[Casca]

I like working on my car. I like keeping things running perfect. I see some guys driving around in really old cars as a daily driver and their car looks like it just rolled out of the factory yesterday. I have a lot of respect for that.

Recently I started thinking I want to be like that. I want to have one car I just stick with year after year after year. Keeping it perfect looking, perfect running in all areas. As good as the day it was built, maybe even better.

Was thinking of getting an old M5 and doing this.

What BMW car do you guys see as being worth keeping and maintaing? One that you'll have joy driving everyday and also be not impossibly difficult (electronics) to maintain for the long run?

[TheBingoBalls]

Historically, any E30 - doesn't have to be a M3. First BMW I've ever seen/taken a ride in. As for a modern BMW, has to be M6 GC. It has everything you would want, it's practical, has the style and performance.

[Kayani_1]

For me if I was only able to buy one car for the rest of my life and it had to be a BMW it would be a E92 M3 competition pkg. I love the looks and the driving experience as a whole and the practicality of being able to take to track and drive it daily. If there is a draw back it is the fuel consumption. But if that was my last BMW ever then I will suck it up and take a hit on gas for the sake of the experience.

[turbolag]

Originally Posted by Kayani_1

For me if I was only able to buy one car for the rest of my life and it had to be a BMW it would be a E92 M3 competition pkg. I love the looks and the driving experience as a whole and the practicality of being able to take to track and drive it daily. If there is a draw back it is the fuel consumption. But if that was my last BMW ever then I will suck it up and take a hit on gas for the sake of the experience.

E90 M3 guy here, I absolutely agree with you. After it stops being a DD, I'll turn it into a track-oriented car.

Other choice would be F13 M6.

[Kayani_1]

You are a lucky guys my friend. Every year since E9x M3 has been out I salivate at the thought of putting it in my garage. I convinced two closer friends to get one and they both liked driving it until one wrecked his and moved on to an R8 and the other recently traded his in for a F13 M6. The one driving an R8 loves his R8 but still to this day says that M3 was a better car for the money. That speaks volumes for its reputation. Most all that bought M3 were never disappointed with the experience. If there was any disappointment it was from gas consumption.

Since I drive my car daily to and forth to work in Houston grid lock. The M3 is not practical enough for me based on fuel consumption. So the next best thing for me was to get a E92 N54 335i and modify it to make it even better. It is still no M3 but provided with proper mods can provide 85% of experience for 85% of the price and saves more gas specially with Alpina transmission flash.

None the less I love E9x M3, E46 M3, E39 M5, 1M and E60 M5. Those are some of my most favorite BMW's of all time. For me M6 GC is nice but it is just too heavy for a proper performance machine.

Originally Posted by turbolag

E90 M3 guy here, I absolutely agree with you. After it stops being a DD, I'll turn it into a track-oriented car.

Other choice would be F13 M6.

[Who?]

The E46 CLS, Z8 or an E30 M3 - the only bimmers that will never got old.

[JButtonMCL]

E46 M3 with ZCP

[Chihuahua]

E46 330i ZHP. Never owned one, but I think it's probably one of the best 'all around' cars in terms of usability, performance, reliability, and ease of maintenance by the home mechanic that BMW has put together in a long, long time.

[Billup]

No brainer.


E46 CSL.

[rjd598]

I don't think anyone answered the op's questions. Yes I will keep the e90 and driver it forever and I would love a CRT, csl, and ltw. But as of right now for what op said he wanted you'll be looking at getting an e30 like one member said but good luck finding one of those in decent condition. You should look into an e36 m3. Just such an amazing car and after 6 months with mine I still love it more and more everyday. Low on the tech side, high on the performance side. Don't be fooled it'll be hard to find a good example of an e36 nowadays as well too but it's worth every penny and if you're doing all the work you're saving a lot on labor cost. There's DIYs on about everything that goes wrong with that car

[Desmo85]

Every ALPINA BMW. They are masterpieces.

[DF]

E39 M5

[KingOfJericho]

We only get the B7 on this side of the pond...

[Casca]

What I would like is an e34 M5 touring

[W///]

My M3. I bought it to keep it for life (unless a situation forces me to get rid of it). This is the car that I plan to just keep restoring and modding as I go along. If it needs a new engine or transmission, so be it.

The noise, the looks, the performance, it just ticks all the boxes. Not to mention this car has a big sentimental value to me.

Don't get me wrong, I grew up in the E30 era, and always wanted to own an 8 Series, but as far as I'm concerned, they would all be addition to my E92.

So answer your question, I'll be like that in 10-20-30 years with my E92. If I absolutely had to pick an older BMW, then 8 Series all day.

[Desmo85]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

We only get the B7 on this side of the pond...

Wow really? Why? On the other hand if you import a B3/B5/B6 yourself it is very doubtfull that you will meet another one too often

[KingOfJericho]

Which is odd because I see the B7s fairly regularly (probably the same couple but still).

[Jamesons Viggen]

My E36/7 is pretty much a keeper for life. It's looks/design, does not really seem to age. I have had people ask me if it's the "New Z" in the past year.

It's performance is up there with almost anything sold today, certainly not wanting for power. It gets decent fuel economy all things considered, decent amount of interior comfort. It's also like a whole other car when I put the hardtop on. I also love how RAW it sounds and feels and how every input takes a concerted effort. It's also been reliable and find it mostly easy to work on my self.

[NYBulldog]

E46 M3 CSL

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by W///

My M3. I bought it to keep it for life (unless a situation forces me to get rid of it). This is the car that I plan to just keep restoring and modding as I go along. If it needs a new engine or transmission, so be it.

The noise, the looks, the performance, it just ticks all the boxes. Not to mention this car has a big sentimental value to me.

Don't get me wrong, I grew up in the E30 era, and always wanted to own an 8 Series, but as far as I'm concerned, they would all be addition to my E92.

So answer your question, I'll be like that in 10-20-30 years with my E92. If I absolutely had to pick an older BMW, then 8 Series all day.

You sir have taste, right color, RIGHT transmission, right wheels and stance. That is about as good as an E92 gets for me.

[W///]

Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen

You sir have taste, right color, RIGHT transmission, right wheels and stance. That is about as good as an E92 gets for me.

Thanks very much for the kind words, I really appreciate it. Took me a while to get there and I'm completely happy with it. I plan to gradually mod my car, not like some people that drop $30k on their M3's right off the bat.

Your Z3M would eat my car alive though. The temptation to go FI is always there, we'll see what happens in the future. Your car actually made me want to get an older M, but then i realize that 2 M's = financial suicide!

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by W///

Thanks very much for the kind words, I really appreciate it. Took me a while to get there and I'm completely happy with it. I plan to gradually mod my car, not like some people that drop $30k on their M3's right off the bat.

Your Z3M would eat my car alive though. The temptation to go FI is always there, we'll see what happens in the future. Your car actually made me want to get an older M, but then i realize that 2 M's = financial suicide!

LOL-thanks.

I do not think I could resist the temptation to put a blower on your car.

I can say, mine has not been financial suicide. It has been uber cheap to maintain, very reliable and the big mods I added, I picked up used and on the cheap. My blower setup would have been about $10-15k new, I got it for $1800+ tune. Luckily the car came with the LMs and other high quality mods to give me a headstart.