2004 BMW M3 Consumer Discussions

BMW M3 Maintenance and Repair

• '04 M3 Conv. - Buy or Not to Buy?

  Written by: frednwilma on May 18, 2010 7:54:33 PM

  I own an '01 5 series and I'm considering making the jump to a car that has more than one purpose. This '04 M3 Convertible has about 60k in mileage, SMG, Nav, 19" rims etc., lots of bells & whistles but no HK sound system...go figure! After reading a number of posts, I know what the upside and fun part is, it's the downside I'm concerned about. With the car being ... Read More

• '04 M3 Conv. - Buy or Not to Buy?

  Written by: frednwilma on May 18, 2010 7:42:40 PM

  I own an '01 5 series and I'm considering making the jump to a car that has more than one purpose. This '04 M3 Convertible has about 60k in mileage, SMG, Nav, 19" rims etc., lots of bells & whistles but no HK sound system...go figure! After reading a number of posts, I know what the upside and fun part is, it's the downside I'm concerned about. With the car being ... Read More

• Re: BMW M3 Owners: Problems & Solutions [lostit3]

  Written by: ian1stad on Jun 24, 2007 10:25:48 PM

  Karen: I bought my wife a 2003 M3 4years ago and just recently had to deal with the whole extended warranty scenario. I tried to buy the BMW extended warranty but as i bought the M3 from a dealership other than BMW they wouldn't sell it to me, they wanted to sell me their extended warranty which as i was sitting in the F&I guys office, I looked up while he ... Read More

• 2004 M3 Convertible

  Written by: msalazar on Feb 9, 2007 10:06:24 AM

  I purchased my bmw new. I had my windows tinted and since that time I have had squeaky windows. If I lower my windows a little bit the noise goes away. The dealership tells me the noise is coming from the tint. Has anyone else encountered this problem if so please let me know. I am thinking about removing the tint to see if the noise goes away.

Buying a Used 3-Series

• Re: What is a better buy: 1999 BMW M3 or 2001 330ci (same mileage each) [fdg07]

  Written by: dave330i on Aug 14, 2006 7:20:18 PM

  I used to own a 2001 330i, 5 sp, with sport & premium package (basically 330ci with 2 extra doors). At the end of 2004, I traded it for 1999 E36/8 M Coupe (basically, M36 M3 in a modified Z3 Coupe body). If you're looking for performace, go with M3. If you're looking for more luxury, go with 330ci.

2007 BMW M3 (E92)

• Re: Ques. re: Leasing [nyccarguy]

  Written by: ssoccorso on Jul 11, 2006 12:12:53 PM

  Im going to lease 2006 M3 (a.s.a.p) with silver grey metallic, cold weather pack, xenon lights, nav, harman-sound,19" rims, SMG box. *MSRP total is $67,145.00 thats paying full MSRP with out Illinois tax.I need 17,000 miles per year, I've tried 15,000 miles and I'm always over by 2,000 to 3,000 miles. I believe i can get the M3 for $65,000. **this will be my 3rd bmw lease, Ihave leased 2001 and ... Read More

Audi S4 vs BMW M3

• Need Help with CPO M3/330/350 vs S4

  Written by: rdemasi on Jun 15, 2006 7:30:28 PM

  Hi all - I need some help in deciding on a 2004 CPO S4 loaded with 20K miles for 40K vs 2005 M3 loaded with 10K for 50K. Any hellp is appreciated. I have kids 11 and 12. I usually drop 1 in morning to school and pick one up in evening at soccer. I want a car with great performance but also practical for my situation. I am only 3 ... Read More

2007 BMW M3 (E92)

• Re: track [acbrbmw]

  Written by: ultimatedriver on Apr 27, 2006 8:39:05 PM

  Yes and yes, acbr. I've tasted all three generations of SMG in various M machines and I must say that the 7 speed unit takes everything to a whole new level. I think it's because it's hooked up to such a fabulous powertrain. I haven't driven the M5 yet, but I've been to hell and back in the M6. I'm not going to review all the positives in this post, as ... Read More

BMW M3 Maintenance and Repair

• Re: M3 out of control [hpesq]

  Written by: m3owner2004 on Dec 3, 2005 8:39:29 AM

  Well this message is about a year old but I have to say I think I have the same problem with my M3. The people who responded are on the wrong track I think because the problem does not occur when you decelerate but actually happens when you accelerate, it does in my case anyways. My problem started a few months after I got my M3 Nov 2004. It was happening ... Read More

Audi S4 vs BMW M3

• Re: darn confising cars [m3_r1]

  Written by: _matty on Dec 2, 2005 1:47:18 PM

  Since you have been responding to my posts, albeit in a slightly immature and disrespectful way, I will respond to your 3 points before I leave this thread altogether. The host really should kill this thread. It's dead anyway, it has been for a while, and while I have tried to post nothing but hard facts by Consumer Reports, I keep getting stupid responses like "I don't know where you get ... Read More

• Re: darn confising cars [m3_r1]

  Written by: _matty on Dec 2, 2005 12:33:00 AM

  I couldn't have said this better myself. -17% for the BMW vs -46% for the S4. These numbers are light years apart. Well, yeah. Like I said, I'm not out to mislead anyone and that's what Consumer Reports indicated, so that's what I posted. The #'s are not quite as far apart as you may think though. The way CR's scale is set up, if the S4 was 2 percentage points ... Read More

• Re: Want to know positives/negatives of S4 and M3 [m3_r1]

  Written by: _matty on Nov 28, 2005 7:40:52 PM

  Thanks for showing how some of the S4 crowd uses distorted facts and subjective web sites to build up the inferior S4. If you would have bothered to READ my post you would have noticed that I got all of my #'s from edmunds.com! If it's a subjective website then why are you here? I can't believe that this guy posted a message stating the M3 weighs more than the S4. ... Read More

• Re: Want to know positives/negatives of S4 and M3 [m3_r1]

  Written by: _matty on Nov 23, 2005 10:52:24 PM

  Every S4 I have ever encountered on the open highway NEVER challenged my M3. That has nothing to do with the car and everything to do with the driver, bro. Cars can only go as fast as the driver, not the other way around. If I saw you and your M3 on the open road I'd challenge you, and unless your willing to push it to 150 you wouldn't stand a ... Read More

• Re: Want to know positives/negatives of S4 and M3 [m3_r1]

  Written by: s4lvr on Nov 3, 2005 10:24:51 PM

  OK let's have a fact-based discussion. Firstly, which consumer report are you talking about? Go to Consumer Reports.org , and look up the BMW 3-series and Audi A4 reports. Granted, the Audi has atrocious reliability through 2001 (it is that reputation which hurts its resale value now ... ) but has shown consistent improvement since the new shape was introduced in 2002. Indeed, in 2003 it received only excellent and very ... Read More

• Re: Want to know positives/negatives of S4 and M3 [m3_r1]

  Written by: s4lvr on Oct 29, 2005 4:37:12 PM

  Just so we can have a fact-based conversation, the 2006 S4 sedan has an MSRP of $46.4k vs $49.6k for the M3 (base version). Similarly spec'd out their price tags are $50.9k for the S4 and $54.2k for the M3. So there is a $3.3k difference in MSRP right there. Granted, looking at KBB for both cars (2004 versions with 40k miles), the trade-in value for an S4 is $27.5 vs ... Read More

• Re: Want to know positives/negatives of S4 and M3 [rjlaero]

  Written by: m3_r1 on Oct 20, 2005 6:27:44 AM

  The truth must really hurt about the Audi S4 being inferior to the M3. If you read all of messages on this site you will see that the statements are supported by facts and not biased propaganda. I went to Kelly Blue Book to check the trade in values for the M3 and the S4 and this is what they said: 2001 BMW M3 in excellent condition with 100,000 mi $20,375 ... Read More

• Re: Want to know positives/negatives of S4 and M3 [m3_r1]

  Written by: m3_r1 on Oct 17, 2005 9:42:23 AM

  From the above Consumer Reports review of the BMW M3 vs the Audi S4 (also Cadillac CTS V, and Pontiac GTO) the M3 was the consumer reports choice: EXHIBIT 2 From Consumers report: Sports CARS: The $50,000, High-performance Audi S4 and BMW M3 top our sports-car ratings, while blending fun and practicality. Audi S4 BMW M3 Cadillac CTS-V Pontiac GTO The Audi S4 and BMW M3 sped to the top of ... Read More

BMW M3 Maintenance and Repair

• BMW M3 2004

  Written by: dzh on Jun 17, 2005 11:24:31 AM

  I have a problem with my M3 that has only 24,000 miles. "Service engine soon" indicator came on and the dealer proceeded to fix a part in the gas tank. This was a solution that worked only fro a one week. Once I was on the open read and rev-ed up the engine to the higher RMPs the problem repeated itself... Any thoughts on this? Thanks in advance. DZ

2007 BMW M3 (E92)

• 2007 M3 and used M3's

  Written by: scotth6 on Feb 4, 2005 8:21:12 AM

  I traded my 2003 M3 in Sept for a 2004 and discovered one week later that most of the 2002 and 2003 M3's were recalled to replace the connecting rods. If you remember there was some problems with engines blowing up and the problem was discovered as bad connecting rods. the problem is that the entire engine has to be taken apart and its a full uninterupted days work. Be careful ... Read More

Audi S4 vs BMW M3

• Re: S4 Vs M3 [stealth4]

  Written by: fstshtngbrk on Aug 19, 2004 6:03:35 AM

  Glad to hear of your experience with the S4. I have a 2004 S4 Avant and love it. Had a BMW 540 before; nice car...but a real bummer in snow or slick conditions. The S4 performs as well or better in dry...and just no comparison on slick. I'm interested in the chip change-out you made. Where did you get the chip...who installed...what was cost...and what effect on mileage and "day to ... Read More

• M3 v S4

  Written by: diver110 on Mar 13, 2004 5:34:00 AM

  FWIW, I have tested 2004s of both and (everything else being equal) would take the S4 over the M3 in a heartbeat. 0-60 the M3 wins, but most people are not driving these cars on tracks. The S4 has significantly more low end torque, something I am fond of, handled great, and I felt had better internal appointments than the M3. You can also drive it in the winter. The once ... Read More