Jonathan 
1997 BMW 3 Series Sedan 328i 4dr Sedan
Still competes with current sport sedans
 I come from a Honda family, owning an unkillable (and I tried) Accord before the BMW, and so my standards for how a car should be built were set a little high.  Most people "warned" me about buying a used european car claiming I'll be on the side of the road or with a monstrous repair bill in no time, but my BMW is still running strong.  However, if you want this car and have low maintenance costs, be prepared to do a little work yourself.  Labor is where shops will overcharge BMW owners and so doing basic jobs like brake pads or changing the oil will save you a ton of money if you do it yourself.  Take care of it and it'll last longer than most cars on the road.