E46 cost per mile after 60,000 miles - 2/04 ZHP

[danewilson77]

-I have now put 60,000 miles on my car since purchase (Bought at 98k miles-August 2010.....and now has 158k miles). The car has been phenominal (Has never left me stranded), and like stated before > Preventative maintenance is key. Corrective maintenance is RED.

-I thought this would be a good time to figure out E46 cost per mile regarding maintenance.

-Feel free to share similar data as this can only help the newbie decide if he wants to buy an E46

-Surprisingly, I have not had to change FSR or intake/exhaust CPS.

Additionally, if anyone knows how this stacks up, against other makes....please feel free to share. I'm going to research it, but haven't had time yet.

~DW

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*Battery replaced @ 100k miles = $110.00
*Tranny fluid - 2 times. Once with RP Synchromax, recently I put Redline MTF in. Once @ 100k miles and once @ 130k miles. = $50.00
*Diff fluid - Redline 75W-90. Once @ 100 k miles. = $25.00
*Alignment performed by AutoHaus @ 152k miles. = $115.00
*Upper/lower intake boot....To include cleaning ICV, and DISA inspection @ 100k miles. = $30.00
*Replaced tires with 225/45/18 Khumo ASX's @ 110k miles. = $510.00
*DISA replaced with new one @ 100 k miles. = $220.00
*2 window regulators - 1 front, 1 rear. One (Rear passenger side) replaced @ about 110k miles, and the other (Front Drivers side) zip tied @ about 135k miles. = $200.00
*VANOS @ 143k miles to include anti-rattle kit, and new plugs (BKR6EQUP). $180.00
*Cooling system, to include Behr radiator, and ECS Level II kit @ 143k miles. = $350.00
*Brake pads/rotors/fluid @ 120k miles. = $350.00
*PS fluid - M1 ATF @ 125k miles. = $10.00
*Suspension - FSM/RSM/FCAB/ENDLINKS/Coilovers-twice. Went from stock to FK Silverline X's, to KW V1's. Once @ 105k miles, and once at 130k miles. = $1200.00
*Replaced Front Control arms with OEM ZHP control arms @ 130k miles. Also replaced CAB's. = $200.00 > This was part of a kit.
*BMW Front Strut tower reinforcement plates from Turner Motor Sports @ 143k miles. = $20.00
*One new 'A' Pillar @ 105k miles. = $30.00
*New fuel pump and fuel filter @ 130k miles. = $240.00
*E46 Tail light recall fix - DIY style @ 140k miles. = $5.00
*Installed new Pre-cat O2 sensors @ 138k miles. = $200.00
*Last oil change and in-cabin air filter replacement @ 143k miles. = $70.00
*Installed AC Tensioner P/N 11287512758 @ 147k miles. = $50.00
*Installed Serp Pulley P/N 11281748131 @ 147k miles. = $25.00
*Installed Deflection Pulley P/N 11287841228 @ 147k miles. = $28.00
@ 147.5k miles.
*Oil change w/ M1 0W-40, and Mann oil filter @ 149.5k miles. = $50.00
*Installed Bridgestone Potenza RE960 Pole Positions @ 150.2k miles. = $850.00
*Installed New Windshield Cowling @ 150.3k miles. = $38.00
*Changed tranny fluid to Pentosin MTF2 @ 150.3k miles. = $40.00
*Changed diff fluid @ 150.3k miles. Stayed with Redline 75W-90. = $25.00
*Alignment performed by AutoHaus @ 152k miles. = $115.00
*Oil/filter changed @ 157.1k miles. = $50.00
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Total cost preventative maintenance/mile = $4162.00/60,000 miles > $0.07/mile
Total cost corrective maintenance/mile = $1223.00/60,000 miles > $0.02/mile
Total cost/mile = $5386.00/60,000 miles > $0.09.mile

[johnrando]

Awesome thread. That sounds like it's not too much, wonder where other "luxury" sport sedans come in for comparison. I know CPO helped a lot for those who had it, but that's not available now for E46s.

[danewilson77]

Yup...as my mileage goes up...one would think cost would whittle down a bit.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[WOLFN8TR]

Wow merticulous maintenance Dane! Nice.


Bayerische-Motoren-Werke

[redwagon]

nice job!
would be interesting to put dealership costs against all those items and calculate cost per mile if all service performmed at dealership. My wife wonders why I spend time working on my car and knows I save $$....but she knows I enjoy it too!
Tim

[danewilson77]

Wow merticulous maintenance Dane! Nice.


Bayerische-Motoren-Werke

Thanks

nice job!
would be interesting to put dealership costs against all those items and calculate cost per mile if all service performmed at dealership. My wife wonders why I spend time working on my car and knows I save $$....but she knows I enjoy it too!
Tim

That would be interesting.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[brettbimmer]

Thanks DW. Good thread. I would think that cost would decrease as the mileage increases, but there is some engineer/gnome somewhere that knows the exact point at which one should sell their car and start with another before major component failure/maintenance. Now all we need to do is find said engineer/gnome...

However, how can one put a price on the smiles achieved at the helm of the ZHP?

*Nickname Brettski...and I approve this message.

[danewilson77]

Lol....I'm not selling it ever anyways.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[edlvrt]

I've been keeping track of every piece, part, insurance, registration, service and fuel receipt and am interested to see how I compare to you. I haven't added up the cost per mile for maintenance yet, but my fuel costs have averaged $0.163/mile for the 13,000 miles I have had her. I'll do a tally on everything else when I get home.

Ed