Design Edition touring, M20 swap or keep original?

[adamnur]

I'm thinking of selling my Daytona Violet 94 design edition touring 316i (manual) with 190k miles, but I'm not sure whether to sell it with the M40 1.6 or swap in my 89k mi M20B25 from my other car (89 touring) along with the G260 and appropriate diff. Mileage is verifiable.

Ignoring any CARB considerations since the 1.6 wouldn't pass and neither would the 2.5 out of an older model.

Personally, if I was buying it, I'd prefer the low miles M20 in the car since the 1.6 while not without its charm, is exceptionally slow and high miles. It's not as if the 1.6 is of any pedigree but perhaps the next owner would prefer it all original? Both engines have recent timing belts and are in well-maintained condition.

So if there were two identical DV design edition tourings for sale with 190k on the body, would you buy the one with the original 1.6 or a swapped 89k mi 2.5?

Sidenote: I have an eye out for S series motors but for the sake of what's in front of me, the poll is only considering these two options.

Thanks for your opinions

Car in question, vanilla tree not included in sale.:

[ZeKahr]

A collector, who'll pay top dollar for the car, would probably want the touring original. A buyer who's a driving enthusiast will most likely prefer the B25.

If you want top dollar for the car, keep it original. Otherwise if you're okay with getting decent money swap in the B25.

Although at 190k miles on the body, it's most likely going to go to an enthusiast vs a collector. Collectors want low mileage cars.

The M40 is more suited for European driving environments (lots of twisty roads, lower speed limits) while the M20 is more suited for American driving environments (long stretches of straight highways, higher speed limits). Sure we have twisty roads here, but not like they do over in Europe

Personally, I'd take the B25 (or better yet a B27) over the M40, but I like lazy, torquey motors given that I'm an American

[roguetoaster]

Yep, no real merit in swapping to sell.

[AWDBOB]

twright has had great luck selling his last few M40 tourings. Didn't seem to hurt price at all if the chassis was clean.

[adamnur]

The only real reason I had been considering the swap was the mileage differential really. Good point on this being more of an enthusiast's vs a collector's car which is how I've felt about it. A low miles 316i I'd not consider swapping.

Good to see the poll and opinions thus far, thanks

[varg]

I'd pay more for it swapped than with the 1.6 (mostly because I wouldn't buy any M40 car unless it was dirt cheap, since I would swap it immediately), but I'm an enthusiast who likes driving, not a collector who likes detailing my car and getting show awards. I can't see there being any appeal at all in the original drivetrain given the M40's reputation as worse than both the M10 and M42, but collectors are weird people.

[Andrew325is]

Don't swap it if you are selling it. Besides a collector wanting it original, the laws are more complicated with grey market cars. The M20 is not road legal in it due to the simple fact BMW did not sell an M20 car in 1994 and because the vehicle was imported under the 25 year exemption that means it is only exempt from EPA laws if you follow the rules. Otherwise CBP can legally seize it and crush it. To avoid that the original M40 or an identical M40 replacement must stay in the car. The only other option is an EPA certified engine from the same or newer model year. So anything from 1994 or later such as an M50, S52, etc.

[varg]

That is a very good point that a Florida boy like me doesn't really think of since we have no inspections.

[82eye]

can always sell the car and offer to sell the swap separate. probably get about the same for the car with the m40 still in. the swap will make you extra money and the next owner can deal with installing it and any inspections.
otherwise s52 and keep lol.

[adamnur]

I'm leaning M40 as well now. It would be worth it perhaps for a S50/S52 I could see a buyer justifying a high miles body for that motor but otherwise the 2.5 isn't likely a gigantic upside. It's a fun car even with the 1.6.

Don't swap it if you are selling it. Besides a collector wanting it original, the laws are more complicated with grey market cars. The M20 is not road legal in it due to the simple fact BMW did not sell an M20 car in 1994 and because the vehicle was imported under the 25 year exemption that means it is only exempt from EPA laws if you follow the rules. Otherwise CBP can legally seize it and crush it. To avoid that the original M40 or an identical M40 replacement must stay in the car. The only other option is an EPA certified engine from the same or newer model year. So anything from 1994 or later such as an M50, S52, etc.

Is this not just relevant to CA? I know CA would require a motor that was available in the US model and an older motor cannot be swapped into a newer vehicle. But is that the case for other states as well?

I'd thought it was moot since the M40 1.6 wasn't available stateside in any year.

[benfidar]

A couple of things. First, I swapped a m52 into my Violet Touring (with less than 45k miles). I would never go back. Second, have you seen the prices on BAT for Design Edition Tourings? $19-26k. You may get more for it than you think with the m40 in place.

Of the 200 Violet Tourings made, I have seen a picture, video, or discussion of at least 40 of them. There is a nice one on BAT now and other Violet Tourings have sold there lately.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1994-bmw-316i-7/

[adamnur]

Good points. I'd definitely be going 24v if I was keeping it.

I've been watching the latest DV touring on BaT--bid is up to 25k with 6 days remaining, gotta be the most I've seen a full stock one go for, but it's also the absolute best example of an E30 touring I've seen.

[McGyver]

I would prefer a b25 swapped car, but would expect it to be about the same price as the m40 car.

What I learned about selling cars is that people expect it to work correctly. They will be willing to pay a little less for something that isn't quite right, but won't pay a little more for something that does what it's supposed to. For example, swapping in fresh suspension components is not going to pay back the cost of parts and time installing them plus some profit. If the stuff is still drivable, sell it as-is.

Second, you never recoup the cost of modifications. Its going to cost a ton of time or money to swap it correctly, and you won't make that back. People will be sketched out if you half-ass it, so they'll pay less.

I would post it as "100% original, unmodified" That way people know they are getting a clean base without a bunch of hidden bull shit.

The only exception to this rule is California cars. If you swap it and get it BAR'd to have the sticker showing its a LEAGAL swap, then it is definitely worth significantly more. But only in CA.

[E30 Wagen]

Swapping it just imposes your ideals on the car and excludes potential buyers. I think these design edition tourings lean more toward collectable than driver enthusiast so I agree that keeping it original is the best argument to get top dollar. However, there's also buyers who will pay top dollar for a "virgin" touring because they have trust issues and want to own the experience of swapping in their engine of choice.

[ZeKahr]

Good points. I'd definitely be going 24v if I was keeping it.

I've been watching the latest DV touring on BaT--bid is up to 25k with 6 days remaining, gotta be the most I've seen a full stock one go for, but it's also the absolute best example of an E30 touring I've seen.

If they’re going for that much on BAT with an M40 and high mileage, then it’s definitely not worth doing the swap. All the money and time put into an M20 or 24V swap (24V will be more expensive since they were never intended for the E30) would be much better invested into a thorough detailing (dry ice cleaning the engine bay and undercarriage, body/interior detailing) and a good photographer.

BAT folks can drive the prices of these cars to $50k in a few years, especially given that it’s a Touring