E30 prices...Only going to keep going up

[Kevinl]

At the risk of getting tarred, feathered and pilloried, it's not, really.

Stylistically, I find it very pretty. It's strong and safe for its time.

But it has a 2002 suspension and cylinder head. The E36 is better in most ways.
It handles better. It makes more power. Almost everything about it is an improvement.

And yet, I love my E30, and the E36 is just a commutabox.

Go figure.

t

e30 has rack and pinion steering 2002 has recirculating ball and the front suspension is quite a bit different the e30 has very similar front suspension to e36 & e46

the E30's trailing arms are at a different angle as well

its pretty good for being 30 years old

Multivalve heads are overrated a LS7 makes 500hp with pushrods and 2 valves per cyl

[ThatOneEuroE30]

I paid 1600 for my euro spec rust bucket

[e30crazie]

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...

[gr8skyr]

here is a comparison: A 2001 e46 325xi with manual- NADA values

Rough
Trade-In Average
Trade-In Clean
Trade-In Clean
Retail
Base Price $2,175 $3,300 $4,250 $6,450
Mileage (160,000) N/A N/A N/A N/A
Total Base Price $2,175 $3,300 $4,250 $6,450
Options: (change)
W/out Auto. Trans. -$350 -$350 -$350 -$350
Price with Options $1,825 $2,950 $3,900 $6,100

Clean retail = $6,100

Now a 1988 325ix with manual:


Original
MSRP Low
Retail Average
Retail High
Retail
Base Price $32,800 $4,025 $5,875 $8,200
TOTAL PRICE: $32,800 $4,025 $5,875 $8,200

Average to high retail= $5,875 to $8,200

I'd say e30's are definately going up in value, and clean, rust free examples will command a healthy price as the years go by. IMHO

[BenDem]

Mechanically, they are not aging well.

As newbie to the whole e30 thing, are they aging any less well than any other car of the same age ?

[E30 Wagen]

Interesting. What makes you think that prices will drop?

Mechanically, they are not aging well, and maintenance isn't getting any cheaper. I can see prices hovering around the 2004 era from back when I first got into e30s; things really haven't changed much except that the desirable parts from BMW are going nla. Drifting will eventually calm down and more people will simply want a clean, late model car that doesn't need a complete overhaul. E30s will live lives as perpetual project cars.

[Dakotademon7]

I find this bad for me. I want to get a 318is.

[jalopi]

In a sense, it's much like the '57 bel-air, the Mustang and the Volkswagen type II; A popular car (when new) that's instantly identifiable by non-car folks because of the social era / movement they symbolize.

Good point. Now that you mention it, I do get positive comments from [older] people who clearly really aren't into cars.

[delatlanta1281]

Our cars are almost considered vintage/classic.

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Almost?

[brbahner]

all the drifter kids and M/S5X swappers are only helping drive the values up, as well.

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:

edit: obviously backing up the 24v swap guys, as far as the drifters go... they are making the car a slight bit rarer so your right there

[BenDem]

I think the e30 is already a 'classic'. I think the jury on how collectible they will become (m3 excepted).

If nothing else, the e30 is widely regarded as THE yuppie-mobile. This is the car of the blue shirt and red suspenders. Regan, the 'me' generation, the brick phone, all that kind of stuff.

Charlie Sheen drove one in 'Wall Street' for a reason.

In a sense, it's much like the '57 bel-air, the Mustang and the Volkswagen type II; A popular car (when new) that's instantly identifiable by non-car folks because of the social era / movement they symbolize.

Within ' US car culture' it's a great example of the decline the luxury domestic car being the first choice to show that you've 'made it'.

That, and it's good fun to drive.

[jalopi]

I don't think the e30 will be a 'collector classic' until another 20 or so years passes. It just got popular real quick, same thing that happened with 240's and ae86's a few years ago. Doesn't help that jalopnik brings them up all the time, ect... eventually people are going say 'fuck this' to their prices and they will drop again.

[BenDem]

At the risk of getting tarred, feathered and pilloried, it's not, really.

Stylistically, I find it very pretty. It's strong and safe for its time.

But it has a 2002 suspension and cylinder head. The E36 is better in most ways.
It handles better. It makes more power. Almost everything about it is an improvement.

And yet, I love my E30, and the E36 is just a commutabox.

Go figure.

t

"The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong."

[Wh33lhop]

At the risk of getting tarred, feathered and pilloried, it's not, really.

Stylistically, I find it very pretty. It's strong and safe for its time.

But it has a 2002 suspension and cylinder head. The E36 is better in most ways.
It handles better. It makes more power. Almost everything about it is an improvement.

And yet, I love my E30, and the E36 is just a commutabox.

Go figure.

t

The e36 definitely has better chassis dynamics; rear suspension, weight distribution, rigidity etc. That said, the e30 is 400lbs lighter with a smaller wheelbase and more raw/entertaining to toss around.

That is all. Carry on.

[TobyB]

It's an awesome chassis

At the risk of getting tarred, feathered and pilloried, it's not, really.

Stylistically, I find it very pretty. It's strong and safe for its time.

But it has a 2002 suspension and cylinder head. The E36 is better in most ways.
It handles better. It makes more power. Almost everything about it is an improvement.

And yet, I love my E30, and the E36 is just a commutabox.

Go figure.

t