How much is this e30 m3 worth?

[mrcheezle19]

Just go in and judge the guy and see what he's like, that's the best advice in my opinion. If you can read him and see he's kind of clueless so to speak or not really understanding what he has then offer him 5k for it and make sure you say all the things your going to have to do to it to make it run and look right. Don't go all crazy or he'll know your an enthusiast and be able to read you and know he can charge you more than he may have initially thought. Keep it cool and act nonchalant make it seem like you just want the car cuz it looks cool or your dad had one back in the day or something. Now if he's an enthusiast and knows what he's got then your in a tougher position and be ready to pay 10k or more because he'll know he can demand that price and if you want it bad enough you'll pay. Just pray he's semi naive and try and walk out with it for cheap.

[Cabriolet]

..I want one for a DD
.....Ill wait.....

No you dont! i have one with an s14b23 pretty much the worst piece of crap to dd. i DD my mtech2 vert+hardtop. it doesnt over heat in traffic, doesnt need to be above 4k to get power, sounds better 6cyl>4cyl sound and has more torque. m-f i dont touch mine. sat-sun there isnt a street i keep it under the speed limit on.

[LSM3]

Can you guys please point me in the direction of all these decent 9k-12k E30 M3s out there..I want one for a DD
.....Ill wait.....

[reelizmpro]

How do you guys all know that the clear is shot or even damaged from that pic? It's extremely hard to tell if that's peeling clear or just dirt or dust. Also, 140k isn't an especially small amount of miles for an s14.

We done know for sure but I see what looks like worn paint/clear on a very common area on M3's...bumpers. the M3 badge it is clearly original and extremely well worn. 24 year old paint two stage paint that hasn't been kept? Chances are it can be saved if polished and recleared but you'd be better off respraying the entire car especially since its an m3. As long as it was maintained properly and not tracked hard (yeah right), 140k on the s14 is nothin. There are plenty of s14's with 200k plus and still going.

[Vivek]

Basically, as long as the clear coat hasn't delaminated, it can be saved. However, if it's extremely worn/damaged it may peel shortly no matter what you do.

[ksjdan]

I'm not an expert on E30 M3's, but I'd suspect that an unmolested example with that mileage and only cosmetic defects would bring north of $10K. Perhaps a fair bit north.

$10k seems to be the popular price. Its not molested, but its definitely been used. Although I cant be sure, I doubt any track days.
I did see a member on here who purchased a project and tracked m3 for about $5k. So I guess it should be valued higher than his.

Looking at that pic, the rear muffler is needing new hangers, if the clearcoat is shot, you have no other alternative but to repaint the whole car. I'll also bet the rear suspension bushings are all shot, or at least tired.

If you can get it for about $13K, it might not be a bad deal, but expect to drop another $5-7K on bringing things up to spec on the car. (I'm not including a paint job in that either. Paint will be $5k easy.) If no rust and the motor is healthy, I'd say go for it.

Look at it this way, the way the M3 prices are going, if you buy it for say $13K, put $10K (Not that it will necessarily need that much) you will still be able to sell the car for what you have into it, if not more.

Will

Looks like Will is here the saved the OP. :D Also I have a bruise on my chin from replacing the muffler hanger on my IS.

I know a reputable shop in town who can do good paint work for me. Ill probably take it there for a exterior respray (maybe engine bay as well) if clearcoat is in bad shape.

I strongly beg to differ from these folks. To buy it for 13k, and stick another 10k into expecting the resale value to be at 23k, is asking a bit much. It takes a very strong and clean example to pull over 20k in this market.

I wouldn't pay over 10k. But as it stands, it could easily pull 10k.

Thanks for an honest opinion TurboJake. I did see a few e30 m3s on autotrade going for $20k, and noticed how expensive these e30 m3s can be.

10 to 15K easily.

:up: 15k seems to be more towards a better condition e30, but Im sure it'll go for that high in more of a enthusiast saturated areas.

Exactly. If M3's in that condition were 10k I would be buying all of them. Seriously.

I paid 11k for mine and Im in the middle of a full resto.

They are quite irresistible! $9-12k seems to be the median price range.

How do you guys all know that the clear is shot or even damaged from that pic? It's extremely hard to tell if that's peeling clear or just dirt or dust. Also, 140k isn't an especially small amount of miles for an s14.

I can't remember the condition 100%, but IIRC, clearcoat was still hanging on to the car. Also the car was really dirty. But regardless of clearcoat peals, there were some spots on the car that required paint correction. especially the front end and boot lid.

500

I would be doing back flips

[xxx-Lost-Soul-xxx]

500

that guy knows whats up.

[Cronopoulos]

500

[Vivek]

How do you guys all know that the clear is shot or even damaged from that pic? It's extremely hard to tell if that's peeling clear or just dirt or dust. Also, 140k isn't an especially small amount of miles for an s14.

[LSM3]

10 to 15K easily.

Exactly. If M3's in that condition were 10k I would be buying all of them. Seriously.

I paid 11k for mine and Im in the middle of a full resto.

[MJCRO]

10 to 15K easily.

[TurboJake]

I strongly beg to differ from these folks. To buy it for 13k, and stick another 10k into expecting the resale value to be at 23k, is asking a bit much. It takes a very strong and clean example to pull over 20k in this market.

I wouldn't pay over 10k. But as it stands, it could easily pull 10k.

[BlackbirdM3]

Looking at that pic, the rear muffler is needing new hangers, if the clearcoat is shot, you have no other alternative but to repaint the whole car. I'll also bet the rear suspension bushings are all shot, or at least tired.

If you can get it for about $13K, it might not be a bad deal, but expect to drop another $5-7K on bringing things up to spec on the car. (I'm not including a paint job in that either. Paint will be $5k easy.) If no rust and the motor is healthy, I'd say go for it.

Look at it this way, the way the M3 prices are going, if you buy it for say $13K, put $10K (Not that it will necessarily need that much) you will still be able to sell the car for what you have into it, if not more.

Will

[jlevie]

I'm not an expert on E30 M3's, but I'd suspect that an unmolested example with that mileage and only cosmetic defects would bring north of $10K. Perhaps a fair bit north.

[ksjdan]

The car is not officially up for sale, but he seem to be interested at the right price. I was "that guy" and left a note on his window today. I got a call later and he gave me some quick information. Ill probably check it out next Sunday and do a thorough inspection.

Did he sound like an enthusiast, or just a guy with a car?
It's up to you what you can snag it for.

Not really. He owned it since 1997, so seems like average joe wanting a fairly decent m3 at the time.
I just want to see how much I should value this car at. And yes id like to snatch it.

id say if you walked up to him with 8-10k cash you could own it. Just hope its not a basketcase.

I am not too familiar with the term basketcase, but it does have basketweaves. Condition of this car is not pristine. Just normal 24 yrs of wear.

yet, it isn't for sale? or is it? I don't quite follow. As far as I'm concerned the clear is shot on the rear bumper and most likely the spoiler and front bumper as well. A full respray is probably in order by now. By the looks of it, the exterior is neglected as well as the interior by how you described it. Mileage is pretty low though. With no rust, clean title and good compression, I'd say it was a 10-12K car. Kinda hard to ask for more when it's clearly been neglected. Looks like a nice platform for a restoration.

Clearcoat is rough, but I think paint might be salvageable (just maybe). It looks be a southern car most (if not all) of its life considering all the sun damage and no surface rust on car that looks to have original paint. Thanks for the ball-park . I want to get a good deal on it, but I don't want to scare him away either.