I just wanted to sell my 99 to get 02 but i'm not sure is the 3.6L still having engine failure as the 3.4L or not. Please post your opinions.

Thanks,
Jim

 

I say keep your car and enjoy it. If you are really worried they are all iterations of the M96, so ALL have some factor of catastophic failure so there is no magical year to be past that you can be GUARANTEED of no ka-boom...lol

Keep it, drive it, save for the newest you can afford, at this point, in a year or two get a 997.

 

i would not get a 3.4

 

Jim, how long have you had your '99 and how many miles have you driven it?!
Don't let some people who may have had bad luck scare you into selling.
Look at the recent post of someone turning 100000 miles and responses fromothers that have even more and still enjoy driving a problem free car.
If you want to trade up for more power, nicer options etc... then by all means but not for the wrong reasons!

 

Thank you for your inputs. I could afford a car but i could not afford a new engine. I've owned many BMWs in the past and all of them did not give much issues and fear as 996. I found a good 02 coupe and i'm debating myself to go for it or go for an E46 M3.

 

i'd rather have an e46 m3 than a 3.4 996

i'd rather have a 3.6 996 than an e46 m3

 

3.4L or 3.6L is irrelevant....performance numbers are near identical, the only issue is the amount of failures...there seem to be more 3.4L failures, but they are also up to 3 years older....I have had a engine replacement and have almost 80k miles on my 2nd 3.4L and its as fast as the day it was dropped in....I'd take any 996 over an M3....also most 3.4L cars will be lighter, more agile, and 99 C2s had mechanical throttle and LSD was an option...for track use, a 99 with an LSD will be much more fun than a 02+....When all is said and done, if your 3.4L goes, you can drop in whatever you want...3.4L, 3.6L, 3.8L and still have a lighter car....also you can get one cheaper...more mod money!

 

The only 3.4s that should be more worrisome than any other 996 are those with very low mileage. Otherwise, natural selection has taken care of most of the weak sisters by now. All in all, I don't personally believe you are at significantly greater risk with a well driven early 996 on its original motor than with any 996.

But I also think that if you're going to worry about it, get the more Honda-like Bimmer instead. There's no point in having one of these if you can't enjoy it.

 

this doesn't make too much sense from $$ point of view.

how much you need to put in to "upgrade" to 3.6? at least $5K?

that 5K is HALF of the price for a engine replacement. the odd for your 3.4 needs a replacement is much less than 50%.

enjoy the car, save up for a turbo/GT3

 

All the new engines supersede to a 2005 part number. So, in effect you are getting 2005 and newer technology when and/or if you replace your engine.

Remember, most early 964's had top ends redone due to poor cylinder to case sealing or distribuotr failures. 3.2 Carrera's had valve guide issues and 993's have air injection ports and valve guide wear.

Just for perspective.

 

Very true and well said

 

I would fear the M3 breaking before the 996.

Bimmers are plagued with issues in all the line-ups. My friend is selling his 745 after less than a year of ownership, the engine was replaced, the window reg broke, and the I-drive drives him nuts. It is a low mileage car. I wont even start on all my friends 3 series. One friend promised he would never buy a bimmer again.

If you can afford a Bimmer, you can afford the 996.

 

I agree keep the 3.4 and enjoy the 951

 

I'd rather have a Porsche 911 over any BMW. So there!

 

+ 1.

Stefan