Are 2002 - up m3's reliable? What are the most common problems?

iNetForce · #1 (**permalink**) 04-07-2006, 06:43 AM

I'm planning on buying a 2002 - up m3 but im afraid of reliability, I will me trading in my s2000. I need something with more space.

Chet · #2 (**permalink**) 04-07-2006, 08:17 AM

Yes they are if you keep up on your maintance.

deafboy · #3 (**permalink**) 04-07-2006, 12:04 PM

I believe its the 2004 one.... from there on up they havent done anything.

2000-2003 had some tech. problems, nothing major but they were fixed in 2004 i believe. check out e46fanatics under the M3 section for better answers.

deep throat · #4 (**permalink**) 05-11-2006, 01:46 PM

One common problem (my friend's in Dubai and my colleague's in Houston) had it, the hood would pop up sometimes. This causes the SMG to seize to function in two forms:

1) The car would be in neutral and it won't change gears
2) It'd go from 1st to 3rd or 4th skipping gears so the hood won't hit the windshield under heavy acceleration. Hope this one makes sense...

The cure is a simple sensor replacement and fixing the hood latches. Other than this problem, I never heard anything else