Hello.. noob here!

[AadosX]

Hello everyone,

I posted on another forum but didn't get much help there. I am fairly new to the BMW community (well actually this is my second time around but it has been quite a while) so I don't really know which forums are best. Surely this is the best though, right?! :redspot

I'm John and I've been a car nut for a pretty long time. My previous car was a 2007 350Z but I am looking for something cheaper until I finish school.

Ok, I have done quite a bit of research already so I know what I am *potentially* getting myself into with a used high-mileage M3, but I would really like to get into the game. I am looking at a 1999 Arctic Silver on black with Vaders. The body is very clean and the interior is as well given it's age. It has 190,000 miles which is the only thing that scares me, but the car looks to be in great shape despite that. The car is all stock except for a K&N intake, cd player, and PSS9 coil-overs. The brakes have been recently replaced as well as the coolant system. The owner is a second owner and he has most if not all of the maintenance records. He seems like a pretty good and knowledgeable guy, and knew what I was talking about when I asked about items such as rear upper strut mounts, the oil nut, etc. That being said.. other than what I mentioned earlier, none of the bushings, etc. have been replaced yet. However, he says he's kept an eye on those parts and none of them are completely failing at this time. I plan to have a PPI done.

That brings me to my question. If I do buy the car, I plan to tackle the main maintenance items right away to keep anything bad from happening. Could you please give me a round-about price for these parts all added up? I plan on doing the installation myself.

Cabin air filter, shifter bushings, transmission mounts, engine mounts, coolant expansion tank, valve cover gasket, both drive belts, tie-rod ends, GUIBO, RSMs, and RTABs.

My guess based upon my general car knowledge is about $500 max, but I'm sure you guys have a better idea since you own these puppies.

Thanks!
John

[scooper]

Cabin air filter, shifter bushings, transmission mounts, engine mounts, coolant expansion tank, valve cover gasket, both drive belts, tie-rod ends, GUIBO, RSMs, and RTABs.

My estimates for OEM parts:
15
?
30
70
30
125
60
45
45
total 420 +shifter bushings. I guess around $500 if you don't go with aftermarket parts. You may want to add 55 for rtab limiters.

[l1ttlej7]

I'd say take a look at some of the aftermarket and/or OEM sites (end of the DIY page at the top of our page). you can def take a look at their prices and see for yourself plus shipping ha.

Also, you have to look at what tools you have. not saying that you need specialty tools but if you don't have the basics and maybe just beyond the basic you have to add buying those into your price as well.

[Volf]

Hello noob. Read the stickies and DIY's posted at the top of this section. Every answer you're seeking is there.




How long do you plan to keep the car?

[ayo]

I believe it is best to replace the whole tie-rod assembly at once, rather than just doing the ends. That may bump you up past the $500 mark.

[AadosX]

Thanks for the replies everyone, your help is really appreciated.

Yeah I know I could have gone through and looked up the price of everything but honestly, it was much faster for me to just ask lol.. and I'm sure you know off the top of your head. Like I said.. thanks a bunch.

As far as tools, I have a pretty decent set that I've built up over the years. And I never mind buying something new as I need it.. it's always good to build the set up even more! Specialty tools are lame though.. I had to deal with a few work-arounds on one of my old VW's. =P

As far as the cash, I have over $500 so I'm not like border lining it or anything.. but I just wanted a rough estimate. Thanks!

I hope to really only need the car as a DD for about a year. At that point I was planning on buying something new anyways (pending finding a decent job lol *crosses fingers*). I know that a job isn't a guarantee though, so who knows. But if all goes to plan, I will either sell her or begin turning her into a track car before she goes too far past 200k. =)

[RRSperry]

Yet again,

People without deep pockets or mechanical reasoning shouldn't buy an old German sports coupe...

[dvhM3]

Arctic Silver was not offered in 1999.

[Volf]

I missed the part that you plan to buy an ancient, 200k mile M3 and hope to only spend $500 in maintenance.


:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl

[AadosX]

Hmm?

I think you guys are confused. But yes.. in the first year of owning the car, considering the suspension, brakes, clutch, and cooling system have all been replaced recently, I do plan on only spending about $500 in maintenance. Is there any other maintenance item besides oil changes that I am missing? If so, please inform me!

And as far as deep pockets go.. no offense to you guys or this great car.. but if you had "deep pockets," why would you be buying a 15 year old car? ... (unless just for a track toy). When I have deep pockets I plan on upgrading to an E92, or a GTR. I do like power. =) BTW I have plenty of mechanical reasoning so no worries there.

And dvhM3, sorry about that.. what is the silver color called for 1999? Thanks.

rant: Honestly, I don't get these M3 forums. It's like all you kids do is try to scare away every potential new owner. Every thread I see is "omg you're going to spend more than you spent on the car replacing some basic items!!!wtfbbq" I get it, it's a BMW.. parts aren't *cheap*. I get it.. it's German, it's quirky and will require some annoying things. But honestly, the guys I actually know that have these cars never complain of being left stranded, or complain of frequent maintenance. Where in the world do you people even come up with the astronomical maintenance figures? I listed everything that's a common item that hasn't already been replaced (to my knowledge) and it all added up to roughly $500. Sure, there is a chance that something random could break as well in the next year.. but what's the chance of that costing over $200 unless it's major like the engine or transmission? I never said I was living on no income, but that doesn't mean I have to be a baller either just to afford the damn thing. sheesh! /rant

[arabsensation10]

A 350z is about a $30k car.

An E36 M3 can be had for less than $10k.

That leaves you with $20k left over for maintenance and mods.

Yes, this is a crude analysis. My point is that if OP can afford to buy a late model 350z, he can afford an E36 M3 + maintenance.

OP- my recommendation is to find one with lower miles. And budget at least $1k, maybe more depending on the car, for maintenance right off the bat. I probably spent close to $2k on mine in the few months after I got it. My car had 84k on the clock and was extremely clean. But there are still things that need attention. Things will break that you didn't expect would break. Things will break that you didn't even know could break. However, if you are even slightly mechanically inclined there are plenty of DIYs online to help you out. If you don't have room or time to work on the car, you will have to take it to a shop. Shops are expensive. That $1k for parts just became $2k for parts+labor. Point is, it adds up. Budget wisely and you'll enjoy the car. Otherwise you are going to end up with a driveway ornament. I don't know you, and I don't know the car, so I can't tell you if you should buy it or not. I'm just giving you general advice based on experience and what I've seen other M3 owners go through.

All that said, the E36 M3 is an amazing car and you will love driving it every day. Seriously. And personally I like it better than any of the VQ powered cars.

Good luck!

[twastheglow]

^ Well written.

[anotherhaus]

We're not all "kids". LOL. :)

Deep pockets is a relative term. If it comes down to buying a 15 year old car for $7K and putting $1500/yr into it that may seem expensive, but it's cheaper than buying a $60k car. The former might still be considered "expensive" when compared to, say, a Honda.

I haven't found parts to be excessively priced for the M3. Honestly, I bought a piece of massively overpriced window trim for my Integra recently and felt I was being screwed on that price a lot more than any BMW part I've bought so far.

PO averaged about $1500/yr on my car (and did get stranded once when the radiator neck snapped in traffic), but significant drivers of that were labor and parts markups. When I looked back at the records I realized that for the work I could do myself, the price would be about half (or even less).

I have personal reservations about buying a car with anything approaching 200k on it - that's just a boatload of road time - but that said these are fun cars and I've honestly loved working on mine so far (even driving it now and then!). If you get a good deal, go for it and hope the engine doesn't fall out in the first year.

Edit: arabsensation10 and I seem to have had very similar experiences - I was drafting my post for awhile and didn't see that post until after I posted mine.

[Moron95M3]

OP,

Why not drive the car then decide what you want to tackle. You may find a shimmy in the front end that will end up costing a lot of parts ($$) to track down. Or in the rear. Or you find _________.

I like your plan of tackling common issues first, but there also might be some unforeseen issues in the future with that car, that could cost a lot (and if the car doesn't have any major issues right now...I wouldn't waste the time until you get familiar with that car).
When something does fail in the future, you'll want the cash to replace the entire assembly of parts, rather than the one that is bad (i.e. if you have a bad steering rack, you'll want to do a rack/tie rods/LCA/LCAB all at once). Wait and see what starts to nag you first, then tackle that entire area and do it right.

If you have the budget to do all the parts you mentioned and tackle upcoming problems, then go for it! Just sounds like with school you might not have the cash to drop when you'll need it, and then you'll end up doing basically the same job a couple times over to do it right.

Hope that makes sense...that's what I've learned after driving this car through college and now beyond.

[AadosX]

^ Thanks for the great posts. And yeah sorry about the kid comment.. I know you aren't all kids.. hell I'm probably a kid to some of you lol. I was just getting frustrated.

The mileage really is the only thing that scares me, but hopefully that won't be an issue. In my opinion, it *shouldn't* but you never know. Personally I've never had a car with that many miles on it either, and to be honest.. part of me just wants to try it while I still can. The rest of the car is so clean that I want to go for it. We will see what happens.. I am looking at a few other cars as well.

Thanks again.

[BeerSultan]

simple fact still is like what was said before:
"Things will break that you didn't expect would break. Things will break that you didn't even know could break."

this cable snaps, gasket xyz leaks, my lights aren't working right, i'm getting a strange code thrown, it's idling rough, my windows are sticking, the seals in the doors just fell off...

crap like the above happens, and nobody can tell you when. i knew when i got mine that there was going to be some stuff i had to do, but what's funny is only about half of what i've done is what i expected. exhaust hanger wasn't expected, oil pan gasket replacement wasn't expected, my headliner to go from fine to fail in 3 months wasn't expected, failed aluminum thermostat housing wasn't expected...etc, etc.

sure the above stuff probably is only a couple hundred dollars in straight parts, but it's also can be a significant amount of time and effort. did i want to do that stuff? no. did i have to do that stuff? no, not really. but to do it right the first time is an expenditure that wasn't expected...which is really all that everyone is trying to get accross. this car has thrown more unexpected things at me than all my prior cars combined...and i've only had it for 3 years.

nobody on here wants to see somebody get into these cars, then turn around and bad-mouth it because the buyer wasn't informed. everyone here wants to get their say across, whether or not you're listening isn't really the point.

-R