High mileage 08s report in!

I doubt it, it looks like their are seals between the headlights and bonnet (hood ) rather than an actual gasket sealing the lens to the body of the headlight.
I suppose failed seals could make a headlight problem worse if the headlight gaskets are failing.

Meet Tony and his 2008 E92 M3 six speed manual with 224,000 miles, and he’s the original owner. It’s on the original clutch too!
..

DrFerry wrote

You might be onto something there… In my 14 years of ownership (original owner of a 2008 E92 M3) these cars are a bit of a ticking time bomb especially when it comes to rod bearings throttle actuator's, valve covers and a few other odds and ends. However, if one could discover the service history this could be a real find. Possibly cheap too. By the looks of the front bumper chin spoiler area it's had its fair share of parking lot battles. Because it's a German car I guess it's no stranger to the autobahn either.

IMHO . Long runs at high speed is the trick

#DieDeutscheAutobahn

April 2023 check-in!

Who here with more than, say, 120k miles still tracks their car?

Mine has 154k right now. Tracking is on pause until a pretty sizeable refurb operation this summer, but I'm hoping to dive back in afterward. That odometer reading, though.... Rod bearings have been replaced but engine is otherwise original. Having nightmares of ventilating the block on track.

IamFODI wrote

April 2023 check-in!

Who here with more than, say, 120k miles still tracks their car?

Mine has 154k right now. Tracking is on pause until a pretty sizeable refurb operation this summer, but I'm hoping to dive back in afterward. That odometer reading, though.... Rod bearings have been replaced but engine is otherwise original. Having nightmares of ventilating the block on track.

Mine stays cool with everything stock while I'm still on street tires. About to bump up to Hankook RS4s and that might take up temps a hair. If you're really worried about oil temps, you could always through in an oil cooler.

Sorry – by "ventilating the block" I meant blowing giant holes in it. As in, I'm worried the engine will let go somehow.

Good feedback on cooling though. Thanks. I'm also planning on going from street tires to Hankook R-S4s, so your comments are timely for me.

Here’s the top 5 cars by mileage still currently on the road in the UK (and lowest 5 too).

The data is from the annual statutory vehicle check (MOT) required for all cars >3years old.

The top 3 are one of each M3 type, all over 260k miles.

FinalLe wrote

I expect a 333333 post in the future

Maintenance list NOW

dar2008 wrote

Here’s the top 5 cars by mileage still currently on the road in the UK (and lowest 5 too).

The data is from the annual statutory vehicle check (MOT) required for all cars >3years old.

The top 3 are one of each M3 type, all over 260k miles.

Wow! Insane mileages!
And I bet the 3 low mileage orange ones are GTSs

Looking forwards to your updates at the m3cutters forum too on this

Almost to to 143k now in my 2010 e90 DCT with a supercharger, been sitting for a while while I build up my old Tacoma
M3 needs some valve cover gaskets pretty bad now, and maybe the oil filter housing gasket. Also needs a transmission service, some new fuel breather valve lines, differential service, alignment and front tires… the list goes on with the mods I want. Someday it will be back to perfection again..

Oreo Cat wrote

Almost to to 143k now in my 2010 e90 DCT with a supercharger, been sitting for a while while I build up my old Tacoma
M3 needs some valve cover gaskets pretty bad now, and maybe the oil filter housing gasket. Also needs a transmission service, some new fuel breather valve lines, differential service, alignment and front tires… the list goes on with the mods I want. Someday it will be back to perfection again..

IMO, when you do the VCGs, do the OFHG at the same time whether it's obviously leaking or not.

How long has yours been supercharged?

IamFODI wrote

IMO, when you do the VCGs, do the OFHG at the same time whether it's obviously leaking or not.

How long has yours been supercharged?

I’m not 100% sure, I bought it at 99k miles and it had the supercharger on it. I know the previous owner put it on and sold it not long after. I would say 45-50k miles if I were to guess

Nice! Good to hear it's still going well, what hp is it?

IamFODI wrote

IMO, when you do the VCGs, do the OFHG at the same time whether it's obviously leaking or not.

How long has yours been supercharged?

Something else he might want to consider is new VANOS covers too whilst doing the VCGs .

226000 miles i changed the radiator. I live in the desert and routinely have 110-115+ temp.

It seemed like my radiator was not keeping up with things when it got over 100 outside.

The lower third of the radiator was completely plugged with dust and dirt, not cooling it all.

Now it seems a 100% again.

Nice!

4corners wrote

226000 miles i changed the radiator. I live in the desert and routinely have 110-115+ temp.

It seemed like my radiator was not keeping up with things when it got over 100 outside.

The lower third of the radiator was completely plugged with dust and dirt, not cooling it all.

Now it seems a 100% again.

Some serious mileage!

Didn't want to just clean the rad? Or was there other minor wear/damage?

Assimilator1 wrote

Some serious mileage!

Didn't want to just clean the rad? Or was there other minor wear/damage?

With the miles i figured it was loosing capacity to cool from sludge, etc. I had the new rad ready to go in. Heat is a bad thing. Better to replace it. Running slightly cooler than it did before and not getting over 210. Its always run cooler than average.

Rads can and are flushed through to clean the inside, and the outside is easy enough to clean through with an airline.
That said, if there's significant corrosion to the fins or tubes, or cracks in the plastic, then of course you're better off ditching it.

Assimilator1 wrote

Rads can and are flushed through to clean the inside, and the outside is easy enough to clean through with an airline.
That said, if there's significant corrosion to the fins or tubes, or cracks in the plastic, then of course you're better off ditching it.

Yes, all true. Would you buy a used radiator out of a car with 226k on it?

Good point, no, unless I was desperate! Lol.
But 1/2 that mileage, yea no problem (assuming no significant corrosion or damage of course).

Im currently at 209k miles on my 2008 E90 MT. What do you recommend as full service / maintanence at this mileage.

For visibility, the following were the most notable things that have been done besides oil changes that are done every 3k miles:

Rod bearings done at 190k (BE with arp bolts)
TA done replaced at 150k (OEM)
New rotors and pads 190k (OEM)
New spark plugs 150k (OEM)
New control arms. 150k (OEM)
New O2sensors. 150k (OEM)
New clutch. 150k (OEM)

My assumption is that I should do the following possibly but wanted to get people's honest insight:

DO88 Cooling Kit
NRW Valve Covers
NRW Valve Cover Gasket Kit
EuroPower TAs?

I'm sure I'm possibly missing alot so any advice provided is much appreciated

Crazypinoy9 wrote

My assumption is that I should do the following possibly but wanted to get people's honest insight:

DO88 Cooling Kit
NRW Valve Covers
NRW Valve Cover Gasket Kit
EuroPower TAs?

I'm sure I'm possibly missing alot so any advice provided is much appreciated

No need for the cooling stuff unless you have evidence that the stock coolers are insufficient.

No need for TAs unless one of yours fails.

Absolutely do not touch the valve covers or the gaskets unless they leak.

I had to replace a valve cover and ponied all the way up for BMW OE, and I'd do it again. I'm sure the NRW ones are fine but I don't like the idea of completely changing the metallurgy of an engine part without a very good reason.

Billet spark plug tubes seem hugely sus to me for similar reasons. If metal ones were better than rubber, it'd be hard to imagine why BMW wouldn't have used them from the factory. I'd be concerned about thermal expansion stressing the valve covers or something. IDK. Seems super unlikely that you could radically change the material used for a part like that on an engine like this and have no downside.

Here's what I recently did before 160k miles. Basically a complete refresh of the rear suspension, the whole powertrain downstream of the engine (except the trans itself), and a bunch of other bits and bobs. Super glad I did it. Made a very noticeable difference.