R3V: Which Modern BMW (or Similar) to Daily?

[nando]

E39 M5 is cool but they're getting pretty aged, regular 5 series just seem too boaty to me. The E90 is bad enough. :p

[bikerbill2021]

My E46 was a tank, just a standard 323CI, great car, fun to drive, quiet etc. As much as it pisses off other enthusiasts/E46 owners, they really are the Honda civic of BMWs when it comes to cost and reliability, and as a BMW owner, maintenance/up keep should not be anything new to you. Plus they can be had super cheap these days

That being said, I see no love for the E39 here? If your hell bent on an M car and can handle the maintenance/cost of parts on them, you can get an e39 M5 around the same price, if not cheaper, then an E46 M3, and IMO, get a lot more car/power that has probably been less beat on then an M3.

Yes I am biased, but I daily my m5 occasionally, when I'm not driving my truck/cycle/motorcycle, and its great, nice and quiet, great options in terms of creature comforts, and if your easy on it, it will still get around 25mpg on the highway, unlike my buddy's e60 M5, which gets 8 mpg no matter what you do.

[nando]

well, there might be some base model non-sports out there - and the xi's didn't have a sport suspension option. but I wouldn't recommend a non sport and the RWD E90s drive a lot better than the AWD ones do, IMO. yes, only 2006.

[Luke_M]

The PO did maintain it fairly well though. I'm still on the original water pump at 120k, and the 330i is the N52 as it was meant to be - with the 3 stage intake and a nice torque curve. You can do the 3 stage on the 328i but it will be more costly, plus the 330i gets better brakes, suspension etc. stock.

I knew the 330i's had more power but had no idea about brakes and suspension. That's nice to know. Only available in a 2006 4 door correct or no?

[318kid]

I had this same question and am very much considering a ZHP. They seem old enough that you can still work on them, but new enough that it has mostly modern amenities. Not as expensive to maintain as an M3 but still good.

[stonea]

I wouldn't want a e46 M3 as a daily. I love it and I will own one, but it won't be my daily. I would vote for a E46 ZHP

[agent]

I'm interested to hear some responses too.

[nrubenstein]

Probably the E90.

[george graves]

I wouldn't want the maintenance liability of e46 M3. E90 would be my choice with that budget.

[nando]

I really enjoy my E90 330i as a daily driver. It's probably been more reliable than even my E30 was. In the last 2 years, the only failure was a burned out angel eye bulb and I had a coil pack work itself loose (replaced it, but I'm pretty sure if I just plugged it in, it would have worked - but I had already purchased the new one).

The PO did maintain it fairly well though. I'm still on the original water pump at 120k, and the 330i is the N52 as it was meant to be - with the 3 stage intake and a nice torque curve. You can do the 3 stage on the 328i but it will be more costly, plus the 330i gets better brakes, suspension etc. stock.

I haven't driven an E60, but I'm not thinking if you like the E30 a lot that it will really suit. The E90 is already a large enough car for a family of 4, but still feels "nimble" somehow. I would stick to a 3 series, personally.

[Mfever]

Of those choices, e46 m3 for sure!

[BECKSTER]

135i/335i.
They may not be the most reliable but with a jb4 tune they are the funnest of the bunch to drive.


S60r's are superb cars too.

[rturbo 930]

I think I'd go for the E92 328i, or maybe an E46 330i. I wouldn't want the added maintenance of an S54 or turbos, and the associated problems.

[Stanley Rockafella]

I'd skip the Volvo.

[netcsk]

I "enjoy" my daily e90 with an N52. We've put about 80k miles on it (at 125k ish). Good gas mileage (30 mpg average for my 2 hour daily interstate, light traffic commute) and the N52 is a fairly reliable engine (i.e you're not going to be doing rod bearings like an S54). Considering I was driving a beat up VW Jetta TDI before we got the wife an X5 and I got the e90, its fun in comparison.