Longevity of BMWs and M3s

Just looking for input and advice from people who've had BMWs for a while . My '11 E92 M3 ZCP is my first BMW, nevermind M car, and I'd like it to last a while. It's my daily driver, and my hope is that it'll still be looking good and running strong 7-8 years from now.

My last car as an '05 Infiniti G35 that was nice but started to age/deteriorate after about 4 years and 50k miles.

I've kept on top of all dealer maintenance along with the extra oil changes (7500 mile interval). Clean it at least once a month. Clay/polish/seal every 6 months (am a Menzerna wh*re lol). I've heard of the upgraded maintenance schedules put out by Mike Miller, Bavarian Autosport, and others.

Recommendations and experience are appreciated. How well do BMW M cars hold up?

JustMpwrd wrote

Just looking for input and advice from people who've had BMWs for a while . My '11 E92 M3 ZCP is my first BMW, nevermind M car, and I'd like it to last a while. It's my daily driver, and my hope is that it'll still be looking good and running strong 7-8 years from now.

My last car as an '05 Infiniti G35 that was nice but started to age/deteriorate after about 4 years and 50k miles.

I've kept on top of all dealer maintenance along with the extra oil changes (7500 mile interval). Clean it at least once a month. Clay/polish/seal every 6 months (am a Menzerna wh*re lol). I've heard of the upgraded maintenance schedules put out by Mike Miller, Bavarian Autosport, and others.

Recommendations and experience are appreciated. How well do BMW M cars hold up?

Here you can learn a lot,and hope this will help >>>http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=682601&highlight=%2B100%2C000+miles

I've been driving BMWs for over 20 years and oil change is one of the most important things to keep your ///M running for 100k miles/ 10+ years. After it reaches 60k miles, I would change oil as frequent as 5000k miles. Engine and suspensions are pretty much bullet proof but electronics.... There will be some electronic issues as it ages usually after 75k miles or 6 years. Things like power seat switch, little light malfunction on the dash etc.

With that said, ///M cars seem to be better built with many upgraded components. Also, make friends with a couple of good BMW mechanics.

if you take care of it, it should last you a while. I personally think a 6MT e9x m3 with no idrive electronics will turn out to be a most reliable car as it ages..

In past M cars, VANOS failure has always been an issue.. but the VANOS in our cars is redesigned and more reliable..

Past M cars have also suffered from SMG transmission failures.. our cars use a new DCT system and should be more reliable.. but I still don't trust BMW paddle shift transmissions. If your car is a 6MT you should be worry free here..

The e46 M3 had subframe issues.. which are pretty serious and dangerous.. so far, the e9x M cars don't suffer from this..and the e46 guys even use e9x engine mounts sometimes when they have their subframe reinforced.

Previous M motors had to have costly valve adjustment every 30K miles.. our M motor has hydraulically adjusted valves.. so they do not need regular adjustments.

The e9x 3-series suffers from all kinds of fuel pump failure/ waterpump failure/ injector problems.. but we do not have direct injection and do not share their motor.

about the only major problem i have heard of is bearing failure.. which also plagued early e46 M3's .. however it does not seem super wide spread on the e9x.. it was enough of a problem on early e46 M3's that they had a recall and people got new motors under warranty.

///M Power-Belgium wrote

Here you can learn a lot,and hope this will help >>>http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=682601&highlight=%2B100%2C000+miles

Thanks for the link! Nice to see a lot of M3s running strong after 100k miles! Seems to be some minor mechanical replacements as to be expected with any car. I drive about 10k miles a year, so the extended warranty might not be worth it.

M3ZCP6MT wrote

I've been driving BMWs for over 20 years and oil change is one of the most important things to keep your ///M running for 100k miles/ 10+ years. After it reaches 60k miles, I would change oil as frequent as 5000k miles. Engine and suspensions are pretty much bullet proof but electronics.... There will be some electronic issues as it ages usually after 75k miles or 6 years. Things like power seat switch, little light malfunction on the dash etc.

With that said, ///M cars seem to be better built with many upgraded components. Also, make friends with a couple of good BMW mechanics.

Thanks for the good feedback. I'm definitely staying on top of the oil changes and will consider 5k changes down the road, especially if I get a home with a garage so I can do it myself as I have with past cars.

I also plan on finding a good independent shop within an hour or so and starting a relationship with them initally for my intermediate oil changes...as you suggest.

leemik wrote

if you take care of it, it should last you a while. I personally think a 6MT e9x m3 with no idrive electronics will turn out to be a most reliable car as it ages..

In past M cars, VANOS failure has always been an issue.. but the VANOS in our cars is redesigned and more reliable..

Past M cars have also suffered from SMG transmission failures.. our cars use a new DCT system and should be more reliable.. but I still don't trust BMW paddle shift transmissions. If your car is a 6MT you should be worry free here..

The e46 M3 had subframe issues.. which are pretty serious and dangerous.. so far, the e9x M cars don't suffer from this..and the e46 guys even use e9x engine mounts sometimes when they have their subframe reinforced.

Previous M motors had to have costly valve adjustment every 30K miles.. our M motor has hydraulically adjusted valves.. so they do not need regular adjustments.

The e9x 3-series suffers from all kinds of fuel pump failure/ waterpump failure/ injector problems.. but we do not have direct injection and do not share their motor.

about the only major problem i have heard of is bearing failure.. which also plagued early e46 M3's .. however it does not seem super wide spread on the e9x.. it was enough of a problem on early e46 M3's that they had a recall and people got new motors under warranty.

Good info! Thanks. I actually have a DCT tranny, but I plan to change the "lifetime" tranny fluid at 50k miles as has been suggested on these forums.

leemik wrote

if you take care of it, it should last you a while. I personally think a 6MT e9x m3 with no idrive electronics will turn out to be a most reliable car as it ages..

In past M cars, VANOS failure has always been an issue.. but the VANOS in our cars is redesigned and more reliable..

Past M cars have also suffered from SMG transmission failures.. our cars use a new DCT system and should be more reliable.. but I still don't trust BMW paddle shift transmissions. If your car is a 6MT you should be worry free here..

The e46 M3 had subframe issues.. which are pretty serious and dangerous.. so far, the e9x M cars don't suffer from this..and the e46 guys even use e9x engine mounts sometimes when they have their subframe reinforced.

Previous M motors had to have costly valve adjustment every 30K miles.. our M motor has hydraulically adjusted valves.. so they do not need regular adjustments.

The e9x 3-series suffers from all kinds of fuel pump failure/ waterpump failure/ injector problems.. but we do not have direct injection and do not share their motor.

about the only major problem i have heard of is bearing failure.. which also plagued early e46 M3's .. however it does not seem super wide spread on the e9x.. it was enough of a problem on early e46 M3's that they had a recall and people got new motors under warranty.

Awesome breakdown. I've learned a few things. Thank you.

M3ZCP6MT wrote

I've been driving BMWs for over 20 years and oil change is one of the most important things to keep your ///M running for 100k miles/ 10+ years. After it reaches 60k miles, I would change oil as frequent as 5000k miles. Engine and suspensions are pretty much bullet proof but electronics.... There will be some electronic issues as it ages usually after 75k miles or 6 years. Things like power seat switch, little light malfunction on the dash etc.

With that said, ///M cars seem to be better built with many upgraded components. Also, make friends with a couple of good BMW mechanics.

So at 75k miles, my m3 should be gutted and turned into a track car. No electronic problems from then on!

The M3 is BMW's most reliable car. That says something.

PoweredBy///M wrote

The M3 is BMW's most reliable car. That says something.

I remember reading that in Consumer Reports when I was shopping around. It's pretty amazing that such a high-performing car can also be so reliable! I'm more impressed with BMW's engineering every time I get into my car .

pkim1079 wrote

So at 75k miles, my m3 should be gutted and turned into a track car. No electronic problems from then on!

My E46 M3 was a nightmare even at 60k miles -- A/C broke, had to remove the entire dash to replace the condenser. Subframe didn't crack but the subframe bushings wore out and the whole rear-end had to be dropped to replace them (because the car's alignment wouldn't stay put and it ate a pair of PS2's in about 3000 miles!), costly job. RTABs and FCABs also wore out, but those weren't so bad to replace. Many of the interior parts started to degrade as well, trim pieces broke off here and there (like the rolling cover to the ashtray in the rear), etc.. but all the interior stuff was pretty minor.

Overall I think the E92 will hold up better than the E46 did, it just seems to be built better IMO. After the money-pit E46 though, I don't think I'll ever buy another used car. Was a lot less stressful today dropping it off for its 1200 mile service and not wondering how many thousand dollars lighter my wallet would be when I pick it up

nullrouted wrote

had to remove the entire dash to replace the condenser

My dash has also been removed (to replace the evaporator), thankfully under original warranty. Otherwise, pretty solid so far. Hopefully she's got many more trouble-free miles in her.

davesaddiction wrote

My dash has also been removed (to replace the evaporator), thankfully under original warranty. Otherwise, pretty solid so far. Hopefully she's got many more trouble-free miles in her.

Ah good call -- evaporator was what it was in my case as well

here'a a thread i started to get some input from other owners on a maintenance schedule, you might find it helpful-

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=778602

robbiedawg wrote

here'a a thread i started to get some input from other owners on a maintenance schedule, you might find it helpful-

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=778602

Thanks for the link. Good info. Mike Miller's recommendations seem to carry a lot of endorsement. 30k for DCT fluid doesn't seem long enough, though.

pkim1079 wrote

So at 75k miles, my m3 should be gutted and turned into a track car. No electronic problems from then on!

Yep! Make sure you change your power seats to manual Recaros, gut the power windows, Xenon lights etc. you probably shave 300+ lbs for the track.

leemik wrote

if you take care of it, it should last you a while. I personally think a 6MT e9x m3 with no idrive electronics will turn out to be a most reliable car as it ages..

In past M cars, VANOS failure has always been an issue.. but the VANOS in our cars is redesigned and more reliable..

Past M cars have also suffered from SMG transmission failures.. our cars use a new DCT system and should be more reliable.. but I still don't trust BMW paddle shift transmissions. If your car is a 6MT you should be worry free here..

The e46 M3 had subframe issues.. which are pretty serious and dangerous.. so far, the e9x M cars don't suffer from this..and the e46 guys even use e9x engine mounts sometimes when they have their subframe reinforced.

Previous M motors had to have costly valve adjustment every 30K miles.. our M motor has hydraulically adjusted valves.. so they do not need regular adjustments.

The e9x 3-series suffers from all kinds of fuel pump failure/ waterpump failure/ injector problems.. but we do not have direct injection and do not share their motor.

about the only major problem i have heard of is bearing failure.. which also plagued early e46 M3's .. however it does not seem super wide spread on the e9x.. it was enough of a problem on early e46 M3's that they had a recall and people got new motors under warranty.

This is not accurate. BMW fixed the rod bearing issue with new bearings, which in turn needed to be recalled. My 11/01 built car went through two rod bearing recalls, each time they only replaced the bearings. Full motors were only replaced if they failed.

Theres no reason you car cant hold up for that many years/miles. Specially a car enthusiast, although that can go both ways if you track a lot.

you will most likely come across small problems here and there though.

As long as its not some kind of catastrophic failure I don't see it as that big of a deal since I can just upgrade the broken part with an aftermarket one.

Had a 330i for 110k miles no issues; M3: differential bolt snap/replacement of entire differential, front strut replacement, A/C condenser replacement. Granted it is driven hard and on the track, but don't think M-cars are as bulletproof, time tested and honed as the N/A I-6s of yrs past.