Great site everyone. I've always wanted a BMW and want to get serious about finding one. My budget is $15000 and I am not the diy type (wait! I can wash and wax!) and don't have loads of $$ to spend on repairs.
Does anyone have a model/year they would recommend? Or can you point me to the right forum for recommendations? I commute about about 80 miles a day and would like something comfortable.
Great site everyone. I've always wanted a BMW and want to get serious about finding one. My budget is $15000 and I am not the diy type (wait! I can wash and wax!) and don't have loads of $$ to spend on repairs.
Does anyone have a model/year they would recommend? Or can you point me to the right forum for recommendations? I commute about about 80 miles a day and would like something comfortable.
Thanks in advance!
2000 325i with about 60,000 miles is in your price range and should be reliable enough for your skill level
__________________ 2002 BMW 330XI
1988 Porsche 944
I would say a 323i 325i or 330i what are you looking to use the car for? what do you bring to work? need more info
__________________ 1991 Ford Taurs SHO 5 Speed White on Tan
1996 Chevy Lumina LTZ Rep 3.4L
1992 318i Coupe parts car
1992 325i Ls1 swap with a T56 6 speed 12.2 quarter mile
1976 Mercedes Benz 300D with a Ford 5.0L Fuel Injected soon to be Modded I am Captain Obvious
60k is good mileage. dont get one over 100k cause problems do start, and without DIY knowledge/willingness youll be up a creek.
330 is a little faster, but i would stick with the 2.5liter 325.
also might want to look at a 525. they are a little larger.
I have the willingness, a brain, and 2 hands but I don't want to invest in a boatload of tools. What kind of problems are you referring to? Tranny, belts?
I would say a 323i 325i or 330i what are you looking to use the car for? what do you bring to work? need more info
I'll be using it to commute 90 miles a day - all highway @ 80 mph. I bring to work my coffee and iphone that's about it. Looking for quiet, comfortable ride.
get yourself a toyota corolla or nissan sentra. with a 90 mile a day commute, you are going to kill any car. Get yourself a bulletproof econobox that will not require any maintenance, beyond tuneups and oil changes. If you buy a bmw, you are going to hate it for the purpose that you want it for. It would be like buying a stick-shift corvette and sitting in traffic for an hour.
get yourself a toyota corolla or nissan sentra. with a 90 mile a day commute, you are going to kill any car. Get yourself a bulletproof econobox that will not require any maintenance, beyond tuneups and oil changes. If you buy a bmw, you are going to hate it for the purpose that you want it for. It would be like buying a stick-shift corvette and sitting in traffic for an hour.
Interesting, I was under the impression that Bmw's were built for the autobahn and last forever? Good marketing perhaps? I guess I have more homework to do. Thanks for the reply.
Great site everyone. I've always wanted a BMW and want to get serious about finding one. My budget is $15000 and I am not the diy type (wait! I can wash and wax!) and don't have loads of $$ to spend on repairs.
Does anyone have a model/year they would recommend? Or can you point me to the right forum for recommendations? I commute about about 80 miles a day and would like something comfortable.
Thanks in advance!
Deciding to get a BMW not really much different that getting married. You fall in love, tie the knot, the years pass, she gets more expensive to keep, you both get old, but you can't dump her because of the love that grows with time. By all means young man, get a BMW, but its cheaper to lease.
you want him to lease with a 90 mile a day commute? Get a bmw, but only drive it on your weekend. These cars are somewhat reliable but have a lot of precision parts that require maintenance. The 5 series is more reliable than the 3.
There are people on e46fanatics that have 250k on their 328's from highway mileg similar to that.
Maintenance issues on an e46 will include-
-window regulators
-cooling system overhaul(every 50-80 thousand miles, could be longer)
-Your control arm bushings should be fine with highway driving, but look at replacing those every 60k
-Random engine sensor failure (once every 50k)
-Dont get an automatic (seriously...don't do it)
-If you have a sport package get ready for $1000 for a set of rubber
-Other then that you are prolly fine.
Great site everyone. I've always wanted a BMW and want to get serious about finding one. My budget is $15000 and I am not the diy type (wait! I can wash and wax!) and don't have loads of $$ to spend on repairs.
Does anyone have a model/year they would recommend? Or can you point me to the right forum for recommendations? I commute about about 80 miles a day and would like something comfortable.
Thanks in advance!
I'll sell you mine for 15k.. 2003 330i 55k milles sport + premium package black on black..
Interesting, I was under the impression that Bmw's were built for the autobahn and last forever? Good marketing perhaps? I guess I have more homework to do. Thanks for the reply.
Read all the posts, but I think you'll get the idea that BMW's fare very well in long drives over very good roads. OH! Did anyone say autobahn? So, if the long driving is on good tarmac road, a BMW may well be what you want. But if fuel economy is more important, then the Nissan and Toyota suggestions may deserve a look.
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) and don't have loads of $$ to spend on repairs.
A bimmer no less. Thanks for the input but need more realistic suggestions please. 
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