330i

 

This.

Change the oil, make sure the subframe isn't screwed up, and the car will drive the moon and back.

I love my 545i, but the cost of ownership is getting up there, and sometimes (just for the $$$ reasons) I wish I had gone with an 05 330i ZHP instead.

Although an 06 330i is also a good choice for reliability. The problem is finding one that hasn't been hammered on to the point of destruction via young drivers 3 year leasing these things, treating them like a Chevy Malibu rental car, and then getting pawned off to some middle-aged secretary who knows nothing about transportation and abuses it again for another 5 or 6 years before you come across it.

If you can find a 1 owner or low miles, GO FOR IT!

No maintenance costs;

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...gIndex=3&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...gIndex=1&Log=0

There are only 3 ZHP sticks for sale in the country right now. These are two. The other one is just stupid expensive.

 

WPs are common on all BMWs (although electric one on e90 is more expensive).
But x35i have other problems, i.e. carbon build up, turbo issues (they warrantied some components, but not in all countries, i.e. coverage in Canada is different from one in the States), injectors. I would also be careful of turbo engines, as they can be tuned really easily and you don't know what had been done to the car. Of course not everyone tunes it and the majority just daily drives them, but you never know (literally 95% of 335s on Canadian e90 meet ups are tuned).

+1

There are many new components in e90s that are more expensive and can not be so easily repaired.
Waterpump: belt driven on e46 vs electric on e90 (costs probably twice as much)
Valve cover gasket: easy job on e46, can be a PITA on e90 due to aluminum bolts
AC compressor: noise compressor on e46 can be most likely cured with a new bearing. e90 has clutchless compressor and I'm not sure you can just change a bearing on it
Control arm design is more simple and cheaper to repair
Etc.

 

'12 e92 335is- 2nd HPFP in two weeks? - BMW E60 5-Series Forum | 5Post.com

as tempting as 300bhp is, F that crap. again, just my opinion.

again, good luck with your car search. make sure you do a LOT of homework before you buy something. Know exactly what your getting into and you won't be disappointed.