Post purchase suggestions

[bkfastwagon]

hello, I am new to this forum although I have been glancing at some of the threads for past couple months. I am looking to purchase an E90 M3 (I prefer sedan over coupe although I don't need 4 doors). I think I might have found one and have deposit on it. It's a 11' non-ZCP, DCT sedan with ~60000 miles. The seller just had engine oil change done. I am new to e9x M3s and never bought a used car with this much miles. I live in an apartment and don't have garage (nor skills) to work on cars myself.

What other services do you recommend I get post purchase? Which are must's?

Of note, my other car is 17' Golf R with APR stage 1 and AWE exhaust. M3 will share daily driving duties with the Golf. I owned a F80 M3 for about a year when it first came out (impulse purchase) and was mostly underwhelmed by it.

Thanks!

BK

[rdoctor]

PRE-purchase you should get have a PPI done by a reputable BMW Indy Shop before you pull the trigger. Any more info on the car? Maintenance records? Carfax flags? You get the point. Once you do that and are satisfied and you buy the car, get a full fluids changed, new spark plugs, and then at some point soon look at getting the RB's done. Oh, and check the date on the battery. If it's 3+ years old replace it. Good luck.

[loveskiing]

#1 PASS on any car that doesn't have ZCP...you'll thank me down the road...
#2, You MUST get a THOROUGH PPI before considering any car
#3 Don't be afraid to wait, wait, wait to find the right car.
#4 Consider finding your dream car anywhere...they can always be shipped
#5 SELECT, don't settle...
Bon Chance!
p.s. Pics after purchase are a requirement to maintain your good standing on here

[ItsGary]

Originally Posted by loveskiing

#1 PASS on any car that doesn't have ZCP...you'll thank me down the road...
#2, You MUST get a THOROUGH PPI before considering any car
#3 Don't be afraid to wait, wait, wait to find the right car.
#4 Consider finding your dream car anywhere...they can always be shipped
#5 SELECT, don't settle...
Bon Chance!
p.s. Pics after purchase are a requirement to maintain your good standing on here

1) If you do decide you wanna get a Sedan you can only get the ZCP for the 2011 year only (correct me if im wrong)

find out if the rod bearings have been replaced for a peace of your mind

[blowbackpolicy]

You don’t HAVE to have a ZCP. It’s only the 359 wheels, 10mm shorter springs, and remapped edc. A set of Swift springs will be just as good if not better than the ZCP setup. The 359 wheels are personal preference. I love and prefer my 220 wheels. When I bought my 2011 with 51,000 miles, I pulled all the BMW Service records to see when spark plugs, battery, fluids, etc were changed and went from there.

[BOOF-M3]

Originally Posted by blowbackpolicy

You donÂ’t HAVE to have a ZCP. ItÂ’s only the 359 wheels, 10mm shorter springs, and remapped edc. A set of Swift springs will be just as good if not better than the ZCP setup. The 359 wheels are personal preference. I love and prefer my 220 wheels. When I bought my 2011 with 51,000 miles, I pulled all the BMW Service records to see when spark plugs, battery, fluids, etc were changed and went from there.

Yea it's a good argument that has been going on for many years. I'm pretty sure the only reason bmw added ZCP was to attract new buyers to the car. Change up the wheels, lower it and call it the competition package. For me personally I prefer the look of the 359 wheels and the lower stance. I also have one with the 220 wheels so I do get to look at them both every day. Some people will not buy a non ZCP car and some people do not care. Count me in as only buying a ZCP car in the future if I ever do purchase one again. But there is no right or wrong.

[Montaver]

Congrats! ZCP on the E9x is neither here nor there. Buy on condition, history etc. F8x is a different story, comp pack adds a lot.

[spazzyfry123]

Originally Posted by ItsGary

1) If you do decide you wanna get a Sedan you can only get the ZCP for the 2011 year only (correct me if im wrong)

find out if the rod bearings have been replaced for a peace of your mind

Right. 2011 was the only year ZCP was offered for the E90s.

But you don't have to get one with ZCP

[EJT86]

youd be better off including info on asking price, options etc because theres alot of people on here that will definitely help you determine whether youre getting a good deal or not and if theres better cars around the country for sale

[bkfastwagon]

Thanks guys for some really helpful info!

After reading more on the forum, I am now considering a different car, a coupe with comp package and much lower mileage (17K vs. 60K). The coupe has a clean record, routine oil changes including 1200 mile one, and is a one-owner car. It's $40K which is right at the maximum of what I plan on spending.

Basicaly,

Car A:
11' Sedan, non-ZCP, DCT, MPE, slick top, CF parts, 2 owner, clean record, 60K miles, $33K from a reputable independent BMW shop (I have spoken with the owner who sounds like a stand up guy)

vs.

Car B
12' Coupe, ZCP, DCT, CF roof, 1 owner, clean record, only 17K miles, $40K from a franchise dealer.

WHich one would you guys pick?

While I prefer sedan shape over coupe, I am also aware that a low mileage sedan with comp package and a clean record are very hard to come by. I am not in a terrible hurry to buy one but also want to get one before these cars get too old.

[Foggins]

Personally I’d go for car B and negotiate hard...it is winter after all

[EJT86]

Even at asking price, an extra $7k and have 43k miles less, definitely. I don’t see why $37k would be a hard to negotiate deal. But I wouldn’t be heart set on ZCP it’s in no way a dealbreaker and it’s easy to add afterward anyway. $300 for springs and a couple grand for wheels no big deal.

Get the coupe those sedan guys are pretentious anyway lol

Hey you’re in Boston lol me too
Which dealers are selling the cars?

[mrspecter]

Originally Posted by bkfastwagon

Thanks guys for some really helpful info!

After reading more on the forum, I am now considering a different car, a coupe with comp package and much lower mileage (17K vs. 60K). The coupe has a clean record, routine oil changes including 1200 mile one, and is a one-owner car. It's $40K which is right at the maximum of what I plan on spending.

Basicaly,

Car A:
11' Sedan, non-ZCP, DCT, MPE, slick top, CF parts, 2 owner, clean record, 60K miles, $33K from a reputable independent BMW shop (I have spoken with the owner who sounds like a stand up guy)

vs.

Car B
12' Coupe, ZCP, DCT, CF roof, 1 owner, clean record, only 17K miles, $40K from a franchise dealer.

WHich one would you guys pick?

While I prefer sedan shape over coupe, I am also aware that a low mileage sedan with comp package and a clean record are very hard to come by. I am not in a terrible hurry to buy one but also want to get one before these cars get too old.

If you're looking for a sedan and prefer the aesthetics of the 4 door then definitely get that. I wouldn't compromise on the looks of a car since you will have to live with it and look at it everyday. Plus, when it comes to resale if you plan to sell it down the road, the sedan will hold its value better because of its rarity.

[bkfastwagon]

Originally Posted by mrspecter

If you're looking for a sedan and prefer the aesthetics of the 4 door then definitely get that. I wouldn't compromise on the looks of a car since you will have to live with it and look at it everyday. Plus, when it comes to resale if you plan to sell it down the road, the sedan will hold its value better because of its rarity.

That's what I'm leaning towards...I think I will look back and regret if don't get a sedan. I've already missed out on several good examples by waiting for the next better one. I will post an update on how it goes. Thanks guys.

[burtonsbs5114]

My first M3 was the e93, but I really always wanted the e92. Two years later, I sold my e93 and now own the e92. Moral of the story, buy the car you want and don't compromise as you probably wont be happy until you get what you want.

[loveskiing]

Originally Posted by BOOF-M3

Yea it's a good argument that has been going on for many years. I'm pretty sure the only reason bmw added ZCP was to attract new buyers to the car. Change up the wheels, lower it and call it the competition package. For me personally I prefer the look of the 359 wheels and the lower stance. I also have one with the 220 wheels so I do get to look at them both every day. Some people will not buy a non ZCP car and some people do not care. Count me in as only buying a ZCP car in the future if I ever do purchase one again. But there is no right or wrong.

Wrong...there is wrong and there is dead wrong...Buying a 2011 e90 WITHOUT ZCP is like marrying your wife before....well I'll stop there...

[BOOF-M3]

Originally Posted by loveskiing

Wrong...there is wrong and there is dead wrong...Buying a 2011 e90 WITHOUT ZCP is like marrying your wife before....well I'll stop there...

True but I did not want to hurt the feelings of those without ZCP. You sir have crushed the egos of many non ZCP card carrying members in this forum.

[EJT86]

Originally Posted by loveskiing

Wrong...there is wrong and there is dead wrong...Buying a 2011 e90 WITHOUT ZCP is like marrying your wife before....well I'll stop there...

You don’t marry your wife. You marry your girlfriend silly

[pbonsalb]

Very easy to change wheels and springs. Even shocks. And on a 5-10 year old car you might want to change the shocks. I would not pay any premium for zcp. Many get rid of adjustable shocks if they are into performance, but I think there are a few compatible kits now.

[BOOF-M3]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

Very easy to change wheels and springs. Even shocks. And on a 5-10 year old car you might want to change the shocks. I would not pay any premium for zcp. Many get rid of adjustable shocks if they are into performance, but I think there are a few compatible kits now.

If you have no intention of changing those items out then ZCP is superior in "look" I.E. ride height, "handling" as in handles turns better and the "359's" look better than 219's and 220's. I'm not suggesting that anyone should pay a premium for competition package but it is certainly nice to have. Look at ZCP ride height sitting next to a non ZCP car and it just looks better. Is this opinion as subjective as DCT vs 6MT? E90 vs E92 vs E93? Fully loaded vs stripper? Perhaps it is. As I mentioned earlier, there is no right or wrong.

[dkracing]

Driver mod. Take it to track days.

[ec_E92]

Originally Posted by loveskiing

Wrong...there is wrong and there is dead wrong...Buying a 2011 e90 WITHOUT ZCP is like marrying your wife before....well I'll stop there...

This guy hates civic-M3's