Is it profitable to import an e30 touring?

[Spaceturtle917]

I'm going to Germany in the spring and I'm interested in buying an e30 touring while I'm there. I would love to own one for a little while and then sell it for a profit. Is this feasible financially. It looks like they're pretty cheap over there and sell for up to $10,000 here in the states. I'm just concerned about logistics because I have no idea what I'm getting myself into but I want to learn how to do it. I live in West Michigan so I don't think I'm near a port unless there is one in Lake Michigan or another Great Lake.

I really just want to know if I can make a profit doing this before I get my reading glasses on.

[sienayr]

Doesn't seem like a yes or no question. Too many variables.

[superj]

two or there have sold in the last year, here in texas, for 10k plus. there is one right now for 10k on craigslist. a red one that still needs a little work

[John Adkins]

I have no experience, but I can't imagine making a profit on importing any E30, even an M.

[superj]

I bought a 90 318 that a guy had imported when he came back from being stationed in Germany. since the military brings it back, he said it wasn't hard or expensive. you have to get some type of inspection and some little things changed but after that, its just put it on the boat for home and pick it up once it gets here. well, and do the registration and inspection here but he made it sound easy, being he was military

[tomstin]

I think it comes down to how bad do you want an E30 Touring? I doubt if it will be "profitable" as, for the most part, I compare these old cars to boats where the expression is "a boat is a hole in the water in which you pour money!" I feel you need to view these old cars as a hobby. With the hours we put into them, there will only be a few cases where someone really makes any money.

[hotdish]

I talked to a few touring owners and ex-owners at a show last summer and it sounded like it like they either lost money or a lot of time and effort on it. I'm not sure if they bought them online or actually went over to europe though.

[msservices]

The only one guaranteed to make money is the shipping company

[superj]

no doubt!!

[lad740]

I'm going to Germany in the spring and I'm interested in buying an e30 touring while I'm there. I would love to own one for a little while and then sell it for a profit. Is this feasible financially. It looks like they're pretty cheap over there and sell for up to $10,000 here in the states. I'm just concerned about logistics because I have no idea what I'm getting myself into but I want to learn how to do it. I live in West Michigan so I don't think I'm near a port unless there is one in Lake Michigan or another Great Lake.

I really just want to know if I can make a profit doing this before I get my reading glasses on.

let me know how that works out.

[82eye]

finding a non rusty one from that part of the world is going to be the hardest part. it is a northern climate a lot like canada here. the insurance and registration requirements in many european countries is far more strict, which gets many cars pulled off the road and crushed. the ones that survive command a higher price just like over here, making it hard or near impossible to be a profitable venture. this is one reason japanese imports are popular.

when i lived in sweden many car enthusiasts tried to get cars out of switzerland. the swiss do not allow rust anywhere on a vehicle or it can't be insured and registered.

[earthwormjim]

It's going to be a lot of work just to maybe make a few thousand in profit on one car. Cheap tourings in Germany are rust buckets which failed TUV, those cars will not sell for $10,000 in the US.
Germany also had a cash for clunkers program not too long ago, which destroyed a lot of marginally OK vehicles. Prices are not as low as you think for older cars in good shape now.

If you could import a bunch of cars, it might be worth the time an effort to fill a few containers.

[paynemw]

I live in Germany right now and am going through the process of finding a solid e30 touring. I don't care if it's a 316i, 318i, 320i or 325i. The only thing I care about is TÜV and no rust. I've found a ton for €3k but they all need something. I can find a €5K - €8k touring but then I broach into the no profit margin. This is where I'm debating on picking up the Touring not to resell, but to daily when I'm back in the US.