Many years and miles ago I fell in love with my first Mcar!

[M5D]

With school wrapping up in the late 80s, I wanted to leave the cars with a millions miles, hand-me downs to buying my first car.

I settled on a 1990 E30 M3. It was love at first sight, 270k miles later, she ended up being the most reliable car I ever owned, next to my Fj80. I found a BMW wrench who worked out of his home - he became a friend - and I took her to him. The only thing that went out on her was the alternator while out of town [of courser, she was regularly maintained]. I had it fixed by a shop - they rebuild it - for 35 dollars.

I did my first drift which I did not know it was a drift, until I was in it. I did it again and again. I thought I was living on the edge, just sliding sideways. I ended up selling her, getting another E30 M3 and put zillions of miles on her. Then I left the M World for the 993 World for years. I lucked out and the 993 proved to be very reliable - turnkey!

After that, there were years of practical cars/family cars with glimpses of a couple of M5s and 991, eventually settling down with a 200 series LC. I hate settling down!

Then it happened! It came to me that I wanted an M4 with red interior. It was a thought, not planned. Then, yes, then she walked into my life! I could not say no!

Glad to be here! Learning more and more about our cars! I have done much of the work on her, plugs, upgraded charge pipes, DCT service, rear diff, will do front rotors and pads all around soon! Will be upgrading the upper cooler soon!

I love your mods, your cars and the generosity of the folks here! Thank you for having me!

[m3rxn]

Nice pick up buddy! LOVE that E30 too

[swagon]

Great story!

[M5D]

Originally Posted by m3rxn

Nice pick up buddy! LOVE that E30 too

Thank you! I thought of getting another E30 M3, but they are now going for 100k! I would not mind driving one again, because it was an amazing car!

[M5D]

Originally Posted by swagon

Great story!

Thank you! I love love your signature picture!

[FatHulk]

Awesome story and that original e30 is gorgeous!!!!

[khoa@x-ph.com]

Great story, enjoy your F82 in good health!!

[NYG]

I always forget that BMW had an era that actually had cars running for 300k miles without issues.

Congrats on getting one of the best M cars ever made.

[M5D]

Thank you, thank you Gents!

They were very reliable - were is the operating word. I guess I will see how well this beauty holds up!

I hear about spun hubs, but really it appears it has been blown out of proportion. I suppose if you tune them to 600 plus ponies and run them hard you are asking for the weak link to go out! I intend to go at least 200k on her.

The word of mouth for years has been to get rid of your German cars when they get close to 100k. Cars have become disposable, unfortunately our bond with our cars has taken that route, also. You make so many memories in 270k, in 50k or less - lease returns - move on - you have not come to know her in those few years.

I get it we want the new, more ponies ones when they come out! But, it seems like we get rid the ones we have before mastering driving them. BMW does not help the situation, because they have limited warranties [promotes sales of new model] and the extended warranties are at times prohibited, so we dump and go!



I put my dive stickers on her to made it official! What I loved about my E30 M3 was that held two tanks and all my dive gear! The M4 has so much room in the back! I love it!

[6spd4lyfe]

mind sharing what you are lowered on for the M4?

[M5D]

Originally Posted by 6spd4lyfe

mind sharing what you are lowered on for the M4?

H&R Super Sports [red], with 20mm spacer front, 12mm rear, no rubbing, 255s front, 275s back!

[NYG]

Originally Posted by M5D

I hear about spun hubs, but really it appears it has been blown out of proportion. I suppose if you tune them to 600 plus ponies and run them hard you are asking for the weak link to go out! I intend to go at least 200k on her.

The statistics, topic trends and BMWs response to this failure indicate with a lot of confidence that the crank hub, although a stupid design, will not have any issues if the car is on the stock tune.

I get the same response from service technicians - they never see this issue and when they do the ecu gets flagged.

I believe there has been a rare comment on here where this issue happened on a stock car but unfortunately there's a lot of information missing and people on the internet aren't really known to be that honest.

My M4 was tracked often with the extra power from the stock CS tune. I floored it regularly activating kickdown which a lot of people hint can impact the crank hub spinning (it doesn't). It was driven hard but very well taken care of and maintained very regularly. Extremely reliable and I never saw water or oil go over 205F even when I ran the car all day in 100F temps.

If you plan on tuning the car, you may need to be more cautious but otherwise I would not worry at all.

[M5D]

Originally Posted by NYG

The statistics, topic trends and BMWs response to this failure indicate with a lot of confidence that the crank hub, although a stupid design, will not have any issues if the car is on the stock tune.

I get the same response from service technicians - they never see this issue and when they do the ecu gets flagged.

I believe there has been a rare comment on here where this issue happened on a stock car but unfortunately there's a lot of information missing and people on the internet aren't really known to be that honest.

My M4 was tracked often with the extra power from the stock CS tune. I floored it regularly activating kickdown which a lot of people hint can impact the crank hub spinning (it doesn't). It was driven hard but very well taken care of and maintained very regularly. Extremely reliable and I never saw water or oil go over 205F even when I ran the car all day in 100F temps.

If you plan on tuning the car, you may need to be more cautious but otherwise I would not worry at all.

This car has plenty of power to get anyone in trouble and more! I get having more ponies is attractive, but if you cannot use it then you are neglecting something else - regular maintenance. So, it looks like as you hit high miles, the valve cover and gasket might crack - I say if you are near 100k then do those as part of the 100k maintenance. And, the oil filter gasket at about that mileage, belt, the pulley/roller, etc, then also - maybe a hub retainer, too!

These are great cars and still new, so we will see how they do as they reach 150k plus!