The process & prospects of parting out an e30

[Surge]

Ahhh good old $200 1984 320i, I'm in the positives with this car now (due to selling bits and pieces) Purchased at auction as a damaged car for the gearbox and steering to fix my other 320i which was also brought damaged (previous owner got a little sideways and rooted all the suspension+steering)
Definately nice having a parts car for a manual swap and a spare motor to turbo while still have a running car.

[Bimmerfanatik]

Don't let these guys fool you. An ETA is just as easy to make money off of, especially if you can get them for little to nothing.

I've got three etas right now that have more than paid for themselves, in fact, I've doubled the initial cost. Interiors are huge pieces - a good interior can pay for the car in one shot. Things like center consoles and ebrake consoles, dashes, steering wheels, they're all e or i parts, so those sell easily.

Here's what I did - found some local cars for dirt cheap, but before I bought them, got a tally of parts they had vs. what they're going for on here, on ebay, wherever. If the amount of sellable parts > the cost of the car, go for it. Even if you break even, so long as you get something out of it (parts, etc.) then it's not a waste.

I will say, however, be prepared to keep the car for a long time, unless you want to strip it completely and get rid of the shell, then sell the parts. Me, I'm just going gradually, because I have the room. What they said about patience is more than the truth.

[Digitalwave]

It's a massive waste of time if you break even. I almost quadrupled my money with my parts car, and I wouldn't even do it again if I didn't more than double it.

[BahnE30]

unless your the only one in your area with an E30 parts car, and a place to put it, put it sell parts to local people and put them on your car.
i've paid for my parts car 3 times over and still have a good motor and decent interior, now granted i cut the front clip off to repair mine after a fender bender in the snow, that paid for itself. but ive made 500 cash on an 800 dollar car, and there's still alot left, plus i plan on restoring the suspension in it to put in mine. just swap.