Looking for a f80 m3 soon, any advice?

[spawn]

As title.
Looking for a f80 m3 saloon in next couple of months.
Anything to look out for on these?
Cheers Gav.

 

[toplad]

Depending on you really, do you have much experience buying cars privately, do you know how to inspect them dispassionately.
If so buy privately, make a decent saving and get a decent warranty

If not I'd suggest you buy from a main dealer as it comes with a warranty and much more peace of mind, plus the quality is usually higher than the indies

Regarding looking what to look out for,

It's the usual bmw stuff, brakes, tyres and curbed wheels.
Check for smoke when reving the engine, turbos can go , especially if its been tuned

 

[spawn]

Depending on you really, do you have much experience buying cars privately, do you know how to inspect them dispassionately.
If so buy privately, make a decent saving and get a decent warranty

If not I'd suggest you buy from a main dealer as it comes with a warranty and much more peace of mind, plus the quality is usually higher than the indies

Yep I’ve got no problem buying private and inspecting. But would probably like the peace of mind from buying from a dealer.
Are there any particular things to look out for on these? Cheers

 

[M3Westy]

F80 seems to have been a pretty reliable platform.

Turbo seals seem to get mentioned quite a bit.

Crank hub slipping again gets mentioned a bit, seems to be mainly on tuned cars, but not always. And does seem quite low numbers.

Only other common things I can think of are cracked seat badges and there were some issues the MPE exhausts developing cracks, but they should have been sorted by the dealers by now.

Apart from that it's just the normal stuff to check with any car purchase.

Spec wise. Full leather and HUD seem to be most desirable options. Plus depending on age of car the Icon headlights seem to be popular.

 

[SynTom]

Full service history.
Signs of any tuning to the car, (Unless you want that).
Blown turbos, (let the car sit for 15 minutes idling then drive it slowly and it'll be like a fog machine if the turbo seals have gone).
Gaskets can go, check rocker cover and visually under the engine.
Check for an excessivley ticking engine, exhaust cam cover can loosen and cause ticking.
Check for frantic ticking / clicking when you unlock the vehicle with the engine OFF. valvetronic motor can go haywire.
Go lock to lock with a cold car and check for groaning from the front suspension, the older model cars have an outdated top mount that has since been revised because of groaning.
Check for clicks from the front suspension due to aluminium pinch bolts loosening.
Check for an overly clunky diff, the diff bush can crack that joins the diff and the driveshaft. The diffs tend to be a little clunky from new so don't over diagnose this one.
Check for cracked silver M badges in the seats on older cars.
If it has a V1 MPE, check for a crack in the back box.

""Edit

Check the coolant level in the small expansion tank for the charge air cooler. These can develop leaks in very very rare occasions internally and bugger the engine.

 

[adie]

Check for oil on diff, the seals can go on these

 

[F80M3]

Check for oil on diff, the seals can go on these

Funny oil on diff got mentioned i certainly have this. ‘Oil leaking from pinion seal - requires replacing’. Do you know if i should also investigate other parts of the car? Does it affect the gaskets? Im not sure what causes the oil to leak onto rear diff either.

 

[adie]

Don't know the details but the the dealer health check video included a check of the diff/driveshaft for oil so it's a known issue on these

 

[karyog]

Funny oil on diff got mentioned i certainly have this. ‘Oil leaking from pinion seal - requires replacing’. Do you know if i should also investigate other parts of the car? Does it affect the gaskets? Im not sure what causes the oil to leak onto rear diff either.

It's a bad design.

 

[Khooni]

the dealer is asking for £700 to replace the diff seal. kinda pricey or market?

 

[adie]

Time to get a quote from an Indy..

https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threads/diff-leak-on-drivers-side.219223/#post-2862216

https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threads/diff-leak-on-drivers-side.219223/#post-2876345

 

[F80M3]

the dealer is asking for £700 to replace the diff seal. kinda pricey or market?

Had a quote for £618. Try calling around and negotiate to £500

 

[Khooni]

Had a quote for £618. Try calling around and negotiate to £500

how fatal is this weeping. ? are we changing just to see a new weep happen? is this significant enough to cause a big drop in diff fluid?

 

[F80M3]

how fatal is this weeping. ? are we changing just to see a new weep happen? is this significant enough to cause a big drop in diff fluid?

Could not see oil on the ground. Either its all dried up or not leaking as bad. Its heading to the stealers for a few days early next week i will report back to you with more info after speaking to the workshop manager.