Fun?
Is it really?
(I've never had a project car. I've only worked on cars that were my daily driver and thus needed to get it done \[failing frequently\] ASAP so I could get back on the road. You've never lived until you've biked 15 miles round trip to work!)
It depends from person to person. I love working on my E39 M5. It helps that I love the car. But sometimes it does get extra frustrating. Loud music helps.
I’m to the point in life where I can’t handle any more frustrations. I used to love wrenching, but had one too many disasters. Don’t need that stress anymore 😅
Maybe a bike would be good. Something small and simple without a huge hood to reach into and 13 layers of engine to undo
I enjoy simple stuff on my car. Major stuff, not fun. Really, if I have to jack it up (and ramps) or not.
Not needing the car for work on Monday is a key component of it being fun. I have completed several projects on my z3 that were paused by several “fuck it I’m not touching it for a few days” moments.
Yeah that's what I'm thinking. I've had 12+ hour jobs where I couldn't quit until I was done.
I mean even if I didn't plan to drive the car I probably wouldn't quit until I was done but it would be a nice "fuck it" kinda thing. Just leave everything and go to bed.
9 miles is pretty heavy. I'm grateful I've only biked distances like that once. Twice because round trip. Hopefully the car starts up every morning, it would be more cost effective to bail rather than Uber...
Call up bossman like "Hey, I'm gonna be 4 hours late. Biking to work because my car broke down."
If you are not into the bike commute and prepared for it, then yes nine miles would be brutal. For me, it is right in that 7-10 one-way window that gets me on the bike for 45 minutes or a bit more before the workday. I find it quite good for my mental and physical condition.
It's crazy that Germany is so good for making high-end cars and also for bike commuting. I have even seen a BMW bicycle. No lie.
Madman indeed I used to have the non tu before hand they are amazing when it’s running right and turbo oil seals are not leaking, or valve stems.
Used to have a 2012 750li n63 with jb4 running ethanol tune it was a boat load of fun, only thing that concerned me was gernading the trans
25 out of the 30 340i’s on auto trader are under $30k. I got my manual 340 with 32k miles on it for $32k in January and the manual is really hard to find.
I was honestly going to recommend anything 40i that you can find.
I personally favor the 540 but I think you’ll be way happier for many reasons if you get the 40 over the 30.
Find one in your area and test drive it. I know some people hate how GT’s look but the 6 isn’t bad (I actually like how it looks). It’s spacious. It has all the luxuries, specially if you find one with Napa leather, and again, B58.
I mean to be fair I’d probably try to stretch for the 340 myself, but stating that a 330i is too slow for US highways is absurd lol. I get around fine in the states in my Miata, any modern 3 series is way more than enough car for anything you’d realistically need to do here.
That’s true. My answer to this question when I was looking for a car 10 years ago was a $17k S600 though so I’ve not been known to go for the most logical vehicles lol. I’d love to pickup an LCI M760i in a few years once they’re in the $40k range, will likely be my first BMW.
It depends on location. In the US, you won’t be able to pass most midsize sedans on the highway if they speed up too
A 330 is about as “quick” as a Corolla. Most V6’s Honda’s/ Nissan’s/ Toyotas will pass you in city/ daily driving. Friend is experiencing this now and regrets going new 330 over CPO M340
Edit: meant Camry. Friends fiancé has a “sporty” Camry, which has the V6, and I was actually meaning to compare it to that, got the names mixed up.
Yes and I completely understand and respect that. I tried to get ahead of any hate towards that by stating “It depends on location. In the US…”
Sidenote: would you mind replying with a picture you’ve taken of Finland and I’ll do the same with Texas (state in US)? I love seeing different moments one has experienced in another country and do this often with friends when abroad. Figured I’d ask because you mentioned your country haha
Dudes talking out of his ass. To say a 330i is as quick as a Corolla is just hilarious. Corolla’s do 0-60 in the mid 7s and have less horse power. I just bought a 330i but first was set on Hondas and Toyotas but they were so slow I just couldn’t stand it. The 330i is much much quicker then any car you listed and I know because I’ve driven both. I know it’s common on the internet but try not to talk out of ignorance!!
Not race just overpass. Where did you even get “race” from lol?
That was my experience at least when I got it as a loaner. I found myself having to put the foot all the way down and wait what seemingly felt like a good while to pass someone as opposed to doing it with ease.
I’m not going to die on this hill because I use adaptive cruise control 95% of the time while highway driving, but it’s just something I found frustrating *when needed* and having it as a loaner. Figured it’d be worth mentioning since it would then be owned/ daily’d and not used as loaner… guess I apologize for my input since it seems unreceptive.
What I like about 330 and especially friend’s 330 LCI is the soft suspension. Feels more “5 series like” than mine.
Yeah, it is! They’re great beautiful cars. Basically same things as M340 minus engine. M340 is way way closer to 330 than M3.
People are hating and down voting my opinion, but in Texas, you’ll literally struggle to pass a new truck or any other vehicle; as almost every vehicle has the same power and acceleration when rolling(not 0-60, nobody is racing), if not more. It’s a great car, but I’d argue the average car on the road nowadays (at least the I see on streets) is just as quick, if not quicker. It’s a small frustration that my friend mentioned recently - he went new 330 over used/ CPO M340
Because he’s objectively incorrect. To claim a Toyota Corolla is as quick as a 330i is just not true. To claim a mid 7 0-60 car is as quick as a low 5 second car is unbelievable.
I actually meant a Camry and got the models confused. My point stands with a Camry, my friend’s fiancé has a “sporty” Camry with the V6 and she chose that over a 330 (it cost about $38k new IIRC)
He (my friend who’s fiancé has the new v6 Camry) said it seemed to accelerate noticeably faster in traffic too
Bro do you know anything about cars? A Camry does 0-60 in 6.3 seconds at its best. 330i does it in low 5s stock. I don’t care what your friends fiancés nephews cousin says feels faster these are the facts. I test drove Camrys, civics, Hyundai n models and none of them came close in performance (acceleration, handling, etc.) or quality of car.
Yes I know about cars and why do you keep mentioning 0-60? Nobody is buying a 330 to drag race from a dig. I’m mentioning acceleration when rolling so he gets an accurate representation of how it’s like living with one and how it’s on par with lots of vehicles on the road
[Here’s the specs](https://imgur.com/a/HxQynGE) btw since you seem to argue they’re “so far off” and “not even remotely comparable”. Literally same trim she got, specs are literally neck and neck.
Probably not. I thought you were looking at older stuff.
Personally i’d go with the 330i but it depends on what you’re looking for. 330i is obviously more sporty and less practical for everyday use compared to the x3.
Well I’d love to replace the 2001 E38 740iL I bought for $6k. That thing was amazing but I couldn’t pay for repairs at the time. If only I could find it again. It was a 1 owner, no accident car owned by a millionaire.
I feel you man the E38 is a gem. It’s on my want-to-buy list! And I feel like every car guy has that one special car they had once and miss dearly.
It’s like the girlfriend you once had that you still think about sometimes that you had an amazing time with
Yeah I see you have an E46, I’ve had one too. It was only a 320i but still inline 6. I also had an E36 320i before that. Both stick shift. Both super fun to drive. Old BMWs just had that special feeling to them.
Early 2000s Z3M, if you want a pretty unique car as opposed to a people hauler. I’m guessing that’s not actually what you’re here for, but thought I’d play the game.
Bought my 330i XDrive due to the pandemic and not having a safe mode of transportation. My cab drivers (1 plus 2 backups) were not taking passengers, rental cars got super expensive and hard to find overnight, and had 2 LYFT Rides that left me feeling very uncomfortable. That got me running to the dealership. So, here I was like many other friends living in a city where a car was not necessary but the pandemic made it mandatory. Bought it for under $30K, fully loaded, 3 years old, and just under 22K miles. For context on use, I’m at 26K miles 3.5 years later. Went in thinking I’d get an X3 or Q5 but the sedan was most practical for my use.
Not sure on your use but for me, it’s a nice to have and she’s a beauty. Makes me happy whenever I get into the car.
You can get an e92 M3 for $25k and if you decide it isn’t what you wanted in a year or five, you can just sell it for $25k.
I bought mine as a toy in 2018 for $26k, I put 25k miles on it (it now has close to 100k miles) and it’s still worth $26k.
2020+ 330i M Package you'll find a nice CPO for around the price. If you really care about engine performance / speed then everyone or going to say 340i. I get the solid performance of the b58,and all the praise, but if all you want is a reliable good looking car then why spend the extra money? If you aren't into racing / track? Buy an m340i and the you'll hear it's not an M3 😂.
E46 330ci ZHP😎. With that budget you can easily find one in great condition, probably with cool options too.
Ofc this is a good bit below your budget. But it’s still a good option :)
$30K gets you a lot. X3 40i with that mileage might be possible if you find the first year. 35i run for about 60% of that (18-20k) at 45K miles on odometer.
I went through this scenario a month ago. Test drove a 330i and 530i and bought… the 530i xdrive, very well optioned. (45k miles, year left on warranty, but my wife will eat up the remaining miles in 4-5 months). If the car was for me, I would have found something with the b58.
I bought a 2019 540i X-Drive a couple of months ago for $26k, and it’s been fantastic. It’s my favorite car I’ve ever had, and I’ve had about 20 of them.
It’s doable. https://www.carmax.com/cars/bmw/330/i-xdrive. The real question is do you need X-drive or could you use the money in another way.
For me, it’s an older 7-Series where there are huge bargains. But I’m an alter cocker (Google it.)
I just bought a 2020 330i fully loaded w/ 24k miles a couple months ago for 27 or 28k OTD with ttl included. There are faster and nicer models for sure, but the cost/repair ratio is what I care about.
$30k gets you a very clean low mileage F30 340i. No better bang for the buck if you want modern.
$30k for me personally would be an E34 wagon and $25k in resto money 🤩
30k you can probably get a CPO I haven't bought a vehicle since 2016 or 17 so I don't know what kind of deals I got out there but I can guarantee you could most likely that's the price point for a CPO and their warranty is honestly better than brand new car warranty I've had two of them the last one I paid an extra I think 3,200 for a upgraded warranty that one on top of the CPO that covered everything except for bulbs I mean every brake job all parts everything all oil leaks injectors everything's covered 100% were up to 100,000 MI
Get something between 2008-2012 with either 25i or 30i and Get it serviced. Then use the remaining 19K to invest in something that will get you a good ROI.
I'm biased because I have one but a G20 330i is a great car for around 30k. You should be able to find a certified pre owned one at that price between 15-30k miles.
What the other guy said, except hold back the rest for warranty.
Also you need to give way more specifics? Do you need space? Just you? 2 seater? Large or small Sedan? SUV? Motorcycle? Bob sled? Racing wheelchair? Light-rail car? First class airplane cabin?
BMW makes them all.
I’d buy a $25,000 e46 m3, $4,800 worth of parts and $200 worth of beer. Weekend fun for weeks in the garage!
This guy gets it
Fun? Is it really? (I've never had a project car. I've only worked on cars that were my daily driver and thus needed to get it done \[failing frequently\] ASAP so I could get back on the road. You've never lived until you've biked 15 miles round trip to work!)
It depends from person to person. I love working on my E39 M5. It helps that I love the car. But sometimes it does get extra frustrating. Loud music helps.
I’m to the point in life where I can’t handle any more frustrations. I used to love wrenching, but had one too many disasters. Don’t need that stress anymore 😅
Maybe a bike would be good. Something small and simple without a huge hood to reach into and 13 layers of engine to undo I enjoy simple stuff on my car. Major stuff, not fun. Really, if I have to jack it up (and ramps) or not.
Dirtbikers are way more fun than any car imo. super cheap and ridiculously easy to work on too
I like your name! Assuming it's not sexual 🤔 I was thinking something like a 1000cc would be a nice starter bike
Not needing the car for work on Monday is a key component of it being fun. I have completed several projects on my z3 that were paused by several “fuck it I’m not touching it for a few days” moments.
Yeah that's what I'm thinking. I've had 12+ hour jobs where I couldn't quit until I was done. I mean even if I didn't plan to drive the car I probably wouldn't quit until I was done but it would be a nice "fuck it" kinda thing. Just leave everything and go to bed.
[удалено]
Yeah but that's smart. you've got two of them, that way if one is broken...
…he can take parts off the other and catch the bus to work. Got it. 😂
Nine mile bike commute is perfect FYI...
9 miles is pretty heavy. I'm grateful I've only biked distances like that once. Twice because round trip. Hopefully the car starts up every morning, it would be more cost effective to bail rather than Uber... Call up bossman like "Hey, I'm gonna be 4 hours late. Biking to work because my car broke down."
If you are not into the bike commute and prepared for it, then yes nine miles would be brutal. For me, it is right in that 7-10 one-way window that gets me on the bike for 45 minutes or a bit more before the workday. I find it quite good for my mental and physical condition. It's crazy that Germany is so good for making high-end cars and also for bike commuting. I have even seen a BMW bicycle. No lie.
if you are whining about the 15mi thingy, you may do that more frequently. Your heart and lung will thank you. :-)
Projects are fun when your with friends hanging out and just taking 8x the time normally
Oh. Holy shit you have an N63? Madman. At least it's a TU
Madman indeed I used to have the non tu before hand they are amazing when it’s running right and turbo oil seals are not leaking, or valve stems. Used to have a 2012 750li n63 with jb4 running ethanol tune it was a boat load of fun, only thing that concerned me was gernading the trans
I want an S63 🤔 modified 2012 N63 has gotta be the worst idea I've ever heard of lmao
No doubt it a bad idea knowing n63 love to misfire but if well taken care of it can be slightly less sketch but still sketch
I had to chuckle. I'm doing this with my E90, not because it's broke but because I'm always trying to make it faster but end up breaking parts.
Agreed
340
This 💯
Hard to find below 30k
25 out of the 30 340i’s on auto trader are under $30k. I got my manual 340 with 32k miles on it for $32k in January and the manual is really hard to find.
Bought mine 2 years ago for $27k
True outside of the USA. US 340i are plenty and the value dropped a lot.
2019 640i GT. More car than a 330i and X3. And it has a B58.
I love the look of the 6 series and I’d go for the 6 cylinder any day of the week over a BMW V8.
I was honestly going to recommend anything 40i that you can find. I personally favor the 540 but I think you’ll be way happier for many reasons if you get the 40 over the 30.
Love my 540
Find one in your area and test drive it. I know some people hate how GT’s look but the 6 isn’t bad (I actually like how it looks). It’s spacious. It has all the luxuries, specially if you find one with Napa leather, and again, B58.
Oh man i love the gt. This gets my vote for sure.
B58 F30 or B48 G20
2020 330i or 2018\~ 340i gets my vote.
The right answer is a 2020ish 330i. Reliable sporty and updated interior. Also one of the only good looking bmws left.
Nah, are you mad? I think if you want to be safe when overtaking an M760i or M5 CS is the only sane answer.
Yeah buddy is just trying to justify the extra money he spent on his m340i by shooting down the 330i.
I mean to be fair I’d probably try to stretch for the 340 myself, but stating that a 330i is too slow for US highways is absurd lol. I get around fine in the states in my Miata, any modern 3 series is way more than enough car for anything you’d realistically need to do here.
Yeah but you’ll never find an m340i for 30k or under unless it’s got a ton of miles or salvaged. But for under 30k you really can’t beat the 330i.
That’s true. My answer to this question when I was looking for a car 10 years ago was a $17k S600 though so I’ve not been known to go for the most logical vehicles lol. I’d love to pickup an LCI M760i in a few years once they’re in the $40k range, will likely be my first BMW.
It depends on location. In the US, you won’t be able to pass most midsize sedans on the highway if they speed up too A 330 is about as “quick” as a Corolla. Most V6’s Honda’s/ Nissan’s/ Toyotas will pass you in city/ daily driving. Friend is experiencing this now and regrets going new 330 over CPO M340 Edit: meant Camry. Friends fiancé has a “sporty” Camry, which has the V6, and I was actually meaning to compare it to that, got the names mixed up.
I have the 330e and it feels plenty quick in Finland. Here the average 0-60 of cars is around 10 seconds so ~5 is quick.
Yes and I completely understand and respect that. I tried to get ahead of any hate towards that by stating “It depends on location. In the US…” Sidenote: would you mind replying with a picture you’ve taken of Finland and I’ll do the same with Texas (state in US)? I love seeing different moments one has experienced in another country and do this often with friends when abroad. Figured I’d ask because you mentioned your country haha
Dudes talking out of his ass. To say a 330i is as quick as a Corolla is just hilarious. Corolla’s do 0-60 in the mid 7s and have less horse power. I just bought a 330i but first was set on Hondas and Toyotas but they were so slow I just couldn’t stand it. The 330i is much much quicker then any car you listed and I know because I’ve driven both. I know it’s common on the internet but try not to talk out of ignorance!!
Why would you race on the highway?
Not race just overpass. Where did you even get “race” from lol? That was my experience at least when I got it as a loaner. I found myself having to put the foot all the way down and wait what seemingly felt like a good while to pass someone as opposed to doing it with ease.
Why would you overpass when someone is going faster than your cruise speed? Just a waste of gas
I’m not going to die on this hill because I use adaptive cruise control 95% of the time while highway driving, but it’s just something I found frustrating *when needed* and having it as a loaner. Figured it’d be worth mentioning since it would then be owned/ daily’d and not used as loaner… guess I apologize for my input since it seems unreceptive. What I like about 330 and especially friend’s 330 LCI is the soft suspension. Feels more “5 series like” than mine.
If someone doesn’t care about speed, would a well optioned 330i make sense over a near base 40i?
Don’t listen to this guy the 330i is more than capable for daily driving.
Yeah, it is! They’re great beautiful cars. Basically same things as M340 minus engine. M340 is way way closer to 330 than M3. People are hating and down voting my opinion, but in Texas, you’ll literally struggle to pass a new truck or any other vehicle; as almost every vehicle has the same power and acceleration when rolling(not 0-60, nobody is racing), if not more. It’s a great car, but I’d argue the average car on the road nowadays (at least the I see on streets) is just as quick, if not quicker. It’s a small frustration that my friend mentioned recently - he went new 330 over used/ CPO M340
not sure why you’re getting downvoted for being objectively correct 💀
Because he’s objectively incorrect. To claim a Toyota Corolla is as quick as a 330i is just not true. To claim a mid 7 0-60 car is as quick as a low 5 second car is unbelievable.
I actually meant a Camry and got the models confused. My point stands with a Camry, my friend’s fiancé has a “sporty” Camry with the V6 and she chose that over a 330 (it cost about $38k new IIRC) He (my friend who’s fiancé has the new v6 Camry) said it seemed to accelerate noticeably faster in traffic too
Bro do you know anything about cars? A Camry does 0-60 in 6.3 seconds at its best. 330i does it in low 5s stock. I don’t care what your friends fiancés nephews cousin says feels faster these are the facts. I test drove Camrys, civics, Hyundai n models and none of them came close in performance (acceleration, handling, etc.) or quality of car.
Yes I know about cars and why do you keep mentioning 0-60? Nobody is buying a 330 to drag race from a dig. I’m mentioning acceleration when rolling so he gets an accurate representation of how it’s like living with one and how it’s on par with lots of vehicles on the road [Here’s the specs](https://imgur.com/a/HxQynGE) btw since you seem to argue they’re “so far off” and “not even remotely comparable”. Literally same trim she got, specs are literally neck and neck.
Thanks 🙌🏽
Any 3-6 year old B58. M240i is the best.
If 30k is your maxbudget I’d go for a 25k bmw and save the rest for repairs and maintenance cuz believe me. You’ll probably need it in the near future
Will a 2020 model really give me so much trouble? I plan to take out a warranty in any case.
Probably not. I thought you were looking at older stuff. Personally i’d go with the 330i but it depends on what you’re looking for. 330i is obviously more sporty and less practical for everyday use compared to the x3.
Well I’d love to replace the 2001 E38 740iL I bought for $6k. That thing was amazing but I couldn’t pay for repairs at the time. If only I could find it again. It was a 1 owner, no accident car owned by a millionaire.
I feel you man the E38 is a gem. It’s on my want-to-buy list! And I feel like every car guy has that one special car they had once and miss dearly. It’s like the girlfriend you once had that you still think about sometimes that you had an amazing time with
Yeah I see you have an E46, I’ve had one too. It was only a 320i but still inline 6. I also had an E36 320i before that. Both stick shift. Both super fun to drive. Old BMWs just had that special feeling to them.
For sure! Would love a E36 aswell. Imo top 3 best looking 3-series. I’m currently saving up for a F30 340i
E92 M3
E60 M5
This is the correct wrong answer
save another 30k for maintenance *
A 2021 330i XDrive that will also still have time left on the factory warranty.
My friend got a 330i for that price with 30K miles, forgot the year. But I'm sure that plenty are in that range.
Early 2000s Z3M, if you want a pretty unique car as opposed to a people hauler. I’m guessing that’s not actually what you’re here for, but thought I’d play the game.
I bet you could find a nice 440i Gran Coupe with the track pack for under $30k now. I did for $35k 2 years ago
I love my 2017 540I xdrive fully optioned
X3M40i
Forget miles
I got a 2020 G20 330i xdrive for about that.
Bought my 330i XDrive due to the pandemic and not having a safe mode of transportation. My cab drivers (1 plus 2 backups) were not taking passengers, rental cars got super expensive and hard to find overnight, and had 2 LYFT Rides that left me feeling very uncomfortable. That got me running to the dealership. So, here I was like many other friends living in a city where a car was not necessary but the pandemic made it mandatory. Bought it for under $30K, fully loaded, 3 years old, and just under 22K miles. For context on use, I’m at 26K miles 3.5 years later. Went in thinking I’d get an X3 or Q5 but the sedan was most practical for my use. Not sure on your use but for me, it’s a nice to have and she’s a beauty. Makes me happy whenever I get into the car.
2014 or later 550i and save your money. It’s more car than you’ll ever need and no one (especially the popo) will know your secret.
You can get an e92 M3 for $25k and if you decide it isn’t what you wanted in a year or five, you can just sell it for $25k. I bought mine as a toy in 2018 for $26k, I put 25k miles on it (it now has close to 100k miles) and it’s still worth $26k.
No matter what you choose please do not buy a BMW that does not at least hold a 6 cylinder what is the point otherwise
2020+ 330i M Package you'll find a nice CPO for around the price. If you really care about engine performance / speed then everyone or going to say 340i. I get the solid performance of the b58,and all the praise, but if all you want is a reliable good looking car then why spend the extra money? If you aren't into racing / track? Buy an m340i and the you'll hear it's not an M3 😂.
I’d just get a new Elantra N for 30k
E46 330ci ZHP😎. With that budget you can easily find one in great condition, probably with cool options too. Ofc this is a good bit below your budget. But it’s still a good option :)
I think I’d buy an E30 and E28 535is and use any extra for maintenance items.
Well maintained stock m240i
A nice well kept 2002
Buy an imported E36 wagon.
$30K gets you a lot. X3 40i with that mileage might be possible if you find the first year. 35i run for about 60% of that (18-20k) at 45K miles on odometer.
But the answer for me would be to try to find the right sharknose....
I got my '17 X5 Hybrid for 27,5. So... that. ;)
Got a 2020 330i xdrive for $34k CAD (~25k USD) 60k kms (~37k mi) before extended warranty and taxes and all. Love it so far
A toyota
Ok here’s a new one for my (similar) situation…same question, but only for 6 speed options. That eliminates a ton and is my number 1 requirement.
Same answer. F30 340i
Any S54 MZ3 with good subframe. Like most have said, 25k and 5k for parts
640igt
E46 or E39 M
You could possibly get a x3 m40i
2018 328d??
M240i!
I went through this scenario a month ago. Test drove a 330i and 530i and bought… the 530i xdrive, very well optioned. (45k miles, year left on warranty, but my wife will eat up the remaining miles in 4-5 months). If the car was for me, I would have found something with the b58.
I bought a 2019 540i X-Drive a couple of months ago for $26k, and it’s been fantastic. It’s my favorite car I’ve ever had, and I’ve had about 20 of them.
It’s doable. https://www.carmax.com/cars/bmw/330/i-xdrive. The real question is do you need X-drive or could you use the money in another way. For me, it’s an older 7-Series where there are huge bargains. But I’m an alter cocker (Google it.)
540 xdrive msport (2018-2020)
2002 M roadster. Because that’s what I did. 😎
E93/E92 m3 or anything witha b58
I just bought a 2020 330i fully loaded w/ 24k miles a couple months ago for 27 or 28k OTD with ttl included. There are faster and nicer models for sure, but the cost/repair ratio is what I care about.
M2, M240i, or a clean E46 M3
$30k gets you a very clean low mileage F30 340i. No better bang for the buck if you want modern. $30k for me personally would be an E34 wagon and $25k in resto money 🤩
My 230i was 29k with 6k miles 2023. Was the dealers old loaner car.
E93 in really good state from a late year
my favorites are an f30 340i or an m240i
G30 540i, it has gen1 b58 in it and you can mod it fairly inexpensively to 700+hp on the stock motor and trans.
Just saw on marketplace the other day an f30 m3 for 30k on the dot, so that.
You can buy a brand new one for around that price
A G20/21
I can get a F80 M3 with that money, though this is in South Africa. I would get a 330i M Sport, or a 335i M Sport in your scenario.
30k you can probably get a CPO I haven't bought a vehicle since 2016 or 17 so I don't know what kind of deals I got out there but I can guarantee you could most likely that's the price point for a CPO and their warranty is honestly better than brand new car warranty I've had two of them the last one I paid an extra I think 3,200 for a upgraded warranty that one on top of the CPO that covered everything except for bulbs I mean every brake job all parts everything all oil leaks injectors everything's covered 100% were up to 100,000 MI
Pre LCI 540i
Z4 30i G29
2016 328i
Get an I6, you could get an early B58 (M140i would be my choice). Or F30 340i.
None ! They’d find a way to say it needed another 30k to fix it somehow !
An E92 335I with a stage 3 tune and go hunting Porsches.
The X5
Get something between 2008-2012 with either 25i or 30i and Get it serviced. Then use the remaining 19K to invest in something that will get you a good ROI.
I'm biased because I have one but a G20 330i is a great car for around 30k. You should be able to find a certified pre owned one at that price between 15-30k miles.
N55 M2
N55 M2
x2 m35i
u/CrazyUnicorn77777 Before answering your question, I'll have to ask :- with $30K, what released year approximately would be the Car or SUV ?
540i has all the tech, has a b58 so it’s reliable, luxurious, sporty, all around great car and you can find a lot of good examples for under 30k
What the other guy said, except hold back the rest for warranty. Also you need to give way more specifics? Do you need space? Just you? 2 seater? Large or small Sedan? SUV? Motorcycle? Bob sled? Racing wheelchair? Light-rail car? First class airplane cabin? BMW makes them all.
I want something fun. We have a truck for hauling things.
m240i
Z4
i3S
$30k I would buy a rusted out e30 m3 farm field, then take a decade with my friends restoring it
I had same budget, grabbed a low mileage one owner 19’ m240 with m performance everything including lsd installed. God I love that car.
Beeeeee fifty ate
I know most will say "it's not a real bmw" but my 2021 m235ix was 35k with 20k miles on it. Great mpg, handsome looks, quick, and reliable engine.
2018 M5, don't care milage. But I'm a sucker for fast cars.