Coolest BMW for 4-5 grand?

TheYoungConnoisseur · 03-17-2016, 11:52 PM

Not nessarily a fun to drive sporty car but something cool. I've got other cool cars but I'd like a cheap "beater" something I can just hop in and go to Walmart with at 2am for some ice cream and leave the keys above the sun visor and not even care if a rogue buggy coasted into it. Has to be a car that's ok reliability and can go for a 5hr drive on a minutes notice.

No e30 e46 or 740s
Maybe....

-semi "stance" red e36 vert 5spd
-anything gen pre e39 5series
-old school 6 series?

SakhirM4 · 03-18-2016, 12:14 AM

Z3 or Z3 coupe

ShocknAwe · 03-18-2016, 01:48 AM

I'd go Z3 coupe or E36 personally. 318is if you can find one.

23fizzer · 03-18-2016, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheYoungConnoisseur

I'd like a cheap "beater" something I can just hop in and go to Walmart with at 2am for some ice cream and leave the keys above the sun visor

Why on earth would you leave the keys in the car?

Shredicus · 03-18-2016, 04:38 AM

I love those old sharky 6 series

Chihuahua · 03-18-2016, 08:20 AM

beater miata or beater z3 (id go miata in your case). lower it, leave the top down 100% of the time. take the key with you.

Delta0311 · 03-18-2016, 08:45 AM

What?!! Who the hell goes to Walmart at 0200 to get ice cream? Put down the bong for a second and fill out a job application; you damn hippie.

overcoil · 03-18-2016, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta0311

What?!! Who the hell goes to Walmart at 0200 to get ice cream? Put down the bong for a second and fill out a job application; you damn hippie.

LOL

I go at three a.m. for Raisenettes and PeanutButter cups.

But why use a beater car, perfect excuse for playing on the roads.

Ric in RVA · 03-18-2016, 10:07 AM

318ti auto. NO one will steal one of those....

Mywifes335 · 03-18-2016, 11:07 AM

E36 but you won't get an M3 at that price unless it's beat.

W/// · 03-18-2016, 01:49 PM

I'm sorry, but you are not getting a Z3 coupe for that price. Personally, if I wanted something just damn cool, I'd look into E28s

lowbudgethero · 03-18-2016, 01:53 PM

The e39 540i has been depreciating quite a bit and is a lot of car for how cheap they are now. Not sure how reliable they are at higher miles.

PA135i · 03-18-2016, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

I'd go Z3 coupe or E36 personally. 318is if you can find one.

That was my first BMW. 1991 BMW 318is in Diamond black metallic.
5 speed manual. parchment vinyl. 138 hp of pure whind it out fun. I would love to find another one of those cars. So much fun to drive... nimble and quicker than it looked ..plus tight in the twisties...

BEM-S4 · 03-18-2016, 02:01 PM

Not a BMW but at your price point is be looking for a B5 S4. Bought one new in 2001 and loved that car.

Mywifes335 · 03-18-2016, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PA135i

That was my first BMW. 1991 BMW 318is in Diamond black metallic.
5 speed manual. parchment vinyl. 138 hp of pure whind it out fun. I would love to find another one of those cars. So much fun to drive... nimble and quicker than it looked ..plus tight in the twisties...

Had a track prepped E30 325is...so fun. Same gen as your 318.

But OP said no E30s.

Plus can't get a good E30 for $5k. Gonna need a lot of work.

F30lolz · 03-18-2016, 11:36 PM

+1 on a e28 and slam it.

neroneuman · 03-19-2016, 01:16 AM

E39 540i v8

Mywifes335 · 03-19-2016, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F30lolz

+1 on a e28 and slam it.

Btw I used to hate E28s because they were so boxy. Now, I appreciate them more. Classic BMW lines.

Have you seen there's a growing number of boosted E28 sleepers out there?

PopsnBurbles · 03-19-2016, 11:29 AM

E21 320i(s)...take care of it, prep/maintain it and it should run like a champ. Who know, maybe I just like the car so much that I don't think about other things.

Alen E90 · 03-19-2016, 11:34 AM

E28 would be an awesome car but I doubt if it can be bought for 4-5k. That car is super rare now a days and IMO you really have to pay a premium to find one in good running condition. However, an E36 doesn't sound like a bad idea!

StealYourFace · 03-19-2016, 11:55 AM

E34 540i with a stick.

GuidoK · 03-19-2016, 12:01 PM

635CSi with a dogleg gearbox....
Oh wait, that's non US only.

I think the m535 also has a dogleg. (I think that one was called 535is in the US).
That's on the e28 chassis to be clear.

03-17-2016, 11:52 PM	#1
TheYoungConnoisseur Lieutenant 91 Rep 455 Posts Drives: Your car at the track Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: usa iTrader: (0)	Coolest BMW for 4-5 grand? Not nessarily a fun to drive sporty car but something cool. I've got other cool cars but I'd like a cheap "beater" something I can just hop in and go to Walmart with at 2am for some ice cream and leave the keys above the sun visor and not even care if a rogue buggy coasted into it. Has to be a car that's ok reliability and can go for a 5hr drive on a minutes notice. No e30 e46 or 740s Maybe.... -semi "stance" red e36 vert 5spd -anything gen pre e39 5series -old school 6 series?
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03-18-2016, 12:14 AM	#2
SakhirM4 Major General 10804 Rep 8,852 Posts Drives: '15 SO M4/'20 Z4 M40i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW Z4 M40i [10.00] 2015 BMW M4 [8.76]	Z3 or Z3 coupe __________________ Tejas Chapter, BMW CCA, mem #23915, President 27 years, www.tejaschapter.org Last edited by SakhirM4; 03-18-2016 at 12:19 AM..
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03-18-2016, 01:48 AM	#3
ShocknAwe 1Addict 3588 Rep 8,135 Posts Drives: E82, E70, 991.1 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Charleston iTrader: (22)	I'd go Z3 coupe or E36 personally. 318is if you can find one. __________________ Build: 1er Project8 Hauler: M57 Truck Daily: 991.1 GTS
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03-18-2016, 04:38 AM	#5
Shredicus Major 537 Rep 1,122 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Spokane, WA iTrader: (12)	I love those old sharky 6 series
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03-18-2016, 08:20 AM	#6
Chihuahua Brigadier General 4475 Rep 3,365 Posts Drives: E30 329iS, E65 Alpina B7 Join Date: May 2012 Location: TBD iTrader: (0)	beater miata or beater z3 (id go miata in your case). lower it, leave the top down 100% of the time. take the key with you.
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03-18-2016, 08:45 AM	#7
Delta0311 Banned 7485 Rep 10,119 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 335xi E92 2016 228xi Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NJ iTrader: (1)	What?!! Who the hell goes to Walmart at 0200 to get ice cream? Put down the bong for a second and fill out a job application; you damn hippie.
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03-18-2016, 10:07 AM	#9
Ric in RVA Bergspyder 1567 Rep 1,246 Posts Drives: '11 BMW 128i Sport 6mt Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Richmond VA iTrader: (1)	318ti auto. NO one will steal one of those.... __________________ Ric in RVA 2011 128i 6 MT Sport, 2009 Cayman 987.2, 2011 528i N52, 2018 F150 Platinum
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03-18-2016, 11:07 AM	#10
Mywifes335 Major 1635 Rep 1,422 Posts Drives: 2014 FBO M235i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: DFW iTrader: (1)	E36 but you won't get an M3 at that price unless it's beat.
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03-18-2016, 01:49 PM	#11
W/// Lieutenant General 7859 Rep 12,454 Posts Drives: F82GTS, E36/E92M3, Z4M Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: SC iTrader: (13)	I'm sorry, but you are not getting a Z3 coupe for that price. Personally, if I wanted something just damn cool, I'd look into E28s
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03-18-2016, 01:53 PM	#12
lowbudgethero Captain 124 Rep 751 Posts Drives: '98 Z3M (gone), '09 135i Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: 908 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 135i [9.00]	The e39 540i has been depreciating quite a bit and is a lot of car for how cheap they are now. Not sure how reliable they are at higher miles.
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03-18-2016, 02:01 PM	#14
BEM-S4 Major General 4533 Rep 8,942 Posts Drives: Dinan M235, Dinan Sport Wagon Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (5)	Not a BMW but at your price point is be looking for a B5 S4. Bought one new in 2001 and loved that car. __________________ 2022 Macan S 2016 F31 328i xDrive Sport Wagon 2006 E46 330ci ZHP Convertible
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03-19-2016, 01:16 AM	#17
neroneuman First Lieutenant 47 Rep 351 Posts Drives: 09 TiAg 135i MT Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Bay Area,CA iTrader: (4)	E39 540i v8 __________________ 09 e82 BIG THANKS TO LEVANIME FOR ALL THE HELP Last edited by neroneuman; 03-19-2016 at 12:23 PM..
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03-19-2016, 11:29 AM	#19
PopsnBurbles Captain 193 Rep 894 Posts Drives: 135is :) 192/586 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: LA, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2003 Lotus Esprit V8 [0.00] 2013 BMW 135is Coup ... [10.00]	E21 320i(s)...take care of it, prep/maintain it and it should run like a champ. Who know, maybe I just like the car so much that I don't think about other things.
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03-19-2016, 11:34 AM	#20
Alen E90 Lieutenant General 764 Rep 10,033 Posts Drives: E90 328i TiAg Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (7)	E28 would be an awesome car but I doubt if it can be bought for 4-5k. That car is super rare now a days and IMO you really have to pay a premium to find one in good running condition. However, an E36 doesn't sound like a bad idea! __________________ TiAg FTW!
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03-19-2016, 11:55 AM	#21
StealYourFace Lieutenant Colonel 265 Rep 1,794 Posts Drives: F30 328i M 6mt, E36 M3 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Shakedown Street, Buffalo NY iTrader: (1)	E34 540i with a stick. __________________
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03-19-2016, 12:01 PM	#22
GuidoK #buildnotbought 13731 Rep 5,475 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i ESS TS2+ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tinkering in the garage iTrader: (0)	635CSi with a dogleg gearbox.... Oh wait, that's non US only. I think the m535 also has a dogleg. (I think that one was called 535is in the US). That's on the e28 chassis to be clear. __________________ Z4 3.0i \| ESS TS2+ supercharger \| Quaife ATB LSD \| Brembo/BMW performance BBK front/rear \| Schrick FI cams \| Schmiedmann headers+cats \| Powerflex/strongflex PU bushings \| Vibra-technics engine mounts \| H&R anti rollbars \| KW V3 coilovers/KW camber plates \| Sachs race engineering clutch \| tons of custom sh#t
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