I had a Miata that I enjoyed a lot, and then my family size grew by one. My criteria for a replacement car was that it had to be manual, RWD, convertible, and seat at least 3. I ended up with a BMW N52 E88. I've never owned euro before because of its reputation for being unreliable and costly to fix. Nevertheless, my choices were extremely limited and here I am. I also like to work on my own cars. It keeps the costs down, and since I work a desk job, working with my hands and taking care of my own car is something that I enjoy, or at least so I thought.
When I bought the car, there were some normal maintenance items due, and everything on this car has just been more frustrating or annoying than I'd like. Oil pan gasket requires dropping the subframe, and I didn't have an engine brace, so I paid somebody to do that. Might as well throw in some new M3 control arms since the bushings were going on them anyways. Of course, this means needing an alignment. I take it to the shop - sorry buddy, your tie rods are seized and we don't carry any in stock. Fine, I'll limp home and replace them myself first before I bring it back.
The mechanic that replaced my oil pan gasket says the starter is probably the top of the list next. I get through this, but not before dealing with a dozen+ different kind of connects and terrible placement of brackets holding a spaghetti of hoses and wires throughout. That back PCV hose clip was the worst.
Next, I'm thinking I'll take care of the valve cover next, but discover the PITA process to remove the valvetronic motor. What the fuck BMW. Okay I'll put this on pause to do more homework and learn about it. Nope. CEL light time. I pull the code, and it's now complaining about the downstream O2 sensor. Fine, I'll order all 4 cuz the others are probably not far behind anyways. Then, after a few days, the light goes away by itself. God damn it, I'll do the downstream ones anyways. I get to spraying the sensors with penetrating fluid, and while I'm down there, I get greeted with a new control arm with some fluid on it. I look up, and the front left strut is leaking. Of course that's not the only leak, one area of the valve cover is leaking more than I thought and I've lost some new oil already because why not.
After ordering around $500 of O2 sensors, I placed another order for a Bilstein B12 Pro Kit and a bunch of other smaller related items. My wallet hurts, but I guess a suspension overhaul is what's next. I can't wait until I sell this thing and get back into a Miata one day. Or maybe I would've been better off with an older E46, or fun car-less for a while.
