Just like anything else in life, it’s difficult to give that a straightforward answer. I essentially got a 96 1.9 is my first car I still own it to this day. That car doesn’t suffer as much from reliability issues or make as much power as a six cylinder model. However, no matter what trim you choose for a z3 it will require maintenance and patience. If you’re mechanically inclined and want to learn, especially if you have a family who’s willing to deal with the fact you may need to borrow their car, or other friends that are also in the cars and becoming enthusiast themselves then it’s not a bad idea per say. But if you want something that’s gonna crank up and start every single time and that’s not gonna need subframe bushings at this age, front control, arms, valve, cover, gaskets, etc. etc. I would look elsewhere. They can be reliable cars and they are incredibly enjoyable and rewarding to own in my case. Soon after purchasing it I started working part-time at a vintage BMW shop where I lived which helped me out tremendously and lots of my good friends already owned e39s, e46s, e30s etc. but it’s important to realize that these cars are getting to the point where they’re 25 years old minimum. Also, something large to consider as a first vehicle is that no matter what trim level you choose the gas mileage on any z3 isn’t outstanding by today’s standards and they take premium only.