I would urge caution; it's an old car and has done a lot of kilometres. Have it checked by a mechanic who knows the brand before you do the deal. A friend who was a trained BMW mechanic and also sold them at a BMW dealership once told me that anyone buying a BMW should have an exit strategy. In other words, he was saying don't own them too long and get out of them before they become too expensive to own. You say you want to own it two years maximum, I would say that's as long as you should own it.

Your first port of call is to the mechanic. He fitted the part and it’s his responsibility to sort the problem out, including any damage the failed fan caused to other parts. If the part he fitted is determined to be faulty, he is the one who should make the claim against the manufacturer, not your daughter.

LIKE you, I prefer rear-wheel-drive cars for the way they drive and feel on the road. I'm also in favour of buying used BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes because you get to drive a better car than you might otherwise be able to afford, but they can be expensive to service and repair. For that reason I am loathe to recommend them. But I also agree that some of the cars coming from Japan look good, and I particularly like the new Lancer. I wouldn't be concerned about front-wheel drive at all, there's nothing wrong with the way they drive, handle, steer or brake.