Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, or commonly known as BMW, is one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers. With a history spanning more than 105 years, BMW has made its fair share of automobiles of different sorts. The brand started making motorcycles first, and while Luxury and Sports Sedans seem to be their forte, they have a history in SUVs and Sports Coupes as well. Let’s go through their sports sedans and coupes of the last couple of decades. Their 2, 3, 5, and 7 series of sedans and sports sedans are very popular, and the ‘M’ lineup is formidable on a track.
But buying a used BMW can get tricky. There are some Bimmers out there that are equipped with engines classified as time bombs, necessitating thousands of dollars in repairs. But for every unreliable car, there are cars that have bulletproof engines. The dawn of the 21st Century saw BMW make a few regrettable engines and other car components. Even today, Japanese car brands rank higher in reliability scores, and BMW is rated either average or below average. But there are a few diamonds in the rough. We have seen BMWs that run for more than 200,000 miles without any issue.
10 We Stay Away From: 1995-2002 BMW Z3 1.9i
This one is an unusual case. Typically, a car is avoided buying used because it’s got a lot of reliability issues. But the Z3 1.9i’s problems started before it even touched the pavement. The 1.9-liter engine was not nearly powerful for a two-seater sports car.
For a car that competed with the Mazda Miata and Lotus Elise, the Z3 1.9i’s 0-60 mph time of 10.1 seconds and a top speed of 122 mph fell short. You’re better off getting a 2.8 or even 3.0-liter engine trim or a Z4 rather than wasting your money on the car that looked fast but wasn’t.
9 We Stay Away From: 2004-2010 BMW M5 (E60)
The BMW M5 is one of the cars that can outrun a Nissan GT-R for a fraction of its money. But there’s a catch. The beast of an engine that enables the M5 to achieve that feat is also the one why these cars sell for cheap.
The S85, a 500-hp V10 is infamous for being a ticking time bomb that would inevitably break down and cost thousands of dollars in repairs. According to caredge.com, the M5 will set you back about $14,667 for maintenance and repairs during its first 10 years of service. That’s way below average, even for luxury sports cars.
8 We Stay Away From: 2005-2010 BMW M6 (E63)
16 years after we saw the last M6, BMW launched the E63 M6 in 2005. But it’s another M car closer to the M5 and released around the same time. So you guessed it, this M6 has the same S85 engine as the M5 we just talked about.
The M6’s top speed is limited to 155 mph, but it could do 190 without the limiter. It may be one of the fastest BMWs ever, but it’s just as thirsty. Thirsty of fuel and money, so we’d advise you to stay away from it unless you’re super-rich and really really want it.
7 We Stay Away From: 2008-2013 BMW 120d (E81)
The 1 series barely counts as a sporty model, but they are practical, affordable, and fun to drive. So people on a tight budget might be tempted to get one. If that’s the case, then make sure you steer clear of the 120d.
It had two engine variants, the M47 was used until 2007, and the N47 was used afterward till 2013. The latter engine had a tendency of suffering from timing chain failures. Over time, this can result in complete car failure if the previous owner didn’t take proper care of it.
6 We Stay Away From: 2007-2013 BMW E92 M3
If there’s one thing that younger car enthusiasts remember from playing Need For Speed: Most Wanted, it’s that the M3 is one of the coolest sports cars they’ve ever seen. Most of them have now grown up and are probably looking to get an M3. Well, try to avoid the 414-hp 2007-2013 E92 model if you can.
The 4.0-liter V8 engine is not the infamous S85, but it’s very closely based on it so similar problems will occur. BMW’s VANOS system was also problematic from that time. As much as driving the car is great, owning one is equally troublesome.
5 Worth Every Penny: 2009-2016 BMW Z4
The second-generation Z4 was sold from 2009 to 2016. While the 3rd Gen came back in 2019, buying a used 2nd-gen Z4 would make more sense than a 3rd gen. This roadster was one of the highs of BMW’s lineup from those years.
It was available with a stick shift and driving it was an absolute blast thanks to its 240-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Moreover, it’s not that old so some of the safety features are present, and its reliability is comparable to that of a 2012 Audi TT.
4 Worth Every Penny: 2006-2012 BMW E90 3-Series
With the E90 3-Series, BMW won the luxury car battle against brands like Volvo and Acura and their sports sedans. The 330i is one of the best cars that balance performance and practicality. It was also declared as one of the safest cars when it came out in 2006 by the IIHS.
BMW’s N52 engine found in the 325i and 328i was deemed by Bimmer Life as one of the most reliable engines BMW ever made. Reviewers also claim that the E90 3-Series had better interior and handling than the succeeding models too.
3 Worth Every Penny: 2017-Present M5 F90
If you have enough money to buy a high-end sports car, but not quite enough for a supercar, then the M5 F90 might be the pick for you. Used examples sell for around $70,000. But for that money, you can take on legit supercars on a track day, and take your family on a road trip on the very next day.
Not many cars offer that, and certainly not in this price range. The top-spec M5 has a 0-60 time of 3.3 seconds and the 617-hp 4.4-liter S63 twin-turbo V8 is very reliable. It is one of the best value-for-money used BMW you can buy right now.
2 Worth Every Penny: 1992-1999 M3 E36
If you like what you read in the previous entry of M5, but don’t have 70 thousand bucks lying around, worry not. The E36 M3 can be yours for as low as $10,000! Of course, a car that is more decently maintained by the previous owner will yield a higher price, but they are absolute bargains right now.
It has a lot of aftermarket support. We already know that a car has to be affordable and reliable to be a good project car, and that’s exactly what the E36 is! It’s got a 321-hp 3.2-liter inline-six engine that’s capable of a 5.2-second 0-60 mph acceleration.
1 Worth Every Penny: 2015-Present BMW M2 Competition
Take the last 2 entries (M5 and M3) you just read, and think of the M2 as the best of both worlds. The M2 Competition handles so well that Top Gear called it "one of the best driver's cars full stop". Used M2 Competition models sell for as low as $60,000 or even slightly lower.
But that price is expected to go even lower in the future. It takes the punchy 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged straight-six engine from the M4 and provides 410 hp of pure joy. The 0-60 time is clocked at 4.2 seconds with its M Dual Clutch Transmission.