About to buy second hand M3 - what bases do i need to cover?

Tetsujin

Tetsujin

Tetsujin

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That London, née Brighton
Hi!

After searching for about 6 weeks i've finally found what appears to be a decent 06 plate M3. It is mine in all but name, the dealer is clearing off an HPI record thing that should already have expired and going to confirm with me monday, then i'll be paying up.

but! so far i have checked the thing out in person, apart from a few stone chips (not many, literally only one or two) it's very good, the driver's side bolster is a bit knackered (can these be repaired?) but that's the only major downside. hpi check has been done and aside from the finance thing (which even states that the thing should've been removed 4 months ago) it was clear.

as this is from a private dealer, i'm going to be phoning park lane bmw, who it came to him via, tomorrow to see whether or not it went through the Approved Used checks. i already know the running in service wasn't done until 3,400 miles, i know everyone always bangs on about these, but it was done, so is it a major issue being this late?

is there anything else i need to check? i've tried using autocheck but it says it doesn't have enough info on the plate to report anything :(

thanks!
 
I think there may be warranty implications for a late running in service, but I guess if its an Approved Used car this isnt an issue.

I am simply staggered that the drivers side bolster is knackered on an 06 plate car. I've got a high mileage 51 plate E39 and it's fine. I would insist on them replacing this becuase it isn't normal wear and tear for a car this young.
 
Well yeah, my prime concern at present is why Park Lane shunted it onto this dealer instead of keeping it themselves. He said it was some sort of butcher-baker back hander because he let some guy at the garage (maybe the main man) use his box at some sporting event or other, but i'm still phoning them tomorrow to see what i can find out.

but still, is there any other process or things i should be checking out that i've missed? been a long time since i bought a car and that was only a cheap thing too, not a £35k thing.

the car
 
The running in service being done at 3400 miles would cause me to walk away, as would the fact the side bolsters are so tired. The running in service is perscribed by BMW and is probably why its no longer in the network. There are loads of good M3's out there, no point buying one with a questionable history, move on and get a straight one. The running in service was an FOC thing, it amazes me how some people did not follow the guidelines, and to me shows someone who was not that bothered, so they were probably much the same running it in or worse, each morning running it up to the red line as they drove it off the drive.

I never had problems with the side bolsters on my M3's, and I did 50K+ in the first and 40K+ in the second so not sure how such a new car could have them damaged to the extent you describe. My advice would be find another if you have any doubts.
 
If whoever owned it couldn't bothered to get the first service done in a timely manner, it's hardly likely they've treated it with any respect at all.
 
..and that wood trim is nasty and very un M3 if you ask me. My advice would be buy a CSL and go for the full fat M3 experience.
 
Was talking to the sales guy about this, if the car didn't have the running in service done on time then they can't sell it though AUC, they just go off to auction.

I'd walk, you could have problems with warranty claims etc. There's enough M3s out there to be more than picky.
 
To be honest I would find it hard to spend big money on an E46 M3 when you can get an 02/03 plate one with BMW warranty for nearer £20k.
 
[TW]Fox;10364147 said:
I think there may be warranty implications for a late running in service, but I guess if its an Approved Used car this isnt an issue.

I am simply staggered that the drivers side bolster is knackered on an 06 plate car. I've got a high mileage 51 plate E39 and it's fine. I would insist on them replacing this becuase it isn't normal wear and tear for a car this young.
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depends if you're fat or not.

Our 330d seats were in total mint condition looked unused and very small bolster wear after 90k miles, after 5k of having larger people sitting in them they are slowly becoming knackered. :(
 
zain said:
Nice M3, for that price would it not be better going for a 335?
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it probably would, and i saw a black (proper proper black, not stupid fake blue 'carbon black' either) 335 on the way back down (on the back of my mate's ZZR1400, boy was that an experience), and boy, it looked nice. but it doesn't say 'M3' on it and for whatever reason, i've just got to have an M3 right now.

housemaster said:
Deja Vu, starring Denzel's Washington
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really i didn't mind the wood. looked better than the bright silver i've seen, not a fan of that, i think the dark gunmetal grey is my favourite that i've seen so far. and i've contemplated a CSL but, lack of soft top is seriously annoying. i really want a drop top

[TW]Fox;10364984 said:
Perhaps they wont allow it as an AUC becuase it was so late for it's running in check.
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this is what i'm going to ask park lane tomorrow, and my local chandlers too.

i must say though, all the 'being there optimism' has totally worn off now, and all these 'walk away' messages are making me want to put the Cast song on and cry at having being so close, yet so far... because it looks like i'm going to leave this one. back to scanning bmw+pistonheads+autotrader every day it seems.
 
[TW]Fox;10365233 said:
To be honest I would find it hard to spend big money on an E46 M3 when you can get an 02/03 plate one with BMW warranty for nearer £20k.
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Nail on the head, spending that much on the now previous model when for a lot less you can have the same car would put me off for starters. That one is just too suspect, if you're spending 35k you want a car that at least would be worthy of being an AUC!

If you must have one that new etc then for 35k there will be plenty more.

As someone else said, for 35k I'd be looking at a 335 :)
 
jamoor said:
depends if you're fat or not.

Our 330d seats were in total mint condition looked unused and very small bolster wear after 90k miles, after 5k of having larger people sitting in them they are slowly becoming knackered. :(
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Surely a fat person can't do more wear to a car in 18 months than a normal person can do to a car in 4 years and 140,000 miles?
 
Unless he was super dense, and 'wobbled' a lot. Rather worrying, as to do that much damage, you'd think he'd be damaging the passenger RHS bolster too :/

I saw a bloke on't tube the other day who'd have been wearing all 4 bolsters!
 
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