[FIFTYFIFTYFIFTY]

Yo, how's everyone doing!

I heard this was a good place to reach out for help and advice obviously when it comes to the world of BMWs.

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.
One of my biggest concerns is that if I use it as a daily drive and someone has already put mileage and done things to it... it is even worth buying?

I would love to mod it out as well I genuinely don't mind putting money into my future car either no matter what it is. I've been on YouTube a lot also looking for information about cars and BMWs as a whole trying to get into the hang of things (which is also how I found out about the forums).

After doing some research as well, I think my best choice would probably be a 328x or xi. I really love the car and love seeing how some builds have came out/ended up coming out from dirt to diamonds.

So, with all that being said my main main main questions would be:

1. What are some things I should look forward to changing or upgrading when I purchase my car (I heard some stuff about the engines after a certain mileage as well I don't mind potentially getting an engine swap or whatever will make it last longer.)

2. Is it possible to maintain a 328x or xi on a budget ?

3. Is it possible to upgrade my parts on a budget? I see some parts like Intake, Charging kits, Coil-overs, Turbos, etc.

4. Are all of these potential mods and upgrades I could get NECESSARY? Because I would also buy more important things over others that can be changed with time.


Thank you for reading this if you did read all of it I appreciate your time and look forward to your responses and advice.

[lordnikon]

If you have the space and the tools to do maintenance yourself, it's doable. Otherwise, it can be a money pit.

[Efthreeoh]

The above advice is good. $5,000 is going to get you a BMW with age and a lot of miles on it and in need of serious refurbishment. If you are mechanically inclined, understand the theory behind how machines/cars work and have the tools and space to work on cars and are not budget limited a Bimmer can work for you.

BMWs are great cars and really don't need modification to be enjoyed. With your expectations of a purchase price, spend time, effort, and money on refurbing one to stock form.

[TekkaMaki]

For that price, buy an old Toyota.
Get a Bimmer when you have more $$$ for maintaining it.

[Efthreeoh]

Just for the record a 328 is a 328i (RWD), or a 328xi (AWD).

[Grease23]

My thoughts:

1. These cars are a great value as used cars.

2. If you're really good with a wrench, with resources like this, you can do a lot. If that isn't you already (these aren't first cars to learn on in my opinion) then the car may eat you and your wallet alive. I'd expect a $5000 BMW to need a lot.

3. They are nice cars stock. So if your budget is limited and you don't have money to burn, learn to take care of the stock car and leave it stock.

4. Yes, space and tools are nice. But add to that time.

[StradaRedlands]

Only go into it with the desire to DIY and get dirty. If you don't have that, walk away.
Learn to find used parts, and when to buy from a dealer. Plan on figuring out INPA/ISTA (best) or Bimmergeeks Protools (pretty good). Don't get an X drive car unless you absolutely need it. Find a car with a lot of work done already: Oil pan gasket, valve cover gasket, auto transmission fluid, good name brand tires (Miche on Conti best). Get a car with sport package. Avoid cars with CCC or CIC interfaces. Fold down rear seats are great and let you carry a lot of stuff, try to find those as well.
Long/short of it is go for it, but don't go in naive to the amount of time and/or money you will need to keep it going.

[gaze2]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Avoid cars with CCC or CIC interfaces.

Why? For under $200 you can fit a wireless AA/Carplay screen that will replace it and really bring the car up to date, without being tacky or loosing functionality. I dont get the double hump hate, if you are going to daily the thing I think it can potentially bring great functionality with a cheap chinese linux screen (like I did in mine) while looking OEM.


As for OP, I suggest you try to get a manual rwd one, I see no point in getting an automatic x drive one to maintain in your position. Also read up on model designations, there is no 328x, x means xdrive - 4wd, i means petrol, d means diesel. There are 325i, 328i. 330i which are Naturally Aspirated, all of them are 3 liter in USA and Canada, so you could bring a 325i and 328i to 330i power relatively easily with a 3 stage intake manifold from a 330i. Get a cable and INSTA / INPA to easily diagnose pre and post purchase.
1 - You will probably need to change a few gaskets (oil pan, valve cover), spark plugs, filters, CCV, you could upgrade shot suspension arms with M3 ones
2 - Maintain yes, but bringing it to a point where you only have to do regular maintenance could potentially be pretty expensive, depending on the state of the car you purchase. You will need to learn to DIY
3 - There is not a lot to upgrade on an NA engine, small mods like filters, silicone air pipe are cheap, catless headers not so much. I would focus on maintaining the car. Turbocharging an n52 is way too expensive, might as well LS swap it.
4 - Its a good car stock, upgrades aren't necessary, especially if you get a good optioned one. Getting a 3 stage intake manifold is a potentially bigger upgrade

[Bims328i]

You can buy a BMW but rest assured, you will spend money on it, one way or another.

If not on a mechanic, then on parts. If not on parts then on mechanic. If not on the failure, then preventative maintenance. If not on preventative maintenance then multiplied on future repairs. They are great cars but too many just treat them as a car. This is the ultimate driving machine and as such requires the ultimate care of its driver.

I would steer away from the xi models as they are a nightmare to do pan gaskets on. Even the RWD pan gasket job can be a pain. I like the aluminum subframe of RWD over AWD setup.

The BMW car model you love: Muwahahahahaa

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by gaze2

Why? For under $200 you can fit a wireless AA/Carplay screen that will replace it and really bring the car up to date, without being tacky or loosing functionality. I dont get the double hump hate, if you are going to daily the thing I think it can potentially bring great functionality with a cheap chinese linux screen (like I did in mine) while looking OEM.

The same reason I have a manual transmission! I have zero need for any of the above, and it just adds points of failure into the car. My radio works, all the data I need can be pulled through the dash display, maps work on my phone, bluetooth works fine for calls... just zero need for it. I'm a Luddite, that's why I like the E90... mechanical systems, minimal bells and whistles.

[Wolf 335]

Kid is on a budget and in school. I'm surprised you guys are telling him to go for it.

Buying a bmw as a student on a budget is not a good idea.

You have to consider the cost of parts, cost of tools, and cost of mechanic because he won't be able to do all the work himself.

Unless he is backed by parental fiancial support he should not be entering a bmw scene, especially with a $3K-5K bmw.

[gaze2]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

I have zero need for any of the above

Yet you need your phone for maps, dont you think its a convenience that for example on my setup I can press a button on my steering wheel and tell the google assistant to do whatever and it just works? That I can easily and quickly call anyone, check messages, and most importantly, check for cops/radars?

And where exactly does the iDrive fail? Did you also do an AC delete or power windows delete, I mean they can potentially fail right? Or do you think the chinese unit will fail? You are just limiting yourself by your preferences, having AA/carplay in current year is a must, iDrive by itself is also a plus, dont tell others to avoid it because you dont like it.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

The same reason I have a manual transmission! I have zero need for any of the above, and it just adds points of failure into the car. My radio works, all the data I need can be pulled through the dash display, maps work on my phone, bluetooth works fine for calls... just zero need for it. I'm a Luddite, that's why I like the E90... mechanical systems, minimal bells and whistles.

This ^

[lordnikon]

Originally Posted by Wolf 335

Kid is on a budget and in school. I'm surprised you guys are telling him to go for it.

Buying a bmw as a student on a budget is not a good idea.

You have to consider the cost of parts, cost of tools, and cost of mechanic because he won't be able to do all the work himself.

Unless he is backed by parental fiancial support he should not be entering a bmw scene, especially with a $3K-5K bmw.

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

[jbellk75rt]

As an owner of a 2010 328xi for about 1 1/2 years you had better define budget for us if any of these replies are to make sense. My car was reasonably clean and only 60K miles on it when I bought it for considerably more than $3-5K. I spent about $1500 on parts, tires and fluids doing all the work myself to bring it up to current maintenance. If done at the dealer add about $2500 to that number. I'm still finding little things that need to be attended to. Great car and I enjoy it.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by gaze2

Yet you need your phone for maps, dont you think its a convenience that for example on my setup I can press a button on my steering wheel and tell the google assistant to do whatever and it just works? That I can easily and quickly call anyone, check messages, and most importantly, check for cops/radars?

And where exactly does the iDrive fail? Did you also do an AC delete or power windows delete, I mean they can potentially fail right? Or do you think the chinese unit will fail? You are just limiting yourself by your preferences, having AA/carplay in current year is a must, iDrive by itself is also a plus, dont tell others to avoid it because you dont like it.

You enjoy your car, I'll enjoy mine. People can like different things!

And as this is the internet and OP was soliciting opinions, here is mine: I don't care for iDrive or xDrive, and recommend that people don't get a car with them (unless they need them!).

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

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

You enjoy your car, I'll enjoy mine. People can like different things!

And as this is the internet and OP was soliciting opinions, here is mine: I don't care for iDrive or xDrive, and recommend that people don't get a car with them (unless they need them!).

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

This ^

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by gaze2

Yet you need your phone for maps, dont you think its a convenience that for example on my setup I can press a button on my steering wheel and tell the google assistant to do whatever and it just works? That I can easily and quickly call anyone, check messages, and most importantly, check for cops/radars?

And where exactly does the iDrive fail? Did you also do an AC delete or power windows delete, I mean they can potentially fail right? Or do you think the chinese unit will fail? You are just limiting yourself by your preferences, having AA/carplay in current year is a must, iDrive by itself is also a plus, dont tell others to avoid it because you dont like it.

I buy my cars to drive, not compute shit (read as "Google Assistant to do whatever"). iDrive is not a must to us Boomers (though I suspect Strada is a Gen X'er).

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Wolf 335

Kid is on a budget and in school. I'm surprised you guys are telling him to go for it.

Buying a bmw as a student on a budget is not a good idea.

You have to consider the cost of parts, cost of tools, and cost of mechanic because he won't be able to do all the work himself.

Unless he is backed by parental fiancial support he should not be entering a bmw scene, especially with a $3K-5K bmw.

Well to be fair, this is the 30-millionth time a Nube has asked this question and most of us suggest if he's budget-constrained to proceed with caution. But one never knows what are the capabilities and backing the Asker of such questions. IMO, buying a $5,000 used car is always a crap shoot regardless of brand. If you don't know the car's history, it's all just a big guess and a journey to one day tell the grandkids. People get rid of old cars because there is something wrong with it that they no longer want to deal with.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I buy my cars to drive, not compute shit (read as "Google Assistant to do whatever"). iDrive is not a must to us Boomers (though I suspect Strada is a Gen X'er).

[The Nightman]

Originally Posted by TekkaMaki

For that price, buy an old Toyota.
Get a Bimmer when you have more $$$ for maintaining it.

Originally Posted by Wolf 335

Kid is on a budget and in school. I'm surprised you guys are telling him to go for it.

Buying a bmw as a student on a budget is not a good idea.

You have to consider the cost of parts, cost of tools, and cost of mechanic because he won't be able to do all the work himself.

Unless he is backed by parental fiancial support he should not be entering a bmw scene, especially with a $3K-5K bmw.

Yes, exactly. A $5k E90 is going to need a lot more than $5k to be a reliable daily.

You really really really really have to care about the E90's driving dynamics to put up with it nowadays.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

3 Boomers and 2 Gen X'ers.