m3 year 2002 - any thoughts?

Reg · 11-24-2010, 02:09 PM

I am looking at a 2002 bmw m3 as a second sports car (that hauls kids). It's a 2 door manual trans. 1 owner (dentist) and has about 56,000 KM. Price is 22k and this is in Canada.

Anyone here had/have one? Are the cars problematic? 333HP out of a 6cyl non turbo seems like alot. I'd maybe put 5-10km a year if I am lucky and not drive in winter.

Thanks for any help!

Reg

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

Freaking awesome cars. and that is a good price for a one owner low mileage car.. They had a few issues but nothing serious.. check out bimmerforums or m3forum for more deets..

edgemar · 03:00 PM

I want one too some day. There was a main bearing recall...or something like that for that model year range i believe..

Here is all the info you would ever want to know:

M 3 . M A D R U S S I A N . N E T

Reg · 11-24-2010, 03:45 PM

Thank you for the info and links. If anyone on here has one and wants to share anything else please do!

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

I'm in love with the E46 Ms. Great cars and they go like stink!

MysticLlama · 11-24-2010, 05:42 PM

Love mine, nothing unusual, biggest thing so far was rear trailing arm bushings at 80k or so; a little less than $600 w/alignment.

Reg · 11-24-2010, 06:18 PM

Rob - being your car is a '02 - did it have the main bearing/oil pump issue described in one of the links posted above? How would one know if their car had the issue addressed? Could you ask a BMW dealer to check the VIN if you could not gain access to the service records? This car is tech. a one owner, traded in to a dealer.

Also, I read that the Mcoupes/roadsters had driveline/rear susp issues because of the power. I assume this is not so in the 3 series cars?

Again, thanks for the info to all.

LeeH · 11-24-2010, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reg

...1 owner (dentist) and has about 56,000 KM. Price is 22k and this is in Canada.

Other than knowing that the car doesn't have any cavities, I don't understand why that matters.

MysticLlama · 11-24-2010, 06:48 PM

The dealership won't tell you if it's been done or not, but they will tell if you there are outstanding recall issues or not. If there aren't, it means it wasn't in the range and/or has been done.

Either way, I think it's still a fixable recall, I don't believe it expires.

It is possible to tear the rear sub frame if you're real overly hard on it, there is a reinforcement kit, usually the only people with issues have coilovers and huge tires though.

VaSteve · 11-24-2010, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeH

Other than knowing that the car doesn't have any cavities, I don't understand why that matters.

Dentist = money = maintained = probably a second vehicle = probably clean

"1 owner (starving college student)" or "1 owner (drywall installer)" might indicate something different.

Reg · 11-24-2010, 06:55 PM

Thanks Steve.
Just relaying what info was given to me.

89911 · 11-24-2010, 07:08 PM

Great car, but do you really want a 2 door car for kids, especially with car seats involved? For performance, I would go with the M3, for convenience, I would vote for a 5 series, like a 540i or M5.

MysticLlama · 11-24-2010, 07:46 PM

I was actually going to get an M5 before I got the M3, it is a touch faster after all.

But compare the gas mileage. Ouch. Mine was bought as a DD at the time.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

I could see DDing an M.... Would be great for me... Single guy with a 15mi commute on open highways...

Reg · 11-25-2010, 03:59 AM

So long as it has a back seat I can live with the car seats. My boy is almost 5 and is now in a booster. Trunk looks large enough and there is a pass through I believe. I do not commute so this is a weekend car, for fun that can haul everyone.

I'm looking into insurance now. That may halt me in my tracks.

slow&rusty · 11-25-2010, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche4life

I'm in love with the E46 Ms. Great cars and they go like stink!

True statement. Drove a co-workers 2005 E46 M3 and I was blown away..it has SMG with was OK once you got used to it, but man did it boogie through the gears.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaSteve

Dentist = money = maintained = probably a second vehicle = probably clean

"1 owner (starving college student)" or "1 owner (drywall installer)" might indicate something different.

How exactly would a starving student or an unsuccessful drywall installer buy a new M3? Just wondering.

TechnoViking · TechnoViking's Garage

I bought an '03 about 6 months ago. Love it.

VaSteve · 11-25-2010, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speeder

How exactly would a starving student or an unsuccessful drywall installer buy a new M3? Just wondering.

That's my point. I'm thinking that if it was a gift from Mom and Dad and they didn't have the money to maintain it or if they had a dirty job the car would be dirty inside.

Who the hell knows why the guy told him it was owned by a dentist...I suppose to conjure up these kinds of discussions.

speeder · speeder's Garage

I understand your point but in my considerable experience w/ used sports cars, there is not always a correlation between affluence of owner and vehicle condition. I know people with $$ coming out of their ears who can destroy any new car in a matter of months and blue-collar guys who worship their cars. There is a guy in my building who is an EMT. He has a relatively lowly E36 328i that he treats like it's a Ferrari or something. Just pristine and he throws WAY too much maintenance $$ at it.

Generally speaking, though, you'd be right.