first car

[Logan 2224]

Would an E34 make a good first car?

[Jay 535i]

Sure! As long as you go into the experience with your eyes open. That is, you must accept that these are old cars now that require constant TLC and occasional infusions of cash to stay at their best. Cared for properly, they're very reliable and safe and a pleasure to use daily. Choose a good one, keep some money in the bank, use this forum to help you keep costs down and you should be fine.

Best of luck!

[Torque]

Yes and no.

The pros: They are safe (I know of at least 3 people that rolled theirs over and came out without a scratch), they handle well and they have enough space for hauling people and 'stuff' around.

The cons: If you can't do the work yourself, maintenance can be very costly, as with any BMW; plus e34s are getting old now. If your thing is racing (racing of any kind is best left for the track anyway), most e34s (short of a m5, 540i and 535im) are slow in straight line.

With that said, my e34 is my first car. I bought it in Dec 2003 ... 2+ years and 30,000 miles later, and I don't regret buying it one bit.

[onewhippedpuppy]

If you DIY, sure, with a decent set of tools most anything is doable on these cars. If not, no way, unless you have loaded parents that aren't shy about large auto repair bills. A decent independent will run you probably $60-$70 minimum an hour, with a dealer at $100 or more.

[Jay 535i]

A decent independent will run you probably $60-$70 minimum an hour, with a dealer at $100 or more.

Or you could make friends with someone on this board who lives near you and has been there before. :)