View Full Version : If it's not one thing, it's another...
My car was stinking up the place so I sent it along to Turner yesterday. They diagnosed it with a leaking valve cover gasket. I'm getting an estimate on it today. In addition, they concur that my RTABs are shot. They want to install some sort of welded in thingy that supposedly keeps them from wearing as quickly (I think that's what it does at least). One tierod is going too, but they said that can wait. The front control arm bushings have about another 10k miles on them.
Whew.
My car was stinking up the place so I sent it along to Turner yesterday. They diagnosed it with a leaking valve cover gasket. I'm getting an estimate on it today. In addition, they concur that my RTABs are shot. They want to install some sort of welded in thingy that supposedly keeps them from wearing as quickly (I think that's what it does at least). One tierod is going too, but they said that can wait. The front control arm bushings have about another 10k miles on them.
Whew.
That sucks. FWIW, changing the valve cover gasket on my 190E was infinitely easier than I thougt it would be.
How many years/miles on your car?
My car was stinking up the place so I sent it along to Turner yesterday. They diagnosed it with a leaking valve cover gasket. I'm getting an estimate on it today. In addition, they concur that my RTABs are shot. They want to install some sort of welded in thingy that supposedly keeps them from wearing as quickly (I think that's what it does at least). One tierod is going too, but they said that can wait. The front control arm bushings have about another 10k miles on them.
Whew.
That sucks. FWIW, changing the valve cover gasket on my 190E was infinitely easier than I thougt it would be.
How many years/miles on your car?
I dunno if I trust myself to do it...
it's an 11/97 build 98 with nearly 93k miles. :awe:
My car was stinking up the place so I sent it along to Turner yesterday. They diagnosed it with a leaking valve cover gasket. I'm getting an estimate on it today. In addition, they concur that my RTABs are shot. They want to install some sort of welded in thingy that supposedly keeps them from wearing as quickly (I think that's what it does at least). One tierod is going too, but they said that can wait. The front control arm bushings have about another 10k miles on them.
Whew.
That sucks. FWIW, changing the valve cover gasket on my 190E was infinitely easier than I thougt it would be.
How many years/miles on your car?
I dunno if I trust myself to do it...
it's an 11/97 build 98 with nearly 93k miles. :awe:
Yeah, I don't think I'd keep a performance car past 80-100K, unless I was willing to fork out lots of cash to maintain it, and few cars are worth enough to make that investment.
The whole point of a performance car is to enjoy it and I'd only do so knowing it is in top shape. Of course, if it were a POS beater like my benz (that needs ALL sorts of "front-end" work), I'd probably not fix anything and wait for it to die.
My car was stinking up the place so I sent it along to Turner yesterday. They diagnosed it with a leaking valve cover gasket. I'm getting an estimate on it today. In addition, they concur that my RTABs are shot. They want to install some sort of welded in thingy that supposedly keeps them from wearing as quickly (I think that's what it does at least). One tierod is going too, but they said that can wait. The front control arm bushings have about another 10k miles on them.
Whew.
That sucks. FWIW, changing the valve cover gasket on my 190E was infinitely easier than I thougt it would be.
How many years/miles on your car?
I dunno if I trust myself to do it...
it's an 11/97 build 98 with nearly 93k miles. :awe:
Yeah, I don't think I'd keep a performance car past 80-100K, unless I was willing to fork out lots of cash to maintain it, and few cars are worth enough to make that investment.
The whole point of a performance car is to enjoy it and I'd only do so knowing it is in top shape. Of course, if it were a POS beater like my benz (that needs ALL sorts of "front-end" work), I'd probably not fix anything and wait for it to die.
Well, from an engine standpoin, the e36 M3 isn't really anymore of a performance car than a regular 3 Series. The S52 doesn't require any excessive maintenance like the e30, e34, e39 or e46 M cars. At this point, I still think it's less expensive to fix my car than it would be to get a newer one.
Well, from an engine standpoin, the e36 M3 isn't really anymore of a performance car than a regular 3 Series. The S52 doesn't require any excessive maintenance like the e30, e34, e39 or e46 M cars. At this point, I still think it's less expensive to fix my car than it would be to get a newer one.
I wasn't necessarily just speaking of the engine, but more so about the suspension components, etc. You are right though. I would also repair it if I were you.
My comment was just a very general "if you can replace the car at 80-100K then great." At the other end of the spectrum are POS beater cars (yours clearly isn't). So you are stuck having to repair it. As long as it doesn't become a $3K a year budget, then is worth keeping.
As far as the valve cover gasket is concerned, in my 190E I just had to remove 6 bolts. That was it.
Well, from an engine standpoin, the e36 M3 isn't really anymore of a performance car than a regular 3 Series. The S52 doesn't require any excessive maintenance like the e30, e34, e39 or e46 M cars. At this point, I still think it's less expensive to fix my car than it would be to get a newer one.
I wasn't necessarily just speaking of the engine, but more so about the suspension components, etc. You are right though. I would also repair it if I were you.
My comment was just a very general "if you can replace the car at 80-100K then great." At the other end of the spectrum are POS beater cars (yours clearly isn't). So you are stuck having to repair it. As long as it doesn't become a $3K a year budget, then is worth keeping.
As far as the valve cover gasket is concerned, in my 190E I just had to remove 6 bolts. That was it.
I've actually started looking for lower mileage e36 M3s. I really wish there was an alternative, but TD's frequent car dilemmas that inevitably result in him keeping the e36 make me think that a viable alternative just doesn't exist right now.
My car was stinking up the place so I sent it along to Turner yesterday. They diagnosed it with a leaking valve cover gasket. I'm getting an estimate on it today. In addition, they concur that my RTABs are shot. They want to install some sort of welded in thingy that supposedly keeps them from wearing as quickly (I think that's what it does at least). One tierod is going too, but they said that can wait. The front control arm bushings have about another 10k miles on them.
Whew.
That sucks. FWIW, changing the valve cover gasket on my 190E was infinitely easier than I thougt it would be.
How many years/miles on your car?
I dunno if I trust myself to do it...
it's an 11/97 build 98 with nearly 93k miles. :awe:
Yeah, I don't think I'd keep a performance car past 80-100K, unless I was willing to fork out lots of cash to maintain it, and few cars are worth enough to make that investment.
The whole point of a performance car is to enjoy it and I'd only do so knowing it is in top shape. Of course, if it were a POS beater like my benz (that needs ALL sorts of "front-end" work), I'd probably not fix anything and wait for it to die.
Well, from an engine standpoin, the e36 M3 isn't really anymore of a performance car than a regular 3 Series. The S52 doesn't require any excessive maintenance like the e30, e34, e39 or e46 M cars. At this point, I still think it's less expensive to fix my car than it would be to get a newer one.
It seems that any older, higher mileage BMW is going to take a good bit of maintenance money to keep in tip top shape. You (and the rest of us) are all fairly well versed in what that means in E36s (Ms specifically)--new shocks, shock mounts, new bushings, new radiator, new water pump, transmission, possibly catastrophic subframe failure, brakes, etc.
I think you are right that the E46 M3 is likely to be just as expensive to maintain out-of-warranty as the E36. Not enough of them are high enough mileage to know if there are common problems like the transmission and radiator issues on the E36, though early indications seem to be that the E46 has fewer quirks along these lines than the E36 (which may be the worst BMW until the E65, from a maintenance standpoint). But you will have to do the shocks and brakes, and since the rear suspensions are similar in design, I imagine things like the RTABs will still be a problem at some point. Valve adjustments are another fun thing, but at least with those you get a new valve cover gasket. :D
In the end, I got sick not so much of spending the money, but of constantly worrying about what would go wrong on my car next. It just got tiresome. I am much happier, less obsessive, and less stressed "owning" a car that has both a full warranty and free maintenance. I may eventually buy another out-of-warranty BMW, but I won't use it as my daily driver. Too much angst.
In the end, I got sick not so much of spending the money, but of constantly worrying about what would go wrong on my car next. It just got tiresome. I am much happier, less obsessive, and less stressed "owning" a car that has both a full warranty and free maintenance. I may eventually buy another out-of-warranty BMW, but I won't use it as my daily driver. Too much angst.
That is why I will probably end up getting rid of my 330i no matter what once it hits ~80K if I can afford a replacement.
The fuel pump died on the E30 a week ago taking out the filter and relay.
Jason C
12-22-2004, 12:06 PM
Just the valve cover gasket? That doesn't sound so bad.
For a moment there (reading it fast), I thought you said something about cylinder head gasket. That would suck. :P
clyde
12-22-2004, 05:56 PM
Not enough of them are high enough mileage to know if there are common problems like the transmission and radiator issues on the E36, though early indications seem to be that the E46 has fewer quirks along these lines than the E36 (which may be the worst BMW until the E65, from a maintenance standpoint).
Yeah. So far, the biggies on the E46 M3 only seem to be engine internals. :paranoid:
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