Headed to buy an M3 this weekend! (hopefully)

[fend3r2k9]

Hey guys,

I've been a long time lurker around these forums. I've been using the e90post forums to help me through my woes for a long time and now I am hoping to take advantage of the m3 forums!

I am headed out to look at a 2009 E92 (white for those that care :P) with about 50K miles on it.

I was wondering, are there any specific E92 issues that I should 100% be looking for up front? I am familiar with buying cars in general, but just wanted some of the M3-specific insider knowledge.

Thank you!

[nycplumber]

Get a PPI and you'll be fine.

[EJT86]

Take it apart and check out the rod bearings. While your in there check the throttle actuators, idle control valve, DCT oil pan if applicable, oil leaks,M perm exhaust cracks if applicable. You know the usual CRONIC problems that cars tend to have
I know I'm forgetting more

[pbonsalb]

None you can determine from a test drive or inspection. Throttle actuators are an eventuality. $800 each (2) and 3 hours labor. Rod bearings are a possibility and an unknown and the only way to know is to inspect and to get in there you have done the labor to change them so you should -- $500 to $1000 parts and 8-16 hours labor. All fluids on a 7 year old car should be changed but probably have not --$500. BMW does minimal maintenance.

[TWiTCHY]

You state E92-specific issues...as opposed to E90? Forgive me if I'm reading too far into your lines, but the only E92-specific issue I've heard is the weather lining along the top of the driver's and passenger's window. It tends to crack and/or become rough, allowing air to leak through and make a whistling sound when driving at freeway speeds. Try treating it with a rubber/vinyl restorer first before deciding to replace them. Each side is around $100 for new lining if I remember correctly.

[BimmerRookie]

Originally Posted by fend3r2k9

Hey guys,

I've been a long time lurker around these forums. I've been using the e90post forums to help me through my woes for a long time and now I am hoping to take advantage of the m3 forums!

I am headed out to look at a 2009 E92 (white for those that care :P) with about 50K miles on it.

I was wondering, are there any specific E92 issues that I should 100% be looking for up front? I am familiar with buying cars in general, but just wanted some of the M3-specific insider knowledge.

Thank you!

It's interesting you ask this question after you've decided to head out there and buy the car. It would have benefited you more asking these questions while searching for a car. As others have said, nothing more you can do than a PPI. All other issues are big ticket fixes, good luck!

[Godchild14]

Originally Posted by fend3r2k9

Hey guys,

I've been a long time lurker around these forums. I've been using the e90post forums to help me through my woes for a long time and now I am hoping to take advantage of the m3 forums!

I am headed out to look at a 2009 E92 (white for those that care :P) with about 50K miles on it.

I was wondering, are there any specific E92 issues that I should 100% be looking for up front? I am familiar with buying cars in general, but just wanted some of the M3-specific insider knowledge.

Thank you!

Yeah She love to go out and She's an Alcoholic ?????????????

[Flying Ace]

wait, rod bearings is an issue? I had no idea.

[IIAp3x]

Don't let these guys scare you... Just keep an extra $20k set aside for the multitude of known shit that breaks on these cars and your good...

[kaede]

Originally Posted by fend3r2k9

Hey guys,

I've been a long time lurker around these forums. I've been using the e90post forums to help me through my woes for a long time and now I am hoping to take advantage of the m3 forums!

I am headed out to look at a 2009 E92 (white for those that care :P) with about 50K miles on it.

I was wondering, are there any specific E92 issues that I should 100% be looking for up front? I am familiar with buying cars in general, but just wanted some of the M3-specific insider knowledge.

Thank you!

Congrats!

Do your due diligence, do a PPI as suggested. Have some spare money aside for fixes, maintenance, and mods.

Couple that comes to mind is Throttle Body Actuators (tend to fail around the 50k-70k mark). These babies are $1k a pop, the S65 engine in the e9x M3 takes 2 of them. Some mentioned Rod Bearings, if you wish to do it as preventative maintenance, shouldn't run you too much either (<$3000). Expect to do all major maintenance too (spark plugs, battery, brake rotors and pads, oil, coolant, brake flush, tranny + diff fluid, power steering fluid etc etc) Most of these parts will have a M tax on it so expect to pay 20-50% more than your regular 3 series.

Cheers!

[Three Pedal Steve]

Be sure the break in service was done at 1200 miles. Engine, trans, rear end. With a known rod bearing issue this first service is critical.

And the 37500 service that many dealers don't do because the obc says its too early.

And IMO only buy a car with mods from a private party.

[nah dude]

Originally Posted by Three Pedal Steve

Be sure the break in service was done at 1200 miles. Engine, trans, rear end. With a known rod bearing issue this first service is critical.

And the 37500 service that many dealers don't do because the obc says its too early.

And IMO only buy a car with mods from a private party.

What 37500 mile service?

[kb9uwu]

Originally Posted by Three Pedal Steve

Be sure the break in service was done at 1200 miles. Engine, trans, rear end. With a known rod bearing issue this first service is critical.

And the 37500 service that many dealers don't do because the obc says its too early.

And IMO only buy a car with mods from a private party.

lolwut

[gfisher99]

Originally Posted by noneedlessnoise

What 37500 mile service?

[R3dliner]

If you are in the market and if you are looking at the car yourself w/o a PPI, I suggest you get the carly for bmw app. It will tell you if the car has any ghost codes you might not know about.

[EJT86]

Originally Posted by R3dliner

If you are in the market and if you are looking at the car yourself w/o a PPI, I suggest you get the carly for bmw app. It will tell you if the car has any ghost codes you might not know about.

How much is a PPI? Cuz a Carly app plus dongle will be over $100 and be useless if he decided to not buy A BMW

[Amirsm3]

Originally Posted by noneedlessnoise

What 37500 mile service?

The one where you put clown midget tears in the diff, trans and engine to keep things lubricated. It also just happens to be my go to, multi purpose lube.

[Amirsm3]

Originally Posted by EJT86

How much is a PPI? Cuz a Carly app plus dongle will be over $100 and be useless if he decided to not buy A BMW

PPI for my E46 was 125 in 2009.

[loveskiing]

Originally Posted by Amirsm3

The one where you put clown midget tears in the diff, trans and engine to keep things lubricated. It also just happens to be my go to, multi purpose lube.

I just got off the phone with my BMW service advisor and they don't know what the hell clown midget tears are. Are you sure of this because nobody I'm talking to is ever heard about clown midget tears...
There was one person up in San Francisco that knew about clown midget hookers but those were only in the trunk and they were self-lubricating...

[BzsBimmer]

Originally Posted by loveskiing

I just got off the phone with my BMW service advisor and they don't know what the hell clown midget tears are. Are you sure of this because nobody I'm talking to is ever heard about clown midget tears...
There was one person up in San Francisco that knew about clown midget hookers but those were only in the trunk and they were self-lubricating...

It seems that some SA's don't know a whole lot about things in general lol. It wouldn't surprise me that yours doesn't know about the midget clowns.

OP
I'd hit up Tim P via PM and ask for a VIN check. He can send you a service report. I paypal'd him some money for his trouble.

[EJT86]

Originally Posted by loveskiing

I just got off the phone with my BMW service advisor and they don't know what the hell clown midget tears are. Are you sure of this because nobody I'm talking to is ever heard about clown midget tears...
There was one person up in San Francisco that knew about clown midget hookers but those were only in the trunk and they were self-lubricating...

That's a lie. I know for a fact if you called a dealership asking to do a clown midget tear service in your car they'd say yes and quote you $2500

[svinfinity]

Everyone knows about clown midget tears....It's what BE bearings is putting as a coating on their new rod bearings after years of testing.