E30 M3 Cabrio

[jeffnhiscars]

I spoke w the owner when I was in vancouver last week but unfortunately our schedules did not allow me to see the car. He's an engineer and very straight forward. I'm quite confident it's the real deal.

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds...3/1942185.html

[0-60 freak]

I saw that car on eBay for a long time, I just don't think it's that nice of a car

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[jeffnhiscars]

I saw that car on eBay for a long time, I just don't think it's that nice of a car

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What makes you say that

[0-60 freak]

I guess I should clarify that, of course it's a nice car, at the time I saw it he was asking 96K. I guess I just don't see it as a 100 K car

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[LateE30]

holy hell! $90k?!?!?! what the F*** happened to this market?

[jeffnhiscars]

With nice hard top M3s north of $50k and rising a 1 of 786 M cabrio is worth what anyone will pay. One sold a year or so ago at auction for $76k and the owner said another sold for $80 something...so I don't think he's out of line testing the market with his ask.

If I had seen it my plan was to make an offer and see how motivated he was

[parkerbink]

It is very nice but for 90k there are lots of nicer cars. (imho)

We brought a CRV from Mexico in 2007 when we moved back and had a hell of a time making people understand 105k KM are 65k miles when we sold it in 2014.

[JimmyP]

I don't get the surprise,,, the car is rare.
People are paying that and more for fake / clone RS 911s.

This on the other hand is a real, hand built, one of under 1000 M3 Cabrios.
In the same ballpark production wise as a Sport Evo and an Evo 2 which are easily selling for "over" that number.
Just because its based on an E30 and this is an E30 list and everyone thinks E30s are worth $1000 doesn't make it not worth it.

Rare version of a homolgation special car that has become an icon.

[cale]

It is very nice but for 90k there are lots of nicer cars. (imho)

A completely irrelevant approach to putting a price on collector vehicles.

This car will sell for asking.

[parkerbink]

A completely irrelevant approach to putting a price on collector vehicles.

This car will sell for asking.

Where did I say I was setting the value?

I said for me, there are many other places I'd put 90k.

The only way I see it selling for that much is at an auction with several bidders intent to win.

[getouth]

The E30 M3 market is the most entertaining thing on the web right now!

[Todd Black 88]

I don't get the surprise,,, the car is rare.
People are paying that and more for fake / clone RS 911s.

This on the other hand is a real, hand built, one of under 1000 M3 Cabrios.
In the same ballpark production wise as a Sport Evo and an Evo 2 which are easily selling for "over" that number.
Just because its based on an E30 and this is an E30 list and everyone thinks E30s are worth $1000 doesn't make it not worth it.

Rare version of a homolgation special car that has become an icon.

Normally I agree with you Jimmy, but the e30m3 cab is not a homologation car. It's a regular e30 cab with the body parts and engine of a homologated car on/in it. It doesn't feel the same at all, nor does it work the same.
It's a factory parts bin car that BMW produced to capitalize on the sales of the M3. It didn't work.

You of all people know the M3's S14 belongs above 5500rpm. Try driving a car designed to be a cruiser, above 5500 rpm, all day long.
There was no reason to build this thing, other than sales.

It's rare, because it's rare. Yes it was hand built, and that's because they found it got in the way on the standard production line.

There is nothing special about the way it does anything, and it's not a homologation special.

[IronJoe]

Looks to be a nice example. Not surprised by the price at all, these have been trading at the USD equivalent for the past few years in Europe. I have been paying pretty close attention to every one that has come up for sale, as I am building a replica.

I happen to think the E30 M3 cabrio is a fantastic car. Having more and more seat time in my replica, I can say there's a certain thrill combining the E30 M3 suspension and high-revving S14 with the open-car motoring experience. I have driven standard and modified M20-powered E30 convertibles before and can't say I've ever had the same experience. The song of individual throttle bodies at 8,000 RPM is enjoyed all the more with the top down :devil: Obviously this car isn't for race car drivers. But as convertibles go, it delivers in smiles.

It's also a great example of the time period. Combining the race-winning internals of the E30 M3 with the young & affluent BMW cabriolet created a smart/cool/exclusive yuppiemobile. I dig it.

As said I'm not surprised by the price. Isn't this one of the rarest production E30s? If not THE rarest? Look at the trend line for the E30 M3 and its variants over the last ~5 years. I wouldn't expect anything different for the cabriolet.

It's a factory parts bin car that BMW produced to capitalize on the sales of the M3. It didn't work.

Definitely not a factory parts bin car, Todd. Having spent the better part of two years going through the part numbers, differences, etc, there were significant changes necessary to make to build this car. If anything I'd say the Italian M3 is a good example of a factory parts bin car. This car had front fenders, rear quarter panels, outer fender arches, and side skirts that are different than the E30 M3 coupe. That's a lot of retooling for only 786 examples. There were easier cashgrabs for BMW at the time.

[Javier h]

Agree

I see it being a 6 figure car in the future. There was a low mileage 1987 M6 that sold for $90k on that show "Chasing Classic Cars".

I was really surprise a few years ago, how much money the M3 e30 verts were fetching considering the production numbers. I expected more.

I get the impression that verts in general are not really sought after by BMW enthusiasts but for collectors, its potentially a different story.

We'll see.

Is that car even legal in California? Please dont say you have to spend another 10 grand to federalize it. Not sure what the rules are about grey market cars anymore.

[JimmyP]

Hey Todd,
Certainly we are both entitled to our opinions on the Cabrio. I never much cared to own one, I always would have rathered put that money towards more race car versions,,, but I do appreciate them for what they are.

Keep in mind I did say a rare "version" of a Homologation Special,,, never said the cabrio was a homologation car. :)

In my mind the E30M3 Cabrio DOES check all the boxes of a future collectable.
Low Production numbers
Hand Made
Rare paint and interior colors vs. the standard road going versions.
Many parts are E30M3 Cabrio only.

Many car companies build "trophy cup" versions of their successful cars and thats what the E30M3 Cabrio was.
It was a special piece of E30 M3 memorabilia that you could drive,,, that came with the success of their record setting race winning Homologation Special car.

My MTech2 S14 Cab is not an M3, but under the skin it has a whole E30 M3 under it.
I enjoy the crap out of it with the S14.
Yes my red street car is way faster, but honestly on nice sunny days I drive the Cab more.
I see no detriment to the M3 drivetrain in the cab.
I'd rather it than the M20 if not just for the sound.

I hate to pick sides but I am going to respectfully disagree with you and pretty much give a +1 to everything Joe wrote.
I'd have to say Joe hit every nail square on the head better than I wrote above.