118k Miles vs. 52k Miles

TechE · 06-06-2019, 02:19 AM

There's 2 E90s by me right now, and I'm itching to buy one. Both are '08 models. My goal is a high power project car for weekend driving.

The first is very high mileage but has been enthusiast owned and cared for. Rod bearings have been done and throttle actuators replaced. All maintenance records on hand since new. I'm checking it out this weekend. Asking under $17k.

The lower mileage offer I don't know much about at the moment, but I can say the asking price of $28k is high. The absolute most I would pay is $24k, pending I'm very happy with it's history and condition. An immediate impression is it has not been taken care of as well as the prior, but I can't say for sure yet.

Going off limited information, which is seeming like the better route right now? I know there's no guarantee of longevity, but the lower mileage engine feels like it'd be around much longer and handle more power better. I'm torn, but seeing both in person and some chat with each owner should help, so, more to come on that.

Seattle M3 · 06-06-2019, 10:18 AM

Low mile

Montaver · 06-06-2019, 12:33 PM

Hard to say, I'd buy based on condition and history. On the 117k mile car the stock dampers will be completely shot, but if your planning on modding anyway its not such a concern. The very poorly treated 50k mile car could cause a lot more issues in the long run.

M3R1 · 06-15-2019, 10:19 AM

If you are not comfortable with the 52K mile car, be patient. Don't rust into any purchase.

It took me 6 months to find the car I was comfortable with. Mine had 19K and was supercharged already. The level of care taken, records kept and all stock parts given to me made it a must buy.

GL

TechE · 06-18-2019, 12:09 AM

I wound up finding another E90 6mt with 52k on it. This owner only drove it for about a year and barely ran the odometer up. He purchased it from the local dealer. The owner previous to him is a friend of a salesman there, whom I struck conversation with while the car was undergoing a PPI. He gave me a pretty solid rundown of it's history and informed me the rod bearings have been done. Mods include a challenge style painted carbon fiber trunk, Advan wheels, Eisenmann exhaust with x pipe, as well as currently unknown springs that drop it a little bit.

Given the carfax history, reassuring PPI, and word of mouth, I've decided to pursue this one. '08 painted Jerez Black. I'm pretty excited. The title should be in my hand this week if all goes accordingly.

im4ipsc · 08-26-2019, 06:54 AM

on every BMW I have purchased. There are way too many non-enthusiasts getting into the "influencer" social media game these days. They find aesthetically pleasing Chinese knock-off bolt-ons (cheap carbon fiber down planes (canards) come to mind) and then tout to the world "look at me, look at me" on every social media site that they can get enrolled with. On the other end of this spectrum, is the die-hard car enthusiast that takes pride in the many hours on the Internet and forums doing their due diligence on their upgrades and maintenance items. They keep detailed records (date, material cost, labor cost, mileage of the vehicle when performed, etc.) of all upgrades and maintenance items not only for themselves but for the future buyer. This is how me and my friends gauge a car's worth, not its 1 of 100 rarity rating from some vendor paid writer found within most online and store bought car magazines. My generation has taken the time to question these forums and write-ups objectively. If someone says in an car ad that their car gets 600hp, I question whether it is to the rear wheel, flywheel, or on their wish list. I say show me the Dyno print out in the ad and if you are at a car show, let me see the Dyno run on the windshield neatly laminated in a protective cover. In summary, I would buy with confidence an 85k mile M3 from a car enthusiast with documentation in the aforementioned format any day before I would buy from someone who is touting their low mileage car on this forum while doing donuts at the weekend car meetups only for a 30 second YouTube video to impress their friends and no documentation. In closing, I want to see not only what the modification was but why it was done by the owner. Just my two cents is all...

06-06-2019, 02:19 AM	#1
TechE Private First Class 90 Rep 186 Posts Drives: E90 M3, U11 X1 Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Germany iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [0.00]	118k Miles vs. 52k Miles There's 2 E90s by me right now, and I'm itching to buy one. Both are '08 models. My goal is a high power project car for weekend driving. The first is very high mileage but has been enthusiast owned and cared for. Rod bearings have been done and throttle actuators replaced. All maintenance records on hand since new. I'm checking it out this weekend. Asking under $17k. The lower mileage offer I don't know much about at the moment, but I can say the asking price of $28k is high. The absolute most I would pay is $24k, pending I'm very happy with it's history and condition. An immediate impression is it has not been taken care of as well as the prior, but I can't say for sure yet. Going off limited information, which is seeming like the better route right now? I know there's no guarantee of longevity, but the lower mileage engine feels like it'd be around much longer and handle more power better. I'm torn, but seeing both in person and some chat with each owner should help, so, more to come on that.
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06-06-2019, 10:18 AM	#2
Seattle M3 Private First Class 30 Rep 178 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 Comp Pack Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Seattle, Wa iTrader: (1)	Low mile
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06-06-2019, 12:33 PM	#3
Montaver Lieutenant Colonel 2137 Rep 1,646 Posts Drives: 718 GT4 & M340i LCI Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Hard to say, I'd buy based on condition and history. On the 117k mile car the stock dampers will be completely shot, but if your planning on modding anyway its not such a concern. The very poorly treated 50k mile car could cause a lot more issues in the long run.
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06-15-2019, 10:19 AM	#4
M3R1 Colonel 2164 Rep 2,350 Posts Drives: ///M2cs Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NJ iTrader: (5)	If you are not comfortable with the 52K mile car, be patient. Don't rust into any purchase. It took me 6 months to find the car I was comfortable with. Mine had 19K and was supercharged already. The level of care taken, records kept and all stock parts given to me made it a must buy. GL
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06-18-2019, 12:09 AM	#5
TechE Private First Class 90 Rep 186 Posts Drives: E90 M3, U11 X1 Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Germany iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [0.00]	I wound up finding another E90 6mt with 52k on it. This owner only drove it for about a year and barely ran the odometer up. He purchased it from the local dealer. The owner previous to him is a friend of a salesman there, whom I struck conversation with while the car was undergoing a PPI. He gave me a pretty solid rundown of it's history and informed me the rod bearings have been done. Mods include a challenge style painted carbon fiber trunk, Advan wheels, Eisenmann exhaust with x pipe, as well as currently unknown springs that drop it a little bit. Given the carfax history, reassuring PPI, and word of mouth, I've decided to pursue this one. '08 painted Jerez Black. I'm pretty excited. The title should be in my hand this week if all goes accordingly.
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08-26-2019, 06:54 AM	#6
im4ipsc Private First Class 39 Rep 146 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 E92 ZCP Comp S/C Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Greensboro, NC iTrader: (1)	I have always gone with the enthusiastic owner and well kept maintenance records on every BMW I have purchased. There are way too many non-enthusiasts getting into the "influencer" social media game these days. They find aesthetically pleasing Chinese knock-off bolt-ons (cheap carbon fiber down planes (canards) come to mind) and then tout to the world "look at me, look at me" on every social media site that they can get enrolled with. On the other end of this spectrum, is the die-hard car enthusiast that takes pride in the many hours on the Internet and forums doing their due diligence on their upgrades and maintenance items. They keep detailed records (date, material cost, labor cost, mileage of the vehicle when performed, etc.) of all upgrades and maintenance items not only for themselves but for the future buyer. This is how me and my friends gauge a car's worth, not its 1 of 100 rarity rating from some vendor paid writer found within most online and store bought car magazines. My generation has taken the time to question these forums and write-ups objectively. If someone says in an car ad that their car gets 600hp, I question whether it is to the rear wheel, flywheel, or on their wish list. I say show me the Dyno print out in the ad and if you are at a car show, let me see the Dyno run on the windshield neatly laminated in a protective cover. In summary, I would buy with confidence an 85k mile M3 from a car enthusiast with documentation in the aforementioned format any day before I would buy from someone who is touting their low mileage car on this forum while doing donuts at the weekend car meetups only for a 30 second YouTube video to impress their friends and no documentation. In closing, I want to see not only what the modification was but why it was done by the owner. Just my two cents is all...
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