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

[BobombETA]

335 or 535 would be my choice.

[UNHCLL]

E46 ZHP 6-speed
Thule Roof Rack

2 hours (100 miles) per day.
A/C
Heated Seats
Fun
Civilized when needed

Well under you budget, even with a $600 roof rack for bikes/boards/etc.

[alB5]

Don't know about California, but around here 15k will get you a very solid E46 M3. That would definitely be my first choice with regards to your criteria.

[freeride53]

YET another daily thread.

But this time, it's for me, and looking to pull the trigger within a month.

Background:

I have daily driven my 318i for the last 7 years: in the SF Bay Area, in San Diego, in Chicago, and most recently drove it 6,000 miles around the whole damn continent. But I'm on my 6th week of living in Los Angeles and my commute is horrendous. For now, I am commuting around 3-4 hours per day, and it's getting old real quick. Plus a lot of the seals on my M42 are going bad and it's becoming quite apparent.

What do I want? A modern yet enjoyable BMW to drive everyday. My commute may be shrinking to 1-2 hours per day soon, but will be driving this thing ~250 miles every weekend LA - SD / SF.

Really want it to be a BMW. Must be a stick. Price range is ~$15k.

Looking to maybe throw a roof rack on it and leave it alone. Hands-off.

Here are the cars that I am considering:

• E46 M3 6-speed manual
• E60 525i / 528i manual
• E60 530i / 535i manual
• E92 328i manual
• E92 335i manual
• E39 530i manual
• 135i manual
• ONLY non-BMW considering (still a stretch) Volvo S60R 6-speed

Would like to hear feedback from current / past owners of any of these cars, or something else similar within the segment.

This is my attempt at getting a more civilized car, yet not too boring. I don't mind getting attached to it, but it'd need to be something that hopefully won't depreciate like crazy as my career/job may require me to move again within the next couple of years.

I love my E30 and would daily it forever. Hell I might even end up trying out one of these modern BMW's, hating it, and going back to the E30.

Looking forward to hearing R3V speak.

Thanks,
S