Here is example A of how BMW is going to complete ****. After talking to several owners, I decided against buying an M3 and thought perhaps maybe it was isolated, but in any event, I should wait and see. I waited, and I saw, and I'm horrified.


The S54 BMW 3.2 liter 333HP I-6, found in the E46 M3 and M Roadster/Coupe
BMW E46 M3 Engine Failure Archive

This is for the E46 BMW M3 archive. It lists 56 engine failures owners of this website have had alone.

Some interesting facts: Of all the engine failures, 43% of those occured in cars that were produced in November of 2001. Of those, 85% were SMG optioned automobiles. Most of the engine failures occured at between 5,500 and 9,000 miles.

Please also note the wonderful service BMW has provided it's owners. This is what a $50,000 car from BMW buys you, everyone.

 

That is truly a shame, becuase otherwise the engine is cream of the crop.

 

WARNING: Don't listen to the sound clips on that site :wtc:.

Damn BMW !

But, a Porsche 911 C4S don't sound so bad .

 

This makes one think twice about the Bayerische Motoren Werke..... good friend of mine had a 1984 733i..... the odometer stopped in 1992 at 133,000. He just got rid of it about 2 years ago, having only rebuilt the transmission and replaced the exhaust and brakes the whole time he owned it. He estimated there was over 200,000 and the engine still ran well, no rust, all the accessories still worked. Have times changed?

 

Times have changed. That 3.3L inline 6 was hardly stressed. the S54 engine is nearly at the maximum engine output for N/A engine.

There is a good reason why BMW PTG is using 4.0L V8 instead of the 3.2L inline 6. They've gotten just about everything they can out of that engine.

I still would and will buy a M3 with out a second thought. In fact I plan on buying a used E46 M3 with SMG in two or three years. This should not deter people from buying BMW. Maybe the M3 but it has hardly detered people from still buying the M3.

 

I did. Sounded so awful...

I'd still love to get one though...

 

the m3 is one of several non hondas i'd consider...i'd also look at the 330ci or 330xi and m5 (too expensive for me)...last year i almost bought a 97 m3 coupe but found out it had a salvaged title and backed out (only to get laid off 2 days later)

i'm sure bmw will fix the problems by the end of the model cycle

 

does anyone know what the majority of the failures consist of? i'm sure a significant portion of the SMG problems are launch control issues, and if thats the case, that would hardly deter me from my buying an M3 either

 

I would still buy one. There may be a problem with the E46 //M3. However BMW is taking steps to rectify the problem. The Customer service may not be the greatest, but keep in mind that the first few reports would raise some skeptisim with the technicians, but if you noticed as time progressed, BMW of NA became more and more responsive and understanding, issuing new engines more frequently.

 

I saw an M3 the other night that made me a believer once again. It was Steel Gray Metallic, with 19 inch Hamman rims, AC Schnitzer exhuast, huge cross drilled roters with red 4 piston Brembo calipers, carbon fiber lip, and a Dinan badge......



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