recent M3 E46 RECALL

Sammy........good luck.....your making the right course of action.

It would appear that due to the recall there is overwhelming evidence that a problem exists. (but BMW claim to have overcome this).

From a Corporate level they of course will not admit to an underlying fault in their product but from a consumer/legal view point UK customers have a very strong case to challenge them.

Companies do not like bad publicity and I'm sure the more exposure on a National level i.e. Top Gear/Watchdog etc will make the Ivory Towers rock.

Ian

Sammy1 if you need a hand give us a pm naturally I would love to get involved and sort this issue for us GB E46 owners.

And the email adress would be useful...as you can tell I am no shrinking violet and would certainly draught something to help the matter along.

If all of the M owners individually mailed these people  they would soon grasp some concept of how many disenchanted owners there are and the strength of feeling amongst us

Fight the good fight

Take care

Wayne

Andy Boy wrote: BMW's have never enjoyed a particularly good reputation in the past; in the seventies they were known for cracked heads, carburettor problems, terrible body rot in the CS Coupe and general tiredness at five or six years old; rust, knackered seats etc. The E36 was a bit of a joke at first with build quality to make the French laugh out loud and they didn't sort out the main issues until around 1994. Early E30's were pretty rusty at six years old.

Andy, good point, well made.  The conclusion I came to earlier was that the M50 engine is probably the only really bulletproof example from all recent BMW engines.  Its still too early to tell what the M54 will deliver in terms of longevity and they only got the M52 right after a couple of attempts (Nikasil first, then steel liners then TU double vanos updates)

If I was putting the key in the ignition in the morning of an E36 Evo or an E46 M3 with a feeling of dread, wondering if today was the day it would expire, I wouldn't be a very happy puppy.  The nagging feeling that I could end up in trouble with the 523i is the one thing that has spoiled the enjoyment of a very capable car.  The potential that it has for a big bill is only trotting after what you folks with the S54's could face.

Guys, have been following this thread with great interest.

As a current owner of a 330Ci (E46) I have just traded it in for an M3 (E46), which I collect in just under 2 weeks. Spec : Estoril Blue, SMG, Sat-Nav, Elec Mirrors, Sun-roof, 19" rims & comfort screen.

The BMW dealer has just phoned me to let me know that 'A couple of recalls' need to be completed prior to me taking delivery.

Now normally I wouldn't have taken much notice, however, after reading this thread I must say that I'm a little concerned in wanting to know what I'm getting into.

I'd be keen to get further information from anyone out there as to what I should be looking at or enquiring about with regard to what these recalls relate to.

I appreciate your input !

Cheers, Carl

Think I'll keep my 450 MTM Audi RS4

Pity as I thought the M3 was a rock solid unit.....obviously not.

Ian

Of course trading a 330ci for an M3 was a good idea.

Sure there are problems at present but its not as if they are not getting them sorted.

I have had nothing but pleasure with mine. For sure it has been in for the various recalls but its not like every other day and they are very swiftly done.

The 330ci is the best of the regular 3 series...but that is that the M3 is the best of all the BMW series in a league of its own....

Not even comparable

I am sure you wont regret it in the long run