[MRG] Cheap BMWs at Kijiji?

[nickia]

I've seen 90'-95' model of 3 series going for around $5k. Are those cars good enough to drive around or they will break down immediately as soon as you step on the pedal?

[onecoolloser]

...I dont think any car will break "as soon as you step on the pedal". =P:twisted:

[bobbings]

isn't it expensive to maintain a bmw? i don't know if that's the case for older bmw cars though. IMO, a bmw past 5 years is not as reliable compared to a civic past 5 years. correct me if i'm wrong but it's just my opinion

[Pete_Coach]

isn't it expensive to maintain a bmw? i don't know if that's the case for older bmw cars though. IMO, a bmw past 5 years is not as reliable compared to a civic past 5 years. correct me if i'm wrong but it's just my opinion

Not even close to being the same class of car.
As for $5K for BMW, it does not matter the age or even the car for that matter, you need to look at what you are buying. $5K is wasted on anything that won't run or is rusted out. So, just be aware of what you are spending your money on.

[bobbings]

Not even close to being the same class of car.
As for $5K for BMW, it does not matter the age or even the car for that matter, you need to look at what you are buying. $5K is wasted on anything that won't run or is rusted out. So, just be aware of what you are spending your money on.

ya i know the class difference is there but a 95 civic would seem more reliable than a 95 bmw doesn't it? regardless of class. with 5000 to spend, i think class is not as important than reliability. op needs to watch out when buying old cars especially if it's stick.

[Pete_Coach]

ya i know the class difference is there but a 95 civic would seem more reliable than a 95 bmw doesn't it? regardless of class. with 5000 to spend, i think class is not as important than reliability. op needs to watch out when buying old cars especially if it's stick.

Why would you think that?
Is it something you heard or are there statistics? A 95 anything is going to have maintenance issues as it is already 12 to 13 years old. The state of the car will determining the future costs and really, a typical BMW (or Mercedes or Lexus or Infinity or other high end car) would probably (as a rule, not evidence) be better maintained than your typical Civic? :confused:

[BartBandy]

Not really. You can find examples of abused BMWs at used lots all over the place. One could counter-argue that a Civic is more tolerant of abuse (long oil change intervals, lack of proper maintenance) than a BMW is.

A "90'-95' model of 3 series going for around $5k" doesn't tell us anything. You have to look at specific cars, their service records (don't buy without them) and the condition of the car. Get a complete pre-purchase inspection done - not just a safety check.

IMO, $5000 used European sports cars are best left to those who want to tinker with them on weekends. Unfortunately, people buy them for everyday transportation when $5000 is their budget. Price a brake job on a BMW before you buy one. Price a transmission or a clutch, a water pump replacement, and a new exhaust. You will be north of your original $5000 in no time.

[Dyno]

Why would you think that?
Is it something you heard or are there statistics? A 95 anything is going to have maintenance issues as it is already 12 to 13 years old. The state of the car will determining the future costs and really, a typical BMW (or Mercedes or Lexus or Infinity or other high end car) would probably (as a rule, not evidence) be better maintained than your typical Civic? :confused:

Comparing Mercedes to a Lexus in terms of reliability is like comparing a civic and a 750li in turns of class it just doesn't work.
Mercedes are not very reliable cars (one of the worst), where as Lexus (Toyota) have on of the highest reliability rating.
Mercedes and Lexus are two different ends of the spectrum in terms of reliability.

BMW isn't exactly a very reliable car as opposed to Honda which has that reputation.
Now assuming that the previous owners maintained the cars equally (you do not know previous owner) on average the 95 civic would last much longer than the 95 318i.

[Matrix_dot_ca]

I've seen 90'-95' model of 3 series going for around $5k. Are those cars good enough to drive around or they will break down immediately as soon as you step on the pedal?

If it has a porcelain pedal, yes it will brake down as soon as you step on it. :cheesygri

[BartBandy]

Now assuming that the previous owners maintained the cars equally (you do not know previous owner) on average the 95 civic would last much longer than the 95 318i.

I think a better way of stating that is to say that it is more economical to keep a Civic on the road longer. After all, any recently-declared "dead" car can be repaired, but at what cost? Parts for old and new BMWs are expensive, so old BMWs get scrapped rather than repaired even though they are a better-equipped car than a Civic, because the Civic is cheaper to run and maintain, and arguably requires less maintenance.

[romsan04]

Comparing Mercedes to a Lexus in terms of reliability is like comparing a civic and a 750li in turns of class it just doesn't work.
Mercedes are not very reliable cars (one of the worst), where as Lexus (Toyota) have on of the highest reliability rating.
Mercedes and Lexus are two different ends of the spectrum in terms of reliability.

BMW isn't exactly a very reliable car as opposed to Honda which has that reputation.
Now assuming that the previous owners maintained the cars equally (you do not know previous owner) on average the 95 civic would last much longer than the 95 318i.

Comparing BMW to a Honda it's like comparing Lexus to Mercedes in reliability.
BMW is all about handling and speed. Honda from point A to B car. Why do you think so many people moding their Honda's??? They just trying to create a sport car from a boring method of transportation.

It's like having freshly squeezed juice for $6 (BMW) or $1 pop made from artificial colors and sweeteners.

Choose what you want.

[TrEvOrLiCioUs]

Parts for old and new BMWs are expensive,

I like this myth, it keeps ppl away from bmws, its actually the mechanics you have working on the car, not the car or the parts that are expensive.

A $5k BMW probably hasn't been maintained as well as it should be, although you never know you'd have to go check it out.

They do have alot of potential thou, great for ppl who like to work on cars themselves.

Here is a typical $5k BMW (minus the wheels)
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/6862/june26pic5jc3.jpg

Here is what it could look like.
http://www.bluemouse.ca/bmw/april_06/pic1.jpg


Still perfer a civic?

[KonniXeoN]

I like this myth, it keeps ppl away from bmws, its actually the mechanics you have working on the car, not the car or the parts that are expensive.

A $5k BMW probably hasn't been maintained as well as it should be, although you never know you'd have to go check it out.

They do have alot of potential thou, great for ppl who like to work on cars themselves.

Here is a typical $5k BMW (minus the wheels)
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/6862/june26pic5jc3.jpg

Here is what it could look like.
http://www.bluemouse.ca/bmw/april_06/pic1.jpg


Still perfer a civic?


Amen, that BMW is a nice ride you got there Trevor. And yes for 5K you can get a 325is which is in fairly mint condition when buying the E36 series. You can get that version of M3 MINT for around 14-15K.

I hate civics... I would take the BMW over the civic anyday, just because each BMW made has it's own unique driving feel. Oh yeah and rear wheel for the win!

With a little work you can get your car done up like this!

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w274/Konnixeon/n30610546_30526992_6689.jpg

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w274/Konnixeon/n30610546_30345941_2023.jpg

http://www.koperformance.com/images/ko_show_and_track_cars/ko1_showcar/e36_bmw_m3_parts_angel_eyes_1_375x256.jpg

Don't worry about finding parts, theres a whole load of parts for that model of bmw 3 series.

The e36 3 series has a crap load of parts for it.

[BartBandy]

And what would it look like with a cracked driveshaft? That's what happened to the last guy I talked to who bought one, who was bemoaning how much the parts and labour were going to cost him. I've also owned an older Volvo, and I know just how pricy those parts can be as well.

If you want a BMW for the driving experience, more power to you (literally). But the cost of ownership will be higher than your basic Civic, and could be much higher, depending on how well your used car was treated earlier in life.

[TrEvOrLiCioUs]

And what would it look like with a cracked driveshaft? That's what happened to the last guy I talked to who bought one, who was bemoaning how much the parts and labour were going to cost him. I've also owned an older Volvo, and I know just how pricy those parts can be as well.

If you want a BMW for the driving experience, more power to you (literally). But the cost of ownership will be higher than your basic Civic, and could be much higher, depending on how well your used car was treated earlier in life.

Driveshalfs don't just "crack" , it was probably due to something not related to the car itself. (Abuse)

Your telling me you never heard someone needing to replace a CV axle on a ccivic? haha.
I'm not arguing because civics are more reliable, but in the end its still a civic.


BMWs suck, dont buy one, more for me. =)

[KonniXeoN]

Driveshalfs don't just "crack" , it was probably due to something not related to the car itself. (Abuse)

Your telling me you never heard someone needing to replace a CV axle on a ccivic? haha.
I'm not arguing because civics are more reliable, but in the end its still a civic.


BMWs suck, dont buy one, more for me. =)


Hahaha +1 ^^

More for us you mean ;)! Gotta love em BMWs!

I don't get how people can even compair a bmw to a honda.

[BartBandy]

Hahaha +1 ^^

More for us you mean ;)! Gotta love em BMWs!

I don't get how people can even compair a bmw to a honda.

*bangs head against wall*

You guys aren't listening.

Of course BMWs are better driving cars. All I'm saying is that if this person has a budget of $5000, they better have some in reserve if they buy a BMW. The ability to do some of the maintenance yourself is a bonus.

[romsan04]

*bangs head against wall*

You guys aren't listening.

Of course BMWs are better driving cars. All I'm saying is that if this person has a budget of $5000, they better have some in reserve if they buy a BMW. The ability to do some of the maintenance yourself is a bonus.

It's no different if you buy Honda or BMW, you sill need to have some reserve for repairs. You can buy Honda and spent $1,500 to replace transmission or something else. No one is arguing that you need reserve for fixing the car it is your logic that flawed: buy 1995 Honda Civic and you will have less problem than 1995 BMW 318. Which is not true. Bring the car for an inspection and check everything you can this way you can avoid expensive repairs. Sometimes then you ask seller if it is OK to bring it to garage for inspection they would refuse making up stupid excuses.

[icecold2021]

It's like having freshly squeezed juice for $6 (BMW) or $1 pop made from artificial colors and sweeteners.

Choose what you want.



a 95 bmw is hardly a freshly squeezed glass of juice... but hey if you like 12 year old juice, more power to ya.

[bobbings]

Hahaha +1 ^^

More for us you mean ;)! Gotta love em BMWs!

I don't get how people can even compair a bmw to a honda.

sure hondas and bmws are different in terms of class but the question right now from the op is how reliable is it. i'm comparing it to a civic because for a 1990 to a 1995 car, i would definitely look into a civic rather than a bmw for reliability issues. i'd even go for a lexus, a toyota, a mazda, an acura, before i look into a bmw. sure you can supe it up like those pictures some rfd members posted up. but reliability is the most important thing when buy a 12 to 17 year old car. also, you can supe it up to make it look like a race car but won't the cops start giving you a hard time especially here in toronto? if he had more money to spend on mods, i'd suggest getting a newer car.

[careener]

I just read an article on this exact topic.

http://www.campuslifemagazine.ca/article.php?id=car_purchasing

Car Purchasing Dilemma: Old Beamer or New Civic? Consumer Guide®, HELP!

Consider alternative 1: go with the Beamer… just saying the name gives you a nice feeling, doesn’t it?

According to Consumer Guide®, a 1990-96 BMW 5-Series vehicle will cost you anywhere from $1,500-11,300 – sounds like a pretty damn good price doesn’t it! Well let’s take a look at some of the repairs that you will likely encounter with this vehicle.

he following information surrounding common problems and repair costs is an excerpt from: http://auto.consumerguide.com/

Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have researched repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to uncover common problems for 1990-96 BMW 5-Series vehicles...

There's more of the article at the link provided above.

[Narci]

When buying a car for $5k, you'll have to factor in cost of parts and maintenece first and foremost.

Goto a BMW dealership or a parts store and start looking at cost of parts alone. I.e. waterpump, radiator, brakes, rotors etc.

Also go onto BMW forums and check out posts of any problems with the E36's. I know one common problem that occurs frequently is ball joint problems which need to be replaces every so often.

[iridescent]

How difficult is it for someone who knows NOTHING about the inner workings of cars to learn how to maintain one? That is, learn about replacing different parts, learn how the car is put together, and do all the basic repairs... any newbie guides?

I'm very happy with my BMW, although I just leased it a few months ago. I think people should consider the certified preowned program, even though I leased mine new.

[brendonp]

How difficult is it for someone who knows NOTHING about the inner workings of cars to learn how to maintain one? That is, learn about replacing different parts, learn how the car is put together, and do all the basic repairs... any newbie guides?

I'm very happy with my BMW, although I just leased it a few months ago. I think people should consider the certified preowned program, even though I leased mine new.

If you are somewhat mechanically inclined, or basically just like taking things apart (or doing lots of reading) it's not too tough to maintain one. I actually do have a CPO BMW for which I do some of the maintenance; it's really just a question of how busy I am at any given time, and what needs attention. Oil changes on the E46 3 series are a snap - technically you can do interim (ie, the ones in between the "scheduled" ones that many people do anyway) oil changes in a suit without worry getting dirty, not sure about how the E36 or newer E90s are laid out...

Having not had any real automotive experience, I did a complete brake job last fall - took the better part of a day since I was working off of internet guides and was going slowly and cleaning stuff up, and I've done some paint work on my wife's truck that passed a dealership inspection without notice... most of all it just seems to take a bit of time. Generally summer/winter tire changes and oil changes and spark plugs are a good place to start if you want to start tinkering - relatively easy projects that don't take too long.

--Brendon

[romsan04]

I just read an article on this exact topic.

http://www.campuslifemagazine.ca/article.php?id=car_purchasing



There's more of the article at the link provided above.

gotta love civics

1999 Civic (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=462056)

[bobbings]

gotta love civics

1999 Civic (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=462056)

perhaps a lemon? perhaps the driver? perhaps the mods?

[Jon Lai]

Why are we comparing Civics here anyways? It's Toyota that is world accalimed for reliability, not Honda.

[bobbings]

Why are we comparing Civics here anyways? It's Toyota that is world accalimed for reliability, not Honda.

i dunno, that article was comparing a civic to a bimmer as well..

[romsan04]

perhaps a lemon? perhaps the driver? perhaps the mods?

lol
perhaps civic

[bobbings]

lol
perhaps civic

perhaps a beamer disguised as a civic? lol =)

[KonniXeoN]

perhaps a beamer disguised as a civic? lol =)

How can you even say that with a right mind. BMW disguised as a honda? Thats a real bad joke. Shame how people can say Honda is better than BMW.
Like I said before, everyone bashes BMW.

If you've ever drove a BMW, you'll wonder why bmw drivers love their so much. Try compairing the feel and handling.

Reliablity? Okay, the e36 history has been fairly stable, the inline 6-cyl engine made by BMW is so nice and so reliable that it has been used and passed down for many generations. The only problem I see is when poeple who don't take care of their cars and cry it is unreliable.
Ball joints on the E36? Yeah thats to be expected in many cars not just in BMWs if the car is being used as a daily driver.

Edited.

[iridescent]

If you are somewhat mechanically inclined, or basically just like taking things apart (or doing lots of reading) it's not too tough to maintain one. I actually do have a CPO BMW for which I do some of the maintenance; it's really just a question of how busy I am at any given time, and what needs attention. Oil changes on the E46 3 series are a snap - technically you can do interim (ie, the ones in between the "scheduled" ones that many people do anyway) oil changes in a suit without worry getting dirty, not sure about how the E36 or newer E90s are laid out...

Having not had any real automotive experience, I did a complete brake job last fall - took the better part of a day since I was working off of internet guides and was going slowly and cleaning stuff up, and I've done some paint work on my wife's truck that passed a dealership inspection without notice... most of all it just seems to take a bit of time. Generally summer/winter tire changes and oil changes and spark plugs are a good place to start if you want to start tinkering - relatively easy projects that don't take too long.

--Brendon

Hey, thanks a bunch. I do like reading a lot and learning as much as possible from scratch. To be perfectly honest, I don't know much about the inner workings of a car, transmissions and all those parts with funny names. I'm a quick study, but I'd like to get an idea of how my car is put together and perhaps a service guide to it. I think oil change is a good place to start as you said (even though it's included in my warranty). Are there any guides on basics? I assume once I master those, I can delve further.

[KonniXeoN]

Hey, thanks a bunch. I do like reading a lot and learning as much as possible from scratch. To be perfectly honest, I don't know much about the inner workings of a car, transmissions and all those parts with funny names. I'm a quick study, but I'd like to get an idea of how my car is put together and perhaps a service guide to it. I think oil change is a good place to start as you said (even though it's included in my warranty). Are there any guides on basics? I assume once I master those, I can delve further.

http://www.bimmerdiy.com/

Do it yourself guides for practically every single bmw.

[bobbings]

How can you even say that with a right mind. BMW disguised as a honda? Thats a real bad joke. Shame how people can say Honda is better than BMW.
Like I said before, everyone bashes BMW.

If you've ever drove a BMW, you'll wonder why bmw drivers love their so much. Try compairing the feel and handling.

Reliablity? Okay, the e36 history has been fairly stable, the inline 6-cyl engine made by BMW is so nice and so reliable that it has been used and passed down for many generations. The only problem I see is when poeple who don't take care of their cars and cry it is unreliable.
Ball joints on the E36? Yeah thats to be expected in many cars not just in BMWs if the car is being used as a daily driver.

If you want reliability and a boring ass car, go with a corolla. Hell you might as well get the same nasty desert sand colour everyone gets! Oh not to mention you can only left turn at 10kms in that car :lol:

from the sounds of it, you own a bmw right? sorry to bash on it. i would definitely get a bmw if i had the money. a brand new one and after the lease is up, i'll get another brand new one. bmw is fun to drive but i guess the myth that it's expensive to maintain is scaring people off. we learn from what other bmw owners have to say. my good buddy got rid of his 95 3 series because he says the maintenance cost was a tad too high. maybe he doesn't know any personal mechanics. but aren't german cars usually more expensive to maintain?

[KonniXeoN]

from the sounds of it, you own a bmw right? sorry to bash on it. i would definitely get a bmw if i had the money. a brand new one and after the lease is up, i'll get another brand new one. bmw is fun to drive but i guess the myth that it's expensive to maintain is scaring people off. we learn from what other bmw owners have to say. my good buddy got rid of his 95 3 series because he says the maintenance cost was a tad too high. maybe he doesn't know any personal mechanics. but aren't german cars usually more expensive to maintain?

Bobbing, you are correct.
German cars are a tad bit more expensive. Newer BMW's are advised to use only high octane gasoline so it will not ruin the engine, and also recommened to use full synthetic motor oil. However if you own a older bmw I'd still advise anyone to use the same, the reliablity of a car is how well you treat your car in most cases. There are some problems here and there but the major problems normally come from people who mistreat their cars.

Knowing personal mechanics and reading up on how to maintain your own car can save anyone a lot of money instead of having to bring the car to the dealership all the time. I only bring my car to the dealership for it's 30,000km free maintence. Other than that everything else I do at home. Unless it is a huge problem and the car needs to be towed then I bring it to the dealer.
Knock on wood, I have never had any major problems encounter me yet.

To be honest, I hate when people assume and bash on other peoples car.
Famous quote "Live and let live." basicly means who cares, let others live the way they want and live your life you want. Respect everyone and dont hate.
You know what I mean? If you dont have something good to say then dont say it. That kinda thing.

So if you ever need help with a bmw, let me know. I'm experienced in many bmws. Mainly 3-series.

[azn_oo1]

i owned a toyota celica and a bmw 3 series (E46) comparing the parts. OEM Toyota parts arent that far off from bmws. not to mention the price ur paying at a dealership gets you more. Does toyota give u a brand new spanking BMW to drive when your car is in the shop> BMW parts arent expensive its the service that they charge that are. Dont compare a Honda to a BMW because atleast i dont have to pay double insurence to drive in a can that every other person has. Remember this i rather be in a bmw then in the civic when i crash. maybe the steering wheel will stop ur head from going throught the glass in a civic.

[nickia]

thanks for all the replies!

what kind of mileage would you consider as reasonable for a 93-95 model?

[bobbings]

thanks for all the replies!

what kind of mileage would you consider as reasonable for a 93-95 model?

i think on average, it's 20 to 25 clicks a year. multiply that to the age of the car and you get an average for that year. however, watch out for modified dashboards. if the mileage is a lot lower than average, you need to start thinking whether it was just driven at a minimum or it was tampered with. my buddy bought a 91 accord and he believed the guy that it wasn't driven that much. The mileage on the car was just over 110 clicks but for a 15 year old car (bought it last year), it's very suspicious. A lot of problems came up that would usually come up for a high mileage car. good luck on your car hunt

[Narci]

i owned a toyota celica and a bmw 3 series (E46) comparing the parts. OEM Toyota parts arent that far off from bmws. not to mention the price ur paying at a dealership gets you more. Does toyota give u a brand new spanking BMW to drive when your car is in the shop> BMW parts arent expensive its the service that they charge that are. Dont compare a Honda to a BMW because atleast i dont have to pay double insurence to drive in a can that every other person has. Remember this i rather be in a bmw then in the civic when i crash. maybe the steering wheel will stop ur head from going throught the glass in a civic.

Ummm...did you even read the thread from the beginning?

We are talking about $5k old used cars, not new or remotely new cars.

The real questions is:

Would you drive an older 12+ year old BMW 3 series or a newer 5-6 year old honda civic? (or insert any car of any year)

I'm sure if the OP is looking at paying $5k for a car, he's pretty budget minded which means cost of repair, operation and maintenence would come first before driving pleasure. (just an assumption though)

[bobbings]

Ummm...did you even read the thread from the beginning?

We are talking about $5k old used cars, not new or remotely new cars.

The real questions is:

Would you drive an older 12+ year old BMW 3 series or a newer 5-6 year old honda civic? (or insert any car of any year)

I'm sure if the OP is looking at paying $5k for a car, he's pretty budget minded which means cost of repair, operation and maintenence would come first before driving pleasure. (just an assumption though)

+1

with 5k to spend on a car, you're probably trying to find the most reliable car. there was someone who posted a really nice pic of his bmw with mods but unless op has money to blow on custom rims and to lower the car etc., he's probably on a tight budget. probably looking for a newer car is better. right now, he's looking at 1990 to 1995 bmws. if he does find a 1990 bmw, that's going to be a 17-18 year old car. a little too old for reliability imo.

[iridescent]

http://www.bimmerdiy.com/

Do it yourself guides for practically every single bmw.

I have a 650i (my group pays half the lease!) and unfortunately it's not on that site. However, I'm assuming that things like changing the oil are fairly standard things in every car? I'm going to try to read up as much as I can so at least I can find the analogous parts in my car- even if they're different, I can at least know what my mechanic is talking about or whether they're trying to give me a raw deal.

Oh, and the loaner cars (as someone mentioned earlier in this thread) aren't that great! I got a huge station wagon which was so hard to manipulate... so annoying to drive.

[urban1]

How did this thread degenerate into a Honda bashing thread?

A 1990 to 1995 model year vehicle is going to be approx. 12 to 18 years old depending on how early in the model year it was purchased.

You can get two extremes here.

You could find a car thats had one owner since new with all maintenance performed at the dealer and all the service records and a clean accident history.

Or you could find a car that has no records or known history at all and could have had 4 or 5 or more owners.

And consider that a 12 year old car driven 20,000km per year gets your odometer up to 240,000km. Increase the yearly mileage and age of the car and you could be looking at 400,000km. Be suspicous of low mileage considering the age of the car and pay attention to small tell tale signs the car has been driven more than the odo shows.

Bottom line is that for $5000 chances are pretty good your going to get a bagged out BMW.

I've seen 90'-95' model of 3 series going for around $5k. Are those cars good enough to drive around or they will break down immediately as soon as you step on the pedal?

[KonniXeoN]

How did this thread degenerate into a Honda bashing thread?

A 1990 to 1995 model year vehicle is going to be approx. 12 to 18 years old depending on how early in the model year it was purchased.

You can get two extremes here.

You could find a car thats had one owner since new with all maintenance performed at the dealer and all the service records and a clean accident history.

Or you could find a car that has no records or known history at all and could have had 4 or 5 or more owners.

And consider that a 12 year old car driven 20,000km per year gets your odometer up to 240,000km. Increase the yearly mileage and age of the car and you could be looking at 400,000km. Be suspicous of low mileage considering the age of the car and pay attention to small tell tale signs the car has been driven more than the odo shows.

Bottom line is that for $5000 chances are pretty good your going to get a bagged out BMW.


Trust me 240,000km on a BMW 3 Series E36 is nothing. My buddy just took one and turned it into a shannonville track car. Full roll cage and 10,000$ brake system (stoptech) + new coilovers and springs. The engine runs tight and fast as hell still. He left the engine stock, but everything else in the car is bare metal.
The e36 for $5000 can get you a pretty much working BMW. People who don't drive bmw's always assume they crap out over 150,000km which is not the case. The E36s I've seen on the road are all over 200,000km and they're all running strong still, no rust no problems. The e36 is a VERY easy car to fix and parts are available whenever you need them.

Check this ride out, http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=427143. I was planning on picking that up but its 5,000$ more than your budget. However the car is mint, but I'm not sure if your into automatics.

[KonniXeoN]

It seems like the majority of the crowd thinks that if you buy a $5000 BMW you will get a lemon. Um the truth is no.

This would probably run you $8000 - 11,000.
But if you get a 5000$ BMW you can put some time and money into it you can get a car just like this!

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w274/Konnixeon/022.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w274/Konnixeon/01.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w274/Konnixeon/033.jpg

Cleanest 15 year old M3 I've ever seen. ;) :D

Check on autotrader for the 325is or the 328is, you can find them cheap for 5000$ and they work perfectly fine!

[nickia]

It seems like the majority of the crowd thinks that if you buy a $5000 BMW you will get a lemon. Um the truth is no.

This would probably run you $8000 - 11,000.
But if you get a 5000$ BMW you can put some time and money into it you can get a car just like this!

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w274/Konnixeon/022.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w274/Konnixeon/01.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w274/Konnixeon/033.jpg

Cleanest 15 year old M3 I've ever seen. ;) :D

Check on autotrader for the 325is or the 328is, you can find them cheap for 5000$ and they work perfectly fine!

HI i wonder how much does the insurance cost for a 325 compare to some other new cars like Mazda, Corolla,etc. (I'm young)

[xiLLeNtz]

well the earlier 3-series (e30) starts at around $1800 and up and ive heard of many drivers going up to 300k with them

[TenzoR]

well the earlier 3-series (e30) starts at around $1800 and up and ive heard of many drivers going up to 300k with them

The E30 are more mechanical then the later E36, E46 with their fancy electronics. As long you keep up with the E30 maintanence, you should have no problems keeping it going for a long time. The E36 and E46 had more electronics built in, so those are harder to judge when they will go bad (if ever). I would try to get a later year of each gen, as the bugs/problems are usually fixed by the end of the generation. Things like oils changes, filter changes, and brakes are fairly easy on a BMW. There are a lot of resources online to help as theres a lot of BMW fanatics out there.

[Narci]

The E30 are more mechanical then the later E36, E46 with their fancy electronics. As long you keep up with the E30 maintanence, you should have no problems keeping it going for a long time. The E36 and E46 had more electronics built in, so those are harder to judge when they will go bad (if ever). I would try to get a later year of each gen, as the bugs/problems are usually fixed by the end of the generation. Things like oils changes, filter changes, and brakes are fairly easy on a BMW. There are a lot of resources online to help as theres a lot of BMW fanatics out there.

Yup. The E30 BMW was one of the last true BMWs in my eyes. It had almost 10 years to fix all the problems it had. It was in production between 1982 to 1993. Another reason why you see so many of these still running around.

One of my dream cars is still an E30 M3.

[PrinceMS]

LOL @ people who said civic can be more reliable than BMW (especially for OIL burning).

[TenzoR]

Yup. The E30 BMW was one of the last true BMWs in my eyes. It had almost 10 years to fix all the problems it had. It was in production between 1982 to 1993. Another reason why you see so many of these still running around.

One of my dream cars is still an E30 M3.

I want these cars in order

BMW 2002
BMW E30 M3 Euro Spec
BMW E34 M5 Euro Spec/Alpina
BMW E34 530i V8 5 Speed ;)

but I doubt I'll ever find these in good condition

[Narci]

I want these cars in order

BMW 2002
BMW E30 M3 Euro Spec
BMW E34 M5 Euro Spec/Alpina
BMW E34 530i V8 5 Speed ;)

but I doubt I'll ever find these in good condition

Same here (sans the 5 series, my bro had a 1992 535i, it broke down alot). back in 1997, i was looking for a new/used car. The E30 M3's were still going for $20k+ back then. Good luck even finding one now in any shape.

[FerrisB]

LOL @ anyone who talks about a car with over 200K being 'reliable'. The only thing you can rely on is that you're going to need a good mechanic.

So what do you people think, If he buys a car with 230K on it he's got at least until 300K until he needs to put any money into it?:lol: Come on people.

If you want something reliable get something like a 2000-2001 Ford Focus with around 100K on it. You should be able to find a nice one for 5K.

I repeat, If you don't have money to burn for maintenance or a 'project car' DO NOT buy a 95 BMW with 230K on the clock. Ridiculous.

[notanexpert]

LOL @ anyone who talks about a car with over 200K being 'reliable'. The only thing you can rely on is that you're going to need a good mechanic.

I have a BMW with over 200k, so far, knock on wood, 100% reliable and very reasonable on maintenance costs. You just have to know what you are doing, or find an independent mechanic that knows these cars inside out.

[Narci]

LOL @ anyone who talks about a car with over 200K being 'reliable'. The only thing you can rely on is that you're going to need a good mechanic.

So what do you people think, If he buys a car with 230K on it he's got at least until 300K until he needs to put any money into it?:lol: Come on people.

Like I posted before, I use to work in a shop and we had a customer come in with an accord that went over the odomoter twice. Only thing he did was regular maint (like an oil change every 2 weeks) and a head gasket. Only reason why he had that many Km was because he did medical deliveries between toronto, montreal and ottawa daily.

But then again, this guy kept his cars in immaculate condition.

[William W]

I have a BMW with over 200k, so far, knock on wood, 100% reliable and very reasonable on maintenance costs. You just have to know what you are doing, or find an independent mechanic that knows these cars inside out.

And even if you bring it to the dealers, what they charge for hourly rates is very reasonable as it is comparable to what Chrysler/Toyota/Honda dealers charge. And unlike other brand, the BMW dealers gives a 2 years parts and labour warranty on all repairs. The last time I change my brakes, one of the front brakes disc warped after 6 months of use, I brought it back to the dealer, they diagnosed the problem, and replaced it at no cost and no question ask. That is what I called service.

[Narci]

Umm..there's like a gazillion recalls for the 2000 focus. (but I do agree with your position about buying a 200k+ KM BMW)

http://www.internetautoguide.com/auto-recalls/67-int/2000/ford/focus/se/

[FerrisB]

I have a BMW with over 200k, so far, knock on wood, 100% reliable and very reasonable on maintenance costs. You just have to know what you are doing, or find an independent mechanic that knows these cars inside out.

Yes, you're just getting to the point where you're going to need to start pumping money into your car. It will happen. Car's don't go forever on their own.

I worked in a shop and I saw a girl crying because she made a poor choice buying her car. She bought a 94 BMW 525i with something like 225K on it. After driving it for a month, it sat in my cousins shop for 3 months because she owed him $1200 in repairs she couldn't afford.

You need to prioritize. If reliability is at the top of your list the cars you're looking at don't make sense. If you want a nice looking car and you're willing to pump money into it, then don't even think about it.

[KawaiiTentacleBeast]

I want these cars in order

BMW 2002
BMW E30 M3 Euro Spec
BMW E34 M5 Euro Spec/Alpina
BMW E34 530i V8 5 Speed ;)

but I doubt I'll ever find these in good condition

There's a guy selling a Japanese Import E34 B10 in Edmonton. Wants $10k for it.

http://forums.beyond.ca/st/182042/fs-1990-red-bmw-alpina-b10/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrudge/

Alpinas and other rare bimmers come up regularly on Japanese auctions/importers, if you feel lucky and have a $20k repair budget I say go for it.....:lol:

[Narci]

Yes, you're just getting to the point where you're going to need to start pumping money into your car. It will happen. Car's don't go forever on their own.

I worked in a shop and I saw a girl crying because she made a poor choice buying her car. She bought a 94 BMW 525i with something like 225K on it. After driving it for a month, it sat in my cousins shop for 3 months because she owed him $1200 in repairs she couldn't afford.

You need to prioritize. If reliability is at the top of your list the cars you're looking at don't make sense. If you want a nice looking car and you're willing to pump money into it, then don't even think about it.

Agreed. When your looking for a cheap used car, reliability preceeds any other things your looking for in a car, including 'bling' factor.

[FerrisB]

Umm..there's like a gazillion recalls for the 2000 focus. (but I do agree with your position about buying a 200k+ KM BMW)

http://www.internetautoguide.com/auto-recalls/67-int/2000/ford/focus/se/

Much less than the cars he's looking at buying.

http://www.internetautoguide.com/auto-recalls/67-int/1995/bmw/3-series/325is/index.html
http://www.internetautoguide.com/auto-recalls/67-int/1995/bmw/5-series/525it/index.html
http://www.internetautoguide.com/auto-recalls/67-int/1995/bmw/5-series/540i/index.html
http://www.internetautoguide.com/auto-recalls/67-int/1995/bmw/3-series/318is/index.html

The focus is a good reliable used car. Check around.

[Narci]

Umm..the recalls for the BMW are almost all the same NHTSA Campaign ID Number. The only difference is model, 325, 318, etc.

The ford focus NHTSA Campaign ID Number are almost all different meaning distinct recalls.

[TenzoR]

There's a guy selling a Japanese Import E34 B10 in Edmonton. Wants $10k for it.

http://forums.beyond.ca/st/182042/fs-1990-red-bmw-alpina-b10/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrudge/

Alpinas and other rare bimmers come up regularly on Japanese auctions/importers, if you feel lucky and have a $20k repair budget I say go for it.....:lol:

heh not in a hurry to get anything my E46 will last me for a while.

[icecold2021]

Yes, you're just getting to the point where you're going to need to start pumping money into your car. It will happen. Car's don't go forever on their own.

I worked in a shop and I saw a girl crying because she made a poor choice buying her car. She bought a 94 BMW 525i with something like 225K on it. After driving it for a month, it sat in my cousins shop for 3 months because she owed him $1200 in repairs she couldn't afford.

You need to prioritize. If reliability is at the top of your list the cars you're looking at don't make sense. If you want a nice looking car and you're willing to pump money into it, then don't even think about it.

i think its a lost cause, youre trying to convince people who think they can afford luxury with a 5k-10k budget. that alone tells you their reasoning is out of wack.

[notanexpert]

i think its a lost cause, youre trying to convince people who think they can afford luxury with a 5k-10k budget. that alone tells you their reasoning is out of wack.

Actually, I've owned this car since almost-new, so it was not bought under a 5-10k budget. All I'm saying is that the car now is worth somewhere in that budget range, and you'd have to tear the keys out of my cold dead hands before I sold it. It was and still is an excellent car, that I'd not give up for an econobox, even if the econobox was 5 years newer, lower mileage, under warranty, or whatever.

[Narci]

Actually, I've owned this car since almost-new, so it was not bought under a 5-10k budget. All I'm saying is that the car now is worth somewhere in that budget range, and you'd have to tear the keys out of my cold dead hands before I sold it. It was and still is an excellent car, that I'd not give up for an econobox, even if the econobox was 5 years newer, lower mileage, under warranty, or whatever.

There's a difference between buying a used car and owning a car for a long period of time.

You owned the car since new which means you know exactly where the car has been and what kind of maintenence it had.

When your buying a used car no matter what price, you have no idea where it has been and what kind of abuse, or non abuse, it went through. It's a crap shoot unless you do alot of research.

[icecold2021]

Actually, I've owned this car since almost-new, so it was not bought under a 5-10k budget. All I'm saying is that the car now is worth somewhere in that budget range, and you'd have to tear the keys out of my cold dead hands before I sold it. It was and still is an excellent car, that I'd not give up for an econobox, even if the econobox was 5 years newer, lower mileage, under warranty, or whatever.

sorry what i ment was the people purchasing BMWs or whatever luxury class car it may be that are over 10 years old with ALOT of milage on them, while they have a limited budget. my point really is people need to learn to live within their means.

i myself have recently purchased a used porsche with quite a bit of mileage on it(for a summer car), but the difference here is it was my dads car and i put most of those miles on it. so i know wheres its been and that its been treated well/properly maintained.

[joo]

I used to own a '92 325i and kept it extremely well maintained. The car never lacked for anything - inspections were done on time, synthetic oil every 5k, washed regularly, Rust Checked annually, separate wheels & tires for summer /winter, etc. I drove it about 12,000 km per year, so low mileage car.

It still cost me ~3k per year in unscheduled maintenance over the 7 years I owned it. Did things like - new evaporator, new condenser, new springs on all four corners, new rad, new water pump (2x), oxygen sensor (3x), $3k of body work (rust).

A couple years ago I traded up to a newer e46 and haven't looked back.

1st law of BMW pwn3rship: The older a bimmer gets, the more work it will take.

If you have the money and you like the car, suck up the maintenance costs and enjoy the car !

Hondas and Toyotas are fine cars. I wouldn't hesitate to buy either.

[nickia]

sorry what i ment was the people purchasing BMWs or whatever luxury class car it may be that are over 10 years old with ALOT of milage on them, while they have a limited budget. my point really is people need to learn to live within their means.

i myself have recently purchased a used porsche with quite a bit of mileage on it(for a summer car), but the difference here is it was my dads car and i put most of those miles on it. so i know wheres its been and that its been treated well/properly maintained.

lol isn't it IRONIC for you to tell ppl to F*CK off while you are leeching a Porsche from your parents?:rolleyes:

[FerrisB]

lol isn't it IRONIC for you to tell ppl to F*CK off while you are leeching a Porsche from your parents?:rolleyes:

bitter much?

[icecold2021]

lol isn't it IRONIC for you to tell ppl to F*CK off while you are leeching a Porsche from your parents?:rolleyes:

how is it leeching when i bought the car, with cash i might add.
when he owned it i paid to maintain it, and for most of the gas, since i was pretty much the primary driver.

isnt it IGNORANT when some peasant comes into a thread spewing **** he doesnt have the facts about. Oh wait, i even mentioned that i purchased it.. i guess you just lack reading comprehension.

[notanexpert]

...
It still cost me ~3k per year in unscheduled maintenance over the 7 years I owned it. Did things like - new evaporator, new condenser, new springs on all four corners, new rad, new water pump (2x), oxygen sensor (3x), $3k of body work (rust).
...
When you need a new oxygen sensor 3x, and a new water pump 2x, someone is doing something wrong...
My car is 3 years newer and I'm on the original parts when it comes to the above, so they DO last at least 12 years, that much I know.

[romsan04]

how is it leeching when i bought the car, with cash i might add.
when he owned it i paid to maintain it, and for most of the gas, since i was pretty much the primary driver.


I guess he meant then the car was not yours and you used (leeched) it even thought you are paying for maintenance and gas. It's like renting a house and paying for hydro.

[KonniXeoN]

HI i wonder how much does the insurance cost for a 325 compare to some other new cars like Mazda, Corolla,etc. (I'm young)

How old are you?

[joo]

When you need a new oxygen sensor 3x, and a new water pump 2x, someone is doing something wrong...
My car is 3 years newer and I'm on the original parts when it comes to the above, so they DO last at least 12 years, that much I know.

Take a look at any of the e36 boards, all of these are common problems for these cars.

[KonniXeoN]

Take a look at any of the e36 boards, all of these are common problems for these cars.

:lol: , Do you own a e36? Someone is doing something wrong, the sensors don't always die so quick.

Anyways, you guys are paying way to much to replace parts! I just go to RMP motors, bmw specialists up near the airport. Definately worth the trip since they get everything done.

I still don't know why everyones bashing the bmw.

I saw a clean, 2002 on autotrader during december, it only had like 20,000kms on it and it was going for 5000$.
It was crazy, when I called the guy he said it was sold on the first day of listing! :mad:
I rememebered he lived close to me too! Damn, I so wished I have picked it up. Probably would have painted it all black, tinted it and add some HRE, or DPE rims.

And have you noticed, the ORIGINAL POSTER of this thread, is SPECIFICLLY looking for a BMW?! STAY ON TOPIC. And all of you who don't own bmws GET OUT! Please, people are posting random bias crap when they have never owned a bmw.

[KonniXeoN]

lol isn't it IRONIC for you to tell ppl to F*CK off while you are leeching a Porsche from your parents?:rolleyes:

I can't believe he got a temp. ban for that!
What the crap is that?

SOFTNESS. Whoever reported.

[Neb]

How did you find a 2002 with 20000km on it for 5000???? tha'ts BS.. has to be wrecked or something. I am looking for a 04 E46 right now, nowhere near that price range.

:lol: , Do you own a e36? Someone is doing something wrong, the sensors don't always die so quick.

Anyways, you guys are paying way to much to replace parts! I just go to RMP motors, bmw specialists up near the airport. Definately worth the trip since they get everything done.

I still don't know why everyones bashing the bmw.

I saw a clean, 2002 on autotrader during december, it only had like 20,000kms on it and it was going for 5000$.
It was crazy, when I called the guy he said it was sold on the first day of listing! :mad:
I rememebered he lived close to me too! Damn, I so wished I have picked it up. Probably would have painted it all black, tinted it and add some HRE, or DPE rims.

And have you noticed, the ORIGINAL POSTER of this thread, is SPECIFICLLY looking for a BMW?! STAY ON TOPIC. And all of you who don't own bmws GET OUT! Please, people are posting random bias crap when they have never owned a bmw.

[TenzoR]

How did you find a 2002 with 20000km on it for 5000???? tha'ts BS.. has to be wrecked or something. I am looking for a 04 E46 right now, nowhere near that price range.

Maybe he talking about BMW 2002

[romsan04]

How did you find a 2002 with 20000km on it for 5000???? tha'ts BS.. has to be wrecked or something. I am looking for a 04 E46 right now, nowhere near that price range.

LOL it is the model number not the year ;)

Like this one

http://www.bmw2002.nl/bmw2002-desktop.jpg

[Neb]

Maybe he talking about BMW 2002

Sorry My apologies :)

Know anyone selling a 04+ 325i or 330i? with sport pkg?

[TenzoR]

Sorry My apologies :)

Know anyone selling a 04+ 325i or 330i? with sport pkg?

check the bmw.ca

They have a decent website with a good search engine. I rather buy a certified BMW then save a couple bucks buying private. Plus negotiation is fairly easy/paineless if you have the inside scoop ;)

[Neb]

check the bmw.ca

They have a decent website with a good search engine. I rather buy a certified BMW then save a couple bucks buying private. Plus negotiation is fairly easy/paineless if you have the inside scoop ;)

I did see a few I like on there. How much off their asking do you think is reasonable if it was listed at 30k? What do you mean it can be easy/painless if you have the inside scoop? How do i find out?

[TenzoR]

I did see a few I like on there. How much off their asking do you think is reasonable if it was listed at 30k? What do you mean it can be easy/painless if you have the inside scoop? How do i find out?

If you know how much the car is actually worth (e.g. what the dealer paid for it and their profit margin, it's fairly easy to negotiate a price). You won't get what they paid for, that's a fact. No point trying, but you can get away with what they want to "earn" minimal for each used car. Each car is different because it depends on the condition of the car as well as dealership. Other things to consider if the car is at the lot for a while they'll usually be more willing to negotiate as after certain amount of time, they will just get rid of the car to small private dealers if they can't sell it.

[ES_Revenge]

I just read an article on this exact topic.

http://www.campuslifemagazine.ca/article.php?id=car_purchasing

I found the "calculations" in this article to be a little misleading.

It assumes a final price for the 5-series from the price plus repairs in all possible problem areas. Seems a little bit much. I'm sure there are mid-90's 5-series cars running around that never needed a new trans and never needed a new exhaust system and never needed radiator, etc. Plus, some of those things on the list may have been replaced already or recently, by the car's previous owner or by the dealer selling the car. Another thing is the problem areas it shows don't even apply to every model year in question (some have a specific range like 92-93, for example).

Furthermore the article also assumes you'll be taking the car to a shop for, again, all of those repairs and leaving out any mention of the parts-alone cost, which would apply if you performed the labour yourself.

Not really saying what's a better buy here, but just saying the article is a little unrealistic, IMO.