30K on my old BMW

[fdcg27]

Need a reliable, economical and durable spare car?
You could do a whole lot worse than an e36.
I bought my BMW over Memorial Day weekend in 2010.
I drove it about 9K that year and a little over 11K last year.
I drive it only during the salt free months, which in 2011 extended through the end of November here.
The car had about 105K when I bought it (104,892 IIRC).
This morning, it hit 135K on the way to Columbus.
I've done literally nothing to it since I bought it other than change the oil, with one great UOA.
The car was up to date on all other services.
I'll drive it as is through probably mid-November and plan on changing the trans lube (ATF), the brake fluid and the coolant in the spring of 2013.
The little dear is charming to drive, looks nice and is very economical of fuel.
I'm very pleased with having bought this car, and I would recommend an e30 or e36 to anyone looking for an entertaining good weather daily driver.
I wanted a four cylinder drop top stick, and I thought the Miata too small and the Saab too potentially scary (engine sludge), so that left the 318i.
So far, I doubt that either an old Saab or an old Miata would have proven to be the equal of this old BMW.
My point is that if you pick the right old German car, they're no more expensive to own and to run than any Honda.

 

[Lead Shoes]

Those e36 cars look great and are aging nicely, I wouldn't mind having one for the right price.

Reliability is merely luck, care, and preventive maintenance, some people never figure it out.

 

[simple_gifts]

Looking at your other vehicles may say it all, but glad you got a winner.

 

[fdcg27]

Cars are made to be used, and if given reasonable care, they'll last for a very long time.
With 285K on an Echo, you already know this.

 

[Dave Hess]

Your car has low miles, not really surprised at how little you spent to own and maintain it.

 

[fdcg27]

Part of the criteria I had in selecting a car was under 100K real when I bought it.
This car was a little over that, but came with a ton of service history back to its youth in Florida.
It had also had a new top a couple of years before, which is a pretty expensive deal.
I caught a really good vibe from the selling dealer, an old time GM dealer in a tiny town, so I bought the car for 4534.00 OTD, taxes and fees included.
I think they were asking 5900.00 for it, but they were a real pleasure to deal with.
It is rare that you actually get to talk the owner of the dealership, as well as having him fill your new ride with premium uneaded, but I did and he did.
They also agreed to put the car up on a lift for me so that I could look at its bottom.
They even allowed us many miles of test driving before actually signing.
My wife and I both thought the deal and the car looked realistic, so we wrote a check and I drove my new toy the fifty miles home with the top down.
My wife followed in the '99 Accord, and reported that she had no trouble at all keeping up, but then the 318i is not really all that fast.

 

[JHZR2]

I paid $3k for my 91 318i with 72k on it, and at 150k, besides two flaky electric door lock actuators and some rust underneath, it is (and has been) an excellent car. I wouldnt hesitate to drive it cross-country tomorrow.

 

[fdcg27]

Yeah, but I wanted ragtop not a sedan and a salvage title would have taken a lot off the car's value.
Also, my door locks, gas filler lock and trunk locks work