Help Me With My First Car Please

[Q-tuned]

HI, i'm looking to get my first car, i am aiming for a 1992 525i, i dont know if i am gonna get it from a dealership (used dealership) or from a privite seller.
anyway, i just wanted to know, on top of the miles and number of owners and history report bla bla bla. is there anything to really check out? anything critical? Ive heard that milage over 200k is still good, is it? a car that i'm looking at has 227000mi.
any help would be awesome, when i got the car and a high paying, i would put so much in to it.....

.......if i got a lot of money i'd get my REAL DREAM CAR, a E39 M5, i love that car, i want it so bad, a true badass sleeper


thanks

 

[535iracer]

My 525i Has 111000 miles, and it drives like new, the M50 2.5L engine is awesome, it propels the 5 series very nicely, i would definately recommend a 5 speed if you can find one... I used to own a 535i with over 200K miles and it was still a great car, very solid. I would check out the drivetrain very closely on higher mileage e34s btw

 

[bigdavid1001]

For a first car I would definitely recommend a smaller, and cheaper, 325i. These are really nice machines and will be a bit quicker than the 525. just my $.02. The older 325 looks awesome and will run forever.

 

[Q-tuned]

thanks for the info

 

[Oldscaddybmw]

I have a 90 525i with a 5 speed with 157k on it and it is one smooth machine - things to look for in terms of maintainence: timing belt replaced - brakes in good shape ( pads and rotors can run $750 for all four wheels) all door locks working ( they are tough to repair when broken) newer water pump - decent radiator ( again it is expensive to repair)

Hope if helps -

Mike