Potential new M3 owner question

bmwfanatic09 · Wed, Oct-07-2009, 02:22:38 AM

Hi guys and gals....I am a potential new owner of a BMW M3 and I have a few questions for the experts. I am selling a 2004 Range Rover HSE so I am looking to move to a more RELIABLE fun daily driver in my new ride. I love my rover, but its time for something new and fun to drive.

Questions:
1. Would you'll say as a general statement that the M3 proves to be a problem free ride or am I looking at another potential Range Rover here with frequent trips to my local indy shop for repairs?

2. Would you recommend the 6MT or the SMG tranny for a more trouble free ride? I have only driven the 6MT so I don't have a comparison yet from a driver standpoint.

3. Cars I'm considering....Good deal or not?
2006 M3 Red 6MT with Nav 44k miles....$31k
2005 M3 Grey 6MT 56k miles...$29.9k
2005 M3 Black convertible with hardtop included SMG with Nav, rear parking sensors 60k miles...$27k

Thanks guys...any or advice is appreciated.

Tak555 · Wed, Oct-07-2009, 02:30:52 AM

so first of all, welcome!

second, you are going to get flamed... this kind of stuff is covered ad nauseum. search button is your friend. that said, here are my responses.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwfanatic09

Questions:
1. Would you'll say as a general statement that the M3 proves to be a problem free ride or am I looking at another potential Range Rover here with frequent trips to my local indy shop for repairs? IT'S HIT OR MISS. GENERALLY SPEAKING, I WOULD ASSUME THAT IT'S NOT AS BAD AS A ROVER, BUT I'VE HAD MY CAR FOR TWO YEARS AND IT'S SEEN THE DEALERSHIP A FEW TIMES ALREADY FOR RANDOM ELECTRICAL ISSUES. NOTHING MAJOR, BUT A BAD BATTERY HERE, A BAD ALTERNATOR, BAD SUNROOF RELAY, ETC. PERSONALLY I CAN LIVE WITH THIS STUFF... IF IT WAS VANOS OR SOMETHING MAJOR, I'D BE CRYING A MUCH DIFFERENT STORY

2. Would you recommend the 6MT or the SMG tranny for a more trouble free ride? I have only driven the 6MT so I don't have a comparison yet from a driver standpoint. THIS ONE YOU REALLY SHOULD DO A SEARCH ON. ONCE YOU DO THAT, YOU'LL FIND THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED PROBLEM-FREE WITH SMG FOR YEARS. THERE ARE ALSO PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD BAD LUCK WITH SMG... ANYHOW, TO STATE THE OBVIOUS, THERE ARE MORE MECHANICAL THINGS GOING ON WITH SMG, SO THEORETICALLY, THERE IS MORE THAT COULD BREAK. IN TWO YEARS (AND BASED ON SERVICE RECORDS OF THE THREE YEARS PRIOR TO MY OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR), THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEMS WITH SMG IN MY PARTICULAR CAR, AND IN FACT I LIKE IT ALOT; IT REALLY SUITS MY NEEDS. AT THE END OF THE DAY THOUGH, IMO THERE REALLY IS NOTHING LIKE ROLLING THROUGH GEARS YOURSELF

3. Cars I'm considering....Good deal or not?
2006 M3 Red 6MT with Nav 44k miles....$31k
2005 M3 Grey 6MT 56k miles...$29.9k
2005 M3 Black convertible with hardtop included SMG with Nav, rear parking sensors 60k miles...$27k
HONESTLY, NOT ENOUGH INFO TO KNOW IF IT'S A GOOD DEAL OR NOT.

Thanks guys...any or advice is appreciated.

Van[FTTired] · Wed, Oct-07-2009, 02:31:58 AM

Well I've been reading around on the forums and I think 6MT is the way to go. From what I've seen, the SMG has some problems after a certain amount of miles.

I'd say the 2006 M3 Red 6MT with Nav 44k miles....$31k

Eat.Sleep.Race · Wed, Oct-07-2009, 02:32:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwfanatic09

Hi guys and gals....I am a potential new owner of a BMW M3 and I have a few questions for the experts. I am selling a 2004 Range Rover HSE so I am looking to move to a more RELIABLE fun daily driver in my new ride. I love my rover, but its time for something new and fun to drive.

Questions:
1. Would you'll say as a general statement that the M3 proves to be a problem free ride or am I looking at another potential Range Rover here with frequent trips to my local indy shop for repairs? Maintain it and it wont give you problems, i have 100k and water pump, belts and general maint. has been done. All before warranty was up.

2. Would you recommend the 6MT or the SMG tranny for a more trouble free ride? I have only driven the 6MT so I don't have a comparison yet from a driver standpoint. I would go with a 6MT, since SMG pumps tend to fail, unless you have $2k saved thats what it runs.

3. Cars I'm considering....Good deal or not?
2006 M3 Red 6MT with Nav 44k miles....$31k Yes
2005 M3 Grey 6MT 56k miles...$29.9k NO
2005 M3 Black convertible with hardtop included SMG with Nav, rear parking sensors 60k miles...$27k No

Thanks guys...any or advice is appreciated.

Hope that helps.

Tak555 · Wed, Oct-07-2009, 02:36:55 AM

oh and check the stickies at the top of the e46 section.

bmwfanatic09 · Wed, Oct-07-2009, 02:30:02 PM

Eat.Sleep.Race: thanks for the info....Were you saying you wouldn't go for the rides you said no to or that you think I should get a lower price for those vehicles?

NikolaiD · Wed, Oct-07-2009, 03:28:18 PM

Unless those are competition package and you have your heart set on it, I'd look for an earlier model year. I got my 2002 with 30k miles for 23k (vert, which is more expensive) two years ago when 06s were in the high 30s... You save more than enough to fix any faults it might have.

bmwfanatic09 · Wed, Oct-07-2009, 04:10:30 PM

The 06 has the comp package and is fully loaded. See here

http://www.bestautosalesva.com/detai...e-4569473.html

Good advice though...I'll check around some more.

Wed, Oct-07-2009, 02:22:38 AM	#1
bmwfanatic09 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 7 Reputation: 0	Potential new M3 owner question Hi guys and gals....I am a potential new owner of a BMW M3 and I have a few questions for the experts. I am selling a 2004 Range Rover HSE so I am looking to move to a more RELIABLE fun daily driver in my new ride. I love my rover, but its time for something new and fun to drive. Questions: 1. Would you'll say as a general statement that the M3 proves to be a problem free ride or am I looking at another potential Range Rover here with frequent trips to my local indy shop for repairs? 2. Would you recommend the 6MT or the SMG tranny for a more trouble free ride? I have only driven the 6MT so I don't have a comparison yet from a driver standpoint. 3. Cars I'm considering....Good deal or not? 2006 M3 Red 6MT with Nav 44k miles....$31k 2005 M3 Grey 6MT 56k miles...$29.9k 2005 M3 Black convertible with hardtop included SMG with Nav, rear parking sensors 60k miles...$27k Thanks guys...any or advice is appreciated.

Wed, Oct-07-2009, 02:36:55 AM	#5
Tak555 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,810 Reputation: 0 Location: Redondo Beach	oh and check the stickies at the top of the e46 section. __________________ Previous Cars: 2004 BMW /// M3 Coupe Jet Black, Black Nappa, SMGII, HK Sound, E92 18" Wheels w/PS2s, TCK SA 500/500, DINAN exhaust, PF RTAB, DICE E9X 18" Wheel Specs: 18x8.5 ET29 18x9.5 ET23 Previous Cars: 2004 Audi S4 Avant (owned for a week... returned to Carmax after independent inspection came back negative) 2003 Mitsubishi Evolution8 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX 1999 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS 1992 Toyota Pickup

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Wed, Oct-07-2009, 02:31:58 AM	#3
Van[FTTired] Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4 Reputation: 0	Well I've been reading around on the forums and I think 6MT is the way to go. From what I've seen, the SMG has some problems after a certain amount of miles. I'd say the 2006 M3 Red 6MT with Nav 44k miles....$31k

Wed, Oct-07-2009, 02:30:02 PM	#6
bmwfanatic09 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 7 Reputation: 0	Eat.Sleep.Race: thanks for the info....Were you saying you wouldn't go for the rides you said no to or that you think I should get a lower price for those vehicles?

Wed, Oct-07-2009, 03:28:18 PM	#7
NikolaiD Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,721 Reputation: 0 Location: Chicago	Unless those are competition package and you have your heart set on it, I'd look for an earlier model year. I got my 2002 with 30k miles for 23k (vert, which is more expensive) two years ago when 06s were in the high 30s... You save more than enough to fix any faults it might have.

Wed, Oct-07-2009, 04:10:30 PM	#8
bmwfanatic09 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 7 Reputation: 0	The 06 has the comp package and is fully loaded. See here http://www.bestautosalesva.com/detai...e-4569473.html Good advice though...I'll check around some more.