I would happily pay $3000 for an e30 M3 but somehow the non M e30's just don't grab me no matter how well restored they are.
On the other hand I don't really like the e46 M3 and probably wouldn't pay $3000 for one.
97 BMW M3 (s52b32) - VF-Supercharger kit ( Vortech V2-SQ supercharger, 32 pound injectors, VF tuning ), VDO/LeatherZ Gauge Kit (Oil Temp, Oil Pressure, and Boost), UUC Motorwerks RSC36 Exhaust, Stainless Steel 6-2 Exhaust Headers, Bilstein Sports, Rear Adjustable Camber bushings, Wheel Spacers 10mm in front 25mm in back, Uprated Clutch, UUC Shift Knob, Short Shifter and Clutch Stop, Cross Brace, Mason Engineering front strut bar, Contour Wheels, Euro Ellipsoid (Angel Eyes) HID Headlights, braided steel brake lines, aluminum thermostat housing, mishimoto aluminum radiator and silicone hoses and a partridge in a pear tree
I bought my '91 for $2500 in 2011 w/ about 250k miles. It was in great condition, no rust (Tennessee car) and I am the second owner. 6 months ago, I reprayed it same color (including engine bay), had the interior reupholstered, rebuilt the bottom end/o-ring/new bimmerheadz 885 head, replaced the clutch along with a ton of other parts....I also turbocharged it to give it 2013 performance if you will....to, me, this car is practially brand new, including all of the other maintenance I did when I bought the car. The dash has a tiny crack in the "tray" area, and the headliner needs to be cleaned. Other than that, I would call this car perfect and would try to get $15k for it. Now, is there someone willing to pay that? Who knows....but it would have to be the right buyer and that person would be looking for, essentially, a new E30, with some go fast parts.
1997 Arctic Silver/Black M3
CES Stage IV (651rwhp/615rwtq @ 24 psi)
1999 Techno Violet/Dove M3
Auto/Convertible and staying stock!
Oh yeah? How about this one...
http://www.gutenparts.com/classified...1987-332e.html
Look no further than Enthusiast Auto: http://enthusiastauto.com/qsearch/?f...74_0=1&x=5&y=9
1997 Arctic Silver/Black M3
CES Stage IV (651rwhp/615rwtq @ 24 psi)
1999 Techno Violet/Dove M3
Auto/Convertible and staying stock!
The car that started it all.
I've got an 86 325e which is clean and for the most part original and detailed and I feel like I'm loosing out asking only $3500 since I spent that almost in just the restore itself. The car drives great, sounds great, looks great and yet people are calling me crazy
If it's in nice shape, it can certainly sell for $15k. this one did (even thought the new owner got hosed)...
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=305287
I am mainly talking about stock E30s, not heavily modded out cars with massive performance upgrades.
Those are a different category with a different price market.
But, are people here still complaining about paying $3000 for a nice 325i with under 150k miles?
E39 DIYs done: Wipers, O2 sensors , MAF , Upper/Lower Intake Boots , FSU , ABS module fix , Power Steering Reservoir , Changed Rear Differential Oil , DISA , SAP, Vacuum lines , Radar Detector Hardwire , Fuel Filter , LED Angel Eyes , Headlight Adjusters--> [1],[2], [3] , Headlight Polishing, Punted: Fan Clutch/Tensioner/Pulleys , Oil cap O-rings , Window regulator ,Crumbling Cowl
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...5i-turbo-build!
Here is my build thread from 6 months ago....
1997 Arctic Silver/Black M3
CES Stage IV (651rwhp/615rwtq @ 24 psi)
1999 Techno Violet/Dove M3
Auto/Convertible and staying stock!
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/cto/4253935319.html
Here in SoCal this is a reasonable price. I see them listed north of 5 on a pretty regular basis. Its just like anything else, the nice ones are fewer and farther between and guys like me who loved these cars in my early 20's can and will spend 4-5K for a stroll down memory lane.
I have said this for several years - e30's will do the same thing that most 60's muscle cars have done, even if they don't have the following that a '69 camaro does. Guys who were parting clean shells due to light accident damage or rust are going to wish they hadn't done that, eventually. The moral of the story is to buy what you want now. Just look at 2002's. Why wouldn't e30's do the same thing?
If I can restore this piece of junk, anything is possible. My progress thread : http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1607757
The 318i Thread http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1602418
I dunno, the 325i vert prices remain low, suppressed due to lack of demand, who knows? All I know is that I got mine for $2K with over 10 years of service records, put about $1500 into it, and have enjoyed the sheeet out of it over the last year and have no plans of getting rid of it. Got it with a legit 150K, put 5K on it in a year. Bills include new top, timing belt, heater core. The work we did (me and my son) included shocks and struts, brakes, suspension refresh all around. Makes for a great car to drive and an amazingly cheap German car hobby. Maybe not a car 'investment' -- but all that stuff just takes cars off the road, puts them in the hands of affluent collectors that never drive them.
Not sure if relevant but I just bought a 1990 Alpine White 325i for $300! The timing belt broke so it needs a new engine but for $300 I couldn't pass it up.
9/2004 Chevrolet Suburban Z71, black, purchased March 2016, 270k miles.
6/99 740i Cosmos Schwartz M Sport, 214k miles, purchased May 2017
2001 740i OrientBlau M Sport, purchased March 2023
1984 MasterCraft Stars and Stripes, Blue/White, PCM Ford 351W, PowerSlot, 912 hours, purchased September 2012 (not a car )
4/99 323is/5. Titansilber, 211k miles. Straight body project.
past BMWs: 5/1994 325isa (Arktisgrau), 3/1997 328is/5 (cosmosschwartz), 9/1990 535i/5 (calypsorot), 9/1990 318i/5 (brillantrot) 7/93 325i/5 convertible (samoablau) 2/92 325i/5 cabriolet (lagunengruen).
SÜNDE REISEN
You can still find them cheap, but they are few and far between if the seller knows what they have. Down here bare rolling shells sell for $500 no sweat. Also, as mentioned, pull the head and see if any valve heads broke off, if so, the engine is probably toast. We have repaired several engines that had broken timing belts, only had one that had the valves break off and made the bottom end useless.
I think I got pretty lucky with my Eta. I got it for $2000 from my best friend. He was the second owner and I had the full history of the car. The only things it needed to certify for registration was the fan resistor pack and brakes all around. It at 227K KM (136K Miles). Never been winter driven until I got it. I'll be crossing 300K KM in the next month or so. It's been a solid, fun car to own.
If I can put some money together, I'm seriously considering a modest engine swap, probably M/S 52, since that one seems pretty popular and has been done a lot. Unless of course, someone can suggest a better swap.
I'm not looking for crazy power, just to upgrade the existing engine to something more modern so I can maximize the life of the car, because quite honestly, now that I have an E30, I want to stay in it.
From what I've seen cost wise, even if I get it done professionally, I'm going to be well below the cost of a new car. If I can manage at least some work myself, I'll save even more $$$
That said, I'm sure the Eta will likely hold out for at least another couple of years, the way things are going.
1986 325 ~Elsa~
Alpenweiss
Need a photographer, come visit my site: http://estoguy.wix.com/unique-perspectives
"The future is uncertain and the end is always near."
1997 Arctic Silver/Black M3
CES Stage IV (651rwhp/615rwtq @ 24 psi)
1999 Techno Violet/Dove M3
Auto/Convertible and staying stock!
E30 mk1 should be cheaper than the mk2 ones..
E30 likes to rust and fixing rust is boring...
I got lucky when i bought my mtech 2 touring.. Allthough it's not a factory mtech it has LSD and akot of other goodies..
Was sold but that dudes trade in car cought fire on the freeway in route to finalize the deal.. I was only 130km from it so i hoped on the bus and paid cash..
Been further down south it'd been gone fast..
Good thing people are lazy
BMW E34 Touring 92/8 525/5 Electrical black sports leather, 3.73 LSD. Black on black
BMW E30 Touring 89/3 325/5 Manual black sports leather, 3.91 LSD. Diamond Black on black
- From sweden yah b0rk b0rk b0rk -
$19k for an E30 ?
http://bringatrailer.com/2014/03/27/...bmw-e30-323is/
Have prices gone up in the last 3 years?
Or can you still get a clean E30 for $3000 ?
E39 DIYs done: Wipers, O2 sensors , MAF , Upper/Lower Intake Boots , FSU , ABS module fix , Power Steering Reservoir , Changed Rear Differential Oil , DISA , SAP, Vacuum lines , Radar Detector Hardwire , Fuel Filter , LED Angel Eyes , Headlight Adjusters--> [1],[2], [3] , Headlight Polishing, Punted: Fan Clutch/Tensioner/Pulleys , Oil cap O-rings , Window regulator ,Crumbling Cowl
Thread from the dead.
I still laugh at people who argue that paying ~$5000 for a good E30 here is too much. I haven't paid anywhere near that in the past, but if I was in the market for an E30 right now I'd sure love to spend more and not have to constantly worry about shit breaking. About 6k deep into my 320i I've finally achieved this mark, but if I'd count in the time spent on it that's a 10k car.
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