High mileage 08s report in!

[SGM_E90]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

You're replacing just 1 shock? Or are they nearly new anyway? (I know you said you've got new coilovers, not sure if that meant all corners).
Big bills btw!

Oh also, did you post pics of the old rod bearings?



Ah yea, I remember now , thanks.

It's fairly new so im just replacing 1 shock. Will send the leaking one out for repair

[FlexGT85]

Purchased mine in September from the 3rd owner, who bought it in 2017 and addressed some major maintenance items, but only drove the car for about 5K miles a year.

Late 08 production date, so technically an 09; it came with CIC from the factory, but had Pre-LCI taillights.

The car came with an extensive service history and the previous owner spared no expenses having everything done at Active's shop in Miami. Overall, this was probably the best deal anyone could have gotten on a well sorted 09 E92 with just over 120K miles. I think I stole this car at 18K. Of note, it had brand new valve covers installed and a fresh set of BE bearings. I'm a service writer at a BMW specialty shop, so we inspected the car prior to me purchasing and it was almost perfect mechanically for the age and mileage. The only visible issue that we found was some sweating around the DCT fluid pan.

Some cosmetic flaws did stand out though, which I think are pretty consistent with high mileage examples; the weather stripping was almost completely gone around the windshields and the under hood cowl was deteriorated as well. The shadowline door trim was also faded in some areas and looked bronze like. Inside, some of the black trims were worn and aged and also the drivers side seat leather was very worn. The door card on the drivers side was also showing its age. The Power button assembly by the shifter had broken buttons too. Apart from those exceptions though, cosmetically the car was pretty solid; Paint was still super clean and glossy and the carbon roof was not the worse I've seen at all, it was still glossy and only had one or 2 chips in the finish. The headlights were a bit worn and foggy and the aftermarket LCI taillights were as well.

Overall, I feel that this platform is very resilient mechanically and can stand the test of time as long as its properly maintained and cared for. The main areas of concern that I would suggest a potential buyer of a high mileage example to look out for are the cosmetics, such as the ones I mentioned above, because these aspects of the car are far more subject to disrepair than the mechanicals. So after finding an example with a good mechanical service history that has been well sorted, pay attention to the cosmetics.

Almost a year into ownership and I have had zero issues. So I'm just enjoying the car every day, practicing proper maintenance and tackling all of the cosmetic nuances as I'm able.

So far I have:

- Done a DCT service
- Replaced spark plugs
- Brake fluid flush
- Oil change
- New weather stripping all around along with a new cowl
- Sanded and clear coated the CF roof
- Revived headlights
- Replaced aftermarket LCI tails with OEM
- Refinished and powdercoated wheels
- Replaced broken button assembly by the shifter
- A few more cosmetic additions (MPERF. pedals, floormats, etc.)

Next up is figuring out what to do and getting the wallet ready to address the front seats and other interior leather surfaces... Those are the only details that really bother me.

[Redd]

A properly looked after E9x M3 is dead reliable. When I got mine, it had 70k kms on the clock but was basically neglected by the previous owner. The first year of ownership was hell for me, I inherited a ton of issues which I had to fix over the span of a year. Didn't help that the PO did some cheap shit mods like improperly retrofitted bbk which I had to troubleshoot and eventually replaced with a proper Brembo kit. Since then, I've had the car for total of 5+ yrs now, put another 70k kms on it, and it's been flawless.

[chocstraw]

2011 73k->113k which I think is proper high miles. No major issues. One TBA, had RBs done on a warranty oil pan repair, plus a cracked subframe from hitting a rock. Second most reliable car next to my gen 3 prius. N54 335i was a nightmare.

I drive the shit out of my cars.

I find this car very easy to do maintenance on. When I think I'm competent and offer my repair expertise to friends, I'm surprised by how difficult other cars are to work on. All major points of maintenance can be done by anyone with half a brain and most hand tools. Next time you're thinking about spending 200 on an oil change, go to harbor freight and get a jack, torque wrench, and oil catch, and just DIY. Even the DCT oil change is pretty easy.

[jeremyuhh]

2008 e90 slicktop 146k. Stage 2 alpine tune. Runs and drives like new.

[Angr2387]

i have a 08 76k mile m3. im in the process of doing rod bearings myself this week. just as a preventive measure.

[GotV8?]

did preventative measure @ 95k in fall of 2020 and last finally went over 100k miles and counting I am the second owner took purchased when it had only 13k on the odometer, the rest 87k plus are mine!!! oh yeah....next stop 250k!!! which will be very hard since I plan on purchasing another stable mate.

[Darkmoyle]

2008 E90 MT bought in 2014 with 69,000 miles on the clock. On original battery, brake disks, TAs, clutch and rod bearings.

- Nothing unusual done by previous owners according to the full BMW service history. I average 7k per year and do all maintenance myself. Oil changed annually with service I every 2 years and service II every 4 years.

- Fuel pressure sensor at 90k

- Replaced original battery at 100k with an Exide. New pads all round.
Changed thermostat, water pump, idler and belts as preventative maintenance.

- A TBA failed at 104K. The dash lit up like a Christmas tree. Replaced it with the Siemens OEM part. The other one went within 1000 miles of the first. Buy from FCPEuro for lifetime guarantee!

- 110k Replaced front brake discs, hood struts, trunk struts and all 8 ignition coils. Alternator and power steering pump changed because they were 10 years old. Still worked.

- 115k Replaced the original clutch and dual mass flywheel. Minimal slippage but felt like the time to do it. Found the parts for less than $800.

Rock Auto
$257 LUK 03102 Clutch kit (5 parts + tool)
$461 LUK DMF148 Flywheel

Also changed Guibo/flex disk, exhaust nuts, exhaust gaskets, release spring, pressure plate bolts, flex joint nuts, transmission & engine mounts

Awesome car and cheap to run as a (lower mileage) daily driver! Going to do rod bearings in next 20k.

[Bruuuce]

nice schedule of maintenance work done.

Interesting that the clutch parts were not that expensive, I keep hearing horror stories about the cost of those parts. I have never looked, but have thought about having UUC doing the work here locally.

[Assimilator1]

Personally I wouldn't delay the rod bearings any longer. You've done well to get 120k on the original bearings, why risk it when you've spent money and looked after the rest of the car so well?

[endur0]

I'm at 98k miles. Put about 30k on the car since I bought it in 2014. I usually keep four or so cars...

Repairs and maintenance required:

- Had a slight off-idle missfire when I bought it; new plugs fixed it.
- Thermostat failed, and did the water pump while I had things open.
- Brakes. I really like DS2500 pads for street use, but they'll prob be too noisy for many.
- A few sets of tires. Currently on some fresh RE71-r.
- One battery
- Alternator died at night, car stranded me.
- About to install BE Bearings + ARP bolts.
-- Blackstone reports have been good to date, this is strictly preventative.
- It has a very small pinion leak... which is going to be a gigantic PITA whenever I address it.
- This car definitely has the 1-2 shift issue; I can modulate it some by keeping fresh trans fluid, but it's the one buzzkill about the car.

Aside from that, it's moved to the front of the line for mods and in the next year will probably be getting its suspension fully refreshed with some motorsport stuff. Overall, it hasn't been bad from a reliability standpoint. Most of the above happened soon after the purchase; been pretty trouble free for the past 20k or so miles.

I really enjoy driving this car. Such a good balance several metrics.

[Assimilator1]

Shift issue? Is it a DCT or manual?

Oil reports don't always pick up failing bearings, see the thread linked in my sig for info, if you want . Good that you're getting them done anyway.

[JiGZ]

2008 E90 MT purchased Sept 2019 with 147K KM (~91K miles) on the clock, currently at 156K KM (~97K miles).

One of the TAs was going first week, replaced both, along with a few cracking coolant lines, waterpump and thermostat. New AGM battery, trunk struts, fuel breather, and 2.5 exhaust mod. Just replaced the RBs, and motor mounts.

Test pipes and spacers just arrived, waiting to be installed.
Want to do a tune and refinish/powder coat the factory rims next.

[Richbot]

Originally Posted by Richbot

Jesus Christ this thread is full of people talking about rod bearings and fretting about their cars with low enough miles to still be CPO - we should start a new one

Or better yet, just lock the entire general sub forum

heh - at least this thread has settled down now that EVERYBODY has a high-mileage car

Anyway, at 135,000 miles and counting. Still on original TA's, ICV, O2 sensors...more original sensors than not, by a wide margin. I think this is my first BMW ever to be able to say that past 80,000 miles, lol

I'm going to have to change the oil soon. What a POS. I also think the tank vent is getting a little wonky as I'm starting to get that idle fluctuation others have reported after filling up. But, it just keeps on truckin. Biggest important preventive maintenance I've done recently was replacing the main engine ground down at the subframe.

[Assimilator1]

Mine's done 76k miles, I don't think that counts as high mileage

[douglee25]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

Mine's done 76k miles, I don't think that counts as high mileage

Not quite yet!

[DirtyM3]

03/2008 e92 m3. Purchased on March 9th 2021 with 56.6k miles. Brings me to Present day with 60k miles. Previous owner took cars of the rod bearings with arp bolts, new motor mounts and TA's 1 and 2.

About 2 weeks ago I took the car into the bmw service to get the 2 recalls done for the blower motor wiring (which was toasted) and the positive battery terminal.

[jeremyuhh]

anyone with over 150k miles ? About to hit 150K in the next few days and want to know if anyone else is in the same boat and would love to hear your experience from that point on. Thanks

[douglee25]

I'm right behind you.

I think I'm at about 145k. I've switched to my suburban for more of my daily because I'm always carting around something these days.

[Shiza]

Originally Posted by jeremyuhh

anyone with over 150k miles ? About to hit 150K in the next few days and want to know if anyone else is in the same boat and would love to hear your experience from that point on. Thanks

173k and counting, just keep up with normal maintenance and you should be good

[jeremyuhh]

I think I'm at about 145k. I've switched to my suburban for more of my daily because I'm always carting around something these days.[/QUOTE]

Originally Posted by Shiza

173k and counting, just keep up with normal maintenance and you should be good

Nice. What are the intervals on ignition coils? I think everything but that has been serviced. I don't think mine has been changed out even under the previous owners possession. I'm also still on the original clutch No signs of slipping at all.

[Shiza]

Originally Posted by jeremyuhh

I think I'm at about 145k. I've switched to my suburban for more of my daily because I'm always carting around something these days.

Nice. What are the intervals on ignition coils? I think everything but that has been serviced. I don't think mine has been changed out even under the previous owners possession. I'm also still on the original clutch No signs of slipping at all.[/QUOTE]

I am also on my factory clutch. I don't see coils as a maintenance item, I just replace them as they go typically. Fortunately, all my coils are original and haven't had any issues with them. Plugs on the other hand have been changed every 30k miles, these cars love a new set of plugs. Recently changed my trans and diff fluid because unlike BMW I don't believe in "life-time fluid".