[owalo9]

I'm looking to switch over to a manual transmission not only to save some money on the car price but jeremy clarkson insists it's the only way to drive (Top gear nut). Also the fact that there aren't that many manual drivers in the US kind of puts me in like an elite club or something. Anyway I have been looking on Craigslist for manual cars in my price range and specs (8-12 cylinder, rwd/4wd and so on), and alot of BMW 5 series show up in that bracket, ranging from 1994 to like 2003, 530i, 540i and so on. I love just the way this car looks and the specs, but that's about it? Since its the car that's going to be my first merit badge as a petrolhead, I want to know what it's like owning one 10.0.0.0.1 192.168.1.254 .

Anyway I just want to know which year or type you guys would recommend and the general coat of owing a BWM; cost of repair, availability and price of parts, how it operates around the seasons since it's intended to be an all season car and anything else you can think of. I'm a little strapped on cash, just graduated college, going to start working soon, I just want something that I can drive for about two, maybe three years at most until I can move up to a dealership car once I have my life and finances sorted.

I'm sorry if this is a bit word, but as of now, this a major financial decision in my life so I need as much input as possible before deciding.

[ppointer]

I like older BMWs, and I generally own them for extended periods of time. The oldest I have right now is a 2009 e60 528i bought early in 2010. I just gave our 2011 e90 335i sedan to youngest daughter, so I virtually own it I guess.

I like to set aside around $120 per month for my daily driver. Although I no longer commute, I believe that is still a good number for most BMWs driven on a daily basis. Having owned BMWs since 2003 and tracking my costs, that has been my average for all maintenance and repairs for a car used to commute to work five days per week. That does not include purchase, fuel, depreciation and insurance, just the cost of maintaining the vehicle.

I have the daughter setting aside $120 per month, so let's see over the next couple of years how she does with the e90.

My recommendation is the e9x series, so the 3-series from around 2006 to 2011, all models, then the coupes (e92), wagons (e91) and verts (e93) until 2013. Except for the wagons, you can find good deals on e9x's with manual transmissions. There are wagons with MT, but people hoard them. Also, if you can find the 328, rather than the 335, the non-turbo is cheaper to maintain.

[G30EPE]

If I had just graduated from college BMW wouldn't be on my short list of cars to buy...especially if I hadn't started working yet.

A lot depends on how much mechanical abilities you have. Older BMWs are great cars but they are very maintenance heavy. Parts are super readily available if you're going to do your own work. If you have a highly recommended indi shop nearby, that could also work but still not cheap.

[LuvMyE92]

The other issue is that a nice bmw in that age range is very desirable and prices are high for what is a rather old car. G30EPE makes excellent points as well, and those parts are not cheap either.

That said, those older 5 series are great cars, and there's really nothing comparable. Good luck!

[MelbourneFinn]

Originally Posted by owalo9

I'm looking to switch over to a manual transmission not only to save some money on the car price but jeremy clarkson insists it's the only way to drive (Top gear nut). Also the fact that there aren't that many manual drivers in the US kind of puts me in like an elite club or something. Anyway I have been looking on Craigslist for manual cars in my price range and specs (8-12 cylinder, rwd/4wd and so on), and alot of BMW 5 series show up in that bracket, ranging from 1994 to like 2003, 530i, 540i and so on. I love just the way this car looks and the specs, but that's about it? Since its the car that's going to be my first merit badge as a petrolhead, I want to know what it's like owning one.

Anyway I just want to know which year or type you guys would recommend and the general coat of owing a BWM; cost of repair, availability and price of parts, how it operates around the seasons since it's intended to be an all season car and anything else you can think of. I'm a little strapped on cash, just graduated college, going to start working soon, I just want something that I can drive for about two, maybe three years at most until I can move up to a dealership car once I have my life and finances sorted.

I'm sorry if this is a bit word, but as of now, this a major financial decision in my life so I need as much input as possible before deciding.

Not sure if you realised this is a G30 series forum, maybe consider posting on either E39 or E60 forums if that’s the car age bracket you are after. Not that you wouldn’t receive advice or thoughts on these older cars here - many of us have come from the older generations - but the insights you might get from people still driving those cars might be more valid from current owners.

In terms of manual vs automatic more generally, this is a matter of taste… Personally, I can understand a desire for a manual with a great gearbox (not sure older 5-servers tick that box, though, from memory - consider E90 3-series, but they don’t tick your V8 criteria except for M3 and that comes with all sorts of other questions, including rod bearings) as an “enthusiast weekend car” but in a stop-start commute traffic you’d pretty quickly have to question whether Clarkson has a screw or 2 lose in his head.

Good luck with your search.

[Warp Ten]

While this may be too pricey for you, a friend who loves manual transmissions last spring bought a used 2019 BMW 440i sedan with a manual. When he searched it was the only one he could find with a stick shift and it was in Connecticut. He bought it over the phone, flew out and drove it home to Chicago. It was a certified used BMW at a BMW dealer and I believe he paid in the mid to high $30s, but I see there are others for less. A first time BMW owner (had owned Porsches, Jags, infinitis etc,) he absolutely loves the car. Good luck on your search--Bob