The Official Bring A Trailer (BaT) Thread

[IamFODI]

The internet has created a landscape where every sports car is going to blow up tomorrow from normal use. I've owned several V8s over the last few years and on every single forum it is exactly the same, some dude is posting "Is my engine going to blow up?" with some half assed audio of a normal engine idling. Every single V8 ever produced has some problems. M156 (amazing engine)? camshaft adjusters and head bolts (early models). Coyote 5.0? solenoids, possible early camshaft wear. Voodoo? Oil consumption, some definitely pop.

The issue is people lie on the internet, swear up and down they were the perfect owner and did nothing wrong. Some didn't lie and they were unlucky, which stinks. I'm convinced that most did do something wrong and then regret their choices, but don't want to admit their mistakes or full list of mods.

Couldn't agree more.

[Gt4]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJZPk0OOz-u/?img_index=14&igsh=dGpqOTh0emplOWN5

[maw1124]

Seems to be raining red E46M these days…

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2006-bmw-m3-convertible-123/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-bmw-m3-coupe-277-2/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2005-bmw-m3-convertible-103/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2001-bmw-m3-convertible-30/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-bmw-m3-coupe-277/

I have no idea what’s going on, other than they made a lot of these cars.

And pricing seems reasonably strong this last month or so. I guess it beats losing the money in the market… may as well buy a toy instead. Or sell a toy to replace the cash (over 24 E46M sold in the last month on BaT alone).

maw

[0-60motorsports]

Yeah I agree with you Gents about the E90 M3. Also I would only ever get an LCi and DCT. No sunroof and LMB would be a super added bonus and requirement lol.


Back to BAT lol

[oceansize]

FWIW:

I originally didn't want an E90 M3 for the same reason. I've come to believe these engines are fine.

The rod bearing thing is way, way overblown. The original leaded bearings were the ones with the problems; the updated non-leaded bearings BMW started installing in 2010-ish (when auto-start-stop came in) had some failures very early on but seem to have been fine for many years at this point. They discolor but don't fail barring complete idiocy.

Crank bearings? Maybe. But, suspiciously, only on engines that have been messed with internally...

The only other real failure item on this is TAs, which is rare.

No turbos and no DI, so that's a ton less inherent headache. Also no crank hub nonsense.

People seem to want to make something of the VANOS hub covers now but... IDK, maybe don't jam screwdrivers into that area when doing VCGs or whatever.

Everything else is just normal stuff. Give it good fuel, change the oil / filters/ spark plugs on time, don't use crap parts, mod with care, keep an eye on the primary O2 sensors, sometimes a gasket leaks.

Not saying this engine is Toyota-level reliable, but plenty of S65s have taken a lot of abuse and been fine, are still tracking with deep 6-digit mileage, etc.

The internet has created a landscape where every sports car is going to blow up tomorrow from normal use. I've owned several V8s over the last few years and on every single forum it is exactly the same, some dude is posting "Is my engine going to blow up?" with some half assed audio of a normal engine idling. Every single V8 ever produced has some problems. M156 (amazing engine)? camshaft adjusters and head bolts (early models). Coyote 5.0? solenoids, possible early camshaft wear. Voodoo? Oil consumption, some definitely pop.

The issue is people lie on the internet, swear up and down they were the perfect owner and did nothing wrong. Some didn't lie and they were unlucky, which stinks. I'm convinced that most did do something wrong and then regret their choices, but don't want to admit their mistakes or full list of mods.