Anyone have a really high mileage e9x M3?

[Radioactivem3]

Hello!
I could use a little help if anyone has time: In 2010 I bought a CPO BMW 335I with 5k miles on it, and by 14k miles it needed new injectors, spark plugs, and walnut blasting. Then at 22k miles it needed coilpacks, spark plugs because it kept having missfires (Stage 2 Cobb Tune). It was all under warranty cause it was only a year old so i didn't mind. I liked the tuned power from the N54 motor but It needs pretty consistent maintenance. I then bought a 2009 e92 M3 back in 2012 and it had 40k Miles on it, from an older gentlemen (over 65 years old+). He bought it CPO with 10k miles on it and he babied it ever since. It had a manual transmission because I figured it would be more reliable and in my opinion its more fun on the track. I raced the car really hard on the track and really hard on the street, and NEVER had an issue with reliability. I sold it with 120k miles and all i had to replace the entire time was filters (i like to keep them clean), oil changes, and tires. Amazing reliability considering I tracked it and drifted virtually every corner on the street.

So after the M3, I purchased a few cars and sold a few cars like the 2013 BMW M6, Porsche 997.2 Carrera S, and the BMW M4. I really didnt feel any soul in the BMW M4, so I traded it in to carmax a month later... I was looking forward to the M4 because I love the way the M4 looks, and the chassis is amazing, but that engine really ruins it for me. Anyways after a year of buying and selling cars, I ended up finding the perfect manual Porsche 991.1 Carrera S and I want to keep miles off of it and purely for the track. (Sorry for the small rant, just some background info)

Anyways, my question is: I am now looking for a daily driver. I am deciding between the E90/E92/E93 M3 or the 135i (would have to be tuned, too slow for me if not). I only owned my 335i to 45K miles so i dont know how expensive it gets at high mileage. Should I spend $10-12k on a 135i with 70K miles or stretch my budget and get a 2008+ M3 with 70k-90k miles for $18-22k? Miles don't scare me, I just want to know what to expect.

I just want to know how expensive it gets from 100k miles to 250k miles for an E9X M3. I am a coporate pilot and pretty mechanically inclined so I will be doing most/all of the maintenance myself like i currently do on my Porsche 911. I don't need to rely on the M3 because I could always whip out the 911 to go to work if i ever needed to. Ive just heard stories about the throttle actuator going out and costing $4,500 to replace (im sure they were talking about including labor because i see the part for $650 online but maybe the part is more expensive) and also having rod bearing issues?

Like I said I didnt have any problems at all with the M3 for a duration of 80,000 miles so can I expect this again with a DCT M3 or did i just get really lucky? Should i expect the DCT to fail from 100k-200k miles?

If you read this far, thank you so much for your time, you are the real MVP! Any input you have would be GREATLY appreciated! Looking to purchase this week

- Paul

[thkfast]

I met a guy this past weekend who owns a dozen exotic cars and he recently sold his E92 M3 with 120,000 miles on it. Since I just bought mine, I was curious what issues he might have had with it - specifically the rod bearings issue. He said he never had any mechanical problems with the car...and he tracks his stuff. So, that was good news.

Sorry, no first hand experience to report.

[Radioactivem3]

No worries, thank you for your input!

[drrust]

As your research has shown, the main mechanical issues are the actuators and the rod bearings.

I have 124k miles on mine. Bearings were worn but very little copper showing. I DIYed the gears in the actuators. The actuator replacement is not difficult, just time consuming. The price of replacements has dropped. If you're going to replace the gears do it proactively as the electronics can go.

The suspension is also an area of concern, but will vary from car to car. If you plan to track the car, the rotors are a wear item (they aren't cheap!). Many pieces come up in the classifieds so look there first.

[decimation1]

I have 2 e9x M3s currently. About 8 months ago I bought a 230k miles e90 for track duty. As far as I can tell it's the original motor and I have had nothing go wrong with it since owning it. My e92 has 80k, no problems in about 2 years of ownership with that one.

[Radioactivem3]

Originally Posted by decimation1

I have 2 e9x M3s currently. About 8 months ago I bought a 230k miles e90 for track duty. As far as I can tell it's the original motor and I have had nothing go wrong with it since owning it. My e92 has 80k, no problems in about 2 years of ownership with that one.

Is the one with 230k miles DCT or manual? Great to hear!

[WingZeroX5]

Currently have 152k, DCT. Check out my maintenance threads

[BOOF-M3]

I can't see anyone selling an M3 for $18,000 with 80,000 miles and the vehicle having no issues. Go with a 1 series for less money.

[xxxian08]

The actuators on my car were replaced last week for $2k. It has 83k miles on it. Also replaced were the coilpacks/plugs at 77k miles due to misfires on two cylinders.

[Richbot]

N55 135 will be pretty reliable. You already know what an N54 will do to you

[decimation1]

Originally Posted by Radioactivem3

Is the one with 230k miles DCT or manual? Great to hear!

Both 6MT.

[loveskiing]

1) No doubt about it, get the 135
2) DCT are engineered to blow up at exactly 100k, that's why true m3 drivers get MT or nothing at all...

[GVIFlyer]

Originally Posted by WingZeroX5

Currently have 152k, DCT. Check out my maintenance threads

Linkie?

[GVIFlyer]

I can't really help - I've had two E93's and my current E92 and didn't get 20,000 miles on any of them (my E92 M3DCT ZCP just broke 12K), but Phrozen06 got 222,000 miles on his M3 before it was totaled.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1414444

What do you fly?

[WingZeroX5]

Originally Posted by GVFlyer

Linkie?

View my profile and show threads created

[decimation1]

Originally Posted by GVFlyer

I can't really help - I've had two E93's and my current E92 and didn't get 20,000 miles on any of them (my E92 M3DCT ZCP just broke 12K), but Phrozen06 got 222,000 miles on his M3 before it was totaled.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1414444

What do you fly?

Guess with 232k miles now I have the true trooper!!! Just did her first track day on Aug. 13th too.... SOLID!!!

[GVIFlyer]

Originally Posted by decimation1

Guess with 232k miles now I have the true trooper!!! Just did her first track day on Aug. 13th too.... SOLID!!!

Congratulations!

[Jet174]

98K here. Did rod bearings proactively and actuators at 70k or so. Otherwise trouble free. Been tracked 4-5 times. But to answer your question the 135 is the choice for your situation imo.

[radiognome]

My 2008 E93 M3 used to be a queen: replaced throttle actuators, O2 sensors few times, water pump - apparently they needed to disassemble half of the engine bay for it, battery died on me couple of times, replaced rod bearings at 70,000, and then she died at around 80,000...
But I loved the car so much, got 2011 E93 with 10,000 miles on it as a replacement.

[GT3fan]

I'd try an 135i.

I'd bet a modded one is a ton of fun and better mpg for a daily.

[last1left]

I had a 2010 135i and the handling was horrible but it was a peppy car good luck:thumbsup

[Shiza]

I have 146k miles and have only performed regular maintenance besides replacing one throttle actuator, which is very easy to do yourself. Most reliable car I've ever had.