l was thinking about getting a bmw from the '90s but worried about repairs. Only have 8000 to spend on car and repairs. For this l want the best balance of reliability price while still being a nice car
what kind of upkeep is needed for a decent bmw ?

You must not research cars a lot. BMW is suck. They are by far not worth theyre price when you looks at the miles per gallon and horsepower. Good lord.

Just about every BMW is a good reliable car. (of course every make and model has their lemons, it happens) but overall, BMW is great.
However, they are not cheap for up keep or repairs.
If your funds are limited, l really suggest getting a different car. Subaru, Honda, Toyota, those are pretty good reliable used cars that are pretty cheap with up keep and repair.

Research what you are looking for. The 3 series BMW has been a consumers ''best Buy'' for 17 straight years. Sounds pretty reliable to me. While l always want to find a bargain, check the dealers inventory for your price range. Most of the cars that are there were traded in as opposed to purchased at auction. The service records are often available so you can find out exactly what you are getting.

You want best balance of reliability your going to have to go back even futher to the mid 80's.

e34 (87-96) 5 series have been praised as some of the best in terms of reliablilty.

One of the best BMW models from the 90 is is the E39 528i. Anything from 1997 - 2000 is the most reliable and maint/repiar friendly.