M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: bmuser on July 19, 2007, 06:15:22 PM

Title: How's the reliability of the M42 in terms of high miles
Post by: bmuser on July 19, 2007, 06:15:22 PM: Hey guys, i'm new here and still learning about 318's. I've been looking around for one and have seen a few. The one's ive seen for good prices, as in 2-3 grand, have high miles, as in a tad over 200k. This one car has 204k and another 224k, or around there. The owners have done maintenance work to them, such as belts, thermostats, radiators, water/fuel pumps, etc. But the high mileage still worries me. I know that the M42 has forged internals and can take a beating, but how hard of a beating. Whats the worst case scenario if i buy a car with high miles and the engine turns out to be a dud. How much do used one's go for?
Title: How's the reliability of the M42 in terms of high miles
Post by: kowalski on July 19, 2007, 07:09:40 PM: '
Quote from: bmuser;29965
Hey guys, i'm new here and still learning about 318's. I've been looking around for one and have seen a few. The one's ive seen for good prices, as in 2-3 grand, have high miles, as in a tad over 200k. This one car has 204k and another 224k, or around there. The owners have done maintenance work to them, such as belts, thermostats, radiators, water/fuel pumps, etc. But the high mileage still worries me. I know that the M42 has forged internals and can take a beating, but how hard of a beating. Whats the worst case scenario if i buy a car with high miles and the engine turns out to be a dud. How much do used one's go for?

you can get a used motor from 400-1,000$ depending on how complete and the condition of it. do a search on the forums, you will see lots of high millage m42's running around here. I've got 300,000 km's on mine and it still runs like a champ and takes a pretty good beating. First thing i would do when in possetion of it is pull the lower pan off and check for bolts, and reinstall them with locktite. again, search for threads on the bolts in pan subject.
Title: How's the reliability of the M42 in terms of high miles
Post by: bmuser on July 19, 2007, 08:24:11 PM: anyone? i really want to know because im concidering these two cars that are over 200k. is it worth it?
Title: How's the reliability of the M42 in terms of high miles
Post by: bmuser on July 19, 2007, 08:36:33 PM: sounds good. yea theres one in maryland, and one in pa that im gonna go look at. The prices are very good, but they're both above 200k. oh i hope you didnt think i meant kilometers by using the k. i meant over 200,000 miles.
Title: How's the reliability of the M42 in terms of high miles
Post by: Shocker on July 19, 2007, 11:26:25 PM: 200,000 Miles on any BMW that’s been taken care of is nothing. I had an E28 535i With 330,000 miles when I sold it and still running strong.
Title: How's the reliability of the M42 in terms of high miles
Post by: bmuser on July 19, 2007, 11:31:32 PM: well then. i'm gonna look at these cars and get pre purchase inspections, i.e. compression test. If everything checks out I will be a new 318is owner.
Title: How's the reliability of the M42 in terms of high miles
Post by: jetteman on July 20, 2007, 10:05:13 AM: I Just turned 270k miles. Two weeks ago I put 2k on it in four days. I havent had any problems other than a fuel pump relay died but I keep a spare. It all depends on how well they kept up on it.
Title: How's the reliability of the M42 in terms of high miles
Post by: gearheadE30 on July 20, 2007, 04:30:01 PM: Haha my car is still young at 200k. Still loves to rev and runs quietly. Doesn't burn any oil at all ;). Most of the ones I have seen are the same.
Title: How's the reliability of the M42 in terms of high miles
Post by: ron318 on July 21, 2007, 01:21:15 AM: A friend of mine has 307,000 miles on his M42. His car still runs nice. No major leaks. If the car has been maintained I don't think you would have a serious problem.
Title: How's the reliability of the M42 in terms of high miles
Post by: christophbmw on July 23, 2007, 07:20:06 PM: mine still a baby 190K :(, but it see's redline almost on a daily basis. doesnt burn oil, or leak for that matter, and everything still works like its new (somewhat).