[GoRomeo]

If you do, buy a good tool set with it.
☝️😎

[CTinline-six]

Driving a used BMW is a hobby and lifestyle.

I really enjoy how my car drives, and enjoy maintaining it. I've owned it for 70k miles now and about 7 years. It is not my only car, and I have a lot of wrenching experience.

It has been pretty reliable, and mostly my daily driver, but you have to know what you are doing when you work on it, otherwise it can cost you a ton of money. I wouldn't want it as a first and only car, and I might not even own it if I didn't have the space and time to work on it, or the ability for it to be down while I repair it.

A modified car would double or even triple your potential for costly issues. These cars are reliable, but you have to be committed to staying ahead of the maintenance and able to do your own work, because a $5000 BMW will have you diving head first into repairs most likely.

I'm 33, but if I was 16 with the knowledge I have now I'd be buying a cheap Honda Civic, Honda Accord, or even a Volkswagen with a manual transmission. Something not as costly to fix, but still fun and easy to learn on. You don't want to learn on something where the parts are so expensive.

[BRG_N54]

Originally Posted by FIFTYFIFTYFIFTY

I am a 19yo college student looking to get into cars as a whole but I'm looking to save about $3000-5000 for a car this summer.

There is an old saying about automobiles:

"Cost, performance and reliability; Pick two and throw the third out the window."

In other words, there is no such thing as a fast, cheap, reliable car. BMW is a luxury brand, targeted at those with deep pockets. When produced, luxury cars are only meant to last through the first lease period, hence they are designed with plastics and sub-standard sealing materials. Toyota can produce a car that will not leak oil, because they are focusing on cost and reliability, but performance suffers.

If I were you I would refrain from considering a luxury brand until you have an established career and have an emergency fund for things like car repairs. Your #1 priority should be reliability in your current stage of life.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by BRG_N54

There is an old saying about automobiles:

"Cost, performance and reliability; Pick two and throw the third out the window."

In other words, there is no such thing as a fast, cheap, reliable car. BMW is a luxury brand, targeted at those with deep pockets. When produced, luxury cars are only meant to last through the first lease period, hence they are designed with plastics and sub-standard sealing materials. Toyota can produce a car that will not leak oil, because they are focusing on cost and reliability, but performance suffers.

If I were you I would refrain from considering a luxury brand until you have an established career and have an emergency fund for things like car repairs. Your #1 priority should be reliability in your current stage of life.

Come on man, that's just complete BS. My E90 has 400,000 miles on it. Yeah, I've fixed the common oil leaks... once (and well past the 200,000 mile mark). Please. I'll take a BMW over a Toyota appliance any day of the week.

[StradaRedlands]

I think an E90 is a great starter car. Easy to work on, known problems, great community. Buy a good tool set and some jack stands, and you're in business. Maybe OP already has a garage full of tools, who knows. Negative to an E90 is crap fuel efficiency.
As a bonus, it sets the standard for what a good car can be. My 18y.o. only wants solid RWD cars from this point on. If I can just teach her how to shift MT, my parenting will be validated! Doing my part to help others say no to Toyota!

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

I think an E90 is a great starter car. Easy to work on, known problems, great community. Buy a good tool set and some jack stands, and you're in business. Maybe OP already has a garage full of tools, who knows. Negative to an E90 is crap fuel efficiency.
As a bonus, it sets the standard for what a good car can be. My 18y.o. only wants solid RWD cars from this point on. If I can just teach her how to shift MT, my parenting will be validated! Doing my part to help others say no to Toyota!

I will agree, it CAN be a great starter car, but it totally depends on the person.

Are you willing to be active in the BMW community to learn more about the car and how to fix what is wrong? Do you appreciate driving? Then it might be a good start. If you just want it for the badge, and have never used a socket set then you might be in for a big surprise.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by CTinline-six

I will agree, it CAN be a great starter car, but it totally depends on the person.

Are you willing to be active in the BMW community to learn more about the car and how to fix what is wrong? Do you appreciate driving? Then it might be a good start. If you just want it for the badge, and have never used a socket set then you might be in for a big surprise.

This ^

On a side note, I can't get in to answer your PM. But I'd leave the CCV can alone. I'd bet it's clean inside.

Now back to the thread...

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by CTinline-six

I will agree, it CAN be a great starter car, but it totally depends on the person.

Are you willing to be active in the BMW community to learn more about the car and how to fix what is wrong? Do you appreciate driving? Then it might be a good start. If you just want it for the badge, and have never used a socket set then you might be in for a big surprise.

Yes, exactly! If you want to learn about the car and have the time/desire to DIY, I think they're great. I mean really, the biggest common problems are the OFHG, Micky Mouse flange, and coolant reservoir hose. Those are all easy for someone who wants to learn. Next level is radiator & hoses, water pump/tstat, valve cover gasket, auto trans fluid/filter. At that point you've done most of the common E90 things, and have a very reliable car that's actually fun to drive and not stuck in a clapped out Corolla penalty box!

[Gemini562]

Originally Posted by lordnikon

Agreed. If I were his age, I would use the money to invest instead.

Back when I was his age, I didn't even have a set of wheels! I was still taking the bus and begging my bike not to get a flat tire.

[BRG_N54]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Come on man, that's just complete BS. My E90 has 400,000 miles on it. Yeah, I've fixed the common oil leaks... once (and well past the 200,000 mile mark). Please. I'll take a BMW over a Toyota appliance any day of the week.

Point taken. I am not stating that they cannot be made to last, I was merely pointing out that I don't think BMW had a 400,000 mile design goal when they engineered the E90. Take the OFHG, or the VANOS seals on the M54, which all could have been made with VITON and lasted much, much longer than they do. I am not an OEM supplier and I have no idea what goes into such endeavors, but I do know it's possible to design something to last.....or not. Yes, the machining and overall design philosophy is about quality and dollar-value, but why then does EVERY BMW leak oil? Why would they use a plastic impeller in a water pump if they wanted it to last?

My statement did not speak to the emotion or passion that you get from driving, and these cars have that in spades, I was just trying to offer my humble opinion to this young person asking for advice. I love my cars just as much as you do, so much I have two! However, we are not in the same life stage as OP.

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

And as this is the internet and OP was soliciting opinions

Feel free to extol the benefits of the things you like in your opinions!

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by BRG_N54

Point taken. I am not stating that they cannot be made to last, I was merely pointing out that I don't think BMW had a 400,000 mile design goal when they engineered the E90. Take the OFHG, or the VANOS seals on the M54, which all could have been made with VITON and lasted much, much longer than they do. I am not an OEM supplier and I have no idea what goes into such endeavors, but I do know it's possible to design something to last.....or not. Yes, the machining and overall design philosophy is about quality and dollar-value, but why then does EVERY BMW leak oil? Why would they use a plastic impeller in a water pump if they wanted it to last?

My statement did not speak to the emotion or passion that you get from driving, and these cars have that in spades, I was just trying to offer my humble opinion to this young person asking for advice. I love my cars just as much as you do, so much I have two! However, we are not in the same life stage as OP.

I look at my E90 as 95% of the parts have lasted 18 years and 424,000 miles. So a few oil leaks, a t-stat and one (1) water pump. And suspension refresh every 180,000 miles or so. BFD.

And I've driven the ever living piss out of it for 18 years. How much more do you want it to last? All in, it's cost 31-cents a mile to drive, $0.31/mile.

Toyota's break and wear out too.

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

This ^

On a side note, I can't get in to answer your PM. But I'd leave the CCV can alone. I'd bet it's clean inside.

Now back to the thread...

Awesome, thanks.

[Bmw1939]

This is the same advice I gave a young guy over three years ago...

My advice would be... Find a single owner with full service history selling privately at price that if the engine was destroyed in a week you wouldnt be destroyed financially (this will take at least a month to find). After purchase have $1500 set aside for repairs. These cars are not corollas and require constant attention, so you will need to have tools, diagnostics equipment, access to a garage, and a desire to learn. You CAN do it, but you have to commit to the car being a big part of your life. If you want it because you heard they are fast or real pussy magnets it isnt going to work out.

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I look at my E90 as 95% of the parts have lasted 18 years and 424,000 miles. So a few oil leaks, a t-stat and one (1) water pump. And suspension refresh every 180,000 miles or so. BFD.

And I've driven the ever living piss out of it for 18 years. How much more do you want it to last? All in, it's cost 31-cents a mile to drive, $0.31/mile.

Toyota's break and wear out too.

This is a very good point.

Overall I think the E90 is a solid platform and very reliable, I've taken mine on 2000+ mile road trips where I hammered on the car through mountain roads with it packed full of gear. Toyotas and Hondas aren't what they used to be. My friend's Tacoma has needed quite a bit of "maintenance".

The biggest issue for the OP will be his budget, and the kind of car he can find within his budget and the questionable service is has seen over the years. The newest E90 is 13 years old. A $5,000 BMW or a $5,000 Chevy will both need a ton of maintenance to bring them up to par, which is a large up front cost compared to maintaining the car over a period of time as it ages.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by CTinline-six

This is a very good point.

Overall I think the E90 is a solid platform and very reliable, I've taken mine on 2000+ mile road trips where I hammered on the car through mountain roads with it packed full of gear. Toyotas and Hondas aren't what they used to be. My friend's Tacoma has needed quite a bit of "maintenance".

The biggest issue for the OP will be his budget, and the kind of car he can find within his budget and the questionable service is has seen over the years. The newest E90 is 13 years old. A $5,000 BMW or a $5,000 Chevy will both need a ton of maintenance to bring them up to par, which is a large up front cost compared to maintaining the car over a period of time as it ages.

Agree. And more to the point. If one drops $3K (DIY) into an E90 at 180,000 miles, he'll get another 120,000 miles out of it. BMWs are worth refurbishment at high mileage and high age. Strada's last E91 project is a perfect example.

[Fredo]

Just for fun, this car meets OP's requirements:

2006 330xi / 206k miles / AT / $5,000 OBO

https://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/ct...757803407.html

Looks well maintained, but AC is not working.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Fredo

Just for fun, this car meets OP's requirements:

2006 330xi / 206k miles / AT / $5,000 OBO

https://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/ct...757803407.html

Looks well maintained, but AC is not working.

Ohhhh, I like your thinking! Here's what I would love for my kid to have:
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/...753105252.html

2006 325i so it has the lower hp engine to keep him out of trouble, MT for reliability and enjoyment, single hump (which I personally prefer!!!!), heated seats, sport package, aluminum interior, a garage full of other Bimmers shows an enthusiast owns it... would be money well spent by OP who has disappeared since first potential bot post!

[lordnikon]

Seller has fitted decent tires too which is a good sign.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by lordnikon

Seller has fitted decent tires too which is a good sign.

Yep, that's a good car!

Also, I think that's an e28 M5 hiding back in the garage!

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Ohhhh, I like your thinking! Here's what I would love for my kid to have:
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/...753105252.html

2006 325i so it has the lower hp engine to keep him out of trouble, MT for reliability and enjoyment, single hump (which I personally prefer!!!!), heated seats, sport package, aluminum interior, a garage full of other Bimmers shows an enthusiast owns it... would be money well spent by OP who has disappeared since first potential bot post!

Wow. I bet that car and my E90 were built on the same day. His VIN is just a few off from 170 units away from mine. Neat.

It easily has 300,000 miles left in it.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Wow. I bet that car and my E90 were built on the same day. His VIN is just a few off from 170 units away from mine. Neat.

It easily has 300,000 miles left in it.

May 12, 2006 per https://bimmer.work/vin/pb4ff0c4f9b8...a88c1bfe5c1f4/

Just up the road a bit from you?

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

May 12, 2006 per https://bimmer.work/vin/pb4ff0c4f9b8...a88c1bfe5c1f4/

Just up the road a bit from you?

Rockville is just over 2 hours from where I live now, but I grew up south of Rockville and know the area quite well. The May 12 date is a bit odd as my car is older than the car here by just over 170 units numerically. Perhaps BMW doesn't build by VIN number sequence. I ordered my car in early April 2006 and it was built in mid-April 2006.

I sent the Craigslist link to a buddy of mine who lives nearby Rockville. It'd be a great car for his daughter but she's a few years out from driving just yet.