In the $5k range, get a good-ish E36, a really primo E30, or a clapped-out E46?

I've owned a primo E30 before... and I mean PRIMO. The only things I had to do to it were the sloppy shifter bushings and the flaking paint on the dash buttons. It was seriously pristine.

I have driven two E36s. One was a 318 that couldn't accelerate faster than my grandmother, and the other one was a particularly bad example of junk. So I don't have much to compare.

The E46 cabrio is by far the one that I think is sexiest, but $5000 doesn't buy much of an E46.

My goal is to have a really neat, eye-catching car that is also ridiculously fun to drive. The E30 fits the fun to drive part, but nobody really pays attention to them anymore. The E36 doesn't catch my eye unless its a cabrio, but is it fun to drive? The E46 looks hot and the one I drove was fun. Not E30 fun, but fun enough.

I vote e30. They're on the upswing.

Keep in mind that by now prices for good E30s have overtaken prices for good E36s...

I never warmed up to E36s.

$5000 isn't going to buy a "really primo E30" anymore.

It's going to buy one that's clean, mostly stock.......If you're lucky.

I vote E36 or E46 as I'm one of those who absolutely hates how an E30 drives. There aren't enough words to describe how much I hated that car while I owned it. And mine was in better than average condition... when the POS wasn't broken... which was most of the time... most unreliable car I've ever owned.

If I ever get another BMW, it would likely be a E46 coupe in either std or M form. I like the E36 well enough and have a fair amount of experience with one, but even when the car was 6 years old (my ex-g/f's '97 M3 she owned from '98-04), the interior was a cacophony of rattles - and hers was a 3-season car that was babied. I doubt 10 additional years would help that any. E46 interiors are generally better.

I wouldn't touch a cabrio version of any of them with a 10 foot pole.

The only E46 you are getting for $5k is the 323/325 in decent shape and they are really nice cars but a 4dr 325 isn't going to meet your "eye catching" requirement unless you do something to make it stand out.

You are in range for an E36 M3 but you will spend money to bring it up to snuff - really nice ones are still between 7-10k. An option is the 328is ... almost as sexy as an M3 almost as fast, etc.

You can put yourself in a very nice E30. I like the look of them so they always catch my eye. Every single one needs to be lowered, with 15" BBS basketweave wheels, is lip spoiler, euro headlights and a swap to a deeper, louder sounding exhaust. If you shop well you can still get all that done for under $5k.

I've got an E36 328 myself, and that is my vote. The convertible top mechanism is overly complicated and takes a bit of maintenance, but they have decent power and well balanced handling.

The 328is with the Sport Package is a very good option. 3/4s of an M3, but also a very liveable daily driver.

I vote E46. They're awesome cars, and we picked up a mint one for my sister for $4k. E36s don't do much for me, and E30s are out of your price range. I sold mine for $7k, and it needed a transmission.

the standard 318 -is- slow. The 318ti is much faster due to a lack of weight and gearing. Yes, you need to hit third at 50mph.. but up until that point, it is nearly as fast as the bigger engined car. I think the lightest 318i clocks in around 3000 pounds.. the 318ti is around 2700. A sizable weight difference

Buy 5 e21's. Problem solved.

yamaha wrote: Buy 5 e21's. Problem solved.

YES

Around here I've seen a few nice E46s in the $5k range lately. I've got about $3,500 in mine, but I bought it with minor accident damage and fixed it. It's pretty much flawless.

An e46 is fun but is always going to feel more muted than either of the earlier gens. If looking good is a concern you rule out the e36 because it in that rough spot of too old to be new and too new to be a classic. I vote nicest e30 you can find or higher mileage e46 with a full bushing refresh, suspension upgrade, ZHP nose and nicer wheels. You should be able to do that in your price range.

Tom Suddard wrote:

yamaha wrote: Buy 5 e21's. Problem solved.

YES

The '77 I bought/traded last year was the most fun little car I've ever owned. Pretty slow, telepathic steering, and a generally unsafe feeling to the body roll.....

$5000 could buy a pretty good e39 528 with a 5 spd.... just sayin'

dj06482 wrote: The 328is with the Sport Package is a very good option. 3/4s of an M3, but also a very liveable daily driver.

That's what I have for my daily driver. Not exactly eye-catching in stock form, but well under $5k so you would have money left over to make it eye-catching if you want. I was not willing to pay the 100-200% price premium for the equivalent M3.

yamaha wrote:

Tom Suddard wrote:

yamaha wrote: Buy 5 e21's. Problem solved.

YES

The '77 I bought/traded last year was the most fun little car I've ever owned. Pretty slow, telepathic steering, and a generally unsafe feeling to the body roll.....

Amen my brothers. Plenty of upgrade options for motors, and handling is easily "fixed", which makes them even more fun.

You could weld all 5 e21's together forming the BMW Centipede.....

Having just moved to an area (DFW) where the E30s have all but disappeared my car generates attention wherever I go down here. Strange since they're everywhere in the DC Metro. Has made finding used parts a PIA.

My car being a New England car, has it's share of corrosion. I recently thought about selling it and buying a cleaner starting point. I quickly switched gears when I started shopping and found out the going rate for a clean E30 is squarely in the $6k-$8k range. So, now it's staying.

Your profile shows you in Pittsburgh. If you're a FB guy, check out the Mid-Atlantic E30 page. Nice cars come up for sale all the time in your price range. Bus ticket to Baltimore and drive it home. What could happen?

My E30 gets noticed and complimented whenever I take it out. Doesn't hurt that it is lowered with fairly wide wheels, and a "throaty" exhaust. And it is a hoot. My old E36 328is with the M front bumper got some attention too, but not nearly that of the E30. It was also more solid and "mature". But not nearly as fun. And the interior of the E36 is crap, too. Quality wise, that is.

Oh, and I got that 328is for $5k.

^^^ that. His E30 is hawt.

yamaha wrote: Buy 5 e21's. Problem solved.

This. Or at the price I bought mine for you could get 25 of them.

More interesting than an e30. Drives pretty much the same. e30 engines almost drop right in if you want something with more power. Can be found for cheap even in very nice shape, for the simple reason that "it's not a 2002 and it's not an e30"

Well, here are some of the options I've been thinking. (keeping in mind that the $5k number is flexible)

This 07 C-class Merc is listed at $9495, but in the local auto-exchange for $8500, so they'd take $7500 cash... he says hopefully.

This 5-series looks nice but I'm waiting to hear from the owner on mileage

This 3-series trips the right buttons except maybe for the combination of silver and 4-door. Still a sharp ride.

Another example of cheap E46 but kinda boring to look at.

And the only decent E30 I can find in the tri-state area.