Your Mom wants you to do that?? That's cool ... I'd go with your Mom's advice if the money factor isn't playing that much of a role. Get as new as you can, probably won't have to worry about a paint job and you'll have more power! ... The e36 guys will forgive you, eventually. And hey, you might even be able to take rendered's ride off your "cars to make love to" list, since you'll have your own! Haha, and what you do with your car is, your business.