View Poll Results: Which gen BMW?

Voters
6. You may not vote on this poll
  • E36

    3 50.00%
  • E46

    2 33.33%
  • E39

    0 0%
  • other, explain below

    1 16.67%
Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Cheap, fun second car-E36, E46 or E39?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Posts
    18
    My Cars
    2005 BMW X3

    Cheap, fun second car-E36, E46 or E39?

    I've owned a couple BMWs, I had a 2006 E90 325i sport/rwd/6mt and I've got a 2011 E91 auto/AWD wagon now. The E91 is a great car, it road trips great, has a decent automatic transmission and gets okay gas mileage for what it is. Its got that xdrive forged steel front suspension that's fairly bulletproof on gravel and rutted out roads, and its got heated seats and adaptive xenons for foul weather driving. What it isn't is nimble. Its a car that I would feel totally comfortable in setting the cruise at 130mph, but its not much fun to fling around turns like my old sedan. I've thought about trading it in for another RWD/6mt/Sport E9x, but I like the fact that its an automatic so my girlfriend can take over driving duties on long trips, and also when I'm stuck in traffic. I like the AWD because its unstoppable in the (admittedly infrequent) snow that we get here, and also for heading to the mountains.

    So since I'm not selling the wagon, I'm looking for a second car. Since its a second car, it can't be too expensive. Basic criteria is:

    -Under $6k all in (with the bushings and shocks proper maintenance done)
    -Manual
    -Sport Pack
    -4 door preferred, 2 door is okay if everything else is okay
    -Not much more than 150k miles, definitely under 200k.
    -Relatively trouble free. I'm okay with maintenance, but I don't want to be working on this thing every weekend. I also don't want it to be a giant money-suck. I'd like to keep my maintenance budget under ~$1000/year.
    -Doesn't have to be a horsepower monster. I like power, but hanging the tail out around curves is more fun to me than

    I looked at Miatas, but I just don't fit at 6'2". The Scion FR-S looks perfect, but I don't want to buy new and the used ones are still out of my price range for a second vehicle. BMWs seem perfect, but I'm torn between the E36s and the E46s. I also like the E39s, but the non-sport pack ones that I've driven don't seem that nimble. I've never driven a sport pack E39 though.

    So with that in mind, where would you guys be looking? E36, E46 or E39? Any pitfalls to watch out for? I don't have an issue wrenching, I do most of the work myself.

    Any input is appreciated. Here are some pics of my old E90 and my current wagon:
    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Lawrenceville, GA
    Posts
    4,329
    My Cars
    VW TDI and Dodge Dart
    It seems like an E36 or E46 would fit the bill, with the deciding factor being what shape the car is in.
    Matt Cramer
    1997 BMW 328i convertible, 1972 Chevy C10 pickup, 1966 Dodge Dart slant six
    BMW - where "Why doesn't everybody build cars the way they do?" meets "Why can't they build a car the same way everyone else does it?"

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    New England
    Posts
    25,402
    My Cars
    F90 M5; E36 M3 Turbo
    Quote Originally Posted by Matt Cramer View Post
    It seems like an E36 or E46 would fit the bill, with the deciding factor being what shape the car is in.
    I agree, skip the E39 if you want a nimble car. E36 is getting old and will need more work than a newer car. Id get an E46 330i 6 speed. Might be tough find for $6k.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Greenville, SC USA
    Posts
    2,648
    My Cars
    e39 M5 e39 540i6 e83 e53
    The best bank for your buck is probably the e46 330i 6 speed. But it's just money. Buy one of each! Everyone needs options.

    e36 328i 5spd cheap initial price.
    e39 540i 6 spd drive one before you totally cross it off your list.
    e46 330i 6 spd probably the best value.
    e36 M3 5 spd can still be had for < $6k but you have to shop.
    e46 M3 6 spd that needs work or rebuilt title, rare but deals can be had if you shop.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Arida Zona
    Posts
    30,108
    My Cars
    z3
    I think the best bang for your buck would be an E36 328i. Easy to mod (very easy to turn into an M3 for very cheap) and very cheap to buy upfront. Skip the E39 - they are anything but nimble and your E91 already fills the role that an E39 does.

    PS love the color of your E90 - what brown is that?

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

    PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
    Offering the best prices on the best quality reproduction fabrics!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Orlando, Florida
    Posts
    347
    My Cars
    1998 BMW M3/4/5
    I've got a black auto 4 door 97 328i I'd like to get rid of. It will need a new transmission, as the reverse is acting up.

    It doesn't have working AC and the window brackets are all jammed. Mechanic thinks it just needs a compressor and $50 of window parts.

    Probably needs a new head gasket, as there is oil in the coolant.

    I'm in Orlando Florida, if you are interested let me know.

    http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/5614415198.html

    --

    You can definitely find a decent e36 M3 for $6,000 (I just got one for $5.5k, needs about $1.5k of work to be 100%) ... though they'll all need some heavy maintenance, and most will need some immediate attention and money. So, you could probably get away with ~$6k for the car +$2k first year DIY maintenance.
    Last edited by Musicisair; 06-29-2016 at 09:45 PM.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Posts
    18
    My Cars
    2005 BMW X3
    Quote Originally Posted by BimmerBreaker View Post
    I think the best bang for your buck would be an E36 328i. Easy to mod (very easy to turn into an M3 for very cheap) and very cheap to buy upfront. Skip the E39 - they are anything but nimble and your E91 already fills the role that an E39 does.

    PS love the color of your E90 - what brown is that?
    Right on, yea, I've noticed that the E36 328i prices are all over the map. There's some super clean ones I see listed on craigslist for ~$5500 or so, but it seems a little high, especially since I know that the cooling system and all of the bushings are going to need replacement.

    The E90 is "Sonora Metallic". Its tough to photograph well and it looks funny in certain light, but I love it. I really pops after a good wash/wax. I kinda wish I hadn't sold it, but I needed the cash more than a second car at the time and it was at ~148k miles, right when BMWs start to get expensive.

    Quote Originally Posted by Musicisair View Post
    I've got a black auto 4 door 97 328i I'd like to get rid of. It will need a new transmission, as the reverse is acting up.

    It doesn't have working AC and the window brackets are all jammed. Mechanic thinks it just needs a compressor and $50 of window parts.

    Probably needs a new head gasket, as there is oil in the coolant.

    I'm in Orlando Florida, if you are interested let me know.

    http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/5614415198.html

    --

    You can definitely find a decent e36 M3 for $6,000 (I just got one for $5.5k, needs about $1.5k of work to be 100%) ... though they'll all need some heavy maintenance, and most will need some immediate attention and money. So, you could probably get away with ~$6k for the car +$2k first year DIY maintenance.
    I love the craigslist ad-"The drops of oil are tears of joy from so many great years spent together"... Unfortunately, my girlfriend would murder me if I brought that home. I'm not actually sure I could get it home, since I'd probably have to use her Trailblazer to tow it back to Raleigh...

    You guys keep saying I should be able to get an E36 M3 for $6k...where? The ones around me are all ~$10-11k, which puts me out of budget.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Orlando, Florida
    Posts
    347
    My Cars
    1998 BMW M3/4/5
    Quote Originally Posted by msrothwell View Post
    You guys keep saying I should be able to get an E36 M3 for $6k...where? The ones around me are all ~$10-11k, which puts me out of budget.
    1998 M3 with 112000 miles, silver (but has a rebuilt title), for $6000: https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/5655233549.html

    1998 M3 with 158600 miles, silver, for $3,800: https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/5627962544.html (needs paint and surely lots of other work).

    1999 M3 Convertible, black, with 90k miles, for $5000: https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/5629301466.html I actually test drove this one. It smokes like a chimney and he won't budge on price. Also, the interior is crap and the audio wiring is totally FUBAR.

    So, come on down to visit Orlando, it's so nice this time of year! (I'm lying; Orlando is miserable right now)

    I looked everyday for about 2 months before I got my 98 M3 last week.

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