Plan B for getting rid of S52 Cabrio

[funcrew]

This post is going to ramble its way to nowhere, and has little worthwhile to say, so feel free to skip it. I just need to vent.

I have found out over the last year that I'm not a convertible guy, at least not in the blowtorch Las Vegas heat. So I figured I'd sell my '92 S52 cabrio, and buy either a gray market 323i or slicktop 318i (preferably a 4-door), which would better meet my current needs.

My cabrio is newly painted white, newish top, real MTech2 kit (but not an MT2 car), S52, 5-lug (from E36), and 100% rust free. A/C works. 71K on the S52 and ZF trans. Take-aways are salvage title, non-op convertible storage flap, curb rash on wheels, bad odometer, and a few other small things.

So I put up the cabrio on Ebay with a very detailed ad, full disclosure of flaws, and the auction ended at $2,200. Comments from bidders indicated that the salvage title was the primary fly in the ointment. Plus, as you know by now, the market for sellers is miserable at this time.

From all this, it would appear that the salvage Cabrio shell has near-zero cash value, and the upgrades are worth less attached to the shell than if sold separately. Since I like all the goodies on the car, and they would cost big money to re-acquire, it seems to make sense to get a clean slicktop 4-door shell and transfer everything over, or to be honest, have one of the E30-friendly shops transfer everything over. In this case, I would re-sell the Mtech2 kit, since I would have no use for it.

I'm still in shock from the low auction bids, and trying to re-think what my options are. I'm not going to dump the car for cheap, so one valid path forward is to drive the car over the next 5 or 10 years until it wears out, hate the ragtop or not.

I don't have the space, skills, time, or tools to do the engine & suspension swap-over work myself, which would obviously be a large cost factor.

Any suggestions are welcome.

[Wh33lhop]

...Ever consider a hardtop? ;)

[arch4ngel]

Get a hardtop and ac.
Way cheaper than paying someone else to swap over parts for you.

EDIT: Wh33lhop beat me to it

[FredK]

I'd say the primary problem is the market is very soft for swapped cars, especially those with some history, especially given that it's the dead of winter, and many performance car buyers are still sitting on the sidelines.

This is solely my opinion, the market for swapped convertibles is even softer. You're leaving out a large portion of people who want to track a higher powered E30.

I think an MTech2 appearance cabrio with a good looking interior, fresh paint, but a salvage title is still worth around $4K or more, depending on when and why the salvage title was issued. The later in the car's life, the better, as smaller accidents result in a total on these cars. This is assuming the stock M20 is installed, as well. With a well-executed swap, the value goes up probably another $3-4K (closer to 4K since the AC works).

It sucks that the paint is fresh on the cabrio, because now, it doesn't make that much sense to scrap it, even if it drives as straight as an arrow. If you want to bite the bullet and pay around $2K to swap the engine over, and take a bath on the shell, that is not a fun proposition. But if you're going to do it, do it now, unless it's going to put you in an uncomfortable financial position, all because you want some sheetmetal over your head and 2 more doors.

[bmw325csi]

mild roll bar and hardtop, you'll find a whole new love for verts!

[Dirtbleed]

Post Pics?
Wanna trade?
I'm moving back to Reno in March. I'll swing by.

[funcrew]

You may be on to something. A year ago, I had dismissed the idea of a hard top because then the already heavy ragtop becomes a ~3200 pound E30. My kids also hate riding in the back of the 'vert, and if I keep it, it will become my daily family-mobile. I had been thinking about a 2380 pound 323i, a bit more nimble, and more room in the back seat.

However, after reading the above posts, I can probably get a lot more $ value out of the 'vert by driving the hell out of it, than doing anything else. As it sits, it's a very good looking and good driving car. Most of the flaws are things that I can monkey with gradually, without any vehicle down time. The kids can walk if they don't like it.

BTW Here's a recent pic:



Thanks to everyone for your input. I'll check the thread again later in case anybody has further ideas. I might post up a Wanted To Trade ad, just for kicks.

[funcrew]

Post Pics?
Wanna trade?
I'm moving back to Reno in March. I'll swing by.

Nice looking car, for sure. You have good taste in wheels. Drop me a note a couple weeks before you come through.

[Jean]

Not a fan of verts (other than s2k), but with a hardtop it looks better and complete :)

[Wh33lhop]

Indeed. Yank the soft top for now, install the hard top and every once in awhile when it's really sunny and you're "in the mood," take it off. S52 5 lugged cars with extensive work that drive perfectly straight with AC (etc etc) are pretty hard to come by and expensive to build.

[DaveSmed]

FWIW, I was watching your auction and was just as disappointed as you were with the outcome. I have a MT2 appearance vert, clean title, S50B32 and the usual appearance/suspension mods and was hoping to get a good idea of its worth in the market. I guess I did.

It's killing me because as nice as it is (well, when its back together) I can't do anything with it except drive it on the street. BMWCCA wants nothing to do with verts, NASA wants a rollbar, and NHRA will want a rollbar. I think E30 verts do not look good at all with a bar. This problem is whats killing the car for me... That engine belongs on the track.

[Hey-U]

Your car looks good. How much were you hoping to get? I think it is hard to sell a modified salvage car from a distance and likely any purrchaser would want be up close and personal before comitting hard earned dollars. When I bought my vert 3 years ago I wanted an s50 vert was unable to find one. I settled for a 318 and have changed direction in my mod tastes. A hard top painted the same colour as the car is your best bet.
Good luck with deliberations.

[etxxz]

sell it on here. put it on ebay again.

how much were you asking? that thing should bring in atleast 7k.. maybe no now. hold.
It costs around 5k just for the swap..

[funcrew]

sell it on here. put it on ebay again.

how much were you asking? that thing should bring in atleast 7k.. maybe no now. hold.
It costs around 5k just for the swap..

Prior to my auction, I thought $7K would be a breeze. A lot has changed in the past year. I wish I were in the market to buy one right now! I will fix up the cosmetic flaws, continue to drive it, and test the resale market from time to time. I see cars with 180K on the 24V swap for sale on here, and mine only has 71K on the S52. Should run for a long time, and maybe the resale market will pick up in a year or two.

Next, since it looks like I'll be keeping the 'vert, I will have to get my 1988 4-door with 80K ready for sale. That one is mostly stock and in nice shape, so I hope it will be an easier sell.

[funcrew]

Indeed. Yank the soft top for now, install the hard top and every once in awhile when it's really sunny and you're "in the mood," take it off. S52 5 lugged cars with extensive work that drive perfectly straight with AC (etc etc) are pretty hard to come by and expensive to build.

I like that idea, since the hardtop-on weight would come out more-or-less even with what it is now, with the hardtop-off weight approaching the 325iS level. I always assumed that people had the soft top folded down, with the hard top over it. Duh.