Seeking Advice on: 1 owner 59,000 original mile, pristine 1985 325e

[Mapman]

Hi folks.
I’m thinking of selling my 1985 325e. It’s in pristine condition. I purchased it from the original owner and it only has 59,000 miles on it.
Alpine White, 5 speed. Black interior which is in Showroom condition.
I’ve added:
ECS Coilovers ( I have the original suspension)
Z3M LSD ( I have the original)
New performance headers/exhaust system
17 inch Arc Apex wheels (I have the original 14’s with Tires)
Rear spoiler
Turner Chip
E30 M3 newly re covered leather steering wheel.
fitted OEM all weather mats
Front and rear bumper tuck


I was going to S52 swap it, but have decided against it since it’s such a low mileage car. Looking for some advice on value please.
thanks in advance.

[McGyver]

I'd say about tree fiddy.

BaT will give you high numbers, Cars and Bids a little more reasonable, and FB Marketplace will show what people are asking in your area.

[ZeKahr]

Hagerty valuation guide says it’s worth $15.2k (clean body and interior, but the boy racer mods kill the value). If it was unmolested it would be worth $21.8k. The low mileage (between 50k-100k) adds a 15% premium over the Hagerty value. So it’s realistically worth around $17.5k with the mods, $25.1k if completely stock.

Valuation methodology based on:

https://www.hagerty.com/valuation-to...20BMW%2520325e

https://www.hagerty.com/media/market...collector-car/

[roguetoaster]

In fairness, I think this one is not worth trying to sell as original. It's an undesirable model, the interior was swapped to late model stuff, the valence not likely to be original equipment, and generally it presents as modified. The condition generally looks good, and I bet that a buyer would pick it up planning to modify it, so if you don't need to sell it feel free to mod away without significant loss of value. I'd guess this one is currently in the 9-13k range to an informed buyer, and another 3k on top to an uninformed buyer.

By the way, it looks like just an MT2 wheel, not specifically an M3 wheel, even though some M3s would have them from new.

[Swoozley Macklin]

hot take, do whatever. just drive the thing, do what YOU want to it. i get these cars aren't being made anymore / only going up in value blah blah blah. I'll just say this, after buying and selling a few this year, yeah it's nice to get some green in my jeans. But i've had way more of a time actually driving and doing whatever to my beater e30s. Just my two cents. I get i didn't really answer in terms of $ valve.

[82eye]

agree that with the low miles it would be worth more to the right buyer if the car was absolutely stock. as it is most everyone will be looking at it as the base for a modding project, and try to purchase it for a price reflecting that.

[E30 Wagen]

$9-13k seems about right. The mods add nothing, and may in fact dim its value compared to an untouched time capsule, so not as collectable, especially being an early 325e. But if the body and interior are indeed original and immaculate then that might be valuable to somebody really picky about those aspects. Some more comps:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1987-bmw-325e-12/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1986-bmw-325e-37/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1986-bmw-325es-24/

If you want to s52 swap then i'd put your car back to original, sell it and start with something else, or just buy an e36 m3 which will be far superior to any e30

[eternal24k]

i would say 9-13k West Coast or South, easily 15k or higher East Coast.
Personally i would just swap it if that's what you want, you know the history and it's a solid base for a project car and is already non-stock.

Also, it's a 2 owner car, WAS a 1 owner car before you bought it (semantics/pet peeve)

[varg]

I seem to remember we had a thread just like this recently. It's not stock so that's one thing, at this point even though I modify everything I'd say keep a low mileage original car as a low mileage original car, there is value in it being stock beyond even monetary. There's a lot of effort required to put that car back to stock though, and since it's not original anymore it's not really a matter of preservation but a build taking it back to what it was. It's prime stock for a build with a clean body. I just wish people would stop putting flat faced wheels on E30s, particularly earlies. It looks so weird compared to concave wheels...

[Mapman]

i would say 9-13k West Coast or South, easily 15k or higher East Coast.
Personally i would just swap it if that's what you want, you know the history and it's a solid base for a project car and is already non-stock.

Also, it's a 2 owner car, WAS a 1 owner car before you bought it (semantics/pet peeve)

Right that’s true. Now two owner. Appreciate it

[Mapman]

I seem to remember we had a thread just like this recently. It's not stock so that's one thing, at this point even though I modify everything I'd say keep a low mileage original car as a low mileage original car, there is value in it being stock beyond even monetary. There's a lot of effort required to put that car back to stock though, and since it's not original anymore it's not really a matter of preservation but a build taking it back to what it was. It's prime stock for a build with a clean body. I just wish people would stop putting flat faced wheels on E30s, particularly earlies. It looks so weird compared to concave wheels...

Yeah I have to agree on the stupid wheels. I hate them. Looking for something better back to 16s.

[Mapman]

I really appreciate the input. I love the car. Maybe I will just change the wheels and drive it. The kids made to the suspension and exhaust etc have made a big difference. Thanks everyone

[Mapman]

PS: any wheel recommendations?

[AWDBOB]

15s are the juice on an E30. I recently switched from 16s (which look the best) to 15s, and the improvement in ride quality was dramatic.

Get some maxilites and drive that thing. They also have maxilites in 16s.

https://thepaddock.xyz/maxilite-wheels/bmw-bbs-euroweave-style-15x7-4x100

[McGyver]

I seem to remember we had a thread just like this recently...

Yeah, OP from 3 months ago was thinking about swapping it, now wants to know how much they can get to sell as-is.

https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forum/general-forums/general-discussion/10095904-advice-needed-s52-engine-swap-yes-or-no