1987 325 convertable 14k miles value?

Tyrepros · Post by **Tyrepros** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 3:10 pm

Group,

A friend has this car and it is mint. She would like to know the approximate value she should ask for when it is finally put up. 14k miles, Grey/burgundy leather black top. What should she ask for? Auto.

dhirschhorn · Post by **dhirschhorn** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 3:58 pm

If this car's in mint shape and your friend waits for the right buyer I think it should bring at least 10 to 12 thousand (maybe more if someone wants a mint low mileage E30 bad enough), but it might take a while to get that money. You might want to scan Ebay to try to find the proper price. Every now and then I see a low mileage mint E30 there, but not many other places.

Goodluck,

David

NeilE30 · Post by **NeilE30** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 7:06 pm

NADA.com says it worth $3187 to $5087, based on a clean vehicle history. In red for that price I would consider it.

Neil

Wiseguy · Post by **Wiseguy** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 7:46 pm

NeilE30 wrote:NADA.com says it worth $3187 to $5087, based on a clean vehicle history. In red for that price I would consider it.

Neil

Neil,

NADA values are completely irrelevant with exceptional older BMWs. I'm a dealer and will buy 25 of them at that price. Check values on E30 M3s, E28 M5s, etc.. not even close to reality. IIRC they claim a 1990 M3 with 28k on it is barely worth $10-12k!

Car is probably worth about $10-12,000 assuming it looks like a 14k mile car and is not in need of deferred maintinence.

Bill

NeilE30 · Post by **NeilE30** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 6:24 pm

Bill,

I ran across a 1991 318 is with 114,000 miles on it. It was pretty clean except for either a rock or shopping cart dent in the side, a broken fog lamp and the antenna needed to be replaced. Is $4000.00 a good price for this car?

Neil

mazing1 · Post by **mazing1** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 5:05 pm

HI - I think the value of any "exceptional" BMW is somewhat a function of the market at any given time. I would also think that the exceptional value theory typically applies to M cars (e.g. the E30M3 or the E28M5 for example) more times than non M cars. Having owned an E30M3 and still own an E28M5 the value I can get in the market is far greater than the book value. Their rarity, M badge, and of course their quality (mechanical, body, interior, etc.) coupled with relatively low mileage as compared to the general market would command a premium. That said, I have seen good higher mileage (but normal for a car 25+ years old) E30 non M 3 series cars asking in the $2 to $5 range. Does this mean that the car we are talking about is only worth $2 to $5, probably not. Does it mean it is in the good E30M3 and E28M5 range, probably not. North of $5 and south of $10 seems about right. North of $10, I'm sure there is someone out there, but you need patience I would think.
Cheers, Mark.

thomasrossi · Post by **thomasrossi** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 5:23 pm

A quick scan of autotrader on line reveals that ASKING Prices range up to about $8k for lower mileage e30's. There is currently available, for example, a supposedly mint condition 325 convertable, 1988, for about 8.5k, in MD.

However, many e30's are available for well under $4k and would be perfectly suitable as daily drivers. So you'd have to find a collector to get a big premium. That may take time.

I passed on a 1990 e30 with 40 something thousand for $7500 about a year ago.... just didn't think the low mileage was worth the premium for what I wanted it for (son's first car). The guy i almost bought it from had already had it on the market for a year.

Good luck.

320iJT · Post by **320iJT** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 11:49 am

I ran a check on the dealer auction site. One e30 cabrio with 23K on it did $9500 and that's wholesale. I think that car should do an easy $9-11K retail all day long. I sold my 88 with 145k on it for a quick $5300. The guy who bought it told me people offered him anywhere from $5500-6000 for it if he wanted to sell.