'88 BMW 325is vs. '99 BMW 328i

[Mooseimage]

I need some help people. I'm still trying to find a car and have come to a cross road. These are the two cars I'm looking at(both are manual, thank god):

1988 BMW 325is (has 160-170k miles) $1950
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/909348662.html

1999 BMW 328i $8000 (on craigslist) $8750 (on link)
http://www.autotrader.com/dealers/vi...ite=safemotors

I can't decide between the two. If I go with the '88 I have no payments, but obviously the age becomes a concern, as well as parts are gonna be hard to come by eventually as it gets older. It is 20 years old afterall.

If I go with the '99 I get stuck with payments, but I get a car with lots of power and my favorite, black on black. It being relatively modern still, parts are easier to come by, and it is my favorite BMW body style to date.

I can't decide which road to take in picking between these two cars. Some help would be great.

On a side note, I still plan on getting a b5 again, just have to put it off 'till a good one shows up in the local market.

Thanks.

Hamed

[tike0rz]

Get the 328i.

[MacDaddy]

I'd go 328i, but i think 99 was a little problematic (first year for the E46's) so do a little research first. as far as payments, you can have that 328 paid off in less than a year, don't sweat it.

[gods_kitchen]

same here, 328 hands down.

[bob12312357]

88 hands down, and my 86 gave me less problems then my 01 Audi. :( Can't beat the classic bimmer styling and handling. So light, so nimble.

[davis449]

I'd go 328i, but i think 99 was a little problematic (first year for the E46's) so do a little research first. as far as payments, you can have that 328 paid off in less than a year, don't sweat it.

I wouldn't think you'd have too many problems as I do believe they didn't change that 328i engine from the e36 to the e46 chassis. It was pretty reliable as i recall.

[MacDaddy]

I wouldn't think you'd have too many problems as I do believe they didn't change that 328i engine from the e36 to the e46 chassis. It was pretty reliable as i recall.

thats why i said "I think" and suggested doing some research.

theres also more to a car than just the engine.

[MacDaddy]

88 hands down, and my 86 gave me less problems then my 01 Audi. :( Can't beat the classic bimmer styling and handling. So light, so nimble.

lol, i would hardly call 1980's styling classic.

[Mooseimage]

Well, my luck ran out on both cars. The '88 was sold before I could even check it out, and the '99 was sold to some local guy who beat me there first. But I did manage to test drive another BMW, a 323ci, e46 body style. After driving it, which was fun, I realized that I really do love and miss the way the clutch on an Audi feels. I can now officially say that I preferred my A4's clutch over the BMW's. If only I can find a decent A4. All the ones on the market have either been abused (insides torn, engine sounds problematic, etc) or do not have what I am looking for in the car. I'll find a car eventually.

Thanks everyone for their inputs, much appreciated.

[MacDaddy]

323 is still a nice car, fantastic fuel mileage too.

[xplosiveg06]

gods chariot

[Mooseimage]

I'm actually gonna be checking out a 99 323i today or tomorrow. Blue with champagne color interior. Manual, ~96k miles. There are just no good Audi's for sale in this damn city that I can find for under 10k, they all seem to have mechanical or electric issues. And all the S4's for sale are freaking auto-sorry, tiptronic. I know for a fact that if I didn't have an accident with my car and was to sell it. I could get 9 or 10k for it.

I actually found an A4 that when I turned on the radio, the WIPER'S and EMERGENCY LIGHTS came on! WTF? What pissed me off was the sales rep actually tried to convince me that it was okay. I just looked at the guy, left, and told 2 different people who were there at the time that all the cars there were messed up and overpriced. Told 'em the good dealerships in the area to check out.