need a car

I am in the Marines and will be stationed in Camp Lejeune, NC in a few weeks and need a new car. I have been looking at mid-nineties 3-series for a while now and will soon be able to purchase, hopefully. Any good places to look within a reasonable distance of the base? Also, are there any particular models/setups to avoid. I would prefer a 325 or 328 with 5-speed manual, as I hope to build it up somewhat, maybe get on the track for some racing. Any help or suggestions are much appreciated.
Thanks, Bryan