School me on 5-lug

[JinormusJ]

Okay, so after getting back from S14 asking this question

How much do 5-lug swaps generally go for? I was reading the guide on Strictly Eta and he said he got his for $1800, but it included much more than just the struts and rear trialling arms. Plus, that was about 4-5 years ago and I'm definitely sure that these has risen in price and rarity now.

If anyone knows anymore on modern day pricing, let me know! Thanks guys!

People started telling me the price was $2500 generally for a clapped out set, and near $3k for a decent used set.
I took it at face value as more members started to chime in and praise the OP's response ball-park figure as truth.

HOWEVER.
Just this passed week I browse r3v to see a member selling a complete E30 M3 5-Lug swap with calipers, with springs and shocks, a front strut brace, upgraded RSM and RSM reinforments, and both sway bars with SBLs for $2k

Piecing out the set. This member was essentially selling an e30 M3 5-Lug swap for $1000-$1200

If that wasn't enough to confuse me.. I see members just the other day throwing up ball park figures for $1000-$1500. Granted it was nonchalantly spoken about, but even then, if the E30 M3 5-lug swap was really valued at $2000+, I figured the members would have been throwing figures valuing that out there, not what they actually said.

DAFRIK S14

Is everyone on s14 over-inflating their prices? Or did I just miss an amazing deal?
Anymore information on this is greatly appreciated! Thanks guys!

[Farbin Kaiber]

1800-2000 is about the norm, but you can find things called deals, where the seller does not know, or does not care.

[JinormusJ]

So it seems as though s14 is indeed over inflating their m3 values.. Which, I don't blame them.

The seller either was uninformed or did not care and just wanted the whole lot gone.

And I must research more about these "Deals" you speak of..


Thanks Farb! Very much appreciated :-D

[mbonanni]

Was a full e30 5 lug swap for $750.

Long gone now though.

[JinormusJ]

^^^
:letitout:

I guess I just need to save up and just wait for good deals to pop up..

[PeteD]

They are pricing their stuff high. Just keep an eye out for better deals, you'll find something like the deal you mentioned soon enough.

[JinormusJ]

Yeah.. While I really want an M3 5-lug.. I'm not exactly willing to drop money I can buy 3 new e30s with n one, let alone believe that struts and trailing arms are 1/5th the cost of a cheap M3...

[UNHCLL]

Welcome to R3V.
You'll find all the perfect parts here. ;) You can build a "magazine cover car" for like less than $3k!

Sorry you didn't like my price assessment. ;)

My over-inflated car is probably skewing my reality.

[ForcedFirebird]

One of the guys in our shop just sold an m3 setup minus springs, shocks and inserts. Never even advertised it, just mentioned selling it and it was gone in one day for $2k plus shipping.

I would say a solid setup will fetch $2k+ based on experience.

[george graves]

IMHO, you're get screwed over if you pay much more than $1000. That's just me. I think the e36 stuff is better - and that can be had for much less.

[JinormusJ]

I know.. I especially like the e36 brakes, but I want to be able to run 16" without question and preserve the original E30 caster and alignment.. I want to be able to hook up my ABS and all other self-diagnostic brake stuff no problem.

E30 M3 really does all that, even if it is more pricey. There are plenty of caliper adapters on S14 that can adapt e36 brakes to the original e30 M3 rotors, so I'll learn as I go.
Step one is just save enough to buy the darned set already

[JinormusJ]

Welcome to R3V.
You'll find all the perfect parts here. ;) You can build a "magazine cover car" for like less than $3k!

Sorry you didn't like my price assessment. ;)

My over-inflated car is probably skewing my reality.

I didn't say anything about not liking you, your car, or your opinion ;)

I just wanted to get input on what everyone says the value is, and down to what it really is. One member off S14 contributed and one other agreed with him. I took that at face value. However, I got confused when I saw inconsistencies with the member claimed were the correct prices and what people were actually selling them for. No personal attacks to anyone, I just wanted to get to the bottom of this :-P

Plus, I think e30 M3s are well priced, and I'm not complaining about how much they are worth, just confused as to why people say prices for a 5-lug swap go for $2k+ when I just saw examples that sold for less than what people have lead to believe



Lastly.. I'm not exactly sure if you were being sarcastic or serious, so just take it all with a grain of salt really if anything :-p

[UNHCLL]

Okay, so after getting back from S14 asking this question


People started telling me the price was $2500 generally for a clapped out set, and near $3k for a decent used set.
I took it at face value as more members started to chime in and praise the OP's response ball-park figure as truth.

DAFRIK S14

Is everyone on s14 over-inflating their prices? Or did I just miss an amazing deal?
Anymore information on this is greatly appreciated! Thanks guys!

One member off S14 contributed and one other agreed with him. I took that at face value. However, I got confused when I saw inconsistencies with the member claimed were the correct prices and what people were actually selling them for.

Lastly.. I'm not exactly sure if you were being sarcastic or serious, so just take it all with a grain of salt really if anything :-p

I'm the one that gave you the initial price on S14.net.

I do find it humorous, that with the exception of George Graves, who is notoriously of the "E30 M3's are overpriced" camp, you even get responses here in line with what S14.net told you prices *should* be.

For Serious! :p

[JinormusJ]

I did appreciate the help. I think e30 M3s are properly priced; and frankly I completely agree with you.

I was just expressing my confusion that people said M3 5-lugs go for around $2-3k, but I saw another member, and people have claimed reports of people selling their 5-lug for well under, frankly almost a value half of what you said.

However, this is in no way trying to discredit your credibility.

I very much agree that M3 5-Lugs could go for $2-3k, as I've seen posting of those as well on s14. With all goods however, there are transactions that can invariably break that "trend"; as seen with prior examples.


I was just simply confused and have not been in the M3 market long enough to learn the true prices and asked for more clarification. Thanks again :-D

[george graves]

I know.. I especially like the e36 brakes, but I want to be able to run 16" without question

Well, let me put it this way - I have yet to find anyone that has e36 m3 set up mount up any 16" wheel that DOESN'T fit. I think the whole "you've got to run 17s" on the e36m3 stuff" myth came about because that's what the factory put on the m3.

....George Graves, who is notoriously of the "E30 M3's are overpriced" camp....

Ha! Well that's fair. I do think there is a lot of people wanting to believe that the average e30m3 is really valued at $20k-30k. I think there is a bit of wishful thinking going on there - as if it makes their non-m, just that much more valuable (kinda like how a kid always thinks his big brother is a god) Most of whom have never driven a e30m3, or they would know what a piss-poor street car it really is with a s14. All you have to do is look how many guys have given up, and gone with a s50. Then what's left? 5-lug and fenders. That's about it.

"Oh but it's a race-car!" Yea, well...if you want to race an e30, would you really pick an m3? No, you'd get a e30 non-m shell for $200 and go racing.

Plus - all e30m3s look too much alike. They (almost) all aren't lowered enough, the only difference is the rims. The non-M's have much more personality IMHO.

Not saying I don't love the m3....

/rant