BMW maintenance?

A BMW will almost always be more costly to fix. And though you might not be worried about "here and there" repairs, that is what will eat you up. Parts are very expensive on BMWs, even things like bulbs can be costly. Also, those MY 3 series can have some serious fuel system issues. Going through the fuel system on one can cost you thousands, even at an independent. Really, if you're worried about maintenance and repair costs for a BMW, it's like worrying about water being wet. If you don't want to get wet, don't take the plunge. I you don't mind, then go for it.

Get it serviced by A BMW specialist.

Proper care prevents major failures.

Older BMW's can kill you on repairs. It's very hard to find decent mechanics for them unless you take it to a dealer. Parts are very expensive too. Spend the money to have a mechanic that knows BMW's check it over very carefully before you buy it.

like any vehicle purchase, you would be dumb to not have it inspected by a mechanic before purchase