Seriously, what the wang wrangler happened to the E30 market

[jeffnhiscars]

I'll just leave this here....
http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/cto/3293537882.html

That takes the risk out of me spending $10k to "restore" my 2nd owner 318i..which also lived in Tampa for years. I know that makes it worth more

What we are seeing at the shop and on our online business is a different group of people are getting into the market(35-45 years old professionals), to them a 10-20k well sorted e30 is something very reasonable.

This. To the people who can afford it, a well sorted, well documented, unmolested car will always be worth more than the one that someone is trying to recoup their mod money from.

[e30smith]

This. To the people who can afford it, a well sorted, well documented, unmolested car will always be worth more than the one that someone is trying to recoup their mod money from.

That's it.

[rasputin]

so kind of like the e30 market is heading the direction of collector cars, ie stock clean muscle cars

[RawToast]

I ain't mad

[Deathtoll]

Wang Wangler is a much better title for this post!

[keefy6]

I'm starting to see a lot of leftover verts. All hardtops are gone, except for rust buckets. At this rate, finding a decently priced e36 is way easier.

this.

there is a substantial diff in ratio of conv. to hardtop E30s in my searchas well.

[GillesBigCowboy]

I like buying e30s not selling them... Thankfully, I don't think the prices will rise too much too fast... It is kind of fascinating to watch.

[mamzak]

I paid $4500 for my 91' 318is that was low miles, and basically mint back in 2006. I feel like it was in the upper end as far as the E30 cost scale goes, but it was exactly what I wanted so I pulled the trigger on it.

[semaj4712]

This has always been the case with M3's. Even the guys who sought after the stock cars, did so, so they themselves could start off with a clean slate before they modified. They could have saved some money+labor if they started with a modded car already. I think of bone stock cars as a novelty. They are nice to look at and remember how they were when new and untouched but I wouldn't really enjoy driving it. There has to be balance between toy and full scale model. Then when things start to go out, you have to change everything yourself...parts + labor. Modded cars get a bad rap from those hackjobs out there but it's upto you to tell the difference between a hacked car and a nicely modded one.

Very well put ... case closed

[semaj4712]

Its too bad this trend of higher e30 prices does not reflect on what insurance companies value the cars at, offering me 3k, theres people on here selling the same car for 9k

[streetwaves]

A couple of years ago I bought my 318iS with 200K on the clock for $2800. 9/10 exterior, 9/10 interior (minus a couple dash cracks), 9/10 mechanicals (needed wheel bearings). Not low miles, but I haven't seen a deal like that in my 2 months or so of looking yet.

[MR 325]

Its too bad this trend of higher e30 prices does not reflect on what insurance companies value the cars at, offering me 3k, theres people on here selling the same car for 9k

I don't know about that. I've seen insurance paying out 5k-15k on these cars depending on mods and condition. You have to fight them but it's sure worth it in the end!