[Don Plumley]

My son is learning to drive. (Talk about cognitive dissonance, sitting on the right side without a steering wheel in front of you.) Anyway, I'll be needing to pick up another car that he can have use of once he gets his license. It won't be "his" car but a family car that he'll have use of. Of course, we really don't need a car, but assuming he's gonna get in an accident, I rather it be a older, less valuable car (that is safe, of course).

He is going to contribute a fair percentage to the cost and upkeep from his savings. And that way, he gets a say on what we get since he'll be a partner in the car. Otherwise I'd buy an Orange Volvo 240.

So he's been looking at e36 BMW's (we both like e30's, I was hoping for airbags). Our idea is to find one that is a little broken, and fix it together so he learns to work on it, invests some sweat equity into the car, etc.

He just found a couple of 1987 535i - I was not looking for a 5 series - that are really, really cheap. Other than the usual caveats for a 20 year old car with a million miles, does anyone have any advice, opinion or otherwise on this era BMW?

Thanks!