Originally posted by Level_7
Not trying to be a wet blanket, but since you're 18/19 now, you should probably save that money for university. $6000 is alot of money to be dumped into a used car. Or you could save that money until you get enough to buy a faster/nicer car like a 300ZX/328is/Eclipse/ etc.
But with 6000 you could easily swap your engine with a GSR or ITR b18 engine 
your right 6,000 is a lot to invest in a used car at that younge age. The thing is those other cars you mentioned he wouldn't be able to get a decent one for that price and he would probably have to put a few thousand into them to get them into good running condition since they all have reliablity problems except for the 328i but that will be much more than 6,000.
I would go for the engine swap, especially if the rest of the car is in good condition