Author Topic: What's mine worth? (Read 9578 times)

Zonker92 · « **on:** October 22, 2008, 03:45:01 PM »

EDIT: PIX BELOW

Noob here. Hope this is the right area for this question:

Last year my dad gave me his old 1991 318i convertible. It is the E30 with the M42 engine, a salvage title (it got rear-ended once) and around 120,000 miles. Steel wheels with plastic covers, five-speed tranny and no fog lights or lip spoiler.

It actually looks pretty good from more than five feet away; nice and shiny metallic bronze paint and a fairly clean interior. And it runs great, with a new timing belt, radiator, steering rack, hoses, belts, brakes, etc. Everything works fine.

On the minus side, it drips oil front and back, the suspension feels sloppy (I think it needs new bushings and maybe shocks) and the soft top needs to be replaced soon; it's pretty worn-out, albeit functional. Up close you can see the paint and bumpers have some blemishes. The driver's side mirror is cracked. One rear speaker doesn't work.

I like the car, but I'm basically a Miata guy (and I have an Evo IX). I was thinking of selling the Bimmer and buying a cheap Miata, which would be my fourth Miata in series.

Any thoughts on what the Bimmer might be worth? I can post pictures later, but maybe you get the basic idea above. I was thinking maybe putting it on Autotrader or eBay.

EN318isPDX · « **Reply #1 on:** October 22, 2008, 03:59:01 PM »

really hard to say a price on a Salvaged car.. i would say it would be a huge loss to sell this car and go for a miata. I wouldnt pay more than 1000 dollars for a salvaged car unless its a perfect restored car.. but even then its not worth full price

EN318isPDX · « **Reply #2 on:** October 22, 2008, 03:59:36 PM »

I say keep it build it up and auto x the shit out of it

Zonker92 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 22, 2008, 04:10:38 PM »

Thanks, but I'm just not feeling the love. I figure maybe $2,500 would get it the way I'd want it, with tight suspension and a new top, plus alloy wheels and new tires. I could do all that, but it would still not be the right color for my tastes, and the steering would not feel as tight as I'm used to ...

But it could definitely be a very fun car if I did all that. The question is, on what car do I want to spend that money?

EN318isPDX · « **Reply #4 on:** October 22, 2008, 04:15:39 PM »

I love my 318is. I've always seen the cabrios as kind of a chick car. I feel the same way about miatas too though

Zonker92 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 22, 2008, 04:37:38 PM »

I could get all worked up defending Miatas, but I've BTDT too many times. The only real answer is to drive one. They're perfectly balanced, they feel just like go-karts, they eat up corners, they love to be modified, and the steering feel is, well, right up there with an E30 M3 or my Evo IX.

For me, it's all about that holy trinity of shifter, pedals and steering wheel (the only places your extremities touch the car), and a car either has it or it doesn't. But you're right, a lot of motorheads dismiss Miatas as chick cars; in fact it's a running joke on the Miata.Net forum. When I had one with a 230 RWHP intercooled turbo, I had a great time wiping the smiles off people's faces. :p

But yeah, the E30 cabrio in metallic bronze definitely feels like a chick car to me; sort of like an old Mercedes 450 SL. I just hope my dad doesn't get too pissed off if I dump it.

The Bimmer people on the Miata forum suggest it's worth maybe $2,000. Seems like a decent ballpark figure to me.

EN318isPDX · « **Reply #6 on:** October 22, 2008, 05:14:21 PM »

Ya not a bad amount of cash to get for a totalled car. I am just speaking in general, obviously a heavily modded miata is no chick car but in the end its still a go kart on crack.

Most people say anyone who owns a BMW is a dick, this is mostly true for newer BMW owners. But i think that 90% of E30 owners are enthusiast these days so its becoming easier to mod them and more expensive to obtain them. I think a car thats from the 80s and has been used 100k+ is going to feel alot looser than a silly new Japanese car (think of it like a Japanese 4 year old vs a 25 year old prostitute). But if you drove an E30 that was near new or has had the suspension fixed and the steering fixed you will enjoy driving the Ultimate Driving Machine.

I drove my friend EVO8 (500awhp) and EVOX and i gotta say i enjoy getting behind the wheel of my old bimmer alot more than the EVO, i feel more connected with the road and i feel like i have more control of my old ass beamer.

Zonker92 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 22, 2008, 05:59:19 PM »

Oh, I hear ya. With new suspension rubber I'm sure my E30 would feel much, much better. But it would still be metallic bronze! :p And all the enthusiasts I've consulted have said the E30 steering rack is fairly slow compared to what I'm used to, although I know people do upgrade to an E36 rack with good results.

I would love an E30 M3 or a 325is coupe, but my particular version of the E30 is nice enough, but not really rocking my socks.

And I totally agree that vintage Bimmer owners should get an automatic exemption from perceived dick status; it's just not the same thing as driving a leased slush-box 2008 3-series at all!

EN318isPDX · « **Reply #8 on:** October 22, 2008, 06:57:25 PM »

Rattle can that shit black lol!! Ya i think E30 m3 is the nicest car on the road. I am not a huge fan of 325is's, they are a dime a dozen and if you want to be unique its all about the 318is

Danny707 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 22, 2008, 08:01:08 PM »

1500-2500

Where are you located?

That'll decide pricing as well.

318kid · « **Reply #10 on:** October 22, 2008, 09:32:09 PM »

I really wouldn't buy a salvaged car for all that much, but in texas you could probably pull around $1000-$1500ish. It all depends on how the pictures look! But seriously, if you got the suspension sorted it would be a great car to drive. Oh and what are you saying about the e30 looking gay? I think the miata looks like a chick car! (Unless its got a bodykit or a drop, some look pretty badass though)

xwill112x · « **Reply #11 on:** October 23, 2008, 12:11:04 PM »

bmw 318i > miata

e30 FTW!

EN318isPDX · « **Reply #12 on:** October 23, 2008, 12:24:01 PM »

post pics of this cabrio

JP 91iS · « **Reply #13 on:** October 23, 2008, 01:30:27 PM »

If you don't feel the love for it yet, you probably will never love it as much as a miata. But this would be a completely different story if your E30 wasn't a bronzit cabrio.

Zonker92 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 23, 2008, 01:31:51 PM »

Responding to various posts above:

- I'm in the Central Valley of California.
- I don't think E30s in general look ghey. I'm just not nuts about the looks of the metallic bronze cabrio in particular.
- I once tried to post pix on this forum, and they wouldn't upload, although they were properly sized. This weekend I'll try again, since the pix are on my home PC. It looks a lot like the is shown above, but in Cabrio with silver flat plastic OEM wheel covers. It photographs very well.
- Miata > E30, or E30 > Miata. Just depends upon which ones you're comparing. A stock Miata would smoke my current E30 through the turns, and I've logged some track time in several at Laguna Seca. I would definitely love a tasty E30 M3 or a cherry 3[XX]is.

Thanks for the thoughts!