Best to buy for $7000 or less

[Dhull0331]

Let me know what bmw's are the best to buy for $7000 or less. If you have one post it up so I can see too.

[chris30o0]

I see that your budget is relatively low (for an E60 at least).
In case this will be your first BMW, be aware of maintenance-cost which might be higher than anticipated.
Especially for that price you might not be able to get a highly-maintained vehicle so please consider that in your calculation.

[pbonsalb]

Probably E46 325i or 330i or E39 525i or 530i.

[iSeeiTake]

What you can buy and afford to maintain are two different budgets. I'd say if you want to go the BMW route I would get an E36. Low enough to buy and cheap enough to maintain compare to the E46.


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[NC540]

Probably E46 325i or 330i or E39 525i or 530i.

This

[Matt Cramer]

Depends on your priorities. If you're looking mostly for driving dynamics, I'd spend $5000 on a very clean E36 or E46 and keep the rest for maintenance. If you want something that's likely to be a future collector's item sooner rather than later, I'd probably get an E24 635 myself. If you need more back seat room, an E34 or E39 with one of the straight six options might be a better option.

[TonyAngel]

I'd go E46 330i and whatever is left over will likely go into getting the car caught up on maintenance.

[gaspump]

I've had a e36, kind of junky. A 5 series is good, my 525it is trouble free. A great 740 can be had within your budget and they are great cars.

[pbonsalb]

I'd skip the 740. They are nice cars but cheap for a reason -- expensive problems.

[rowekmr]

PM sent about a 08 535xi

[mjimport]

Toyota Camry

[pbonsalb]

PM sent about a 08 535xi

I like the 335i and 535i. You can buy the early models for as little as about $8k now. We have a 2008 535xit. But definitely do not think for a minute that a twin turbo six will be cheaper to maintain than an naturally aspirated six, and don't think that an AWD car will be cheaper to maintain than a RWD car. There is a reason why the $65k 08 535xi is now selling for $8k.

[rowekmr]

I agree that they are more but I would ask how much more? Besides tires, brakes, bushings, gaskets, tie rods/ball joints, etc that both cars will need the extra maintenance for twin turbos that most complain about is related waste gate rattle. I haven't heard much about issues with the AWD system.

[pbonsalb]

Coils, plugs, injectors, electric water pump, turbos, oil cooler gasket, carbon build up in intake from direct injection. None of these are the end of the world but all take some time and money. The turbo motor runs hotter. The AWD primarily makes getting to stuff to service harder but there have also been transfer case and axle failures. Great cars but they are not simple. We bought ours 6-7 years ago with 30k and are at about 120k now.