Preventive Maintenance.

[Trawler]

Not withstanding that we get our cars serviced & checked over by our favourite mechanic, but is there anything that should be replaced before a failure leads to the car being off the road and the following expensive bill.

For example the subject of replacing the vanos filter crops up now and again. Is this necessary?

Never hear anything about the timing chain.

Be interested to hear your views/advise

[Yanto]

Not a part change, but I get a compression test done annually (every 5k ish for me). Also oil change same interval.

[cslsuperfan]

Originally Posted by Trawler

Not withstanding that we get our cars serviced & checked over by our favourite mechanic, but is there anything that should be replaced before a failure leads to the car being off the road and the following expensive bill.

For example the subject of replacing the vanos filter crops up now and again. Is this necessary?

Never hear anything about the timing chain.

Be interested to hear your views/advise

Yanto's advice is a good start. Compression test and annual gloop change.

This is not a recommendation just what I've changed out of the ordinary-

Fuel Filter (silver tube under the near side of the car)
Mine was the original so had it done

Cush drive doughnutty rubber thingy
Mine was original so had it replaced. 60K miles and 12 years had taken it's toll.

We do on the whole over-service our cars and to some extent extreme preventative maintenance doesn't hold off failures.

Despite 5 years lavishing funds and lots of TLC, mine has hit me with a big bill. Bad timing as I was on the back of a very early Insp 2 that could have waited 12 months. It never rains but it.....etc.

The M4 is fast becoming a realistic option.

[Trawler]

Thanks & to anyone else that posts. Other than annual oil change & air filter being cleaned I have only replaced all the bushes front & rear. Other fluids as and when necessary, sometimes to book, other times after a track day.

[Clubber]

When my car turned 60k miles I had the rod bearings and oil pump replaced. Its just something I do to all my M cars when they reach the 100k km benchmark. Gives the engine a life extension.
When we removed the bearings I was glad I did it because they were very worn and had more or less 10k miles tops before a giant engine failure. Now, I can push it as much as I can with a clear mind.

[select]

I would get the connecting rod bearings and oil pump replaced/checked at 100.000km / 60.000 miles.

Mine are about to get replaced now, actually. I am relieved that i dont have to worry about them anymore.

[mattCSLnut]

This: http://www.cslregister.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13163 ... is also worth doing as it's often overlooked.

More frequent (than BMW recommended) engine oil & filter changes + the forgotten Vanos filter are both great preventative measures worth doing

[mistergav]

There is a pretty long E46 M3 maintenance thread over on m3forum:

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=190111

[cslsuperfan]

Originally Posted by mattCSLnut

This: http://www.cslregister.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13163 ... is also worth doing as it's often overlooked.

More frequent (than BMW recommended) engine oil & filter changes + the forgotten Vanos filter are both great preventative measures worth doing

Matt

re: main bearing and oil pump change

a few peeps recommend this @ 60k miles

Is this preventative maintenance or another example of extreme over servicing?

Just a thought as my car is @ Barts at the mo.

[Clubber]

Originally Posted by cslsuperfan

Matt

re: main bearing and oil pump change

a few peeps recommend this @ 60k miles

Is this preventative maintenance or another example of extreme over servicing?

Just a thought as my car is @ Barts at the mo.

In my case it was a piece of mind for a relatively reasonable price.
Based on my previous experiences and experiences of friends, in most cases of engine failure, worn rod bearings are the main reason. While at it, it is a good idea to replace the 12yr old oil pump which has worked for thousands of ours pumping tons of oil.

It is a not a must but a great safety measure.