love my coupe..but what is the best BMW for daily driving?

J-Thurm · 03-01-2009, 10:37 PM

I'm sure most of us choose not to drive out Z4's daily. I drive a 96 geo metro with 185,000 miles...(lol) on a daily basis. It runs great, but I want to upgrade to something a little better that I can actually enjoy instead of trying to hide myself while I'm driving. My question is, what BMW is the best for daily driving (best on gas mileage). I'm looking to spend between 2,000 and 3,000 on an older model BMW. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

epbrown · 03-02-2009, 04:29 AM

Given your price range and focus on gas mileage, the best bet would be the E36 318ti (http://www.318ti.org/).

daveysew · 03-02-2009, 06:57 AM

Old E30's are great cars, my '88 has been pretty much bulletproof (oil changes, brakes, and consumables are all I've had to do with it). Not as good on gas as the E36 318Ti but way more fun to drive and probably better built. Good luck with your hunt.

thekurgan · 03-02-2009, 09:07 AM

If you're looking for one of the older, more reliable BMW models in your price range, take a look at the 1990-1991 525/535 (E34 I believe) with MT. My local Dinan shop has one for $3k I'm looking at next week. From customer and magazine reviews, they are said to be one of the more reliable and very well built Bimmers. Pretty much the same fuel economy as the Z4 and very comfortable. No VANOS, simple interior without too many electronics to go bad.

wasupdu · 03-03-2009, 06:24 PM

Why can't your Z be a daily commuter? I get roughly 26-29 mpg (80% highway, 20% city) and if I could drive it EVERY day then I would, but we have this stuff called snow around here so it makes it a bit difficult to drive long distances with 5-6 inches of fresh snow on the ground. Props to those of you that put snows on the car, but I just don't see it happening with mine. The last 10 minutes of my commute is an absolute crawl, but even driving a manual I don't seem to mind.

I sure as hell would much rather use my Z as a daily driver rather than driving a Geo Metro....lol.

EDIT: I'm not sure where Crestwood is and if you have to deal with severe weather.

Hawkeye · 03-04-2009, 12:03 AM

Wow, I was not aware you could get a reliable car for under $5K anywhere...

I prefer my R6 in nice weather and my Z4 in cold/rainy weather, but it would be nice to have another bimmer for the snow! Or I could just invest half that money in snow tires and keep the Zed going

I know what I would choose!

GeorgeT · 03-04-2009, 09:34 AM

Probably out of your price range, but the best BMW I had for a daily commute of 45 miles each way was a 2003 540i with the Sport Package. It drove better than the 330i that it replaced and better than the 750 that replaced it. The Z4 is a bit too harsh for daily commutes for me but it's a blast on short trips. The 540 got about 27-28 mpg overall.

561design · 03-04-2009, 09:49 AM

I drive my Z daily with no problems, except for trips to Home Depot.

03-01-2009, 10:37 PM	#1
J-Thurm Second Lieutenant 27 Rep 204 Posts Drives: 2007 bmw z4 coupe 3.0si Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Crestwood iTrader: (0)	love my coupe..but what is the best BMW for daily driving? I'm sure most of us choose not to drive out Z4's daily. I drive a 96 geo metro with 185,000 miles...(lol) on a daily basis. It runs great, but I want to upgrade to something a little better that I can actually enjoy instead of trying to hide myself while I'm driving. My question is, what BMW is the best for daily driving (best on gas mileage). I'm looking to spend between 2,000 and 3,000 on an older model BMW. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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03-02-2009, 04:29 AM	#2
epbrown Colonel 60 Rep 2,128 Posts Drives: BMW M Coupe, Porsche Boxster S Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	Given your price range and focus on gas mileage, the best bet would be the E36 318ti (http://www.318ti.org/).
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03-02-2009, 06:57 AM	#3
daveysew First Lieutenant 14 Rep 307 Posts Drives: '91 318is/'05 Z4 SC/'18 440ix Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	E30, iX if you can find one Old E30's are great cars, my '88 has been pretty much bulletproof (oil changes, brakes, and consumables are all I've had to do with it). Not as good on gas as the E36 318Ti but way more fun to drive and probably better built. Good luck with your hunt.
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03-02-2009, 09:07 AM	#4
thekurgan Bad Lieutenant 232 Rep 3,517 Posts Drives: E90M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sacramento iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [0.00]	If you're looking for one of the older, more reliable BMW models in your price range, take a look at the 1990-1991 525/535 (E34 I believe) with MT. My local Dinan shop has one for $3k I'm looking at next week. From customer and magazine reviews, they are said to be one of the more reliable and very well built Bimmers. Pretty much the same fuel economy as the Z4 and very comfortable. No VANOS, simple interior without too many electronics to go bad. __________________ 02 E39M5 \| TiAg/Schwartz \| Tubi Rumore \| Ultimate Ti Pedals \| E60 SSK \| Jim Blanton 3.45 40/100% \| Coby Alcantara \| StrongStrut STB
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03-03-2009, 06:24 PM	#5
wasupdu Lieutenant 25 Rep 413 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0, CLS63 AMG Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 Mercedes CLS63 ... [0.00] 2005 BMW Z4 [0.00]	Why can't your Z be a daily commuter? I get roughly 26-29 mpg (80% highway, 20% city) and if I could drive it EVERY day then I would, but we have this stuff called snow around here so it makes it a bit difficult to drive long distances with 5-6 inches of fresh snow on the ground. Props to those of you that put snows on the car, but I just don't see it happening with mine. The last 10 minutes of my commute is an absolute crawl, but even driving a manual I don't seem to mind. I sure as hell would much rather use my Z as a daily driver rather than driving a Geo Metro....lol. EDIT: I'm not sure where Crestwood is and if you have to deal with severe weather. __________________ 2005 BMW Z4 Roadster 3.0 - Black Sapphire with Red Extended Leather / NAV / Premium & Sport Pkgs / 19" wheels / M steering wheel / Xenon 2013 Mercedes CLS63 AMG
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03-04-2009, 12:03 AM	#6
Hawkeye Brigadier General 2070 Rep 4,365 Posts Drives: '07 Z4 Coupe, '21 X3, '16 GMC Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Iowa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 GMC Sierra SLT [10.00] 2008 Yamaha R6 [9.00]	Wow, I was not aware you could get a reliable car for under $5K anywhere... I prefer my R6 in nice weather and my Z4 in cold/rainy weather, but it would be nice to have another bimmer for the snow! Or I could just invest half that money in snow tires and keep the Zed going I know what I would choose! __________________ 2007 Z4 3.0si Coupe • 6 MT • Black Saphire Metallic • PP • SP 2016 GMC Sierra SLT Z71 Premium Plus 4x4 2017 Harley StreetGlide • Denim Black • V&H Tune 2021 BMW x30i • Phytonic Blue Metallic • Fully loaded
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03-04-2009, 09:34 AM	#7
GeorgeT Private First Class 1 Rep 112 Posts Drives: 2007 750i; 2003 Z4 3.0 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Seneca, SC iTrader: (0)	Probably out of your price range, but the best BMW I had for a daily commute of 45 miles each way was a 2003 540i with the Sport Package. It drove better than the 330i that it replaced and better than the 750 that replaced it. The Z4 is a bit too harsh for daily commutes for me but it's a blast on short trips. The 540 got about 27-28 mpg overall.
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03-04-2009, 09:49 AM	#8
561design z4um Hooligan 140 Rep 586 Posts Drives: 3.0Si Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Woodstock,Ga iTrader: (1)	I drive my Z daily with no problems, except for trips to Home Depot. __________________ Charles flickr
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