My first BMW was a 1992 525i that my mother gave me because she decided she didn't want to worry about the future maintenance costs. I ended up liking the car even though it had a slushbox, and was turned on to German cars since. I ended up trading it for a 1984 Porsche 944. Amazing driving experience in that car, but had to sell it for a car I could bring myself to drive in New England winters.