1987 325is, 77k orig miles, $4500k in recent work

[quiffy]

Pics available here: I can't seem to post them b/c of their size:

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/4455122889.html

Asking $5000 or best offer. Car is in Lorton, VA My Cell: 508-400-1116

1987 BMW 325is, 77k Orig Miles, Over 7k invested, grey-market

This was my summer toy / project car, and I had been flirting with the idea of turning it into a track car. I really don't want to sell it, but unfortunately my work/family situation is sort of forcing me to. Below is the list of everything that's been done to it since July of last year:

The Good:
New Alternator (5/10/14) ($150)
New Z3 Steering Rack & Tie Rod Ends ($1100)
New Clutch (SACHS)
New Slave Cylinder
New Timing Belt
New Water Pump
New A/C Compressor (re man'd)
New Thermostat
New A/C Expansion Valve
New Fan Clutch
New a/c cooling fan (7 blade instead of 5)
New Spark Plugs (OEM)
New High Performance Silicon Wires (From Bavarian AutoSport)
New Cap&Rotor (OEM)
Ellipsoid Headlight Conversion w/xenon low beams (6000k white bulbs) ($300)
New Alpine Head Unit ($450)
New Focal Component Speaker Sets (2 pairs) ($600)
Hard-Wired Valentine 1 kit (radar detector not included)

Things that were done to it before I acquired it:

4 New Kuhmo Tires
Battery (not sure when)

The Bad:

The muffler needs replacing! The pipes and baffles are pretty much completely gone. I was going to put one on, but (A) I wanted to save up for a TriFlo, and (2) it sounds really good as it is right now! Not too loud, but it's got a nice deep/throaty grunt to it.
The front spoiler is cracked. It's fixable (according to the body shop I brought it to for an estimate) but I was holding off until I figured out what I wanted to do with the car.

The body has a few rust spots and knicks. The biggest rust spot is underneath the drivers side door along the runner. There is a parking lot dent on the drivers side rear fender-well. (some idiot in a parking lot backed into it and left.) I filled it with oem touch up paint, and it's pretty un-noticeable unless you're right on top of it.


It has 77k original miles (carfax included), and literally every single thing on this car works as it should. I just took it up to Boston and it got me 28mpg (without a/c) / 25mpg with. The shift linkage is as tight as it was the day it was new, the a/c blows ice cold (38 degrees), the heat blows hot, the windows and roof work as they should. The windshield is still the original windshield, with the BMW logo in the corner. From what little research I've done, this is apparently a grey-market car (the speedometer is in miles, however the fuel gage and instant mpg is in kilometers). Also the 13 button OBC is permanently in german/euro mode. (I purchased a new 13 button obc because I got sick of busting out my phone to convert celcius to farenheight, but the original obc is included with the car, should you want to put it back.)

I'm into this car for around 9k between the cost of the car itself, and all the upgrades/repairs. Like I said, I really don't want to sell it - I've got so much into it. I have no idea what to ask, so please feel free to email any (cash) offers. I have a clean Massachusetts title in my hands, and a bill of sale written up. Email a phone number if interested. Thanks!

[BKC]

Those are the hardest 77k miles I've ever seen.

[BMWManiac]

Are you sure that the cluster is the original cluster? I would have to agree that the mileage is not consistent with the condition

[jhaurimn]

Im assuming because you said carfax is included, that it shows no signs of the odometer stopping at any time, because like others have said, thats pretty rough for 77k miles.

Also, try cleaning the interior and posting new pictures. Interior looks like it would be nice cleaned up, but with all the shit in there, it looks like crap.

Just a suggestion :)

EDIT: Whats the last 7 digits of the VIN? So we can confirm its a grey market car.

[goldenbb]

Those are the hardest 77k miles I've ever seen.

Begging your pardon, but I find that the old saw about "it's not the years, it's the mileage" is way off the mark. It's an '87. If the POs beat on it, it could definitely have that many problems (and more) by 77K and 27 years, especially if it has been a DC car all its life--on-street parking, winters, etc.

[quiffy]

The VIN is: WBAAA230XH3110179. BMW of Alexandria ran it and said it was 'grey-market'. I had no idea what that meant, but they said that that was why the instrument cluster is in liters instead of gallons, and why the clock wasn't programmable to mpg. When I'm back at the car I'll get some better interior shots. Thx for the suggestion.

The mileage on the carfax is consistent with what the cluster reads, so I don't think it's inaccurate. My plan was to do the entire body over, swap the seats w/e92 seats, and keep it. Unfortunately some other stuff got in the way.

[mitchlevy7]

it doesnt look like you recently invested 4.5 million dollars.

[heatmakerz]

That bastard is rough for 77k....IMO, price should reflect the condition.

[quiffy]

I'll agree that cosmetically it's in need of some r&r. That's why I was planning to get it restored and swap out the front seats. But mechanically it's sound, fun to drive, and reliable. What do you think I should price it at?

[K20RI_211]

As I have the same car, I'm inclined to respond (though mine was never documented as gray market, and aside from the odd instrument cluster and OBC, I'm not entirely sure yours is, either - just my two cents).

I think the early IS and ES cars are special when preserved. We've seen a few of them reach $10K in pristine condition, and I'm inclined to believe that's fair. Your car, if it were a bit cleaner (some of which you could address yourself with some elbow grease - I'd start w/ the interior and engine bay) might pull $4,700-$4,800 for someone looking for an IS car in largely original condition.

However, there are some some obvious body work issues; it looks like the car has been under a tree for months based on the debris in the engine bay photo; and the oil pan gasket leaking will only get worse. If you can get it repaired under warranty, go do that. Get it fixed - it will make the car that much more appealing. Clean the hell out of it. Pay $200 for paintless dent removal and then cut/polish the paint yourself. Single stage comes back with ease.

Right now, the rush to post photos without even taking your things out of the interior and knowingly not having a common problem (oil pan gasket) fixed for free just scream "fire sale" to me - and the offers you get will likely reflect that.

Not at all flaming you - like I said, I love the early cars and hope yours goes to a good home. But some spit and polish would go a long, long way for getting your asking price. There's a lot of potential here with the original valence and fog lights still intact, along with the OEM floor mats and windshield - both near impossible to find. Yours has a lot of potential, so hopefully you can uncover it.

[heatmakerz]

Quiffy, I would honestly set the price between $3000-3500 IMO. It is a nice car with potential and I do believe that you could get that closer to your asking price it there were not any rust and body issues. I know the east coast is particularly hard on cars and e30's do have "hidden" rust issues sometimes (again, not uncommon for cars that deal with heavy rains and harsh winters). Clean the interior and exterior a bit, maybe some dent removal and address the rust issues and you have a solid car on your hand.

[quiffy]

If I had the time of the money to put into it, I would have either (A) kept it, or (2) had it detailed for the pictures. But at the risk of desperation, it it sort of a 'fire sale'. (Long story short, my mom broke her leg, and is out of work for a while, so I'm selling it to help keep her afloat with bills and medical expenses.) As you can see by the laundry list of things I've done to it, I had no intention of selling it, and I still don't want to see it go, but at the end of the day, family's family, and a car is just a car.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Maybe it's just me and I know nothing of BMW VIN's, but that is just a regular USA model with CANADA package. Grey Market would mean it came from Europe and was imported. Also, I'm not sure of a grey market car with USDM bumpers.

http://www.bmwarchive.org/vin/3110179.pdf

[BKC]

Begging your pardon, but I find that the old saw about "it's not the years, it's the mileage" is way off the mark. It's an '87. If the POs beat on it, it could definitely have that many problems (and more) by 77K and 27 years, especially if it has been a DC car all its life--on-street parking, winters, etc.

Didn't say that it didn't have 77k on it, just that it was the roughest 77k I've ever seen!

Fire sale or not, you owe it to yourself and the car to clean it up best you can, take it to a place with a nice backdrop, and take some decent pix. 4k doesn't seem unreasonable.

This car I sold was in pretty poor condition really but the pic made it look great!!


Here's my 87. Now granted it's in pretty nice shape but this pic makes it look mint!

[BKC]

Those pics were taken with some decent glass but this was taken with my phone.



Guess what I'm saying is you'll make a decent return with some elbow grease and a decent photo! More money for you! (And mom!)

Ok. Done hijacking. GLWS!