Bring a Trailer Auctions, E30 edition

[2mAn]

1988 325i Convertible

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-bmw-325i-31/

[amcp]

I can tell you round-a-bout numbers (2014 prices)...

ITB kit in: $1800
MS PNP: $850
Head: $2200
Headers/exhaust: $1k
40% diff: $900
Dyno tuning: $600
Labor $2200

2014: $8550

2016 we upgraded to 2.8:

2.8 rotating assy: $4200

Head was cracked by owner (overheated accidentally in garage when fan caught a rag), not really "build" but related.

Second head: $2300
$1200 labor
New dyno tune: $600

Even if you nix the second head, he still spent another $4800 on the new bottom end installed ($13,350 total).

Plus he purchased the interior and re-installed it ($$???).

The PO easily had $20 on top of the vehicle purchase, only to get 16. :(

And this is why I swapped in an S52. I get theres something to be said for a sweet NA m20 build but it doesnt make cents to me.

[varg]

Enthusiast type cars stay an entertainment expense with little to no return in almost all cases. Gotta be insightful or lucky enough to know what will be expensive while it is still cheap and hold on to it until it's expensive. Just enjoy them instead of worrying about what someone else will pay you.

[Jb325is]

Enthusiast type cars stay an entertainment expense with little to no return in almost all cases. Gotta be insightful or lucky enough to know what will be expensive while it is still cheap and hold on to it until it's expensive. Just enjoy them instead of worrying about what someone else will pay you.

I kind of agree. You're giving away money if you take a late model 2 door and swap it, so you have to be ok with that. But there are still some ridiculously overpriced swap cars on BAT as well. That white M52 swapped sedan for $14k comes to mind

[lukeADE335i]

Interesting what some modded cars go for on BaT vs. stock. Obviously we're now getting into classic territory where originality matters, but having owned stock and modded e30s I'd take a modded car if it was something I was going to drive rather than just hold as an investment.

I don't understand how this car went for so much. I mean, the color does look good and its an s52 but $17k for a car with a junk title just blows my mind. Not a huge fan of all the red bits mixed with grey either. If the entire interior was red and the wheels were silver, it would look a whole lot better IMO.

Have to admit, I don't get it on that one either. The red seats with grey door trims just looks half done, and while the paint colour is nice, the engine bay has been left silver too leaving it looking unfinished to my eyes at least.

[varg]

Auction fever is the only explanation I can think of, that or a buyer whose time is worth a lot and found exactly what was wanted in that car. The recent comment about not caring about title status puzzles me, is it not still the case that it's nearly impossible to get insurance to cover a rebuilt/junk/salvage title car? Surely you would want your heavily modified $17,000 classic car insured well.

[2mAn]

1989 324TD Touring

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1989-bmw-324td-touring/

[Jb325is]

Cool car- terrible respray. No telling what this one will go for.

[2mAn]

Cool car- terrible respray. No telling what this *TRUCK* will go for.

If it was properly titled, it would be very appealing to us in California, but since its registered as a truck, well.... WTF Good luck explaining that to the DMV. If you're lucky you get one who doesnt care and passes it forward, but I just see all kinds of problems if someone wants to bring that to CA... and now a Mr Russky is arguing with me about it

[laidback93]

Cool car- terrible respray. No telling what this one will go for.

That is one of the worst paint jobs I've ever seen. Did they use Playdoh as body filler? And there is so must rust peeking out everywhere.

[2mAn]

Im guessing this one will clear $100k...

1989 M3

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1989-bmw-m3-58/

[roguetoaster]

Im guessing this one will clear $100k...

1989 M3
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1989-bmw-m3-58/

Somehow I doubt that the trans was resealed, unless they just mean input/output seals, since the slave looks original, as does the line. Basically, while the car is nice, it does not strike me as a 100k car, which means it will go for 120k.

[SOneThreeCoupe]

That is one of the worst paint jobs I've ever seen. Did they use Playdoh as body filler? And there is so must rust peeking out everywhere.

Quite honestly one of the worst cars I've seen on BaT, in terms of quality of repair work. Everything is bodged. Nothing is done right. Passenger door looks wonky as hell.

Mismatched cheeseball tires front and rear. '70s muscle car rake. The engine's a plus but the rest of the car needs so damn much.

If I'm not mistaken, the vignette in the windshield is Bulgarian.

[Poorhouse]

Sold for $47k.

1988 325i Convertible

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-bmw-325i-31/

[ForcedFirebird]

And this is why I swapped in an S52. I get theres something to be said for a sweet NA m20 build but it doesnt make cents to me.

Apples to apples. Brand new built m20>used up s52 that's at least 23yr old - and more than likely 100k+ miles and most of them are sludged over, need VANOS rebuilds, sticky cam followers etc. Also, remember, he was paying a professional to do all the work. If you price out all the parts needed for an s52 swap and pay a shop to do it (around 30-40 man hours, top to bottom, wiring, exhaust, oil pan swap etc), an s52 swap suddenly doesn't look so great.

Somehow I doubt that the trans was resealed, unless they just mean input/output seals, since the slave looks original, as does the line. Basically, while the car is nice, it does not strike me as a 100k car, which means it will go for 120k.

More than likely it was the output and shifter shaft seals. They are all leaking if original, we have changed countless of these seals as the leak tend to soften the giubo and shred it beyond recognition.