Models · BMW
BMW M3 E90/E92/E93 buying guide
The only V8 M3, built from 2007 to 2013 as the E92 coupé and E93 convertible, with the E90 saloon from 2008 to 2011. The S65 4.0-litre V8 revs to 8,300rpm and came with a six-speed manual or the seven-speed M-DCT dual-clutch gearbox.
The versions
- 4.0 V8 (S65), 420PS, with a timing chain per bank and double VANOS
- 6-speed manual (with a dual-mass flywheel on cars built to September 2008) or 7-speed M-DCT dual-clutch
- E92 coupé with a carbon roof (a glass sunroof was an option), E93 convertible with a folding metal hard-top, and E90 saloon
- Variable M Differential Lock; optional EDC adaptive dampers
- Competition Package from 2010, plus the limited GTS and CRT
What to check on a E92 M3
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Rod bearing paperwork
What to look for: Look in the history for invoices showing the connecting rod bearings have been replaced, and for any oil analysis results. Ask the seller directly what has been done and when.
Why it matters: Rod bearing wear is the best-known S65 issue. There is no test you can do at a viewing, so the paperwork is the evidence. Many owners have had the bearings replaced as a preventive job, and an invoice from a recognised specialist is one of the most valuable things in an E9x M3 file.
A rattle on a cold start
What to look for: Ask for the car not to be started before you arrive. Listen at the front of the engine as it starts. A brief rattle lasting under a second after the car has been standing is normal. A rattle that lasts longer or comes back at idle is the thing to note.
Why it matters: The brief rattle is the chain tensioners refilling with oil after standing and isn't a fault. A longer rattle points at the tensioners themselves, which are replaced as a pair per bank. Bank 2 exhaust VANOS faults are also reported, so a fault code read is worth having.
Reduced power after a few minutes
What to look for: Drive for at least ten minutes. Watch for the engine going into reduced power or an engine warning a few minutes into the drive. Ask for a fault code read, looking for throttle actuator codes 2B15 or 2B16.
Why it matters: The S65 has eight individual throttle bodies worked by two actuators, which commonly start to fail from around 40,000 miles and put the car into limp mode. Replacement is a well-known job, and some specialists offer lifetime-warrantied units.
Also in the full guide
- The idle control valve
- Oil leaks from the sump
- M-DCT: leaks, recall and normal clunks
- The E93 roof and the E92 carbon roof
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the E92 M3
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
Other generations
BMW M3 E30 · BMW M3 E36 · BMW M3 E46 · BMW M3 F80 · BMW M3 G80/G81
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with BMW.