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**CabrioPunk** · 03-15-2011, 02:51 PM

I recall seeing a white one on the market for sometime and it was in bad shape and wasn't selling for a good reason. Got pictures or? Looking to restore it? Swap it? Budget build?

Figure a good one goes for XX,000. Just start subtracting all the things it needs done. 3G for fresh interior. 4G for respray. And down the line.

Guy been trying to sell it all this time or ? Matters how motivated he is. Buyer determines the actual value at the time of sale.... throw him some r3v low-ballin' numbers!

Good luck.

**nrubenstein** · 03-15-2011, 02:58 PM

Non-running, basically intact cars start around $6k. If the thing doesn't require a paint job, maybe more. I picked mine up for $3,500. It's a mess (although it's basically rust free outside of a weird spot on the back end), but I enjoy fiddling, so it's slowly coming together.

**idobref** · 03-15-2011, 03:07 PM

Yeah, i guess he has no feelings towards the car but he knows what he has.. So he told me he was gonna try to get $7k for it the way it is, which I think it's too much.
Basically the car needs interior and whatever need to be done to the engine for the fact that it hasn't been started in a loooooong time.
I'm looking to rebuild it back to it's original condition and probably keep it stock for the most part.
I believe the interior will cost me a lot less than $3k (I'm good at finding good deals online, and some parts might be picked up from the junkyard) and as far as the exterior I don't think it's gonna need a lot of work (for now anyways)

**nrubenstein** · 03-15-2011, 03:12 PM

The basic answer is that based on the condition you've described, if he lists it properly, he will most likely get the $7k. Not requiring a full repaint is a big deal.

**idobref** · 03-15-2011, 03:14 PM

Yeah, the car won't need a paint job for sure, I forgot to mention that the car is absolutely rust free.

**idobref** · 03-15-2011, 03:33 PM

My only concern is the 9 year non-running period...
What parts need to be replaced that are gone bad from just sitting for so long?

**nrubenstein** · 03-15-2011, 03:35 PM

Originally posted by idobref View Post

Yeah, the car won't need a paint job for sure, I forgot to mention that the car is absolutely rust free.

If it's really, truly rust free then you ought to jump all over it. Even assuming an engine rebuild and piecing together an interior (everything but the seat covers can come from a standard E30 - and you can defer costs by using standard covers in the meantime), that's still not bad.

**nrubenstein** · 03-15-2011, 03:37 PM

Originally posted by idobref View Post

My only concern is the 9 year non-running period...
What parts need to be replaced that are gone bad from just sitting for so long?

Honestly, the basic question is whether or not the engine is seized. All the rubber would pretty much need to be replaced regardless.

**reelizmpro** · 03-15-2011, 03:45 PM

Hard to offer advice on something like that without detailed pictures. Sure sounds like a decent buy but it could easily go the other way and become a money pit too. Not many excuses to not run a car for 9 years. That's almost 1/2 it's life! Being in the desert helps with the rust issue. Interior is not a big deal, but the S14 is. Do a leak down on it. Pretty big deciding factor right there, the rest isn't a big deal.

**idobref** · 03-15-2011, 05:41 PM

^^ thanks!
I will talk to the "owner" and see what we can do about testing the engine ...
The only problem with him is that he is too busy all the time and he barely have to to deal with this car, that is the main factor why it took me so long till i was able to see the car, I wish he didn't care that much so he lets it go for cheap though :)

anyways, I will keep bugging him until he tells me to go f myself, or he gives up and let me have the car for cheap ;)
I doubt that I can run any tests on the car before buying it ;/

**M3TROY** · 03-15-2011, 05:58 PM

sounds like it all comes down to the motor.
as others have said before if it needs a full rebuild its gona cost you BIG!
but if you can lay the car up till you get the funds that's another option to consider.

hey sweet vert!

cheers :up:

**nrubenstein** · 03-15-2011, 05:58 PM

Look. The test for the engine is "is there oil in it?" and "will it turn?" If you can turn it with the crank bolt, that's good. I would NOT recommend trying to start it without doing some work. Assume it needs to be rebuilt.

**idobref** · 03-15-2011, 06:03 PM

He actually told me that he will turn the engine every few months (which i totally don't believe) for the last 9 years.
He promises me the engine will start right away if the fuel lines/pump are cleaned and battery is hooked up. We were supposed to do that last Sunday, but he never called me ;(

**Ryan...** · 03-15-2011, 06:29 PM

^^ I most definitely would NOT trust him. People that neglect their cars to the point in which you described would not go turn the motor over by hand.

Overall it sounds like a nice find, great project that you can let sit and slowly fix up as time/money allows. That's exactly how I plan to get my e30 M3 :)

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So I have a chance of buying 1989 e30 m3, need some opinions

So I have a chance of buying 1989 e30 m3, need some opinions

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