it.

We logged probably about seven hundred miles on the car over the past few days with a quick vacation and meeting up with the M3 Post guys for the Dragon run.

Lots of highway. Lots of curves. Lots of elevation change. Lots of luggage. Lots of fast (and slow). Lots of crappy roads (and very good ones).

Not a single rattle. Not a single issue. Super comfortable within reason for a sports car. This truly is the best car I can drive every day. The only thing I could consider to make this a more versatile car is to add a roof rack and a cargo carrier for a big trip or to toss things in on my way to the track to house things I don't want inside. With as easy as it is to install and remove the rack into the BMW-designed areas, I can certainly justify. I can't get over just how awesome the car is. Love its Jekyll & Hyde personality.

It's got a couple issues that really came to light during our intensive "test drive" over the past few days.

1. Some type of drivetrain clunk.
   http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1442238
2. The shifter really sucks.
   http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1442231

Even the girl thoroughly enjoyed our trip in the car. In process of selling the GLI and putting its sale cash in the bank. Can't believe we almost got rid of it - we had made up our mind and were going to the Toyota dealership to pick up the 4Runner (the one we had negotiated down a good chunk) TODAY the day before our trip in the car.

Here's to many more dirty miles and smiles!

[SYT_Shadow]

What a great ending to the story. I still think a 330Ci/328/128/228 is a solid option as a DD and it's cheap, so keep that in mind for the future

I answered your shifter question. Fortunately there's a perfect solution to that

[spazzyfry123]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

What a great ending to the story. I still think a 330Ci/328/128/228 is a solid option as a DD and it's cheap, so keep that in mind for the future

I answered your shifter question. Fortunately there's a perfect solution to that

On our ride back home from the Smokies last night, we passed a super clean ZHP E46 sedan. Was very jealous.

I think ultimately the E90 will be the daily for the years to come. From there a P Car will be the track rat while the E90 stays on DD status or we pick up something else and the E90 gets put back in the garage. This won't be until we finally get settled down in a house.

[WAKman]

Originally Posted by spazzyfry123

All right... I'll keep it.

. . . .

Even the girl thoroughly enjoyed our trip in the car. In process of selling the GLI and putting its sale cash in the bank. Can't believe we almost got rid of it - we had made up our mind and were going to the Toyota dealership to pick up the 4Runner (the one we had negotiated down a good chunk) TODAY the day before our trip in the car.

Here's to many more dirty miles and smiles!

Atta boy! Good choice!

I would hate to be lying on my deathbed thinking "Well sure, things look bad, but at least I didn't rack up the miles on my M3."


Terry

[BOOF-M3]

Congrats Tyler, the E90 looked like a tailored suit on you. A perfect match.

[spazzyfry123]

Originally Posted by BOOF-M3

Congrats Tyler, the E90 looked like a tailored suit on you. A perfect match.

You should see me when I drive it naked!

No wait...you shouldn't.

[OzCoE92]

Glad to see you are keeping the E90! The perfect M car for daily duties, I like the idea of getting a P car down the line, GT3 track weapon!

[spazzyfry123]

Originally Posted by OzCoE92

Glad to see you are keeping the E90! The perfect M car for daily duties, I like the idea of getting a P car down the line, GT3 track weapon!

Believe me. We've already had the discussion of a 997 GT3 in the future.