Single Digit = Thumb!!!

Have you actually heard the S52, or any BMW I6 for that matter, straight piped? It would change your mind instantaneously.

OK most people seem to be leaning towards CP. Fair enough. Is it possible going to find an old BMW worth getting for under 5k? Is this worth 4000-4500 to buy and minimally maintain for a few years, before passing it on or having it die in a heap of shop invoices?

It’s a 20-year old BMW. Does mileage really matter much at this point?

Any running M car under $5k is a NP for a lot of people.

NP all day.  I personally would be looking for a Sedan or Coupe, but this could be a lot of fun.  And yes, these cars have known issues, but are relatively easy to keep on the road as long as you know what to expect.

The E36's are generally extremely reliable mechanically and electrically. They're just a more simple vehicle

Yours seems like a reasonable assumption. The price is low enough to take a chance on, and anything that might scare one away from a purchase should be easily identifiable in a brief inspection. I would take a chance on it. 

Call me an old fart, but I think I’d like something with a bit more mellow sound, especially in a droptop. Oh well, that’s an easy fix.

NP if it is as rust-free as it looks.  These are easy to wrench on and a real hoot to hoon.  Major bits seem to hold up pretty well on them.  Source: my 95 M3 coupe that has 185k on it and gets me into the top half of my class in autocross.  That plate looks like SC, so I’d bet it is rust free or close to.

I prefer the previous generation but these still look okay in my book. I would absolutely fix that straight pipe; other motorists tend to assume BMW drivers are obnoxious, there’s no point in making it too easy for them.

I think a good scrubbing will make this thing look fine.  My biggest concern is I cant find the mileage in the add.  Assuming normal or little higher I would pick this up.  The E36 had the best styling of all the 3 series IMO and a new top is a big bonus to me.  Plenty of budget to get the seats redone which will be a…

From my perspective that would be cleanest car in our company’s parking lot :D.

I thought that was a rip in the driver’s seat, but it’s just the gap in the seat extension.  I voted CP thinking it would cost a bit to fix that, but knowing it’s not ripped I would like to go back in time and select NP instead.

I’m a little concerned that the PO shot it with the parts cannon but $4.5k for this is a NP AD