Hahaha my dad attempted to raise me to buy subaru's and told me that no german car was good, they were all money pits in his eyes. Needless to say, the only car I've bought that wasn't a BMW or an Audi was a Land Rover.
e46 BMW's and B5 A4's both have their pro's and con's, cooling components on e46's are known to crack and break, as they did on mine. I've never had an A4 that didn't have a light on on the dash for more than 1,000 miles, it seems like there's always something, O2 sensors, brakes, and ABS components, etc. I never had a CEL etc, with my e46 and it had 175,000 on it, the engines are very well built and they have timing chains instead of belts, which is a big plus in my eyes along with RWD and the Inline 6cyl which really makes the car move.
If I were you, and I had the money to buy the car I would. Since you can get it for $4,500 off of what they were going to ask for it. If you don't like it you could always sell it and you would more than likely profit a few thousand dollars.

 

Now that you laid it out like that, Nick, I will probably buy an e46. I'm not saying I am going to buy this one, but I will probably get one. I have a hat trick that will help me out immensely. I have access to the dealership's Manheim auction account. Manheim is a conglomerate of car dealerships that meet in one auction house where about 600 cars are sold per week to other car dealerships. I called the owner of the car dealership I work at (a dear friend to my dad), and he told me that instead of me dropping 10 grand on the car, that I should take that 10 grand cash to the auction with him sometime. He has picked up brand new Camaro SS's there for 16 cash and he said that if I wanted a BMW, that he could probably get one at auction, e46, pretty much any color I want, lower miles than the one I am driving, for about 6 grand. I am actually thinking of buying a B6 there as well. If I did that, I would use the BMW as a DD, B6 to mod, and the B5 to play with. Any comments/concerns? I'm actually pretty excited about this the more I drive that car.

 

man, if thats the hookup you got there isnt a thing that would stop me from going e46.. at those prices for really well maintained and clean low mileage cars, you cant go wrong.. id prolly be looking B6 S4 or e46 M3.. but i think you got the right idea.. but dont let the b5 go.. each one of us will feel a part of us die haha

 

yea i agree... if u can.. try and steal an m3 for cheap.. that wuld definately = sex

 

lol wow they'll disown you

 

I'll definitely see what I can do and report back.