Problems problems :(

[m3f_steveOz32]

Well, only a week and a half into M ownership and already issues



Just had the car fully checked over by an indipendant, here's what he found;



Wishbone bushes needed

Radiator Needed

Tie rods needed

Manifold flexi joint cracked :nixweiss:

Both Cats dead :chair:

New downpipe needed

slight cracks in prop coupling :nixweiss:

Handbrake needs adjusting

Oil leak on block valve

centre exhaust bracket missing

Fault code Lambda Control 1 and charcol filter shut off valve stored



The car has also started running a little lumpy around 1.7-2k revs on part throttle



So overall 500 miles in and not a happy chappy, missus is going nuts at me fearing im going to spend all my cash on the car already!!!



The idipendant guy recons about 800GBP for two cats, about 700 for the manifold (because it all needs replacing as you cant fix the flexi joint?), a new down pipe not sure yet, a new rad not sure yet. Now i've got the lumpy / flat spot at 2kish too im just gutted



I knew the car needed a new exhaust part, as on the engineers report the guy had who sold it to me (which was dated middle of Jan) said slight blow on downpipe, not that the whole zorst was ****ed



The little problems like handbrake, bushes etc not too worried I can sort that and I can even replace the Rad, but im not sure what to do about zorst and cats, I mean 1500.00 pounds + fitting for some cheap steel not even stainless, are they serious???!!



I am tempted to just weld up a new exhaust with supplies from my local exhaust supplier.



The rad thing is odd, I did loose a little coolant the other day, but I topped up and drove over 100 miles with no water loss again?



Oh well, not sure what to do atm, just gutted and feeling a little down that my car only lasted 1 week



:cry:

[m3f_uansari1_aad8ea3205]

I'm sorry to hear that you're having these problems so soon after buying it... but this is the reason that most people will tell you to get it thoroughly inspected BEFORE you buy it.

[m3f_Predator_7d824d33ea]

Well, only a week and a half into M ownership and already issues



Just had the car fully checked over by an indipendant, here's what he found;



Wishbone bushes needed

Radiator Needed

Tie rods needed

Manifold flexi joint cracked :nixweiss:

Both Cats dead :chair:

New downpipe needed

slight cracks in prop coupling :nixweiss:

Handbrake needs adjusting

Oil leak on block valve

centre exhaust bracket missing

Fault code Lambda Control 1 and charcol filter shut off valve stored



The car has also started running a little lumpy around 1.7-2k revs on part throttle



So overall 500 miles in and not a happy chappy, missus is going nuts at me fearing im going to spend all my cash on the car already!!!



The idipendant guy recons about 800GBP for two cats, about 700 for the manifold (because it all needs replacing as you cant fix the flexi joint?), a new down pipe not sure yet, a new rad not sure yet. Now i've got the lumpy / flat spot at 2kish too im just gutted



I knew the car needed a new exhaust part, as on the engineers report the guy had who sold it to me (which was dated middle of Jan) said slight blow on downpipe, not that the whole zorst was ****ed



The little problems like handbrake, bushes etc not too worried I can sort that and I can even replace the Rad, but im not sure what to do about zorst and cats, I mean 1500.00 pounds + fitting for some cheap steel not even stainless, are they serious???!!



I am tempted to just weld up a new exhaust with supplies from my local exhaust supplier.



The rad thing is odd, I did loose a little coolant the other day, but I topped up and drove over 100 miles with no water loss again?



Oh well, not sure what to do atm, just gutted and feeling a little down that my car only lasted 1 week



:cry:

sound like ure from the UK.



Man i had the same experince with my E36 Evo.



Its up too you man, either pay now and lose money or lose money and get shot of the M3. It sounds like its been abused. M's in the Uk can soak up cash at the stealerships.



Exhaust just get a Magnex or a Scorpian SS unit for £400.



Cats you should find them cheaper elsewhere.

[m3f_riuster]

sorry to hear, but next time get an independent Car Examiner to review the car before purchase, you should kill that bloke who sold it to you, isnt there a thing called CarFax in the UK?

[m3f_///M3 FX_c539798270]

sorry To hear. I was in the same position you were, I ended up getting the things that needed to get fixed fixed and then sold it and took my loss. Then found a better M and learned from my mistakes.

[m3f_steveOz32]

sorry To hear. I was in the same position you were, I ended up getting the things that needed to get fixed fixed and then sold it and took my loss. Then found a better M and learned from my mistakes.



The car otherwise seems to be ok. If I fix this or sell it, I may buy a more expensive M that will develope further problems. I am thinking at least i know what is wrong with this one now (other than the slight lumpyness at 2k rpm)



The car has a FBMW dealer service history, and in many ways seems a good car. The body work and interior is as new, brakes / disks are good, it has new bilstein shocks and springs all round, the exhaust from the cats back is a Remus stainless steel, all wheels have been recently refurbed, new tyres, everything electircal etc works as it should. I would say that in any M 5-12 years old I would find split bushes, so im not worried at all about that and will have them done soon, the radiator is a little anoying although I can get that replaced no problem also. The oil leak is from a seal near the manifold which is also easy enough to replace.



My main upset is the ridiculous cost of the cats and the manifold just because the so call 'flexi joint' is cracked on it, and of course the lumpy / flat spot at 2k rpm which I have seen on posts other people have also had in many otherwise good M's.



I am tempted to get a full years MOT, then take the cats off and replace with a straight pipe until next MOT time for less than 30.00. The manifold I am unsure yet what to do. I may just have to fork out for a new one. Either way im not going to get much change after parts etc for around 1-1.5k and thats with replacing the cats with a normal pipe myself and buying / fitting the rad myself.



I'm hoping the flatspot at 2k could be cause by the blowing upstream of the lambda sensor, so when I get the zorst sorted it will sort that, but I think in reality it's more of a coilpack issue.



Im really not sure which way to go with this atm, even if I did decide to sell it wouldn't look good after me only having the car a couple of weeks. If I did sell it atm I would just have to either put it on ebay listing props and knock 1800 or more off of the price I paid or just fix it and sell, but if I fix it I may as well keep it?



What do you guys think?



Cheers



steve

[m3f_steveOz32]

Oh well, decided either way the car needs to be fixed, so I am ordering a new RAD, which comes in at only 190.00 inc vat and fitting that myself, also ordered the bushes which were cheap and getting a friend to press them in for me. Ordered new pads to replace all round with good ones, and a new seal for the block valve.



Now all that will remain is pricing up different manifold / exhaust options and adjusting the handbrake, I spoke to several BMW dealers who advised that slight cracks in the prop coupling will be evident in most M3's 5 years or older and isnt an issue



Last but not least, just need to sort out this odd running issue around 2k revs, its not a flat spot really as it pulls normally through it and its fine at all other revs, only on part throttle really at exactly 2k? very odd. Going to strip the coil packs out and plugs at the weekend.



So anyway heres hoping this will sort the car

[m3f_mx21]

Well, only a week and a half into M ownership and already issues



Just had the car fully checked over by an indipendant, here's what he found;



Wishbone bushes needed

Radiator Needed

Tie rods needed

Manifold flexi joint cracked :nixweiss:

Both Cats dead :chair:

New downpipe needed

slight cracks in prop coupling :nixweiss:

Handbrake needs adjusting

Oil leak on block valve

centre exhaust bracket missing

Fault code Lambda Control 1 and charcol filter shut off valve stored



The car has also started running a little lumpy around 1.7-2k revs on part throttle



So overall 500 miles in and not a happy chappy, missus is going nuts at me fearing im going to spend all my cash on the car already!!!



The idipendant guy recons about 800GBP for two cats, about 700 for the manifold (because it all needs replacing as you cant fix the flexi joint?), a new down pipe not sure yet, a new rad not sure yet. Now i've got the lumpy / flat spot at 2kish too im just gutted



I knew the car needed a new exhaust part, as on the engineers report the guy had who sold it to me (which was dated middle of Jan) said slight blow on downpipe, not that the whole zorst was ****ed



The little problems like handbrake, bushes etc not too worried I can sort that and I can even replace the Rad, but im not sure what to do about zorst and cats, I mean 1500.00 pounds + fitting for some cheap steel not even stainless, are they serious???!!



I am tempted to just weld up a new exhaust with supplies from my local exhaust supplier.



The rad thing is odd, I did loose a little coolant the other day, but I topped up and drove over 100 miles with no water loss again?



Oh well, not sure what to do atm, just gutted and feeling a little down that my car only lasted 1 week



:cry:



I have no idea what you just said.