REDLINE ALLEYBMW M3 E90 and E92 buying guide
2007 to 2013. An E92 M3 suits a buyer after a high revving V8 who budgets for rod bearings and warms the engine properly.
Big jobs
- S65 rod bearings. Rod bearing wear is the main S65 concern, and wear rises sharply if the engine is revved hard when cold. Oil analysis has proved unreliable as a test.
- Injectors. Injectors sticking open have recently been reported as a cause of engine failure.
Workshop jobs
- Throttle actuators. The two throttle actuators, one per bank, can fail and send the car into limp mode. They can last to about 60,000 miles but have no set failure point.
- DCT sump leak. The plastic DCT sump pan can start to leak in time, though the gearbox itself is proving reliable.
- Brakes on track. The standard brakes are fine on the road but wilt quickly on track.
Questions for the seller
- Have the rod bearings been replaced, and is there an invoice?
- Have the throttle actuators been refurbished or replaced?
- Is it manual or DCT, and has the DCT sump been resealed?
- Has it been tracked?
Sources
Researched 2026-11-03. General guidance from owner and specialist sources. Check the specific car with an independent inspection.