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View Full Version : Question on repairs when selling My 97 M3 Sedan



mzoom
07-09-2008, 11:56 AM
Hi guys,

BF 97 M3 Sedan 133k miles, $9200 Ad (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1003085)

I've had my 97 M3 Sedan for sale for about 3 months and have been through many gyrations with it. A few things that came up from test drives have been addressed - Some rust on door bottoms, cracked amber corner, cracked foglight (both went after the car was listed - figures). At this point, I have lowered the price to $9200 and have recently had 4 people come check it out. All agreed the car drove great, handled great, looked great and appeared to be well maintained. I have all service records for the car since I got it CPO and have owned it almost 8 years.

I think the M3 would have sold long ago but I was in an accident with it back in 2002 and I have listed that info in the sale links. It did get repaired, it was not totaled and does not have a reconstructed title. That was 6 years and 70k miles ago.

One prospective buyer ordered a pre purchase inspection but he disappeared when he was supposed to meet me at the PPI. So I had the PPI done assuming he was just running late but that was Monday and no response so I guess he changed his mind but did not have the balls to just tell me.

So I have the PPI results and I'll probably have to pay for the PPI since the guy that scheduled it wormed out.

So, here are the results of a very comprehensive PPI done by Bavarian Specialties, King of Prussia, PA:

Problems that need to be addressed:
-Front Springs need to be replaced
-Steering Rack has a slight leak that needs to be looked at further
-Brake fluid needs to be changed
-Car needs a lube

Other Items noted:
-Surface rust on shocks/struts, rear shock mounts and front swaybar
-front tires are at the wearbars on the inside (car was alligned in June)
-Small engine leaks found at head gasket in back of motor and front bottom of motor near the pan
-Small rust spot on top of front passenger door sill - had been treated by my bodyshop in June
-Rust on bottom edge of trunk lid under license plate
-Small rust spot on rear pass. door bottom - I could not see that spot and my body shop was supposed to have fixed it in June so I will look again today.

Summary from Mechanic: Car is in great shape for its age and miles and has been well maintained (Most of my receipts are from there so they really know the car well). The top items need to be addressed, the other items are to be expected for a used car 11 years old with 133k miles on it and just need an eye kept on them. They are not fatal, they are to be expected and again, need an eye kept on them in case they get worse.

So, big question, as I was asking $9200 before the PPI, what do I do now? Fix the biggies and bump the price up or sit tight and negotiate a new price? I want to sell the car to pay for home renovations. It will pay for all new windows and doors and some of the labor.

Thanks, John

runnyd
07-09-2008, 12:03 PM
I think it is priced right.....it is the economy right now and no one is spending money on a whim anymore, everyone is mauling over things to death!!!

Grey Phox
07-09-2008, 01:25 PM
I think its priced fair. If you fix those issues, i'd raise the price accordingly.

chandlerseattle
07-09-2008, 01:54 PM
None of those issues are anything to worry about. The buyer should obviously know the car is not going to be perfect after 11 years and 133k miles. Tires, oil change, VC gasket (you can do this), springs in that order. that is only if you bump the price a bit. other than that I would leave it. It will sell.

typeS4
07-09-2008, 02:41 PM
It's priced fair.

egebhardt
07-09-2008, 03:38 PM
It's over priced. If the shocks are original, they need replacement. Rust here and there tells me the car was driven in the winter and not washed/rinsed and garaged in the amount necessary to say it was well taken care of. Depending on how anxious you are, I'd put on some new shocks (Billy or Koni) and used stock springs (everywhere for cheap). Change the brakefluid. The tires are not "done" yet. Then wash and wax it so it looks better. Then ask $10,000.

mzoom
07-09-2008, 03:46 PM
Just an FYI, it does not say in these posts but does in the for sale ads that the shocks are Bilsteins. The OEM Boges lasted only 46k miles and I went Billie so I would not have to keep replacing shocks.

The M3 was a daily driver for me until March 2007 when I bought a 2002 530i sport auto. So it has seen snow and rain.

Thanks, John