04 e46 m3 reliability? any input? - TriStateTuners.com :: Home of Tristate Auto Enthusiast

TunedIS300 · 01-11-2013, 06:29 PM

i am going to look at a 04 bmw m3 72k 6 speed clean record and all serviced at devon bmw. i have always owned cars from japan lol so getting into a bmw is completely new to me so i am curious to know if there is anything i should be looking for. any input and advice woild be awesome. i will prob be trading my evo x in.

saxon · 01-11-2013, 06:41 PM

drivetrain is pretty stout, its the bushings, bearings, wiring, electronics etc that are horrible compared to japanese counterparts

VETTE_50_TH · 01-11-2013, 07:18 PM

Make sure you get a PPI done at a different dealer or an indy shop. I looked at one and had a long list of **** wrong. So glad i got my STI instead.

OMGz Turbo · 01-11-2013, 11:55 PM

I have a bunch of friends with E46s none of them on here.... The only real issue i hear about is the fuel pump, but alot of them have over 75k so as long as it has service records your in good shape IMHO

probevette · 01-12-2013, 12:55 AM

Every BMW I have had has cost me more money then I can count...

But I regret selling every one of them and would never again go without a BMW in the garage

yellow2000S/R · 01-12-2013, 01:40 AM

Valve adjustment and Fuel pump are the biggest things I hear about.

jpalamar · 01-12-2013, 09:21 AM

You needed a thread for people to tell you Euros aren't typically reliable?

OutToWinPAHC · 01-12-2013, 09:45 AM

As stated, tell them you want to take it for a private inspection. Should cost 30-80 bucks to do, but let them give it the run down

01 Trans-Am WS6 · 01-12-2013, 04:43 PM

I had a 2001 E46 M3 and it was by far my favorite car. I regret selling it everyday and plan on buying another one ASAP. They are very reliable cars when cared for. I will post some links to the main E46 M3 forums for you to check out. One of the main issues with E46 cars over 75k is that they need their cooling systems revamped.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/index.php

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/

Just browse through those forums and you will find answers to nearly everything you need to know!

Your Welcome!

Mr.2jz-GE · 01-21-2013, 01:52 AM

Just like any other car..if its taken care of it shouldn't be a problem. I got a BMW e46 to get out of the modifying game. Now I go for looks not even a little intake is in the car. Only Problem is you can't go cheap on the parts of coarse most likely you don't. I wish I had an m3 =/

Seven · 01-21-2013, 03:27 AM

After owning an 03.5 ... I'd say... make sure you have extra cash for the maintenance it will need.
Also make sure you have THOROUGHLY checked the car out.
Personally I'll never own a BMW out of warranty again.

shuttlegoose · 01-22-2013, 09:12 PM

just picked up an e36 m3. Wish i would have gotten a PPI done, but other than that nothing major needs fixing.

Get a PPI done and know what your getting into. From what i can see, well cared for BMWs can last hundreds of thousands of miles just by performing simple maintenance by the book. Also make sure its had the bearing done under warranty.

01-11-2013, 06:29 PM	#1
TunedIS300 Tri-State Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Member #5696 My Ride: family sedan. iTrader: (0)	04 e46 m3 reliability? any input? i am going to look at a 04 bmw m3 72k 6 speed clean record and all serviced at devon bmw. i have always owned cars from japan lol so getting into a bmw is completely new to me so i am curious to know if there is anything i should be looking for. any input and advice woild be awesome. i will prob be trading my evo x in. __________________ 06 rsx-sold 05 is300-sold 08 boosted civic si- sold 94 boosted civic-sold 11 lancer-current

01-11-2013, 11:55 PM	#4
OMGz Turbo Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ltown Member #3108 My Ride: 01' WS6..That whistles...01' Explorer 5.slow iTrader: (0)	I have a bunch of friends with E46s none of them on here.... The only real issue i hear about is the fuel pump, but alot of them have over 75k so as long as it has service records your in good shape IMHO __________________ loading HATERS.....99% ████████████████] NO ONE CARES ABOUT BEING TTT APPROVED

01-12-2013, 12:55 AM	#5
probevette Tri-State Addict Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Poconos PA Member #5313 My Ride: Slow Audi's iTrader: (2)	Every BMW I have had has cost me more money then I can count... But I regret selling every one of them and would never again go without a BMW in the garage __________________ Greenway's Car Care Products DipFactory CarbonWerkz

01-21-2013, 01:52 AM	#10
Mr.2jz-GE Tri-State Addict Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: The person who invented the light bulb,NJ Member #16900 My Ride: Turboless BMW e92 iTrader: (0)	Just like any other car..if its taken care of it shouldn't be a problem. I got a BMW e46 to get out of the modifying game. Now I go for looks not even a little intake is in the car. Only Problem is you can't go cheap on the parts of coarse most likely you don't. I wish I had an m3 =/ __________________ Instagram: @ThaiBMW 97 Honda Civic-Sold 02 Lexus is300-Sold 00 BMW 323ci e46-Totaled To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. 07 BMW 328xi e92 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

01-21-2013, 03:27 AM	#11
Seven Tri-State Addict Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Seattle, WA (formerly Allentown, PA) Member #2078 My Ride: 17 Camaro 1LE \|\| 17 Yamaha FZ10 iTrader: (4)	After owning an 03.5 ... I'd say... make sure you have extra cash for the maintenance it will need. Also make sure you have THOROUGHLY checked the car out. Personally I'll never own a BMW out of warranty again. __________________ -Seven \|\| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. \|

01-11-2013, 06:41 PM	#2
saxon Tri-State Addict Join Date: Sep 2011 Member #21656 My Ride: 2015 m3 iTrader: (1)	drivetrain is pretty stout, its the bushings, bearings, wiring, electronics etc that are horrible compared to japanese counterparts

01-11-2013, 07:18 PM	#3
VETTE_50_TH Tri-State Addict Join Date: Aug 2008 Member #8419 iTrader: (0)	Make sure you get a PPI done at a different dealer or an indy shop. I looked at one and had a long list of **** wrong. So glad i got my STI instead.

01-12-2013, 01:40 AM	#6
yellow2000S/R Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: York, Pa Member #2462 My Ride: 66 Fairlane, 73 F250, 79 F150, 82 GL500, 96 F250, 98 Wrangler, 04 Hoe, 06 Wrangler, 11 Silverado iTrader: (2)	Valve adjustment and Fuel pump are the biggest things I hear about.

01-12-2013, 09:21 AM	#7
jpalamar TST Ruined My Life! Join Date: May 2009 Location: Orefield, PA Member #13773 My Ride: '14 Mustang GT iTrader: (3)	You needed a thread for people to tell you Euros aren't typically reliable?

01-12-2013, 09:45 AM	#8
OutToWinPAHC Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tokelau Member #5081 My Ride: R33 GTS25T, RHD E46, Truck, part R32 GTR iTrader: (2)	As stated, tell them you want to take it for a private inspection. Should cost 30-80 bucks to do, but let them give it the run down

01-12-2013, 04:43 PM	#9
01 Trans-Am WS6 Tri-State Addict Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Poconos, PA Member #9111 My Ride: LSB E46 M3-BBY Evo VIII-FD RX7-TB Evo VIII-AS Evo VIII-G35 S/C-B7 A4-410whpWs6-3kGT iTrader: (0)	I had a 2001 E46 M3 and it was by far my favorite car. I regret selling it everyday and plan on buying another one ASAP. They are very reliable cars when cared for. I will post some links to the main E46 M3 forums for you to check out. One of the main issues with E46 cars over 75k is that they need their cooling systems revamped. http://forum.e46fanatics.com/index.php http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/ Just browse through those forums and you will find answers to nearly everything you need to know! Your Welcome!

01-22-2013, 09:12 PM	#12
shuttlegoose Tri-State Aficionado Join Date: Jul 2006 Member #2248 My Ride: 06 Evo ix Apex Silver iTrader: (0)	just picked up an e36 m3. Wish i would have gotten a PPI done, but other than that nothing major needs fixing. Get a PPI done and know what your getting into. From what i can see, well cared for BMWs can last hundreds of thousands of miles just by performing simple maintenance by the book. Also make sure its had the bearing done under warranty.

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