My First M3 - BMW Forum

4evrwyntr · 02-17-2005, 10:14 AM

So yesterday I just put a down payment on a 1998 e36. It's at 67k miles, and I was wondering how much of a dent the 60k maintenance would cost me? I've only owned bmw's previous, but nothing like the m3. So I'm expecting upwards of $1000 for this - what should I be expecting; and what should I be careful of, with regards to a babied m3? I was informed that maybe a trans flush would be a good idea (isn't that part of the 60k mainetenance, though?).
Anyway. From one e36m3 newbie to those more experienced, I ask to prepare myself for the financial damage.
ps - I'm looking forward to many happy days ahead.

Furious · 02-17-2005, 10:36 AM

welcome to bmw-forums, i cant be certain on prices because im in canada.

pcy · 02-17-2005, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 4evrwyntr@Feb 17 2005, 11:14 AM
So I'm expecting upwards of $1000 for this - what should I be expecting; and what should I be careful of, with regards to a babied m3? I was informed that maybe a trans flush would be a good idea (isn't that part of the 60k mainetenance, though?).
Anyway. From one e36m3 newbie to those more experienced, I ask to prepare myself for the financial damage.
ps - I'm looking forward to many happy days ahead.

[snapback]293671[/snapback]

If you are buying from a private party, ask them for maintenance records. Then you will know what has been changed. If not, have a competent mechanic have a complete look over.

If you want to do the maintenance yourself, buy a bentley manual and do the maintenance yourself slowly one item at a time. You will learn a lot about your car and in the process, you will save a ton.

If, on the other hand, you feel "comfortable" taking it to a dealer, be prepared to fork over lot of money.

It is very difficult, if not impossible, to tell how much you will need to spend without looking at the condition of the car, not knowing how the previous owner(s) maintained it.

Good Luck

jshearer · 02-17-2005, 11:50 AM

There have been some other posts on this same topic. When I bought my car a 325is I had to do the maintenance. The dealer wanted $850 whereas a bmw specialist mechanic said they would do the thing for $500. It includes checking all belts and such, oil change, changing spark plugs, air filter, clean air filter(for cabin air) http://www.bmw-forums.com/forum/index.php?...topic=31906&hl= .

The transfluid and differential fluid is a good idea to check and possibly change. I got mine changed with high quality fluids. I am guessing that it is a 5 speed. I used redline manual transmission fluid originally and found out that becuase of the colder temps here it was too thick. I had to go back and use Automatic Trans Fluid. BMW's use ATF even in their manual gearboxes.

If you do a search on this forum you should find some more info.

Oh yeah and

and congratulations. I am sure you will really enjoy the M3, it is a great car.

4evrwyntr · 02-17-2005, 12:07 PM

Thank you for the redirect. I did go to a dealership to check the car out; so far the downpayment is just to prevent other guys from checking out and possibly buying the car (mine!). I was about to take it to my usual foreign car mechanic (I've been working with him since I learned how to drive, and he gives it to me straight and with a nice price cut), but that plan was stymied when I found out one of my good friends - a car junkie and mechanic - worked at the dealership where I plan to purchase the vehicle.
Needless to say, he personally looked at it (nothing big, but a good once over), and checked maintenance records and accident history and came up with NOTHING (nothing wrong, that is). Well, almost. Power steering was leaking; this was fixed. I believe also there were was a replaced S-belt. Other than that, it's due for it's 60k.
Ah yes... I took my 318 to get it's 60k a while back, and I do remember some replaced spark plugs and replacement of fluid levels and filters... it cost ~$500 if I remember.
So far, it looks good, the test drive went well, and Shearer, you're the second one to recommend a tranny flush and checking the rear differentials.
Thanks for the suggestion on the ATF - I'm currently in chicago, so it's cold (10 degrees tonight!).
Anyway, thanks for the input. So I guess near $1000 won't be too far off the mark? Cool.

jshearer · 02-17-2005, 12:39 PM

I had the place do all that stuff and i went and bought the better fluids myself and better spark plugs and filters and such, they knocked the price down for doing that but it still came up to $500, but that is with the diff and trans flush.

4evrwyntr · 02-17-2005, 01:28 PM

That's what my mechanic friend recommended due to the age of the car. I don't think it's a bad idea; a sports car with 60+k on it should (in theory) benefit from such an action. Of course, I could be wrong. I can barely believe that I'm "upgrading" from a 318 to an M3. SUCH DIFFERENCE. The car is in my driveway on Friday. Urp. Drove an old 525i too, but that was actually not worth mentioning. I like the 5 series for it's ... all around-ness, but with an enging that small, it's not worth it in my opinion. Too heavy.

Rooz · 02-17-2005, 05:04 PM

60k, let's see,

From what I remember

well, first things first, change engine oil, oil filter, engine filter, Microfilter (I just did that on my car). Humm, not all that sure, but a radiator flush would be good (Not sure bcs dunno how often those should be done on bimmers). I would recommend a fuel injector cleaner.... other than this basic things, am not sure...

robbins6103 · 02-17-2005, 05:44 PM

Hit up the M3 forum dog....

4evrwyntr · 02-18-2005, 12:31 PM

Can I request to get this topic moved into the M forums? Thanks for that. Didn't see those beneath the immediately visible E36 forums.

Also... once this thread has been moved to it's correct location; what are some recommended replacement tires for the car (98 m3 w/ 17" OEs)? The OE's are summer only, but I live in Chicago...

I've been looking at Kumho's ECSTA ASX's and Pirelli's PZeros for winter use... Any suggestions?

Furious · 02-18-2005, 12:57 PM

topic moved.

SENECA · 02-18-2005, 09:47 PM

vrmmmmmmm

4evrwyntr · 02-25-2005, 12:29 PM

Hokay. So I bought this awesome ride, right? And so what did I do this morning? I went over a patch of snow.
Now, living in Chicago, it is typical to see snow throught this time of year. But when you guys said that the stock M3 tires don't move in snow... well... You guys meant it.
The patch of snow was MAYBE the size of my hand. Immediately I had lost control of the car (I was accelerating heavily while switching lanes). I fishtailed and quickly regained control... but when I got to work this morning and did my walk around the car to admire it, I noticed that I was missing a chip off my rear right brake light, along with a scrape about 2 mm long on the bumper just below it. CRUD! I've had it for a week and I managed to ding it. I figured I must have hit the truck I incidentally passed as a I fishtailed.
Let this be a lesson to me.
Going to get it looked at today, and have the light cover replaced and paint touched up. The entirety of the "ding" is less than half an inch in diameter, but it is my pride that is hurt the most. Poop.

b3toy · 02-25-2005, 03:44 PM

Sorry to hear. Did your model have traction control? Mine doesn't. If yours did have it, I would be less inclined to go throuh the trouble of having it fitted.

4evrwyntr · 02-28-2005, 10:51 PM

It does. ACS is fun, but it only seems to do some interesting whenever you try to floor it in the rain. I don't think ACS works in snow. I think it leaves and then comes back if it finds that the car is still in one piece.
Damage like I said before isn't bad... I'll probably end up paying $100-$200 for the dime sized ding. Oh well. And I found out that the whole window thing works for my car - if you hold the key in the lock position, down windows and opened sun roofs close! Woohoo!