I still regret selling my 2002 330i (E46). I taught my D how to drive in it and she drove it her senior year in high school before going off to college, and she still talks about it 5 years later.
Currently have a 2014 335i but some days wish I kept the E46 and just ponied up the maintenance (and yes, figure about 1-2k per year in maintenance on average). There’s just something special about the 3-series prior to 2012…