Potential trade -- my e46 for his e30

[keine30]

Looking at a potential trade for my car, thought I'd ask for r3v's weigh in, since you guys can be way more objective than me. Thinking about offering a trade: my manual 2003 325ci (m54b30 swapped) with 160k for an '91 318is with 89k. Hopefully with some cash on top from his end.

I've always wanted an e30, and this is a pretty good opportunity for me to get one. I'm assuming that the e30 has some things that need taken care of, but I'm a Mech E major and did all the work on my car's swap, so whatever this car needs would probably be cake, and the cash on top from his end would help with that.

Now, where I need your advice; my car needs some work. If I'm being objective, it needs the following:

New struts up front
New bushings out back to fix an intermittant clunk (I'm thinking diff)
New giubo
And eventually probably a new transmission. The one in the car shifts fine and doesn't pop out of gear or anything, but it's starting to be very noisy and clunky at idle when the clutch is disengaged.

Here's some shitty pics of my car:

IMG_3081 by Ryan Van Dyke, on Flickr

IMG_3082 by Ryan Van Dyke, on Flickr

IMG_3083 by Ryan Van Dyke, on Flickr

I've since put clears on all the corners, so it looks more like this:

IMG_3863 by Ryan Van Dyke, on Flickr

And some probably equally shitty pics of the candidate:

00A0A_i3qI3x6xT5N_600x450 by Ryan Van Dyke, on Flickr

00B0B_9Q4P6q2WRNb_600x450 by Ryan Van Dyke, on Flickr

e30 by Ryan Van Dyke, on Flickr

What do you guys think? And, more importantly, what do you think I should ask for cash on top from him?

[flyboyx]

first of all, i don't have the slightest idea what your swapped e46 is worth.

second, i'm going out on a limb to say that there is probably no way in fucking hell that 318 has only 89k on the clock. a car fax would help, but i assume you know e30 odo's are always broken. even if it works now, it is because someone fixed it, not because those are the original miles. you live in the rust belt. assuming this car came from your area(you didn't state differently), there are probably some rust issues under the car and the interior is way too trashed for those miles. the paint is trashed too. the bullshit polish someone did for those pictures will probably only last a month or two. you can tell by the oxidation level of the rest of the car compared to the door. that car needs a lot of work. assuming it is rust free(which i doubt), i would objectively appraise it in the 3-3,500 dollar range. this is also assuming it is mechanically in good enough condition that one could take it on a 1000 mile drive without issue.

the one thing you do have in your favor is that 318is value is climbing while your e46's value is still descending. personally, i would make the trade if you can do it in a way that makes economic sense. keep in mind that the red car will probably need to be off the road for some period of time while you are fixing its issues. hopefully this will be a backup car for you and not your only daily.

[rcsoundn1]

Clapped out 318 is the short straw your taking

[dnguyen1963]

Sell your car then use the cash to buy another E30. This 318 looks like it has had better days.

[keine30]

Yeah, I was going to be on careful lookout for any rust issues and was going to give it a through inspection before anything. And now that you mention it, those probably aren't the real miles. Looks more like a 189K car, in all honesty.

It's looking like a no-go anyways, he can only do $500 on top, and I was thinking more around the $1000 mark. As most of you mentioned, I'm probably better off just selling my car and going farther south to find something that's guaranteed to be rust free. Looks like I'm still going to be "kein e30" for a while yet.

Thanks for the input.

[Kershaw]

If I were that 318is owner, I'd only trade straight. No cash. E46s are still dropping in value. E30s are climbing.

[audiquattrot]

i would trade . That paint is 100% buffable to a mirror shine.

[Nick_S]

i would trade . That paint is 100% buffable to a mirror shine.

This. A good cut and polish and some trim paint would make that look like a different car.

[Stanley Rockafella]

sounds like the tranny is possibly shot as well as the rear subframe bushings on the e30.

That car does't have that mileage...that's just silly. If they wanted to hide it's true mileage, they should have tried a bit harder.

OTOH I'm still having a hard time accepting that my nice e30 is worth approx the same as most e46's and some e90's. Just seems wrong to me that a car can drop in value so far, so fast.

When I had my car for sale a year ago I was amazed at how many e46 m3 owners wanted to trade with me. Sure they wanted some $$ on top, but still

[dogze30]

just sell the e46 and find a better e30. if it was me i would not trade.

[ST1G]

Sell your car then use the cash to buy another E30. This 318 looks like it has had better days.

[fight4life28]

Were going to tell you trade. its e30 forum. The rest is up to you. E30's are getting harder and harder to find. Which is making the cost go up. Do it now or wait later but you prolly could get nicer e30 with cash rather then trading.

[nando]

I would bet the mileage on that e30 is closer to 289k than 89k..

[Julien]

Get the e30 up on a lift before you do anything. If this car is your dd, i'd keep the e46

[varg]

Not a good trade.