Originally Posted by tomcat

Sorry to be the crotchety old timer here, but there is a ton of info here easily accessible through the search function (I think there actually is a "What to look for..." type thread). If you do have not already owned a European car out of warranty, then be very careful. These are not like the stereotypical Honda or Toyota. They MUST be maintained ($) or you can have serious i$$ues; you may still have issues even when you maintain. You will find many horror stories here, but most of us satisfied owners have either been problem free or knew what to expect beforehand.
For example, I have a 4.8is with a CPO warranty until August of this month. Without that, I would have spent a couple of thousand in the 1.5 years I've owned it. When the warranty expires, I have an independent BMW mechanic I will take her to that I have been using for the last 10 years. Gas mileage for me in mostly city with a heavy right foot is rarely over 15, but the smile I get burning the dinosaurs is worth it personally to me.
Again, search is your friend.
Good luck!

Scott