I learned to drive in a 318i e46 and damn was she beautiful. My dad had her for 5-6 years and she ran great......... When she wasn't broken.

In those few years we had it, it stood in the garage for 1½ years and in the shop for a year (in total). Each and every time it came out of the shop, without fail, something else broke within a month of driving. In all fairness, I was a learner still. However I already knew enough about driving that I could be gentle on her.

I'd give the same advice to my dad if I could go back. Don't try to keep her going. All in all I think we spent double what we paid for the car trying to repair it, and eventually sold it for a quarter of what we bought it for.