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Vedauwoo
Samba Member
Joined: May 20, 2007
Posts: 188
Location: Boulder, Colorado
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 Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 7:31 am Post subject: Reliable BMW for $2500 or less? |
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Curious of opinions of those with experience...is a BMW in the $1500 - $2500 just gonna be a hassle....or is it possible to get a reliable one without going into debt with maintenance?
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TDCTDI
Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013
Posts: 12846
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 9:46 am Post subject: |
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It depends on what year/model/mileage you're talking about, as with any manufacturer, all cars have their quirks. If it's got tits or tires, it's gonna give you problems.
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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
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Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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Jon Schmid
Samba Member
Joined: May 29, 2012
Posts: 2037
Location: Southern California
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 2:39 pm Post subject: Reliable BMW for $2500 or less? |
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"Reliable BMW" is a contradiction of terms.  All kidding aside, be ready to be fixing things. For that money I would get a used Honda or Toyota. |
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skills@eurocarsplus
Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 16849
Location: sticksville, ct.
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 2:51 pm Post subject: Re: Reliable BMW for $2500 or less? |
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| Vedauwoo wrote: |
| Curious of opinions of those with experience...is a BMW in the $1500 - $2500 just gonna be a hassle....or is it possible to get a reliable one without going into debt with maintenance? |
save your money. not sayin this is your situation, but we constantly comment how everyone want's the "look" without the cost.
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| gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
| Jake Raby wrote: |
| Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
| Brian wrote: |
| Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history |
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Vedauwoo
Samba Member
Joined: May 20, 2007
Posts: 188
Location: Boulder, Colorado
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 5:02 pm Post subject: Re: Reliable BMW for $2500 or less? |
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| skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
| Vedauwoo wrote: |
| Curious of opinions of those with experience...is a BMW in the $1500 - $2500 just gonna be a hassle....or is it possible to get a reliable one without going into debt with maintenance? |
save your money. not sayin this is your situation, but we constantly comment how everyone want's the "look" without the cost. |
Really more of the "driving experience" ala Top Gear...Got the idea after thinking of their "budget Convertible" episode where they all got 325's...also along the lines of "everyone must own one (Lancia, Fiat, Alfa, VW, etc.) sot of mentality....
I mean, if I can run it for 4-5 years with out having to spend too much, that would be fine...I look for Hail damage and "scratch and dent" lol
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VOLKSWAGNUT
Fastest VW Belt Changer
Joined: October 14, 2007
Posts: 11054
Location: Flippin' a Belt........ .... Off-n-On ... NC USA
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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 ^ skills nailed it....BIG time
Quite simply... NO.
You'll spend 10 fold trying to keep it going..
B =BIG
M Money
W Waisted.
I can tell you countless brain washed BMW buyers/owners over the years that come back to me and say....."You were right""...
You can wrap several Euro auto manufacturers into that advice as well..
We inherited a super clean 1996 525I (with 135k) from my in laws ... I couldnt get rid of it fast enough... It went through 2 fuel pumps sitting in the driveway and the trans was doing stupid shit...... sold that bitch on Ebay for $3500 7 years ago..and was dancing and smiling when it drove away...
My wife wanted to keep it for our son... ... what the hell ever.... c ya...
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Last edited by VOLKSWAGNUT on Sat Oct 17, 2015 8:34 am; edited 3 times in total |
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Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76884
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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No BMW, even a new one, is cheap to maintain.
My son just purchased a 2000 Saturn SL for $2500..... only 79,000 miles, so it drives like a new car.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
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skills@eurocarsplus
Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 16849
Location: sticksville, ct.
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 7:13 pm Post subject: |
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| VOLKSWAGNUT wrote: |
B =BIG
M Money
W Waisted
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I prefer Bavarian Money Waster but either way, it gets the point across
get one 94 or down, if you do get one. can't remember if in 94/5 they went to EWS and then EWSII pain in the ass anti theft stuff. when it goes bad, it makes for a very unhappy DME
if you plan on working on it yourself, you'd better research the diag equipment. early bmw's use a pin style DLC, not the 16 pin OBD connector.
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| gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
| Jake Raby wrote: |
| Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
| Brian wrote: |
| Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history |
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jmartin7
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2011
Posts: 213
Location: Memphis,Tennessee
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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| For your price point, I would not look at brand very much and buy on condition instead. If the car is to be driven everyday for school/work/whatever, you don 't want an old, complicated, and most likely neglected at this price point German luxury car to be your sole mode of transportation. I really love European car brands especially German makes but I just couldn't do it for $2500. If this was to be a rarely driven project car then maybe but absolutely not as a daily driver. |
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hitest
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2008
Posts: 10296
Location: Prime Meridian, ID
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| Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2015 9:35 pm Post subject: |
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Think you're the first to want such a bimmer?
$2500 2002s used to litter the gutters- now they are 6k. 320s are catching up too. Face it, the days of a reliable $2500 BMW are over. You should look toward another country of origin: Japan.
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| EverettB wrote: |
I wonder what the nut looks like.
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'62 L390 151, '62 L469 117, '63 L380 113, '64 L87 311, '65 L512 265, '65 L31 SO-42, '66 L360 251, '68 L30k 141, '71 L12 113, '74 ORG 181
FU#5 |
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old DKP driver
Samba Member
Joined: March 30, 2005
Posts: 4145
Location: Los Gatos,Ca.
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| Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2015 11:07 pm Post subject: Cheap BMW's |
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Like any other High End European vehicle you will need a deep pocket for
service & repair.
I have recently retired from both repairing and also being an instructor
for BMW and yes I do own 2 BMW vehicles and also recently sold another that
I bought in 2000 an e39 (528i)
having spent out of pocket approx.: $3k not including my labor for all the little things that constantly break.
Cup holders
door pulls
window motor assemblies
bulb holders
power steering hoses
cabin filters
plus wear and tear items
But, compared to newer years the 2000 e39 was cheap
newer models have much more interesting hoops to jump through for the average consumer.
But all and all I feel very safe while driving MY BMW's but they are just another car.
I also love my bus much more than a $45.000 luxury car 
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Brian
Samba Moderator
Joined: May 28, 2012
Posts: 8340
Location: Oceanside
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| Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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If you're looking to waste some money you can always buy my Mercedes 300e without checking it out.
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my59
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2003
Posts: 3789
Location: connecting the dots
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| Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 10:52 am Post subject: |
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I have a 190e 2.6 benz with a 5 speed you can have for that money.it just needs new tires. I've already replaced the entire exhaust including cat, the water pump and radiator, the fuel pumps and a rash of electonic relays. New clutch hydraulics as well...and a full on brake job.
Nothing like a cheap Mercedes!
I always thought BMW meant Bring My Wallet.
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my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
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Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget. |
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Erik G
Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2002
Posts: 13263
Location: Tejas!
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jwold
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2008
Posts: 2088
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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| My buddy just went through "twisted seat syndrome" with his BMW. Some kind of crazy there, seat twisted sideways, I guess it's a common problem with the cables. |
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TheAmazingDave
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2013
Posts: 788
Location: San Jose, CA
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Mike Fisher
Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2006
Posts: 17969
Location: Eugene, OR
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| Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2015 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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You could save yourself money sticking with a manual transmission in whatever brand you buy.
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buguy
Samba Member
Joined: November 17, 2003
Posts: 4915
Location: Port Orange, FL
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| Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 11:41 am Post subject: |
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| I bought a pair of 320i's a few years back for less than that. I didnt drive the shit out of them, but they both seemed ok for the driving I did do. |
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Ratt
Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2003
Posts: 753
Location: Puyallup, Wa
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| Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Erik G wrote: |
E30 BMW's can be found cheap. I've found them to be extremely reliable, and inexpensive to fix and maintain
your mileage may vary |
But with the M20 6cyl motor you HAVE TO CHANGE THE TIMING BELT! If not it WILL break and do some serious damage. Ask me how I know 
The early e30s (85-87) are fun, if you find a 325E, they are torqu monsters, plus decent fuel mileage. |
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LivinInnaVWBus
Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2013
Posts: 968
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| Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenn wrote: |
No BMW, even a new one, is cheap to maintain.
My son just purchased a 2000 Saturn SL for $2500..... only 79,000 miles, so it drives like a new car. |
Aftermarket parts are disappearing quickly for Saturn. Tell him to stock up on all of the wear items ASAP. Some of the less popular models from 00'+ don't even have shoes/pads available, one of my customers had to go to a salvage yard for SC2 rear shoes. |
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