1999 5 series for first car?

[razorcobra]

Hello guys. I am currently looking around for a first car. My budget tops off around $8,000 and I hardly come across E30's for sale in Omaha. I was curious what you guys think about this 1999 528i I am looking at buying.

http://www.carsforsale.com/used_cars_for_sale/1999_BMW_5+series_182406396_2

Let me know what you think I should do.

[Brezzi]

First off awesome user name it feels like an 80's name for a kids toy.

Secondly what is your mechanical ability level? those are good cars but its a boring auto and if you've got 8,000 to spend I would hold out and look for something different and a lil more exciting. I ask what you mechanical ability level is because you could have a seriously fun e30 for that price if you did all the wrenching.

just something to think about.

[IronFreak]

Dude!!

First welcome, always cool to find another guy from around here!! Second......

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=282222

Keep it alive! With that budget you could have a lot of fun with this car!!

[IronFreak]

And third.....watch that dealer, super scetchy cars sometimes.

[Holland]

You aren't raising children when you aren't in the office. Buy something fun and easy to work on.

[razorcobra]

Brezi: Some knowledge, but not a lot. If I do manage to find an e30 I do have friends to help. Kinda need to look into that though. :|

IronFreak: Awesome, another person from Omaha besides Larzzz! Yeah I kinda heard the place isn't the best, but I will try it out.

[IronFreak]

http://omaha.craigslist.org/cto/3662820050.html

[MrBurgundy]

I agree, find something fun and easy to work on. You don't want to spend you entire budget on a car that might another grand or so to get it functioning properly.

Good that you're taking some advise though!

[Vivek]

Buy an e30. A 7k car from California will be great and shipping it there should be less than a thousand. I wouldn't buy an automatic because they suck and I hate them. An e39 is fine, but with that kind of budget you can get nicer. An e34 540i can be had for 8k easily, and you can get a clean 6 speed. You have a pretty damn large budget, and if you buy a car that's been enthusiast owned and modded, you can buy and e30 with 10-15k into it.

[JasonC]

You aren't raising children when you aren't in the office. Buy something fun and easy to work on.

This here... Be a kid now, save the 5 series for later in your life.

[5Toes]

I love my 5er...

[razorcobra]

Well, I will look around a little more. I was attracted to this car because of the luxury package it came with and the body style. Thank for the advice though guys, I'm not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to practicality. :P

IronFreak: Sorry but I'll have to look at the Craigslist link later. Our school laptops won't let us go there.

[Threehz]

Don't buy that 5er. Eight grand budget is huge when talking on an older BMW forum.

Check the R3v forums and Craigslist every day; you will find lots of good E30s.

E30/E36/E34 are all good, cheap, and mostly very easy to work on cars.

$4000 to $5000 can get you a clean E30. Use the extra money to take care of any maintenance needed, give it some low, throw on some nice wheels and your life will never be the same.

two cents. good luck. we expect pictures soon.

[bmwstudent]

Patience, patience, patience. With that kind of budget you could get an amazing car. Keep looking for something you really want. Stick to 6cyl not a v8 e39. And remember those cars with all those special upgrades and packages, can be expensive to fix. Hold out for an e30 that has been well taken care of. For 8g you can buy A LOT of e30 righteousness. Good luck!

[razorcobra]

The e39 I was looking at was a 6 cylinder. But thanks to everyone it looks like I'm being steered towards an e30. :D