Don't forget the merc range as well,a nice e class 320cdi or even 270cdi,less engine issues than the BMW and more likely to be cheaper and lower miles although mechanically mercs are a tough nut,the only real probs with that cdi motor are the injector seats which aren't too bad to fix and apparently swirl flaps but that's usually sorted at low mileage and for 3k you'll be over 100000 miles so that should have been dealt with by then.
You'll know if the injector seats are gone as it'll sound like Ivor the engine or to our younger viewers a steam engine.
Mercs drift for fun and with a decent set of 5x112 alloys from either the merc range or vw/Audi and a drop can look nice very easily.
The only problem maybe that they mainly come in auto flavour but it is a tiptronic box and a tough one at that.