I'm in the market for a BMW, but I don't know a whole ton about them. Basically, my knowledge is a combination of some very brief personal experiences and general Wiki type info.

I'm looking for a fun daily driver to replace my truck with. It must be fun to drive. manual. decent amount of power. And must be able to sit 4 adults at least somewhat comfortably.

casually scrolling through classified ads, it seems like the best bang for the buck is an older BMW.

So, what should I know before I get really serious about my search?

Power is a bit of a concern since I don't want a boring daily driver.
Space is a concern too. While it is mainly just my girlfriend and I most of the time, occasionally we do have friends tag along. Never been a problem in my truck (4 door f150)
The general "fun factor" is a consideration as well.

Our other car is a 300zx. to give you an idea of what we're comparing it to.
That's why we don't want a corolla or something boring like that.



Given my budget, I was looking at the E36 generation.
Seems like the 95+ M3 would be ideal.
How does the 328i compare? On paper it seems like it would be significantly slower. Is the 2.8 liter engine really that much more "dull" than the 3.2? Or is there enough pep in the 2.8 that it is still an enjoyable drive?

Every so often, I will see a 2000/01/02 for sale for about the same price.
Other than looking different, is there a whole ton of difference between them?
Would a 2001 325i be worth looking at? seems to be lacking in the power department...


Assuming e36.....
How is the interior space compare between the coupe and the sedans?
From what I can tell, they are basically the same dimensionally, leading me to believe they would be the same inside.

The convertible has some appeal for the general fun factor. I know my girlfriend would love it.
Concerned about the back seat, is it useable? Wouldn't mind giving up some of the performance if the convertible is a "functional fun"

Anything I should be looking for when looking at these cars?
What are the different trim packages? one better than another? easy way to distinguish between them?

In your opinion, what is the best bang for the buck?

Anything else I should know?


Thanks a ton!!