Seriously, what the wang wrangler happened to the E30 market

[travish325]

paid 1500 for a e34 535i 5 speed with 100k miles too :)

also perfect

[Fleksta]

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

I love that he features the crank.

[KSLB1]

I for one, am happy to see values rise. These cars were worth more than anyone would pay for them for far too long. I got in when I could about two years ago because I knew the values were going to get crazy.

When I was in high school ten years ago, you could pretty much give away an e30. The styling hadn't aged well for the time, and the SUV craze and low fuel prices had driven values of even the cleanest, most well cared for e30s into the gutter. Four grand was as much as you could spend even if you wanted to pay more for a nice car.

Fast forward a decade and there are very few desirable cars left. Clean, late model cars equipped with an M20B25 or M42B18 in desirable color combinations are in very short supply.

Sure, you could find a rusty four-door Eta that's been repainted maroon for a few hundred bucks if you want, but if you're lusting after a minty late model 325is in Brilliantrot over a clean black interior your going to have to drop your pants. There is virtually no incentive to sell one of these cars, so asking prices reflect that.

These cars, namely the early models, were undesirable and lacking in value for long enough that many were scrapped, many were driven into the ground by teenagers, and many have been converted into race cars (Spec e30 anyone??)

Are they are all that rare? Not really. Is a clean, unmolested e30 rare? Absolutely, and given that most are owned by enthusiasts, these cars are going to change hands for a pretty penny.

Keep em' clean, dudes. These cars are going to be well worth having in a few years. I'm afraid the days of a clean, tight e30 for three grand are long behind us.

[JA1991]

That's funny. He bought that car off my brother. It had an engine fire before he bought it. I installed the intake and the exhaust for free when I sold them to him and he never returned the favor, spent over 3 fucking hours installing it for a stranger. Now it's somehow worth 8500 because it has wheels and suspension

^ I think that car is cool and all, but for 8k, the door jams and engine bay aren't even painted.

HAHA yes, it wasn't even painted the right way. I guess some wheels, a non legit paint job and a little low makes a car worth a shit ton. Mine must be worth that much then too, i have coilovers and wheels and a nice exhaust.

[ZM Blue Devil]

This thread topic pops up every 6 months or so. Working with a forum member who has access to database which shows number of cars by chasis by year. Looking to get the data for the past decade to see what the real numbers are(supply/demand) theory.

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.

[DooDanE30]

hold onto your gold

[quikveedb2]

Working with a forum member who has access to database which shows number of cars by chasis by year. Looking to get the data for the past decade to see what the real numbers are(supply/demand) theory.

In for this.

[herbivor]

This thread topic pops up every 6 months or so. Working with a forum member who has access to database which shows number of cars by chasis by year. Looking to get the data for the past decade to see what the real numbers are(supply/demand) theory.

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.

I'm in that group. Tired of driving crap cars, so now I have a very nice E30 and have the money to spend on it. Thinking of going for an old Porsche soon when I get into my 40's to fit in with that stereotype too.

[quikveedb2]

Not to get too far off-topic, but why I can find production numbers for 318i, 318is, and 325i 2 and 4-door, but no 325is numbers?

[keefy6]

you know what. i was saying the same dam thing yesterday. really, i was like 'wtf?' looking at autotrader yesterday man, it's gettin crazy...but i got mine so good luck to anyone wanting one.

[kid325e]

My first E30, an 87 Eta Coupe in pretty good shape for 375.00

Sold that for 800.00 after doing a TON of work to it, would've sold it for more but needed the money FAST to buy my new E30.

Picked up my 91 iX from a long time customer for 1500.00. With prices the way they are now I find it hard to see myself buying another E30. I'd make an exception for a clean 'vert, or an M3 if I had the cash to drop on one.

[evandael]

i blame you guys for willingly buying them for that much

i have spent less on 3 combined then some of you on 1

But your cars are clapped out.

[barry]

I think I'm the only one on this forum who is the original owner 1988 325is, offer me 20,000.00 grand, and I might sell....

[e34croak]

I think I'm the only one on this forum who is the original owner 1988 325is, offer me 20,000.00 grand, and I might sell....

Wrong.

[dishwab]

I just bought my car, an 89 325i with 145k on the body and 65k on the engine for $3000. Not dirt cheap by any means, but for a nice car that has been well taken care of and will most likely last me a long while still, I thought it was a very fair price.

Also, most of the mediocre E30's listed in the for sale section of this forum and on craigslist for 3500-5000 don't sell, they sit for months and months. That alone tells you something.