Increasing (theoretical) resale value.

[noE30]

In regards to rust free e30 prices bringing in a premium price, I bought my 89 325i almost 3 years ago for $4k with a loan from a bank FYI. I had searched for ~6-7 months for a rust free 325i coupe in the Midwest (rust galore), I ended up finding mine in Denver, CO and the owner was originally asking $5,500.

At the time my bank had looked up what nada has listed as the value for an 89 325i and it was listed at 3,800 average and 4k something for clean. So yes, a bank will loan money on an e30 depending on the condition of course and rust free cars are pulling premium prices especially in the Midwest.

[Vivek]

Stamar-you're probably the only e30 fanatic that agrees with you. Just stop. Literally everyone else agrees that e30 prices are going UP. People who have been in the game for 10 years and people who just bought their first e30 all agree that prices are only increasing.

I sold a 1996 honda accord for above KBB excellent about a month ago. It had a peeling clear coat, dings on almost every panel (albeit no dents over quarter-sized), 16 years of scratches, an accident, 190k, etc. Even on that car KBB meant almost nothing. KBB is really only relevant for newer cars. Even less relevant for collector's cars (cough-e30).

[Kershaw]

i have yet to see stamar post one thing that i agree with.

he's an idiot.

[JinormusJ]

May I conclude that KBB is only a SUGGESTED selling price..? They have a disclaimer that the values represented only reflect what they believe is the market price, but they have now jurisdiction or knowledge of true prices. They even encourage you to find the REAL street price and go from there, using the KBB as a starting backbone for your sale/buy. Plus, Dealers sell NEW cars above and below retail price all the time. Suggested price means nothing; Street price and what people are ACTUALLY paying is where the proof is in the pudding

If you want to use your "comic book club" logic, here's a tidbit. No self respecting idiot is gonna sell their comic books to the average joe for dirt cheap whom he KNOWS won't respect it enough to take care of it as much as he did. He's gonna sell his comic book to the comic book guys he rolls with to get top dollar and ensure the comic book is enthusiast maintained.
Now shift+find "comic book" and keystroke replace+"e30"+enter. Get the picture..?


I'm over this thread.. Feels like I'm talking to a brick wall.

[GaslampKilla]

I think if you've decided to buy an e30 and you plan on using it, you are going to lose money. The most true thing anyone ever told me about my car was that the first year I own it would be all maintenance. Now that thousands are spent on non-fun shit, I can focus on why I bought an e30 in the first place: to absolutely smash on a the gas pedal without worrying about it. Parts cost money, and these cars are old so lots of shit needs to be replaced. The best way to make money with these is finding a good deal from someone who doesn't know what they have and re-sell it.

[JinormusJ]

FYI, here is a link to a site that actually does CLASSIC car research, and not just blehblahbleh crap

These guys are the real deal when it comes to classic cars; they actually DO their research to see what true values are on sales, and not just what gets reports to the DMV.


Mindblown
IIRC, last time I checked was when I first got into the e30 game 6 months ago; I distinctly remember all values were ~$300 cheaper back then opposed to now. The only reason you'll find an e30 below $3k is the seller isn't and enthusiast and doesn't know what they have and believe crap like KBB that generally is unreliable to begin with.

So OP, final words: Don't do anything to your car except basic mantainence and garage queen that junk. Tasteful mods and a well pulled off engine swap and your car will become a cash crop for future enthusiasts.


/thread

[pandaboo911]

Guys stop arguing and get back to the point of the thread, how to increase resale value.

[BergerNJ]

lol this thread is full of fail

equating a non running, rusted e30 4 cyl for 300 bucks...to a perfect shape ORIGINAL IS, is apples to oranges....

no one buys a 1967 mustang thats rusted to shit, has a seized motor and rats nests in it for anything over a couple hundred........but one thats perfectly restored, matching numbers will pull a hefty price.....

and quoting kbb on a car thats at its youngest 22 years old is even worse......


I know for a FACT that my vert will be worth more as long I stay on top of it and keep it nice....for 3 years before I bought my e30 the prices were a bit lower and as time went things went up....even during the recession....



Just because its a "common car" doesn't make it worthless....rust and shit maintenance does.....

It may be a common car, but the e30 has a huge following-drift, drag, auto x....or even just resto guys who go to meets....you name it......their are plenty of people who respect the car for what it is....

Everyone I know who sees my vert asks me how old it is and is instantly surprised its a 1990....they think its a sick car and a classic already....imagine what the e30 will look like in another 10 years from now...

[JinormusJ]

Just owning your e30 makes you richer in the long run :up:

[BKC]

If there's "millions and millions" of e30's out there where are they? Today i drove from my house south on I-5 to Seattle and back (over 200 miles) and saw exactly ZERO e30's. If I'm out driving around all day i may see two or three. I see excellent examples maybe two or three times a year and I drice all over western Washington.

I paid $5650 for mine 6 years ago and have turned down $7000 recently. I'm going to buy another one (if i can find a nice one) and I'll happily pay $7-8k for it if i do!

[mikeb23ft]

I had originally intended this thread to be about theoretical increases in resale value for the E30, but it seems to have turned into a shouting match with Stamar, who is out of touch with reality. I don't want anybody to get the idea that I'm going to try to do something to my car solely in an effort to increase its value in the future - I'm going to do things to my car to increase my enjoyment of it now. Value is a secondary consideration. I just thought it was an interesting (theoretical) topic, and I stick with my guns that paint and body is a good way to increase resale value when compared with other places you can spend money on a car.

[rich4rdee]

I had originally intended this thread to be about theoretical increases in resale value for the E30, but it seems to have turned into a shouting match with Stamar, who is out of touch with reality. I don't want anybody to get the idea that I'm going to try to do something to my car solely in an effort to increase its value in the future - I'm going to do things to my car to increase my enjoyment of it now. Value is a secondary consideration. I just thought it was an interesting (theoretical) topic, and I stick with my guns that paint and body is a good way to increase resale value when compared with other places you can spend money on a car.

I think it's safe to assume that adding go fast bits to most cars only subtracts from the resale value because the common buyer will figure the car was abused that much more. Granted, most people looking for a clean e30 will overlook that if the body, paint, and interior have been upkept with zero drivability issues.

Sure, many of us could prolly sell our cars for 1-2k more than we bought em for, but the maintenance we put in over this period means we'll come closer to breaking even. IMO the only thing that will significantly increase the value of any car like this is if you stop driving it today, put it in storage, and only take it out for the occasional weekend drive.

I plan on keeping my e30 forever anyway though. :)

[Pac1373]

Actually to weigh in, and not taking sides.

the only increases in e30 value are to enthusiasts.

end of story.

to any one else in the world (great and vast majority) these cars will continue to depreciate.

that is true.

the only cars that will, in the long run, increase logically are the mint examples of the more desirable models 325is, 218is, and of course M3.

the M3 will (is) going to out strip all others.

BUT!

look at what the drivers in an enthusiast market have done for say, Muscle cars.

that is a market that is completely out of touch with reality...and the cars are worth outrageous money.

tl:dr notes; Stammar is right for the 99% of the car driving public

everyone else is right for the Enthusiast population.

we all agree we love e30's, but even at my stage in life, at the $10K Price point, there are other cars that I would pick first,@15k It isn't on the list anymore.

people asking that money for a non M3 e30, are looking for a very rare and specific buyer.

they might exist, but not in the same numbers of people wanting to SELL their e30 for 10-15k.

[agent]

I suggest you take everything you know about car buying and toss it in the garbage.

i have yet to see stamar post one thing that i agree with.

Stamar...is out of touch with reality.

[BKC]

Yea. I suppose $7500-ish is my top dollar for an e30. It'd have to be pretty damn nice. As the previous poster said the affection for the e30 wears off when the price climbs too high. I'm not a fan of the e36 but a 2001 3.0 Z3 sounds a helluva lot funner than a 10k e30.