Value of an E30 (long)

[1990m3]

I have a 90 M3 and a Volvo 850. The volvo is my daily driver, but I'm tired of driving an automatic. However, I love the volvo, it's a wagon, it's turbo (chipped) and probably a little quicker than my M3. It's fun as hell to drive

Yesterday I looked at a 89 325is, 117k, alpine white, red interior. Car has a folder full of records, lots of recent mechanical repairs. Clean as can be, engine bay is dry as a bone and clean as hell. Even the interior is in damn good shape, overall the car is better than about 80% of E30's i have seen. It's got 15" TSW EVO wheels and a stock, very tired suspension. K&N cone filter and a chip (don't know what kind) The tranny shifts well, the whole car was real nice, but it needs springs and shocks, it felt like a boat, even compared to my volvo. Guy wants $5500.

My volvo is worth about 6500 and has 110k, I'm trying to decide if it's worth selling my only vehicle that has a large utility factor and really is fast and fun to drive for another E30. Can i get any un-biased advice? Is the car worth $5500? I can't find too many other 89's for sale with that milage, I'm having trouble determining value. Thanks for the help, I dont' know what i want. I like drivng my wagon everyday, the 325is felt significantly slower than my M3. Is it worth it, should i dump the wagon?

Dave

[Charlie]

So you want 2 e30's to maintain?

Keep the volvo, run it into the ground.

-Charlie

[grapedrink]

Keep the volvo

[Kruzen]

I'd probably not pay more than 3500 for it, but im in WA and our market is inflated.

[Mike 91 318ic]

Volvo wagons are cool... Keep it.

M

[C ///M]

It's not quite worth $5500. I would def. keep the volvo though, it makes a great daily, good for stop and go traffic, good for hauling, good for beating the crap out of on lousy days. Keep the volvo, drive the m3 when you want to have fun.

[1990m3]

thanks guys, that is what I was looking to hear. I actually thought about it today for a while and I want to keep the volvo. Lower miles, working a/c, cruise, third seat (you know for the ladies :))

I'll keep the volvo, it's the right choice I think

[Inspar8r]

It's not quite worth $5500. I would def. keep the volvo though, it makes a great daily, good for stop and go traffic, good for hauling, good for beating the crap out of on lousy days. Keep the volvo, drive the m3 when you want to have fun.

Yea, agreed... Chris and I have talked about this NUMEROUS times, and the bottom line is, the e30 just is not suitable as a daily driver. Period.

I hate to admit it, but after the problems I've had with mine over the years, before I got the IS300, I didn't mind the inconvenience. However, once I got in the IS300, i realized that i didn't have to worry about whether the fuel pump relay was making good contact with the harness, or if the power steering belt is about to cut holes in my lower radiator, or a drive belt breaking and taking out two belts with it. No hoses were going to develop holes (anytime soon), nothing serious for me to worry about.

I know the IS will eventually have it's share of problems, but i think the e30 is GREAT if you don't have to drive it all the time. I'll never mod my daily driver like I did the e30. I spent more money replacing mods because of the elements.

The e30 is a great project car, and I can't wait to start workin on mine again. But for right now, the IS will do just fine. And the elements can screw themselves this time, because I got coilovers on the IS.. there will be no snowplowing there..

[Digitalwave]

That E30 is only worth around $3,500 anyways, seems smarter to keep the Volvo.

[1990m3]

thanks for all the opinions everyone. After driving around for a few days I think I'll keep what I've got.

D

[Jared K]

I had a 1999 Saab 9-3 with a chipped turbo engine for about a year. Sure, it was relatively fast and reliable, but the FWD's massive wheelspin, torque steer & unrefined handling were too much of an annoyance for me to enjoy it. So, in August I bought a 1990 325IS with 188,000 miles for $2500 and drove it every day since. Even through Detroit's snow storm earlier this month. I replaced a bunch of wear items: ball joints, shifter bushings, driveshaft guibo, etc, but haven't had any unexpected problems yet. I made the right choice for me.

That price does seem high, but I am suprised to see the negativity towards the E30.

BTW, I owned an E30 M3 ~7 years ago, and I enjoy the 325 more on the street due to the engine torque. Mines got a BMP chip that I bought off ebay for $35. It made all the difference in my opinion.

Jared

[1990m3]

frankly I'm surprised to see "don't get the E30" too. Every forum i posted on said the same thing, stick with what you've got.

[808BMW]

5spd the volvo? :P

[1990m3]

nope, 5spd turbo 850's are only in canada and europe. never officially imported that way to the US

[ColdAccord]

i think hes saying do a tranny swap