M3 Ownership costs

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Soldato
Joined
14 Jul 2007
Posts
3,443
Hi folks.

I currently own a Nissan 350z with the associated running costs. Im more than happy to pay the cost to drive the car and i really love it.

However i've always wanted to own an M3. Ive always put the sensible head on and dismissed it as being too expensive to run but im starting to question whether it is.

Ive recently seen a couple of people where i live buy one and ive thought "ha! Thats going to cost you when something goes wrong!" but is this really the case? Would there be a huge step up for me in terms of cost from the 350z? When i bought it i looked at the M3 at the same time and dismissed it on the basis that if it s much as breaks a nail its going to cost me thousands as the example i could afford would be in the £12-15k bracket.

Basically what im looking for is someone to say "Yes, the M3 will cost you vast sums more than the 350z to own and you should be happy with what you have"
 
I was in a similar position a few months back, I researched them as much as possible and by doing so scared myself out of buying one!
 
It's not at all cheap but the lower end of your budget buys a nice one with thousands spare to run it, so it could work.
 
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[TW]Fox;24115520 said:
It's. to at all cheap but the lower end of your budget buys a nice one with thousands spare to run it, so it could work,
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I appreciate its all very vague but what would you say was a reasonable amount to have in reserve when running a car like this? Obviously i appreciate that you could have a year where nothing goes wrong and a year where a couple of things go wrong but in general terms?
 
Just make sure you don't need to save up when you need a £700 inspection 2 or cheap out on Westlake tyres because a tyre bill pops up when you don't have spare funds. If that sort of scenario is likely then an M3 isn't a comfortable prospect but if you are the sort of person for whom dropping £1k on something is an irritation rather than a financial problem you'll be fine.
 
Don't worry, but get a good example. Get it checked out. Check out gearbox and enjoy it. Have a couple k in case.....chance is that you don't need it soon.
5 years of M3 motoring and the biggest cost is a stolen front bumber!
 
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placeholder, difficult to say without knowing a few factors, whats your running costs p/a of your 350z and estimated yearly millage. Are you wanting a E46 with DSG or manual box - would you pay for an extended warranty.
 
[TW]Fox;24115743 said:
Just make sure you don't need to save up when you need a £700 inspection 2 or cheap out on Westlake tyres because a tyre bill pops up when you don't have spare funds. If that sort of scenario is likely then an M3 isn't a comfortable prospect but if you are the sort of person for whom dropping £1k on something is an irritation rather than a financial problem you'll be fine.
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This is where i hesitate. In financial terms its do-able on that basis but the idea of dropping that sort of cash for effectively "nothing" does irk me. Im half and between as far a car ownership is concerned. Its NOT a hobby in the way that maybe you would put your disposable income into a car because its your passion, yet im enthusiastic enough to genuinely want an M3 and drive a 350z over and above having a car as a means to an end. Not sure if that makes sense!
 
It does make sense and it's largely the reason I don't have an M5. I'm able to, but can't be bothered (ie I don't think I'd get VFM from it), to pay the bills that'll keep popping up.
 
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the idea of dropping that sort of cash for effectively "nothing" does irk me.
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It's not effectively "nothing" though? It's to have the privilege of driving a well-maintained M-car. Depends what use you'll get out of it, if you can enjoy where it will best excel (the track) then why not? :)
 
Madeddie said:
placeholder, difficult to say without knowing a few factors, whats your running costs p/a of your 350z and estimated yearly millage. Are you wanting a E46 with DSG or manual box - would you pay for an extended warranty.
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My 350z has cost me nothing in truth. I bought it and stuck a couple of grand in the bank in case it threw up any bills, which it hasn't. Aside from the usual running, servicing and tax costs its been spot on, which essentially is why i bought it in the first place because my research told me they were quite bullet-proof. My research on the M3 has said that im punching above my weight in terms of owning a prestige car. I would would be going into it knowing this, im just wondering if that makes it a really bad move. Common sense says to leave well alone but the desire to own the car is also a factor! :D
 
The problem for me (I'm in similar shoes) is that the M3 wouldn't be that much of a bigger step up from the Z in day to day driving. Sure, it would be better but unless I was able to get the performance out of the M3 on a regular basis then I wouldn't bother. Especially given the increase in costs.
 
sigma said:
It's not effectively "nothing" though? It's to have the privilege of driving a well-maintained M-car. Depends what use you'll get out of it, if you can enjoy where it will best excel (the track) then why not? :)
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I totally appreciate that in car terms. What i mean is i dont like the idea of spending £1k plus to essentially keep the status quo, which in this case it would be. I totally understand that that is simply the cost of ownership but in my head when i spend a grand i want a holiday or a new TV or something tangible rather than simply the means to carry on driving the car im driving. I totally get why this is just the way it is and is the reason why you need money to run a car like an M3, im just musing over whether this totally rules it out for me.
 
sigma said:
The problem for me (I'm in similar shoes) is that the M3 wouldn't be that much of a bigger step up from the Z in day to day driving. Sure it would be better but unless I was able to get the performance out of the M3 on a regular basis then I wouldn't bother. Especially given the increase in costs.
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It would never see a track day, i live in a small town and i live less than half a mile from my work. I only drive either for work (when i get the money back) or because i actually WANT to, which i often do cos i love driving.

Last year i did about 2k miles in the 350z.

Thats probably the reason why its both do-able and a waste at the same time!
 
disc and pads your not going to get much change out of £700, Rubber 250 quid a corner, Fuel you will probably average around 23mpg but depends on how you drive.
Servicing always think worse case budget between £1000 - £1500 per service to be safe.

Personally I think the M3 is a cracking car but like others have said It's important to find a well maintained one - if you can with full dealership service history and low numbered prior owners.
 
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