1989 635CSI Appreciation in 25 years?

[cmFenso]

So I kinda fell in love with this car I saw on Craigslist.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/4566080166.html

If I purchased this car, it wouldn't be my daily driver. Instead, it would be nice to just garage this beauty and keep it as a show car that I bring out a couple times a year. I know it's hard to speculate on these kinds of things, but I get the feeling that if I fixed the mechanical issues, detailed in the interior, exterior, and engine, then this could really be worth something 25 years down the road? Kind of a no-brainer right? At the very least, I'd still have a really sweet classic car.

Anyone have thoughts on this?

[panda12]

Automatic? Probably not.

[dohcdoh]

Automatic? Probably not.

:rofl this.

[NickR23]

If it was very, very low miles, then maybe. As it is, it's got close to 200,000 miles and has an automatic. It appears to be clean and well kept and would make a nice driver, but I certainly wouldn't buy it as an investment. My .02

[tmoeller]

topic is decidedly ON topic.

[Gop-Dogg]

...this could really be worth something 25 years down the road? Kind of a no-brainer right?

:rofl After 25 years, they haven't appreciated at all. In another 25 years, they'll be worth even less. That isn't an M6, it's got an auto and it's not an E30 M3 or a 2002 CSL.




At the very least, I'd still have a really sweet classic car.

If you can take solace in that, then go for it. That "shark" body style was great.

[cmFenso]

If you can take solace in that, then go for it. That "shark" body style was great.

I'm thinking about just pulling the trigger regardless of appreciation because it's easily the best deal I've seen on Craigslist/Ebay/etc in a long time. Even if it's not worth anything, I think it's without a doubt one the best looking 2 doors form the 80's.

[Ed Lyerly]

Take some time, do some research. Likely the '89 M6 will be the only investment worthy acquisition in a 6 series from '89.

[cmFenso]

An E24 that's actually worth something for anyone that's interested:
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/1988-bmw-e24-m6-for-sale-priced-at-usd158800-photo-gallery-70471.html

Photos are amazing.

[EuroGeorge]

If you can find an '89 M6, buy it. They didn't offer an M6 in "this" country in '89. That being said, the car you originally linked looks like a decent car. Not something I would buy for "investment" purposes though.

The second car at $158K is way over priced. It's actually laughable :beer

[SUABBYM6]

An E24 that's actually worth something for anyone that's interested:
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/1988-bmw-e24-m6-for-sale-priced-at-usd158800-photo-gallery-70471.html

Photos are amazing. It appears to be missing the steering wheel roundel and the blue cloth from the tool kit...easily takes $100k off that price.

[EuroGeorge]

It appears to be missing the steering wheel roundel and the blue cloth from the tool kit...easily takes $100k off that price.

Dude, No roundel on '88 cars (airbag)...BUT, the missing blue cloth??? Where's Bert P?

[bkats]

So I kinda fell in love with this car I saw on Craigslist.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/4566080166.html

If I purchased this car, it wouldn't be my daily driver. Instead, it would be nice to just garage this beauty and keep it as a show car that I bring out a couple times a year. I know it's hard to speculate on these kinds of things, but I get the feeling that if I fixed the mechanical issues, detailed in the interior, exterior, and engine, then this could really be worth something 25 years down the road? Kind of a no-brainer right? At the very least, I'd still have a really sweet classic car.

Anyone have thoughts on this?


This is a really good deal if the car checks out. A working/upgraded odometer gearset would have been nice. Just because it's kind of a boring/lame repair to have to do immediately.

Keep in mind that these cars (especially the M30, over the S38) tend to fair better over time when they are driven often. Automatics get clunky, coolant corrodes, windows and seats stick/motors fail, suspension rubber gets flat, battery will be dead in a few weeks, etc. I have to drive mine at least once a week.

No qualms about having it be a garage queen. Just know that it may be as much, if not more, maintenance as a driving car. Once a week, maybe once a month if you have a battery tender, drive it for an hour at speed. That should be the bare minimum of exercise for a higher mileage auto. I'd just be wary that if you pull it out once every 3 months, you might be disappointed that it's not perfectly ready to go on-demand.

But of course, all this is moot. Because as soon as you buy a 6, you'll be driving it everywhere you can justify a 2-door car.

[maxg765]

It looks to be a nice example (but I have not seen it in person thus don't use my comment as a PPI) As long as your not looking for an investment/classic car to make money on then the E24 is a very nice "classic" car that can also be used as a daily driver. That said, if it checks out, remains maintained cosmetically and mechanically and if you don't end up spending considerable dollars in repairs I don't think you would loose your purchase price if sold in the future. I have to believe that any good looking well sorted basic E24 will always be worth over 5k especially in 3 to 5 years time from now. I have seen values "climb" in the past two years. These cars have been at the bottom for some time now, when your down you can only go up… :)

One question I have, the add suggests that its got Style 5 wheels. Maybe someone in the know can chime in but, are those really Style 5's? I thought the proper 16" Style 5's or otherwise known as BBS RS's are 3 piece wheels.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I have a feeling that if you don't buy this E24 it will be another and soon.

Max

[Bert Poliakoff]

Dude, No roundel on '88 cars (airbag)...BUT, the missing blue cloth??? Where's Bert P?

I am here with a box of new blue cloths. Thank you George!!

[bkats]

It looks to be a nice example (but I have not seen it in person thus don't use my comment as a PPI) As long as your not looking for an investment/classic car to make money on then the E24 is a very nice "classic" car that can also be used as a daily driver. That said, if it checks out, remains maintained cosmetically and mechanically and if you don't end up spending considerable dollars in repairs I don't think you would loose your purchase price if sold in the future. I have to believe that any good looking well sorted basic E24 will always be worth over 5k especially in 3 to 5 years time from now. I have seen values "climb" in the past two years. These cars have been at the bottom for some time now, when your down you can only go up… :)

One question I have, the add suggests that its got Style 5 wheels. Maybe someone in the know can chime in but, are those really Style 5's? I thought the proper 16" Style 5's or otherwise known as BBS RS's are 3 piece wheels.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I have a feeling that if you don't buy this E24 it will be another and soon.

Max


The wheels on that car are definitely style 5's. (though that center cap is definitely not from any style 5 I've ever seen) They are probably from an E28 or even an E34. There were several iterations of the style 5, including the E39 two-piece design with the bolts, BBS RC090.

The BBS RS is a different wheel. It is a 3-piece wheel with a different center cap. It is most/extremely similar to the E39 style 5 and is often used as a substitute.

[alpinacsi]

BMW style 5 refers to many wheels some of which were 1 piece.

[Ed Lyerly]

Investment worthy E24's ..... you be the judge based on the number produced:

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/855/slf3.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/nrslf3j)

[Roku35]

I'm thinking about just pulling the trigger regardless of appreciation because it's easily the best deal I've seen on Craigslist/Ebay/etc in a long time. Even if it's not worth anything, I think it's without a doubt one the best looking 2 doors form the 80's.

Knowone here will argue with you that the E24 IS the sweetest looking BMW ever made in its era. It is still timeless and turns heads on an hourly basis when I drive them around town. Lots of good advice here to take your time and find a really good example. You will be 10 times happier when you find that special E24 that was waiting for you to find her. It is a great time to look for a REALLY nice one because pricing has been moving up very slowly over the past year. Shocking actually to see some list prices of some really nice condition cars, but they will get harder to find in great condition as more time passes by. More the reason to go out and buy 2-3 of them :D

Good luck on your hunt. The HUNT is truly the most fun part for me. The rest is history...