3 series

[Garrettr2245]

I am looking to buy a 3 series and I can’t decide which to buy. I can ge a 1996 328i convertible with 14k miles. The other is a 2007 328xi with 126k miles. I live in upstate NY so the AWD could do a lot better in the winter. But 14k miles on a 22 year old car is immaculate and it is $500 cheaper. Which is the better deal for me?

[MarcoZandrini]

Even though the E36 has ultra-low miles on the clock it’s going to need a lot of work to stay running. Why? Modern cars are full of plastic and rubber parts. Both deteriorate over time. That applies to the E90 to some extent also as its 11 years old.
Another concern with the E36 is how well it’s been maintained over the years. How long has the car sat between oil changes? How frequently has it been driven like a BMW needs to be driven? What’s the condition of the rag top? They are expensive to fix or replace.

Then, you’ve got the question of winter driving. Are you able to buy a second set of wheels for a set of 4 snow tires? This question applies to both cars. Yes, the E90 has AWD but AWD with summer tires means your still stuck in the snow.

There’s no such thing as a cheap BMW.

[Matt Cramer]

The E36 convertible power tops are pretty finicky. I'm not sure I would start with this unless you really want a convertible - and even then, I might hold out for a manual top after the troubles I've had with mine. And I'd worry more about a car with 14K miles deteriorating from sitting too much - or having a burned out 6th digit in the odometer! - than I would about 126K miles on a BMW.