M3 reliability & Cost of Maintenance

[kss]

Its been a while sine i've had a sports coupe or sedan, as i've had a baby mobile RX350 for the past 8 years.

I did have the 2008 BMW 335xi for 2 years which was nothing but problems - limp mode, in the shop 3 times for long durations and despite 3 recall service, bmw couldn't figure out what the issue was. I also had horrible dealership experience, as they rented a Ford festiva and a chevy traverse (which was supposed to be an upgrade after i complained about the festiva), for the two extended repairs i had. The dealer said you had to book a loaner at least a month in advance - like i was supposed to predict when the car was going to breakdown!!! I took a $40k hit selling the car and had sworn off BMW.

Anyway, we just purchased a replacement SUV - another Lexus RX350 at the start of this year - the first was bullet proof with 198000 km. My wife will get the SUV once i get my fun daily driver.

Originally because of my past BMW experience, i wasn't going to consider a bmw again, but i've had friends tell me that the twin turbos today are bullet proof and the relialbity has really improved. While both BMW dealerships in town are the same owner, i've heard that they have improved the service quality - before if you had anything less than a 5 series, you were basically a second class citizen.

Anyways, i wanted to get some input on the M3 - there are some good deals on some unsold 2017 M3's with the competition, premium and executive packages. The car will be my daily driver, i live in canada where the winters can be long and harsh. I'm paying cash, so ideally, i'd like the car for 6-7 years. I'll probably put 150k-175k km on it (around 25k km/year). Is an M3 reliable enough for my needs?

I wanted to know the following:
1 -Are there any issues with the 2017 M3 competition package vehicles i should know about? Any reliability concerns?
2 -I'm paying cash and want to have the vehicle for at lest 6 to 7 years - what is the cost of maintaining the vehicle that long?? The first 4 years maintenance is included (although, i think 1 year of warranty will have lapsed, since both are early 2017 builds). Any idea what and when any major preventive maintenance has to be done?
3. How is the car in snow with winter tires for those using it as a daily driver??? I've never had a rear wheel drive car - all have been either front wheel or AWD and have been driving AWD for the past 11 years. Any suggestions on what snow tires to get?? where i live, it pretty much can snow from end of September to early June. Right now on the SUV we have all seasons from May to September and winters from end of September to early May. Given the M3 has summers, i'd probably have to put on the winters from mid-September to late May.
4. For those in Canada, is it worth getting the extended warranty?? I got the extended warranty on both of the lexus i had, but given that it included servicing for the car for 3 years, the net cost of extending the warranty to 160k km for 6 years, was only $1200. The BMW extended warranty i've heard is around $7k in canada for 140k km.

The other cars i'm considering are the following:
-BMW M2 Competition - back seats look good enough, if i do have to take the kids in my vehicle, rather then the family SUV
-Audi TT RS - concern over back seats for the kids - but its AWD
-Audi RS3 - don't like the fact it has manual seats and the look of the car doesn't really do anhything for me, but, otherwise, I think this would be the best compromise, in AWD and usable rear seats
-Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio - would be my choice if it wasn't for some of the reliability concerns reported by some of the car magazine reviews, a well as unsure how the car would be as a daily drive in the winter.

I"d appreciate the perspective of M3 owners on the M3, as well as the S55 engine, since the M2 also has the same engine now.

[JMon]

How is the car in snow with winter tires for those using it as a daily driver?


Actually surprisingly good. So long as you get proper winter tires. I have winter/ summer and track sets.


Reliably on my 2016 has been great. I've never had it in for a non maintenance item. I suspect the real cost to maintenance is mainly tires for the first few years.

[JamesF80m3]

I have a 2016 M4 with 55k miles as of today and havent had any reliability issues

[SMGCFP]

2016 M4 ZCP (fwiw) and 22k miles with no issues. Seat seams are separating, but I've asked in another thread if it's a warranty item in someone's opinion.

But no mechanical issues whatsoever.

[bedboy]

70000 km. One owner from new. No problem whatsoever. Maintans only. I only did oil change between service out packet. I did myself so only oil and filter 100 $.

[kss]

Thanks everyone for your responses!! Is anyone here planning on keeping their cars long term, or know if there are any major preventative maintenance costs between 120k km to 160k km??

With the 2010 Lexus, there wasn’t any big maintenance cost until you hit 200k km (around $2500) and I sold it just before that. With the Lexus oil changes were around $120 and they did some preventative maintenance work every 2nd oil change which was around $500.

With the BMW in Canada maintenance is included up to the 80k km warranty, but o have no idea what regular or preventative maintenance costs are after that.

I know with the Alfa Romeo Guilia Quadrifoglio there is around a $3500 Canadian cost for the serpentine belt replacement at 50k km.

[Deteria]

It's one of the most reliable generations *knock on wood*. One of my buddy got a M3 @ over 50k miles no issues. He only ever does basic maintenance.

[gabriel.psd]

75k on my 6MT.

No issues besides regular maintenance.

[kss]

I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences! From what i read that 2017 M3 Competition model do not have lumber support. How do people find the sport seats for extended drives?

[JMon]

Ahhh. Why did I post earlier that I had no problems. Totally jinx it.
Just got a "drivetrain malfunction". Power reduced error on my screen during a 2 hour drive just cruising along.
No idea what is going on.

The regular seats in my M3 are fine for long drives, but not great.....
Honestly I'm probably a little wired about seats. I loved my cloth Porsche GT2 seats. Nothing adjustable about them but great seats for the track and long driving.

[wsccsw13]

Keeping mine for the long haul. No issues in 3 years. Very reliable...just remember on a performance engine like this, regular maintenance includes things like spark plugs every 25-30k miles.

[THEROK]

I wouldn't have bought my '18 new if I came to this forum and saw too many threads dedicated to warranty items or recalls.

I have very little to no patience for all things automotive that are unreliable, not durable, and not of high quality. This put the F8X at the top of the list within my budget of $90K. Why?

You get all that motorsport proven tech trickling down into the platform more so than any other car in its class including the 4050lbs AMG C class porker, the highly questionable Italian/Chrysler Alfa Quad effort, and anything Audi with its front engine ahead of front axle albatross. Good cooling is one of the biggest drivers of efficiency, performance and long-term reliability. Heat is enemy #1. BMW M resolutely nailed it along this front that would even make Iceman proud.

All those subscribe to my channel, microwave head to head reviews is TMZ auto entertainment. When you actually take time to look under the covers and speak to non-fanboy, discerning owners, you realize who's truly done their homework. F8X is top class.

The only warranty issue I've had in the 1+ years I've owned mine is driver side seat stitching coming undone.

Here's to many more miles of smiles sans trips to the BMW service center!

[omega2733]

The reliability has been top notch according to many of the threads/posters/owners here which is why I bought mine.

Since you mentioned it's your first RWD vehicle I'd recommend doing M performance school or SOME school to help you become acclimated to high performance RWD. If you've been driving mainly AWD and not really into high performance vehicles or sports cars then you should really start there first.

[kss]

Is $80k a good price for a m3 with ultimate package (competition, executive, premium)?

[kss]

Are there any differences between the 2017 & 2018 m3 models (competition, premium and executive packages)?

[Ian1973]

2015 M3 here, 3 years and 56k miles. Not a single trip to the dealer, nothing broke at all. Went through one full set of MPSS's, one set of winters and half the second set of MPSS's. Just oil changes, diff oil and spark plugs that I recall. Not to mention I had a Dinan tune on it, it's entire life with me.

Drove it through three winters, never got stuck, 245-50 square set up.

[overlook637]

I would enquire about the competition brakes in the cold weather. It was my understanding that the brakes like/need heat to work the best. When its peak cold winter in Canada, will those brakes be capable of quick or hard stopping?

[SOLIDM4]

Originally Posted by JMon

How is the car in snow with winter tires for those using it as a daily driver?


Actually surprisingly good. So long as you get proper winter tires. I have winter/ summer and track sets.


Reliably on my 2016 has been great. I've never had it in for a non maintenance item. I suspect the real cost to maintenance is mainly tires for the first few years.

Yes indeed,
I always recommend people USE TWO SETS OF TIRES
WINTER SET UP
SUMMER SET UP.

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by kss

From what i read that 2017 M3 Competition model do not have lumber support. How do people find the sport seats for extended drives?

My wife and I did ~1400 miles in 13 days during our July Euro Delivery in her M3 ZCP. We did a 3-day weekend trip since then, 200-300 miles. No complaints.

The ZCP seats do have a lumbar support, it's just not adjustable.

[SOLIDM4]

Every car is reliable, it all comes down to MAINTENANCE and how you treat it, this is coming from a guy who had 15 cars different brands. FACTS