[onewhippedpuppy]

If you are trying to save money, an old European car of any kind is a bad idea unless you really enjoy DIY maintenance. Any of those can easily ring up a four figure repair bill without even trying. You'll also be hard-pressed to even find a nice one at this point, these aren't super common cars, particularly if you are looking for a stick in the E39.

You are coming out of a hot hatchback, so why not consider another hatchback? Similar space to the wagon but you'll open up a LOT more options, many of which are less expensive, more reliable, and can be more easily found with a stick.