Looking to buy, any thoughts on what is good price is for this?

[williegarvin]

Hello,

I am new to this forum and considering buying a 1991 318is. I or the current owner don't know the details but it was in an acciddent in 2000, salvaged, reconstructed, and has been in use since then. Based on autocheck it has been about 25,000 miles since this so I assume it has been running okay, and it seemed to run fine when I test drove it.

Known issues with it are that there is a minor crack in the console, has a broken passenger side interior light, a small dent in the rear of the trunk, and the paint on the back half of the car is fading (while the front/hood is shiny and glossy - I assume maybe that was the reconstructed part??). In general it cosmetically isn't great. Some paint chipping/peeling towards the bottom of the car.

The car passed safety and emissions tests last year.

Any thoughts on what ballpark figure I should be thinking? My main concern is the salvage history. Then again, since it made it through ~10 years and 25,000 miles since the accident, and seemed fine on test drive, maybe I sholdn't be as worried?

Thanks for any advice.

[romeomike]

http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5 first post has an extensive checklist.

I couldn't evaluate suspension for you. An informal check would be to have someone drive the car and you follow from behind to see how straight it is and if there are any wheel wobble issues.

Repainting -- many shops won't touch because of the age of the car. If you have access to a competent high-school vo-tech program and can be patient, that's one approach. You can search on forums similar to this one about using Maaco (pluses, minuses, advice) and make up your own mind from there.

When you talk about console, do you mean the dash (somewhat expensive and labor intensive), the panel holding the radio and AC/heater controls, the center console (window switches, front ashtray, gearshift lever) or rear console (parking brake and rear ashtray)? The further back you go, the easier they are to work with. The interior light fix ought to be straightforward.

Unless a mechanic competent with BMWs can "bless" the reconstruction job, you'll always have that cloud over your head. An auto insurance adjuster would be another source of perspective.

An E30 parts car (example, everything works except it has a blown engine) would go for about $500. As you describe it, this car is one step above parts car status, although passing a state safety exam helps a bit. If it were me, I'd pass on it.

Good luck in your search.

[williegarvin]

Thanks for the input. The crack is in the dashboard and I guess it isn't all that small (probably a couple of cracks a good 5-10 cms). Also I forgot to mention the A/C doesn't work, the compressor needs replaced.

Based on the Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds.com, etc, I was thinking it would be worth about $800-900 or so, if it didn't have a salvage history. Salvage history would probably bump it the price down a little more. Not sure if that's too much of a low ball offer, though, it is way lower than what the owner wants. Maybe I'll see if she will let me take it to the mechanic to check it out.

http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5 first post has an extensive checklist.

I couldn't evaluate suspension for you. An informal check would be to have someone drive the car and you follow from behind to see how straight it is and if there are any wheel wobble issues.

Repainting -- many shops won't touch because of the age of the car. If you have access to a competent high-school vo-tech program and can be patient, that's one approach. You can search on forums similar to this one about using Maaco (pluses, minuses, advice) and make up your own mind from there.

When you talk about console, do you mean the dash (somewhat expensive and labor intensive), the panel holding the radio and AC/heater controls, the center console (window switches, front ashtray, gearshift lever) or rear console (parking brake and rear ashtray)? The further back you go, the easier they are to work with. The interior light fix ought to be straightforward.

Unless a mechanic competent with BMWs can "bless" the reconstruction job, you'll always have that cloud over your head. An auto insurance adjuster would be another source of perspective.

An E30 parts car (example, everything works except it has a blown engine) would go for about $500. As you describe it, this car is one step above parts car status, although passing a state safety exam helps a bit. If it were me, I'd pass on it.

Good luck in your search.