E30 prices...Only going to keep going up

[Killacortes]

I see alot of e30s priced high. But I dont see many of them selling. Most that are for sale have been listed for quite a long time

[nando]

it's already 50 years old and it's still only worth $5k? yeah..

[Stanley Rockafella]

If you want a great investment car, go for this!

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/cto/4464973914.html

[QUKBMER]

I am going to start hoarding late model e30's.

[brbahner]

not attacking you or your decisions, just stating facts. in any subculture (the e30 community), fad modifications (in this case, 24v swaps) can certainly inflate the value of a particular car to someone else in that community, who is familiar with and appreciates that modification while it remains popular.

car collectors aren't necessarily "e30 people", they are people looking to make an investment in the value of a car. and those cars are usually (we're not talking about hot rods or chip foose resto-mods here) stock and original.

transplanting an M52 into a clean 318is might make you a couple bucks right now in the r3v classifieds, but eventually it's value will level off and/or tank. keeping that 318is stock (i.e. original body panels, motor, interior) is a safer bet as far as increasing it's value over the long haul.

no need to be defensive, have fun with your car and do what you like. i recently sold my e30, so i'm not some bitter kid complaining because he can't afford one now. :)

Good point good point, i just assumed everyone was talking about bmw or e30 enthusiasts buying their cars. we all seem to just trade cars and when we dont sell to an enthusiast we part them out so someone can start from scratch.
not many people are collecting the e30, but we are talking about later years from now so it could happen and in that case yea im screwed in resale value. didnt mean to come off as hostile, and your points are 100% true, i just wanted to hear them is all. Thank you kind sir

[8380 Labs]

A popular car (when new) that's instantly identifiable by non-car folks because of the social era / movement they symbolize.

this is a great point, and it obviously doesn't hurt that they look great and are really fun to drive.

Please explain? its a BMW engine, no different than swapping a m20 into a 318. In the long run yes the e30 with the m20 will be worth more than the e30 with the 24v because they will both be ancient and only one will be original. but as far as the prices everyone is complaining about now for stock auto crap cars... its just that, everyone is complaining about cheap stock prices. 24v brings in more cash in this market and no one complains about those listing on CL. We aren't the problem, go find someone else to blame.:hitler:

not attacking you or your decisions, just stating facts. in any subculture (the e30 community), fad modifications (in this case, 24v swaps) can certainly inflate the value of a particular car to someone else in that community, who is familiar with and appreciates that modification while it remains popular.

car collectors aren't necessarily "e30 people", they are people looking to make an investment in the value of a car. and those cars are usually (we're not talking about hot rods or chip foose resto-mods here) stock and original.

transplanting an M52 into a clean 318is might make you a couple bucks right now in the r3v classifieds, but eventually it's value will level off and/or tank. keeping that 318is stock (i.e. original body panels, motor, interior) is a safer bet as far as increasing it's value over the long haul.

no need to be defensive, have fun with your car and do what you like. i recently sold my e30, so i'm not some bitter kid complaining because he can't afford one now. :)

That's the list of my previous e30's. All the prices have been way below market and I do all the work myself. Prices have gone up yes. But patience will get you what you want for the price you want to pay for it.

your situation isn't really indicative of larger market trends in any way - there are always going to be good deals out there for patient/savvy buyers. when a car goes up in value, it becomes a matter of how many of those types of deals exist - the higher the value, the fewer "steals" there will be out there.

a better test of the theory would be how much you could sell the cars for after you tuned them up. ;)

[nando]

not knocking your taste, I think they are neat cars in their own way - but you're probably in the minority. otherwise, this would be an E21 site instead of an E30 site.

[BenDem]

I doubt they will ever be sought after - not everything that is rare is worth money.

I don't know if they will ever be sought after, but I like the way they look better than the e30. It's the only thing I like more about them, but I do think they are pretty little coupes.

[cavpilot]

Mechanically, they are not aging well,

I totally disagree with this. Show me any other 1988 vehicle that's still out on the road and thriving in many ways. For comparison purposes, go onto Craigslist and do a search for 1988 Mercedes 190e. Compared to the e30, there just isn't that much out there. In my opinion they just couldn't pass the test of time, unlike the e30.

[nando]

I doubt they will ever be sought after - not everything that is rare is worth money.

[dirty30]

Poor E21, nobody ever loved it. I predict it'll be the truly collectible one
in 50 years, as they're all getting scrapped.

t

I'm with you on this one, prices are quietly going up right now. A good rust free runner is at least $3-$4000.

[petrolhead]

The good ones there are more expensive than the good ones here. More likely to have rust (it's cheap to fly out to CA to get one), then you have to add on the shipping and importation fees.

OK. I search www.mobile.de from time to time for E21's. They seem somewhat more reasonably priced and in better shape than what you'd find in Finland. Then I thought why don't you people import your cars since you seem to like euro-spec this and euro-spec that on E30's so much :D :D.

I bought my sedan for $1k in 2007, dumped $30k into it and can't sell it at $16.5k.:big cry:

I think I'm doing it wrong.

my 1984 2d shell was 0€ in 2008. I've poured money in to it since then but I don't expect to see that money again. That's why I've deciced to keep it forever.

[Dakotademon7]

I have owned many e30's in my life. In 2000 I paid $2500 for an 89 cabrio with a salvage title. I replaced the engine, transmission, top and wheels. The interior and body were clean and came with some nice Zender pieces that I regret not keeping. Any who... I've always made good buys on my e30's as I am a patient buyer, the list below will detail.

in 2000 1989 325i Cabrio Auto. $2500, traded in for a Cadillac after 3 years of daily driving
in 2002 1984 318i Coupe 5 speed. $750 Nice Zender side skirts, front spoiler and 15*8 BBS wheels
In 2005 1992 318i Cabrio 5 speed. $1700 drove for 5 years and sold for $2500
in 2013 1989 325i Coupe Auto (Current daily driver). $650 put in $350 in repairs and registration. Changed out front comforts for sport seats. BBS basket weaves (UGLY CHROME)
In 2010 325i Salvage 350.00. sold for 850
In 2004 1991 318is 5 speed $1200, almost mint except for the front seats. Paid $100.00 for almost brand new ones on CL and there it was. Much love to my car and I regret ever since I sold her.
In 2013 1991 318is 5 speed, $400, PO could not get it to run. I replaced the fuel pump and it was road ready.

That's the list of my previous e30's. All the prices have been way below market and I do all the work myself. Prices have gone up yes. But patience will get you what you want for the price you want to pay for it.
My current cars I would not sell for anything. My 89 is going to my 17 year old once he graduates high school next year and my Schwarts 318is I am going to restore for my little one for his 15th birthday. The e30 legacy lives in my family as we all own or have owned one



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Just some examples...

(In 2013 1991 318is 5 speed, $400, PO could not get it to run. I replaced the fuel pump and it was road ready.)

I just had to comment on this because it reminded me of the 318 I had. Same price,same problem. Sold it and still mis it today.

[marshallnoise]

I think Cali is a terrible place to gauge prices of pretty much anything.

I do agree with the sentiment that a whole running car shouldn't be parted out. Hence my trying to sell the 85.

[Eric]

Is it out of the question to import an E21/E30 say, from Germany to the U.S.?

The good ones there are more expensive than the good ones here. More likely to have rust (it's cheap to fly out to CA to get one), then you have to add on the shipping and importation fees.

I bought my sedan for $1k in 2007, dumped $30k into it and can't sell it at $16.5k. :big cry:

I think I'm doing it wrong.