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E30 M3 Inspection Help

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    E30 M3 Inspection Help

    Hi all,

    To start off - new member here looking for some insight and help, apologies if this is in the wrong section. Mods please feel free to move if needed.

    Recently, I've come into the opportunity to purchase an E30 M3 that I've idolized since I was a kid. Long story short, when I was younger a neighbour down the street had an M3 parked in the garage, but I had never seen her drive it. Ever. As I got older I realized what the car was and as I've grown it has turned into one of my "dream car bucket list must have before I die" cars.

    When I was back visiting my parents a few weeks ago over the holidays, I was taking my dog for a walk past this woman's house and she was out shovelling her driveway. Being a dog lover she asked to come see my new puppy. We chatted about dogs for 10 minutes and I blurted out "Who did you ever end up selling that BMW M3 to?"...I had always been under the assumption it was sold ages ago since I hadn't seen it in over a decade.

    "No one, I still have it in the garage" she replied. My jaw dropped. I ask if she would consider selling it and she said yes, and that she's not emotionally attached to it anymore and wants to make some space in the garage.

    Over the past couple of weeks we've been chatting over the phone and email about the M3. I've told her I want to come inspect the car and give it a good looking over, then come spring time come back for a test drive.

    Where I'm looking for help from the community here is to help arm me with what I should specifically look at during the look over inspection? Any info or tips would greatly help!

    Here are some details on the car:
    • 1990 BMW E30 M3
    • Original owner (lady driven)
    • Red with tan interior
    • Never modified, original BBS basketweave (I believe)
    • Never winter driven since showroom
    • Only driven once or twice a year since early 2000's
    • Full BMW certified mechanic service records
    •waffles60,000km and all original (I didn't mean to say waffles but will leave it in for lulz)
    • No accidents (that she has mentioned)
    • Fuel pump replaced (or possible water pump, can't remember)
    • Slight hesitation on throttle once warmed up to temp (she doesn't know what the exact issue is)

    Any help here would be greatly appreciated. I wasn't planning on buying an E30 M3 for some time, but since this one has come up I've been seriously considering taking the plunge...even selling my current 2015 MK7 GTI and getting a daily beater to financially afford the purchase, haha.

    Thanks in advance!
    Last edited by Powling; 01-20-2015, 07:27 PM.
    Steve • Toronto
    1991 318is • Brillantrot
    Build Thread

    #2
    You'd better go get that M3 before all the vultures descend on the car.

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by dnguyen1963 View Post
      You'd better go get that M3 before all the vultures descend on the car.
      I'm trying to! Even delaying a possible house move this summer to accommodate the car purchase.

      She says that all the local BMW dealer tech's have tried to buy it from her but she wasn't serious about selling it at the time. Apparently there is a list of people that want it but she is giving me first crack at buying it since we've known each other from when I was 5 or 6 years old.
      Steve • Toronto
      1991 318is • Brillantrot
      Build Thread

      Comment


        #4
        Buy it. Now. (depending on how much she is asking of course)

        If there is no rust and it runs, its a 20-30k car. The prices only go up from there.

        If it is only a 60,000km car (I can't tell if waffles60,000km is 160k or not) and 1 owner, its potentially 60k+. If that was 160km its still a 35k car depending on condition. The sub 100k miles cars are where they start going to 40k on up.

        Comment


          #5
          ^this. Just buy it. Prices are so cracked-out right now you're guaranteed to double your $.

          Comment


            #6
            Just curious what is she looking to get for it? Regardless you should act fast on it.

            The Build:
            http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=191125

            Comment


              #7
              Where do your parents live? ;D

              You should act fast and not even worry, the prices are getting insane.
              ~ Puch Cafe. ~ Do business? feedback ~ Check out my leather company ~

              Instagram: @BWeissLeather

              Current cars:
              ~ '87 325 M30B35 swap
              ~ '87 535
              ~ 01 540 Msport 6spd
              ~ '06 X5 4.8is

              Comment


                #8
                Dig up the cash and go buy the car as soon as possible. Stop wasting time or you will lose your chance, do not wait for spring.
                Current:
                1989 325i
                1988 M3
                1987 325ic
                Past:
                2001 330ci
                2001 M3

                Comment


                  #9
                  Like others have stated, these cars' prices are sky rocketing.

                  No rust & original owner? I would have already bought it
                  Harp

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by Hansel View Post
                    Buy it. Now. (depending on how much she is asking of course)

                    If there is no rust and it runs, its a 20-30k car. The prices only go up from there.

                    If it is only a 60,000km car (I can't tell if waffles60,000km is 160k or not) and 1 owner, its potentially 60k+. If that was 160km its still a 35k car depending on condition. The sub 100k miles cars are where they start going to 40k on up.
                    Thanks for the breif, loose price breakdown. This confirms what I've been loosely noticing with the market.

                    Originally posted by ttrousdell View Post
                    Just curious what is she looking to get for it? Regardless you should act fast on it.
                    I'm not sure what she is thinking in terms of price. I don't believe she is aware of the prices on market these days but is in the real estate market so I'm sure she knows how to do her research and negotiate. My fingers are crossed she won't know the true value of the market right now.

                    Originally posted by jhaurimn View Post
                    Dig up the cash and go buy the car as soon as possible. Stop wasting time or you will lose your chance, do not wait for spring.
                    I'm not wasting time, its setting up a time when both our schedules align for us to view the car!
                    Steve • Toronto
                    1991 318is • Brillantrot
                    Build Thread

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Make time! When she has time, you GO! ASAP.

                      Find out what she wants for it.
                      Originally posted by codyep3
                      I hope to Christ you have looks going for you, because you sure as fuck don't have any intelligence.
                      2001 silver/Blk 325 cabby. SOLD
                      1988 Blk/Blk e30 factory wide body kit car SOLD
                      1992 DS/BLK 325 m-tech II apperance pack cabby SOLD!
                      2002 325xit Sil/blk. SOLD
                      2012 328i xdrive touring. Wht/blk. SOLD
                      2009 135 cabby. monacoblue/blk leather SOLD
                      2007 Z4m coupe. Silver grey/black/ aluminum. 1of50
                      2010 F650gs twin
                      2016 M235i cabby. Mineral grey/Red leather

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by TRAK WDW View Post
                        Like others have stated, these cars' prices are sky rocketing.

                        No rust & original owner? I would have already bought it
                        Agreed, I would buy one as the OP described sight unseen.
                        ~ Puch Cafe. ~ Do business? feedback ~ Check out my leather company ~

                        Instagram: @BWeissLeather

                        Current cars:
                        ~ '87 325 M30B35 swap
                        ~ '87 535
                        ~ 01 540 Msport 6spd
                        ~ '06 X5 4.8is

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Ok, its just that you mentioned you would be waiting until spring to test drive it, which is definitely not a good idea. If it runs, has the original drivetrain, and no rust, its a 40k+ car most likely. And I am sure this old lady has no idea of that.
                          Current:
                          1989 325i
                          1988 M3
                          1987 325ic
                          Past:
                          2001 330ci
                          2001 M3

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by jhaurimn View Post
                            Ok, its just that you mentioned you would be waiting until spring to test drive it, which is definitely not a good idea. If it runs, has the original drivetrain, and no rust, its a 40k+ car most likely. And I am sure this old lady has no idea of that.
                            More or less waiting until the spring because of salt on the roads / canadian snowbelt winter and snow covered roads. She's not in a rush to sell it, but I absolutely don't want anyone to jump in there and swipe it.

                            Currently waiting on a phone call back about going to inspect it in the next day or two...
                            Steve • Toronto
                            1991 318is • Brillantrot
                            Build Thread

                            Comment


                              #15
                              I know you dont want it to see salt, but rolling it out of a driveway and onto a trailer wont kill it. :)
                              Current:
                              1989 325i
                              1988 M3
                              1987 325ic
                              Past:
                              2001 330ci
                              2001 M3

                              Comment

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