Bring a Trailer Auctions, E30 edition

[MrBurgundy]

[2mAn]

damn... we r3ved ourselves... always have to quote the post before it gets taken down...

YGBTQ guy, just focus on what you are trying to get done in your life and dont worry about the idiots over here. we flame because we like the heat

in other news, BaT felt there was too much white, so now theres a red E30

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1990-bmw-325is-17/

[rjmcdermott81]

:)

[325e '87]

That M5. I don’t know if I will ever have the means to get one, those e28 M5 cars are really special.

[djjerme]

I will say, it does seem like the seller of that S54 M3 has improved his attitude and is being a bit more engaging with the BAT commentators. Maybe he was just in a bad spot on the old posting - we all have off weeks.

It does reinvigorate my want to install an S54 in the touring...

[Javier h]

What happened?

I thought Rui had a well sorted shop.

Assembling these things are never easy. Props to Rui for the effort although now I am questioning,,,,,who slapped on the Japanese brakes???????????????

What did you have to repair?

Got it - I'll delete the beginning of my post. I don't mean any harm but sorry I caused it. I guess I'm super curious about the car because I bought my s54/6-speed from Joey/Azevado and it was a total disaster. It seems crazy that it went from Joey to another guy, to you and still had all the problems you listed.

[djjerme]

Cars are one of those hobbies that are difficult to just break even on.

Once you start caring, your chance of making profit/breaking even drops considerably.

Unless you are a shop, and having a paying customer, you have to remain detached from the car. I've done both, and cars that I know I am trying to sell for profit, I only do what is necessary to make it safe/reliable and ignore the want to "improve" it. Stuff that is for my own personal collection - pretty much go in the "loss" column for the year.. :)

[2mAn]

I know you guys are having a meltdown on wanting to know whats up with the M3 S54 so here is the history as best I can put it together. Please be nice I can only give you what I have figured out.
Joey bought the car around 2001, 2nd owner
Around 2008-9 Lost compression and had major s14 issues
2007-09 s52 installed by Azevedo Very well documented and great work
2009 problem with s52 or outgrown
2009-10 s54 started completed late 2011
Not really done major systems were not attached and engine was actually thrown together to make it ready to sell it appears
2011-12 Joey gets divorced and car goes to Oregon sale was 35G
2012-2014 less than 1000 miles total and Oregonite is having major issues, Cut off limp mode loss of power and codes.
He spends about 3g to shops trying to get it right but to no avail
Sells it 2015 and I get it and start the diagnosis
Problems
Maf sensor wiring
Leaking oil everywhere
worn cam rockers #2 total
Vanos exhaust hub broke and a few other vanos problems
Toyota rav 4 brake system, yuk!!!!!
Oil temp not attached for Vanos system
Fuel pump OEM e30 wrong Bar running 5 needs 7+
China knockoff fuel pressure regulator
Bad O2 sensors
Maf oil fouled from K&N
Major wiring gremlins that ended up being 3 alarms and some other wiring crazyness. That took a little time to figure out but actually wasnt that bad in the end. R3V posts and a little thinking and most things just came together.

Most the e30 stuff was dated and needed a little refresh
All the suspension rubber and brakes and such needed love

Ok Now the good
Great color
New carpets and sound deadning throughout
Solid engine and transmission after resealed and a little love
Wiring was pretty good and engine fitting was very good just needed a little tweak here and there
Great accent pieces like the front bumper, lip, wing, badges, and dash
the 17 inch BBS were nice but rubbed on the ground control and I hate GC not a good suspension for NM roads. So swapped it for stock tubes, eibach, and 16's with a little more rubber.

Overall it was a moderate fix, not a complete loss I had fun working on it and have driven her now over 2500 miles and smiled most of the time.

As far as making a profit or even breaking even. I had to step back and look at in perspective. Fun, learned alot, head turner in every venue I took her to. Value is in the eyes of the buyer. I wont make anything but truefully that wasnt the reason to fix it. I started thinking it was worth some high amount because of the work but in truth, I rescued a car that hadnt been driven more than 1000 miles total in 5 years. It was a train wreck and I got to bring it back, owned it, drove it and had the pride of saying I actually did all the work to finish and restore it.
Maybe it will sell or maybe it wont and maybe I wont get back half what I got in it. I dont care actually it was fun, and I got to save a iconic machine to send it down the road again. I actually just hope the next buyer is respectful and continues to fix it and make it better. I would like to see her on the roads in 20 more years still turning heads.

George

George its always tough to fix someone elses project, and its never going to turn a profit unless you have a plethora of spares and a lot of time to complete the work yourself. Kudos to you for getting it to this point.

Im pretty sure it will meet the reserve, and you can move on to the next car. I believe you have a few E30s (I know theres also a Touring), so hopefully you arent leaving E30s entirely, but we each have our own path in life.

Good luck with the auction and everything else, it seems like these last 5-10 years have been quite a lot for you

-Simon

[Javier h]

Thanks for the background

Like with any modified car, you really need to drive it to work out the kinks but seriously toyota rav brakes? I am starting to question the intent of the builder who threw this car together initially. Sounds like they ran out of money and wanted to make it functional enough to sell or leave it up to the next seller to upgrade things further. Glad you were able to save it.

Can't believe PO threw $3k to try to repair things and threw in the towel.

[cory58]

Very high mileage cabrio just sold at $9,300. It was in good shape, but has some needs. Interesting that the buyer will be taking it to Belgium. Price seemed high, but maybe I’m out of the loop.

[Javier h]

These swap things are hard to gauge. I actually liked that recent black M3 with the throwing stars rims only because it seemed to be complete (AC) and not overly done. That hammered at 31k which I thought was a great reasonable price given all the nonsense with these e30 m3s.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1990-bmw-m3-21/

Sure no S54 but modified enough to make it a nice daily that people could afford or repair.

Daily? Yes daily. That's the beauty of driving a swapped M3....the investment issue isn't as great as if you were driving a garage queen low mileage S14.

I am sure it still needed some work.

[rjmcdermott81]

These swap things are hard to gauge. I actually liked that recent black M3 with the throwing stars rims only because it seemed to be complete (AC) and not overly done. That hammered at 31k which I thought was a great reasonable price given all the nonsense with these e30 m3s.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1990-bmw-m3-21/

Sure no S54 but modified enough to make it a nice daily that people could afford or repair.

Daily? Yes daily. That's the beauty of driving a swapped M3....the investment issue isn't as great as if you were driving a garage queen low mileage S14.

I am sure it still needed some work.

Yes... What is the s54 premium? 2-5k? Having put a boat load into my s54 swap I wish it was more but nowadays they are becoming more common so that's probably what it is. AC really is a 500-2k fix but without it the market definitely narrows . That black one was nice with a fresh paint job. It willbereally interesting to see what this s54 car goes for. Presents really well.

[rjmcdermott81]

As usual people are now asking about the possibility of smogging the s54 car in California. I feel like every one of these BMW swapped cars devolves into a "BAR" conversation...

[2mAn]

thats why #1 I wouldnt put my swapped car on BaT until it got BARd, and #2 a BARd swapped car should get a LOT more money

[Rusty.Piranha]

Bought for 42.5k on BAT and now listing on Craigslist for 60k

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1990-bmw-m3-20/

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/ws...511498184.html