[serge944]

6k sounds about right if the car is in cosmetically good condition. I'm sure you can haggle him down a few hundred...

The door panels will break - just a question when. Radiators explode. Make sure the crank pully nut is on tight. Rear shock mounts always go bad. Check bushings - they are bound to be bad if they have never been replaced. Vanos solenoids go bad occasionally, but not too common.

Otherwise, these cars are awesome. I beat the **** out of my e36 m3 every time I drove it and it never even hiccuped. This is definitely not the case with the e39 m5.

I don't recommend getting anything but an M if you get an e36. You will be selling yourself short for not much (if any) of a price break.