1995 318is 129k, Need advice, first bmw, Maint costs?

[drivethruecp]

I am looking at a 1995 318is manual (deff want a manual) with 129,000 miles on it. The price is $4,200 from a dealer/private... This is my first BMW. I want the 4cyl for the better gas millage..but the 6cly for the power.. I test drove the car and absolutely love it. The only things that are wrong with it is the back right panel over the tire has a small dent (like 3 inches long and an inch wide..not bad at all)..thats getting rust because the paint is chiped off, and the engine makes a tapping noise(think is a valve cap?). The leather is seriously the best I have seen!! It is perfect...sooooo clean. Not sure what papers it has...didn't ask yet...said the person before was up on maintenece and changed the oil. Other then a BMW center cap missing on one of the rims...its fine...but of course the millage. Thats my only concern..for the money I can fix or deal with the dent for now...I really wanted to get something with uner 75,000 miles..but have a tight budget too. I am selling my car with 147,000 miles on it and really wanted to get away from the high millage cars..but want to get into a BMW sooo bad. What do you guys think? My father is a professional 5-star mechanic for chrysler...(he would be doing my repairs for me, is it a big diff for the engine and everything else?) how hard are these to work on...if you have the books (clymer) and all? How expensive are the parts? How are the maintence fees...what kind of things are comming up with this kind of millage? What kind of things can you not avoid going to bmw to fix? I'm just real scared of the millage and maint. fees...so if anyone has honest anwswers..not necessarily what I want to hear...but honest... Thanks alot!! The other car I am considering only because its chrysler and I get realll cheap prices on parts is the Sebring.

[noodleman]

About the mileage, a lot of people think that high mileage is always a bad thing. However, if you look at a high mileage, late model car it's pretty much all going to be freeway driving, therefore less abuse on the car. Just a bit to keep in mind.

On the maintenance end, I've found with my 86 325 that some of it is easy, and some of it is a royal pain in the ass. Just like any car I suppose. If the hood opens backwards like mine does, I hope your dad has access to a lift.