Subject: Re: common problems to look for when buying an older m3 Author: Sean : member since February, 2005 : 899 posts Posted on: 2008-10-05 13:36:05

Steve,
I would make sure that you do a compression test on the car before buying it, also look at the engine oil, take the oil cap off and see what you can see inside the engine. A long time ago I said that I would never buy an M car unless it was ordered from the factory for me. These cars are driven hard from the day they get to the dealer and some are not well cared for. The ones that have all the service records and has only been taken to the dealer for service is probably your best bet. Ask the owner about tire and brake wear, if he says it chews through tires and brakes walk away, the car has been pushed. Ask about the GIBO and if it has been replaced, if so the car has been driven hard. How does the tranny shift, it should be silky smooth between gears, if not then it has been driven by someone who can not drive a clutch. If her are any after-market mods, walk away. You want a car that is as close to original as is possible. Check the vin numbers on all body panels, they should match, if not then the car has been in an accident. Check the lines make sure that there is no body filler anywhere. Look at every nut and bolt and see if anything that is not documented in teh service records has been removed. IE if the tranny bolts have been out and there is no mention of clutch work or tranny work them something is not right. Ask the owner what grade gas he puts in it and how often he changes the oil. A well cared for M3 is a good car, one that has been driven hard and not maintained will be a maintenance nightmare.




82 528e X 2 (US) one died in a accident the other was traded in with >400,000 miles
86 325 (US) 150,000 miles
87 325eS (US) 220,000 miles died saving my life someone tried to hit me head on
88 528e (US) x2 >200,000 and still going strong, the other >300,000 miles saved my sisters life, but gave its own (head on collison at 120 mph what an idiot, she was doing 55 in the other direction)
89 528i (US) 270,000 miles Gave up the ghost, only one I have seen not to make it to 300k before dying on its own (low compression in cyln 3-6 and no combustion in cyln 2 and broken intake rocker cyln 1 but, it still ran drove to dealer to trade in)
90 325iC (US) 140,000 miles
91 325iC (US) 190,000 miles saved my life but gave its own (T bone to drivers door at 45 mph)
94 325iC (US) 160,000 miles
98 750iL (US) 180,000 miles
01 325i (US) 30,000 miles
Now you know why I drive BMWs it is not about the money it is not about the glamor they save lives, they drive exceptionally well, and they last forever.

• common problems to look for when buying an older m3 - abanjableu 2008-10-04 20:48:32 (81 views)
  • Re: common problems to look for when buying an older m3 - Sean 2008-10-05 13:36:05 (93 views)
    • Re: common problems to look for when buying an older m3 - abanjableu 2008-10-08 22:12:16 (75 views)
      • Re: common problems to look for when buying an older m3 - Sean 2008-10-08 23:07:08 (75 views)
        • Great advice - kfister 2008-10-09 05:19:22 (47 views)
          • thanks for the input guys - abanjableu 2008-10-11 23:22:20 (51 views)