Leon wrote:

> Right now he
> can afford to buy the car but he cannot afford to ruin it and get
> nothing for it in 4 or 5 years.

Then I presume he won't be driving it. Your friend is an idiot that
makes me ashamed to own the same marque ('88 535is). Please tell him
to sell his car immediately because it *will* definitely be ruined.
Even if it isn't, a 530i is definitely nothing special. Probably has a
damned slushbox in it and everything. It'll be worth squat in 5 years
even if he hermetically seals it under inert gases in dark storage.
--
C.R. Krieger
(Been there; done that)