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Thread: Value of a rough E24?

  1. #1
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    Value of a rough E24?

    I'm trying to help someone find a home for what I believe is a '78 Alpina. Are they worth much in rough shape? It "ran when parked" over a decade ago. It's been sitting outside with some of the windows open, so the interior is pretty bad. Doesn't look rusty, but I haven't looked closely. I'll try to gather more info/pics.

  2. #2
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    Wide range depending on what it really is and the condition.

  3. #3
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    If a real Alpina, there's value, but going to be hard without lots of pix. Even then it's speculation. The best thing would probably be a BaT auction.

  4. #4
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    Any Alpina is worth a lot more than the car it's based on so even a parts car has some value. The big problem with valuation in my mind is restoration costs. Once you've factored those costs in, you'll have a good idea of prospective value. There are so many variables it's really difficult to toss out a number...if you just needed some stock trim pieces, that's not really a big deal. On the other hand...bespoke Alpina parts are not easy to come by. Alpina still stands behind every car they've built (AFAIK) but I'd presume their services are not cheap.

    As a first step, I'd strongly recommend reaching out to Alpina so you can verify that it's actually one of their cars. Without a "pedigree" the car is just another E24. Then post some pics...I love to see new projects.

    I couldn't find anything on Hagarty, but I did find this value estimator. Here's a link to the early B7 turbo values. Seems pretty accurate, but I'm no expert.
    Save the manuals!
    '08 128i 6MT, '86 635CSi 5MT (B32, Motronic 1.3, WBO2, G265, 18# FW, 3.46 torsen)
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    '96 318iS, sold 4/23 '90 535iM, RIP 1/23 '90 535iA RIP 6/22 '91 318i, sold 7/19 '97 M3 sedan, sold 11/18 '85 735i, RIP 2/18 '92 325iC, sold 7/16 '91 318iS, sold 6/16 '84 745i, sold 10/14 '82 633CSi, traded 9/12 '90 325i, RIP '87 325 sold '89 525i, traded '87 325iS, RIP

  5. #5
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    If it's rough, you can't buy it too cheap!

  6. #6
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    It's been a while, but I'm back! I'm certainly not a BMW/Alpina expert, but as far as I can tell, it's a 1978 633 CSi with some Alpina parts, bad interior and rotten floors. Are these cars worth restoring, or is this a parts car? Drivetrain might be OK. Exterior body panels look good. Has Alpina road wheels and steering wheel.

  7. #7
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    We need lots of pics.

    Without pics I feel confident in saying it's worth $500 to $30,000. Depending on what it actually is.
    1977 633 CSi RHD Euro. S38B38 3.9L M5 Transplant. 5 Speed Getrag Dogleg. 3.73 LSD. 417hp, 369lb/ft
    1971 3.0CS E3 2dr Alpina Special Coupe Racer, 347hp, 295lb/ft

  8. #8
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    Some photos attached. The exterior photos are old, the others are current.
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  9. #9
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    Wow - that's a pretty confusing car. Looks to be a US model - you can use RealOEM to make sure by putting in the last 7 digits of the VIN here: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/select

    I'll leave surety to experts here, but I'd say it isn't an Alpina. US-car and only a few bits that genuine Alpina. It's a parts car. That said, there are some good parts. Depending on condition, that steering wheel is worth very solid money. Those are really desirable seats, though of course they need to be recovered. But they're very hard to come by and amazingly comfortable. The Hartge strut brace has some value, and the Alpina badge might as well. The wheels, depending on condition, are worth $250-$650.

    The good news is all of those things are pretty easily removed. I'm not sure I'd buy the whole car for the parts unless transporting it/etc. is something you can do yourself. A US E12-chassis car isn't worth a lot in running condition, certainly not a restore candidate, and the normal parts in the likely condition they're in aren't either.

    I'd love to be wrong, but I'd consider making an offer for the good parts and leaving the rest there.
    Last edited by e24mpwr; 02-06-2019 at 03:27 PM.

  10. #10
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    It's a US car. It needs to go somewhere soon. The current owner is selling the house that it's parked at. It's only half a mile from my house, but my driveway is full of "junk" cars already! If it gets junked, I'll grab whatever parts I can.
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  11. #11
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    Where is it located and how much is the spread that you are looking to make if you sell thx..Im in ny state I can use a parts car...9179392775

  12. #12
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    That's an odd collection of parts, that's for sure. Early model gauge cluster, but with a few late model upgrades like the front chin spoiler. Oddly, the antenna location is from a late-model car. The 3/78 production isn't one of the transitional mid-'81 models. Those are a little bit of a grab bag, you never know what you're going to get. I agree about the Alpina stuff being added to a 'normal' E24. Definitely has the US version bumpers. Those look like later BMW wheels, maybe Style 5 from a '90s E39? They're worth a little.

    +1 on the nice parts. Steering wheel, definitely the Recaros (don't forget the mounting rails, they're not interchangeable), strut brace, rear spoiler is worth a bit. The '78 would have had a 4-speed manual gearbox and a single-mass flywheel, that's worth a bit too.
    Save the manuals!
    '08 128i 6MT, '86 635CSi 5MT (B32, Motronic 1.3, WBO2, G265, 18# FW, 3.46 torsen)
    Past projects:
    '96 318iS, sold 4/23 '90 535iM, RIP 1/23 '90 535iA RIP 6/22 '91 318i, sold 7/19 '97 M3 sedan, sold 11/18 '85 735i, RIP 2/18 '92 325iC, sold 7/16 '91 318iS, sold 6/16 '84 745i, sold 10/14 '82 633CSi, traded 9/12 '90 325i, RIP '87 325 sold '89 525i, traded '87 325iS, RIP

  13. #13
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    They're 16" Alpina wheels, or at least they have Alpina center caps. It has a 5-speed shift knob, but I know that doesn't mean much. Are they Recaro seats? They say König on them and have air bulbs for (I think) the lumbar support.

    It's parked in Wolcott NY, which is halfway between Rochester and Syracuse. It might be best for anyone interested in it to contact the owner directly. There are two tractors and people around the neighborhood to help get it positioned for loading onto a trailer.

    The owner's name is Ray.
    geeray49@gmail.com
    315 594 9601
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  14. #14
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    I can't say for sure, but I think those are just BMW wheels with an Alpina center cap and anodized wheel studs. Could be wrong.

    I'm not close or in the market for any of that, but given the amount of work needed to get any money out of those parts, you'd really have to buy them right - less than $500 IMHO for everything. If that come with the rest of the car, I'd offer at least $100 less...

  15. #15
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    Looks like an E23 rear spoiler to me.

  16. #16
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    Konig was a tuner like Alpina although they did mostly body work. Konig seats may be from a rare Konig E24 or possible a 911 from the same time period. I would say they are rarer than Alpina seats.
    1977 633 CSi RHD Euro. S38B38 3.9L M5 Transplant. 5 Speed Getrag Dogleg. 3.73 LSD. 417hp, 369lb/ft
    1971 3.0CS E3 2dr Alpina Special Coupe Racer, 347hp, 295lb/ft

  17. #17
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    But at the cost of re upholstering severely deteriorated seats seats it is really the value of the frames. And not a high value. A lot of guys, at least in the US won't go after stuff like that as many upholsterers won't touch them. and those that do will gauge your eyeballs out.
    81 Euro undergoing total nut and bolt restoration
    pictures at: flickr.com/photos/bertsphotos

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bert Poliakoff View Post
    But at the cost of re upholstering severely deteriorated seats seats it is really the value of the frames. And not a high value. A lot of guys, at least in the US won't go after stuff like that as many upholsterers won't touch them. and those that do will gauge your eyeballs out.
    Agree for the most part. Better than letting them go to the crusher/landfill though

    When they're in good shape, those are insanely comfortable seats

  19. #19
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    I stand corrected...apparently those are actual Koenig seats, made in Germany. I never knew that was a thing! They look a lot like the Le Mans series, still offered for sale. While they certainly have a passing resemblance to Recaros the details are all different. I wonder if they're from the wonderful widebodied world of Walter Koenig somehow? I would have thought that spares were unobtainable, but it looks like they might not be a huge problem. It's a really neat bit of history!

    The wheels could be genuine 3-piece BBS RS, like a 148 or 149. Those were a very common (and expensive) upgrade in 15" sizes on early 80s cars. I'd suspect any 16" version would have come from another BMW, maybe an E39, with new center caps. Nice looking wheels regardless, no doubt about it.
    Last edited by DesktopDave; 02-08-2019 at 11:32 AM.
    Save the manuals!
    '08 128i 6MT, '86 635CSi 5MT (B32, Motronic 1.3, WBO2, G265, 18# FW, 3.46 torsen)
    Past projects:
    '96 318iS, sold 4/23 '90 535iM, RIP 1/23 '90 535iA RIP 6/22 '91 318i, sold 7/19 '97 M3 sedan, sold 11/18 '85 735i, RIP 2/18 '92 325iC, sold 7/16 '91 318iS, sold 6/16 '84 745i, sold 10/14 '82 633CSi, traded 9/12 '90 325i, RIP '87 325 sold '89 525i, traded '87 325iS, RIP

  20. #20
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    The Alpina steering wheel has some value and looks like it would clean up well. But reproductions are available so the resale market may be somewhat limited. However, the rear spoiler is definitely Alpina and it's very hard to find one these days. Have not been made for many years and probably never will be again. As for the rest of the car, it would be a whole lot of work to restore--I just don't see it.

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by DesktopDave View Post
    I stand corrected...apparently those are actual Koenig seats, made in Germany. I never knew that was a thing! They look a lot like the Le Mans series, still offered for sale. While they certainly have a passing resemblance to Recaros the details are all different. I wonder if they're from the wonderful widebodied world of Walter Koenig somehow? I would have thought that spares were unobtainable, but it looks like they might not be a huge problem. It's a really neat bit of history!

    The wheels could be genuine 3-piece BBS RS, like a 148 or 149. Those were a very common (and expensive) upgrade in 15" sizes on early 80s cars. I'd suspect any 16" version would have come from another BMW, maybe an E39, with new center caps. Nice looking wheels regardless, no doubt about it.
    I have seen these seats for sale as a pair from between $3k to $4.5k. Although I agree with Bert, there is a little more playing room with these seats. I'd at the least look at a reupholstering price. They are unobtanium and someone, somewhere will want them. You may only get $200 for them in this condition, maybe up to $400, but someone will want to put the effort in. I see these once every 3 to 5 years, and usually somewhere too hard to get them out like Poland.
    1977 633 CSi RHD Euro. S38B38 3.9L M5 Transplant. 5 Speed Getrag Dogleg. 3.73 LSD. 417hp, 369lb/ft
    1971 3.0CS E3 2dr Alpina Special Coupe Racer, 347hp, 295lb/ft

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by jonmont View Post
    The Alpina steering wheel has some value and looks like it would clean up well. But reproductions are available so the resale market may be somewhat limited. However, the rear spoiler is definitely Alpina and it's very hard to find one these days. Have not been made for many years and probably never will be again. As for the rest of the car, it would be a whole lot of work to restore--I just don't see it.
    Not so. Those Alpina wheels can be bought for less than $500 new and still available. Maybe $125 for a wheel needing recovering
    81 Euro undergoing total nut and bolt restoration
    pictures at: flickr.com/photos/bertsphotos

  23. #23
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    The property where this car is parked has been sold. A low ball offer to the car's owner might get someone a cheap E24. Don't tell him I posted this!
    The owner's name is Ray.
    geeray49@gmail.com
    315 594 9601

  24. #24
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    It would be worth getting the steering wheel and seats. I wouldn't bother with the rest of it.
    Euro '85 635csi E24, '03 E46 325xi wagon 5-speed, '05 325xi sedan 5-speed, '67 VW Bug, '14 F150, '17 Jetta
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