A few questions:

1. have you driven it? If you don't notice a difference between it and
a toyota/honda, get the latter.

2. what about service records? You should try to find out what's been
repaired and whether the fluids have been changed at the appropriate
times. This is is especially true if your concern is engine longevity.
If the oil has been changed "regularly," then you shouldn't have any
problems with it.

In fact, I would be more concern with whether the tranny oil has been
changed, especially if its an automatic. Further, regular changes of
the differential oil, brake fluid and coolant are vital too.  Changing
fluids makes a big difference on these cars.

Finally, no matter whether you have the service records or not,
consider having the car inspected by a good BMW independent. They
should be able to find any problems and tell you what to expect. At
about 1 hour labor or so, its not cheap, but good insurance. If you
need to find a good indy, look here:

http://www.bimrs.org/

Good Luck!

1)  What does PFI stand for?  If it's Port Fuel Injection, that's a poor use
of
the term, since every BMW (in the US) since around '75 has had it.   Toyota
and Honda are relatively late to that technology (as is GM.)
2)  I assume you mean I6 rather than L6.  The "I" stands for Inline (as
opposed
to "V" configuration of the engine cylinders.
3)  Although *you* may have had Toyotas and Hondas that have lasted 300K
miles, I doubt that that's the median life.  150K-200K is much more likely.

Our '91 525i now has 200K on it.  Engine uses a little oil, but still very
strong.
Original clutch.  Suspension pieces have been replaced.  Interior a little
shabby,
especially door panels (typical problem with them).  Coolant system has been
overhauled (must do to keep em running.)  BMW engines typically last 200K-
250K miles.  YMMV.

IMO, since you won't expend the effort to use proper punctuation, you
haven't
apparently googled this group's archive for previous posts on the subject
(there
are MANY references to sites and boards with that information), I doubt
that you will expend the effort on maintenance to keep it running for
250-300K miles.

FloydR

A car of that age and mileage is going to cost pennies. If it breaks,
throw it away.

Cars which do vast mileages usually do so with just one owner - and have
to be looked after all their life. A BMW is no different from a Honda in
this respect. So use the same criterion in choosing one as you did all
your Hondas and Toyotas.

BTW, you must be very old if you've owned several Hondas and Toyotas and
run them all to 300,000 miles. Many people don't drive that far in a
lifetime.

Mine has nearly 300k on it, engine is fine, i had 2 fail at between 130 and
160 with plastic water pump failure, this seems to be common. So i guess
this one was changed long before i got it.

Had loads of Toyotas too, but all from the 70's which where simple, the
bimmer is a bit more complicated to say the least..

apart from a computer speaking German to me, and other little odds n sods,
its been fine, even on 1000 mile a day trips...comfy, half decent handling.