Help, car died, no money for repairs

[newbeg]

2004 BMW M3, worst decision I've ever made in my life. It's been nothing but a money pit.

That is cheap for M3 alternator believe I know that

[bxphae]

Why is it a money pit? Can't you just drive it and do oil changes every 10,000 to 20,000 miles?

The last time I ever changed an alternator was when I used to own a brand new Hyundai Excel. It cost me about $114 from Discount Auto. I burned it out because I had a big stereo. I bought the alternator and installed it myself.

This is why I don't want to buy a used BMW, even though I have one now and they are so fun to drive. I'd rather buy a brand new cheap car... a simple 4-cylinder jobbie that I can service myself.

The oil thats required is a 10w60 castrol TMS that's $15/qt and takes 6qt's plus a $15 oil filter. The oil monitoring system resets to 15,500miles, but it counts down alot quicker or slower, depending on how you drive (it's typicall 9,000-10,000miles for me) and how many cold starts and short distances you drive.

An brand new alternater from the dealer is $579 and you wouldn't believe the labor cost for something as minor and easy to replace as this.

I had other things that went wrong with is earlier this year, such as BMW's famous Double VANOS that ah, went haywire and sent a couple metal shavings from the units timing gears and flicked it at the timing chain, broke it, and stopped the entire motor from running (that alone was $6,500). It's definately not worth getting an M3 without a warranty. I've had better luck with non-M (regular) BMW's.

[bxphae]

That is cheap for M3 alternator believe I know that

It is on the cheaper side of things, yes

I can't wait to get rid of it. It drives wonderful (in fact, I haven't driven a vehicle so planted and well behaved in everything it does and I've driven my fair share of vehicles in the past), but at this point in my life and my current state of income, I just can no longer afford it.

[debtmonster]

The oil thats required is a 10w60 castrol TMS that's $15/qt and takes 6qt's plus a $15 oil filter. The oil monitoring system resets to 15,500miles, but it counts down alot quicker or slower, depending on how you drive (it's typicall 9,000-10,000miles for me) and how many cold starts and short distances you drive.

An brand new alternater from the dealer is $579 and you wouldn't believe the labor cost for something as minor and easy to replace as this.

I had other things that went wrong with is earlier this year, such as BMW's famous Double VANOS that ah, went haywire and sent a couple metal shavings from the units timing gears and flicked it at the timing chain, broke it, and stopped the entire motor from running (that alone was $6,500). It's definately not worth getting an M3 without a warranty. I've had better luck with non-M (regular) BMW's.

Man, that sucks. Luckily in 34,000 miles, my BMW hasn't had one single problem. I will hate losing this car. The one thing I won't miss is the gas. That's why I want to downgrade to a small gas sipper that gets over 30 MPG in the city.

Read this article on the oil with M3's. I would NEVER use Castrol.

BMW M3 Oil Study

Interesting.

By the way, you could have went to Advanced Auto Parts and bought an alternator for $198 bucks! Part No. 12284. 120 amps.

You would have saved $400 right there, plus if you put it in yourself, all that labor you would have saved, or you could have had a home mechanic put it in.

My sister just had her timing belt, water pump, spark plugs, coolant and other things changed. The dealer wanted $1200 alone just to change the timing belts with the dual overhead cams. A mechanic cam to her house and did ALL OF IT, not just the timing belt, for $400 bucks!

You can never go back to BMW for anything other than warranty work. They are the biggest rip off.

[newbeg]

It is on the cheaper side of things, yes

I can't wait to get rid of it. It drives wonderful (in fact, I haven't driven a vehicle so planted and well behaved in everything it does and I've driven my fair share of vehicles in the past), but at this point in my life and my current state of income, I just can no longer afford it.

It is really damn good car, I was able keep my '97 M3

[debtmonster]

M3's are wicked cool. I remember reading a comparison with the Vette, the M3 and some old Dodge Turbo and the M3 was the most fun car to drive with the best handling.