NEED YOUR OPINIONS!! Please :)

[mr.vang]

Tasteful mods are great, but usually do not add re-sale value. you can ask whatever you want, but there is one in Halifax that is mint with no rust that has been for sale for months asking 4k...

you do not indicate the level of rust, but for me visible rust requiring repair= no more than 2k in any way shape or form...

but it is worth exactly what someone will pay you for it.

I concur Ebay usually = bigger bucks.

that's why you keep all your stock parts and if you want to sale it, replace it. then sale the tasteful mods for more $$$$

[trackjunkie21]

I sold my old 325e on ebay for 2 grand, that says a lot lol.

[e30BMart]

Since I got it I repaired:

Speedometer
odometer
mileage
seat gears lubrificated
sunroof seals
power steering hoses
new power steering oil
injector cleaner
Gunk engine cleaner (ext)
headlights with crosshair ellips smoked
new oil
new oil next day
Rear bumper
New Mahle air filter
clean engine
new blue brake fluid
Master brake cylinder replaced
timing chain tensioner
intake boot
New oil again
vacuum hoses
Buffing/ compound
spark plugs and wiring

And added:

3.73 LSD differential
Shifter z4 2.5 avec bush.
Performance chip
Alancatara leather boots
New stronder Battery
alternater
JOM coilover suspension
MINT Tan sports interior
Rear brakes pads and rotors
and Sunny winter tires

So Yeah I think I should get a lot more than what I paid for, theres a lot more value in there.

[Pac1373]

24 or more of those 34 things are maintenance though. they are expected and are not adding to the value.
cars aren't like houses, they do not become more valuable when you overhaul the kitchen.

changing oil 3 times does not increase the value of a car.

you will obviously will get more selling to an enthusiast who VALUES Coil overs and such.

modifiying cars is not a way to make money, in fact many heavily modified cars sell for LESS then stock models in similar shape.

[e30BMart]

most of the things i repaired were never previously fonctional during my ownership.. so its not so much maintenance but more restoration for me the price should differ from if you buy a car with a good running engine vs a bad.. all the things i repaired made it a better condition all around.. knowing this can anyone give me a quote ? :)

[J308]

Since I got it I repaired:

Speedometer
odometer
mileage
seat gears lubrificated
sunroof seals
power steering hoses
new power steering oil
injector cleaner
Gunk engine cleaner (ext)
headlights with crosshair ellips smoked
new oil
new oil next day
Rear bumper
New Mahle air filter
clean engine
new blue brake fluid
Master brake cylinder replaced
timing chain tensioner
intake boot
New oil again
vacuum hoses
Buffing/ compound
spark plugs and wiring

And added:

3.73 LSD differential
Shifter z4 2.5 avec bush.
Performance chip
Alancatara leather boots
New stronder Battery
alternater
JOM coilover suspension
MINT Tan sports interior
Rear brakes pads and rotors
and Sunny winter tires

So Yeah I think I should get a lot more than what I paid for, theres a lot more value in there.

I'm going to say $3200 would be my limit for your car, rust FREE, delivered to my door... While you may have added value by getting maintenance up-to-spec, depending on how rusty it actually is, you may have overpaid for it initially.

The people that I know that shop E30s (or any other 20 year old car) are in two camps. Northeast/Snow cars for dirt cheap (less than $1000), or it's worth it to find a California car and spend the extra $800 to have it shipped.

Good looking car, tastefully modded. Why not keep it? What are you planning on replacing it with?

--J

[e30BMart]

I'm going to say $3200 would be my limit for your car, rust FREE, delivered to my door... While you may have added value by getting maintenance up-to-spec, depending on how rusty it actually is, you may have overpaid for it initially.

The people that I know that shop E30s (or any other 20 year old car) are in two camps. Northeast/Snow cars for dirt cheap (less than $1000), or it's worth it to find a California car and spend the extra $800 to have it shipped.

Good looking car, tastefully modded. Why not keep it? What are you planning on replacing it with?

--J

I'm feeling it out. But I may buy a vw GTi 2007. I've had my eye on it and don't get me wrong an e30 is a fun car.

But I can afford the GTi so I'm asking myself this: Do I really want to clean up the rust (2000) and turbo (3000) and wheels (2000) next spring on the e30 or do I want a more luxurious GTi Turbo with georgous Recaro seats from an r32 and 275hp 300pd/ft torque (unitronic chip)... Big center radio navigation, heated seats, moonroof, Amazing steering wheel and loaded with nice features...?

Only downfall is insurance is a little steep since i'm 18, and the fact that it's FWD is suck.

But Back on subject none of you guys think its worth 3500? :(

[J308]

I'm feeling it out. But I may buy a vw GTi 2007. I've had my eye on it and don't get me wrong an e30 is a fun car.

But I can afford the GTi so I'm asking myself this: Do I really want to clean up the rust (2000) and turbo (3000) and wheels (2000) next spring on the e30 or do I want a more luxurious GTi Turbo with georgous Recaro seats from an r32 and 275hp 300pd/ft torque (unitronic chip)... Big center radio navigation, heated seats, moonroof, Amazing steering wheel and loaded with nice features...?

Only downfall is insurance is a little steep since i'm 18, and the fact that it's FWD is suck.

But Back on subject none of you guys think its worth 3500? :(

Not to me. You may get that though, only thing you can do is try. If it truly needs 2000 worth of rust repair... then no way. (is that CDN$? Ouch!)

I think you're asking the wrong questions. Rust repair, DIY, convert the rust to stop it for now or cut it out, take a body-repair class at night if you need to. Turbo can be budget done for much less (if you really need it now). I paid $99ea for my TRM C1s. Get some used seats and have them recovered cloth, sport seats, m3 seats, VW MK2 seats, heated vert seats, there's a few options that I've seen in my research. Nav is overrated, but you can always add a single-din flip-out. There are numerous suede wheels out there that will destroy a GTI factory wheel in comfort and coolness. (Momo Mod88 comes to mind, I think I've seen them for $170.)

Just some food for thought.

[e30BMart]

Not to me. You may get that though, only thing you can do is try. If it truly needs 2000 worth of rust repair... then no way. (is that CDN$? Ouch!)

I think you're asking the wrong questions. Rust repair, DIY, convert the rust to stop it for now or cut it out, take a body-repair class at night if you need to. Turbo can be budget done for much less (if you really need it now). I paid $99ea for my TRM C1s. Get some used seats and have them recovered cloth, sport seats, m3 seats, VW MK2 seats, heated vert seats, there's a few options that I've seen in my research. Nav is overrated, but you can always add a single-din flip-out. There are numerous suede wheels out there that will destroy a GTI factory wheel in comfort and coolness. (Momo Mod88 comes to mind, I think I've seen them for $170.)

Just some food for thought.

I know... I could probably make a turbo build for about 2000$ CAD and I was quoted 2000 for full rust repair (I could post pics someday) with cutout and new steel... But I don't know why you mentioned changing my seats.. They are PERFECT... Mint mint mint tan vinyl sport seats that I put in a couple months ago. With the driver side full heating.

Don't take it personally but I think the momo mod88 has Nothing against the mk5 gti wheel. In terms of comfort and looks.. imo... Ill probably end up selling my car to my cousin for a modest 2500.. If he doesn't take it ill sell it this summer starting at 4K.. and hope for something :P

[J308]

Because you mentioned gorgeous Recaros, and heated seats. :D

And I don't take personally the knock on the Mod 88, Momo makes bunch of different wheels, something for everyone. Not to mention OMP, Sparco, etc. I'll guarantee you you can find a better wheel out there than the factory MKV wheel, and probably for 1/3 the price, not including the airbag.

As far as your turbo, I don't want to get extreme, but you can definitely do a used turbo setup for less than 1000 USD. I have no doubt I could put one together in 30 days for less than 600 USD. Again, food for thought.

That said, it sounds like you have your mind made up on getting something newer/shinier/more expensive, and I can't fault you for that. I wish you good luck!

[e30BMart]

haha :P... the omp wheels are nice. thanks for the advice though.. But where can you build a turbo for 600USD??

[J308]

haha :P... the omp wheels are nice. thanks for the advice though.. But where can you build a turbo for 600USD??

That's why I said I didn't want to get crazy. :D Just because I can do it where I live doesn't mean everyone can, so I can't stand behind 600 USD for you.

The internet is full of junkyard component turbo builds. Easy? Not exactly. Cheap? Yes, compared to aftermarket builds. Surely you've seen the Condor build. (an EXTREME case of money-saving ability).

Personally, if I were boosting, I'd definitely go the junkyard route, at least until I got all the bugs worked out.

Since I'm NOT boosting my car in the foreseeable future, and I've never taken on a junkyard turbo build PERSONALLY (only helped with one) then I'm not going to show my ignorance by spouting specifics about used Volvo turbos/ICs, turbo manifolds, junkyard injectors, walbro 255s, and tuning. But given my turbo experience I have absolute faith that it can be done under 1000 USD.

[e30BMart]

PS: GTi mk5 steering wheels go for 250-350$ in perfect condition.. The OMP wheel I want costs more than that... Which is weird...

[e30BMart]

1st picture not of the car i'm looking at.. Just shows steering wheel: