[gprsh924]

My dad just bought an 04 M3 Convertible with 22K miles, CPO, super clean for just a touch above your price range. There are definitely deals out there for M3s, the market has tanked for them in recent months. It will put a smile on your face every single time you get into the driver's seat. It was also the only BMW to make Consumer reports list of most reliable cars. If you do the maintenance (which can be a bit pricey, but the warranty/extended maintenance programs help), they will run for a long time. Lots of guys on the M3 forums with well over 100K miles and no real problems to speak of. He really hasn't driven it very much at all because he is never home, but he is getting about 17-18mpg around town thus far and closer to 25mpg on the one or two highway trips he has taken.