Well, I'm in the market for a 'new' car for when i get back from Iraq and my old boss from a garage i worked at in high school has a 2002 M3 convertable that he said i could have first dibs on. Its a manual-and its red...thats about all i know right now haha 
. So tell me all there is to know: Bavarian bruiser? Or just plain crap?
10k services for valve adjustment, lots of expensive fiddly electronic stuff to break, parts prices.
333hp, 8k redline, amazing car to drive.
I'd just be afraid to own one that didn't have a perfect maintenance history. But then again I'm paranoid too.
My parents had an '05 323ic and it had little bits and electronics breaking left and right. They don't make 'em like they used to. My E30 has been solid as a rock.
hmm..haha. Kinda what i expected unfortunatly...
I gotta call him later this week, find out more info on the car (a good starting point would be mileage and price). Whats the ballpark figure for these things? I know hes not going to screw me, but just so i know. Im seeing anywhere from 15-25ish on autotrader. Kinda a large gap. 15 is probably my max (ok maybe 20, its only money right?) so im probably going to have to let this one go...too bad too cause its a great looking car. Im not really looking for a money pit though.
No such thing as an '05 323...
Anyhow my E46 ('99 328i) has been pretty solid electrically other than a random false bulb out light and a camshaft sensor.
But compared to a regular 3 series parts not cheap for an M3 so take that into account. I'd also avoid the SMG cars, more trouble than its worth IMO.
I want one pretty bad but I bought a stupid house instead, oh well...
Jason
You will be required to wear your hair spikey with lots of gel. Spray on tan optional.
How many miles are on it and is it an smg?
manual (reading is my friend). I replaced my clutch around 40k and it wasn't fun.
I say go for it though minus the gel and the optional spray tan.
Key thing to know is mileage and service history. Around 100k miles, BMW's like a lot of new parts (cooling system, valve cover gasket, various suspension bits) These are essentially the wear items of almost all modern bimmers. I am pretty sure this is what we used to call the "euro motor". Individual throttle bodies, shim's for the valve adjustment. Unless they have somehow become less reliable over design time, the older s38 motor most certainly did not need new shims every 10k mile, and that one could do 7200 rpm in 1987. So check the mileage, check the maintenance, then check it again, then doubt it.
The smartest thing you can do is to take it to a independent bmw service station and get an inspection.
I can tell you one thing, that motor, running bullet mufflers is A) LOUD B) AMAZING
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