Bring a Trailer Auctions, E30 edition

[Echo30V]

I can't explain that one.

[JimmyP]

Can someone tell me why that M3 sold for $42k??

I'm with you.
I totally didn't get that either.
Nice enough E30M3, needed an afternoon getting all the hokey vinyl off it and no real documentation of any major component rebuilds that I saw.
So you have a nice clean Alpine 266K E30M3 on bone stock 266K drivetrain.
I've seen way nicer cars sell for less on there.
Not sure what lit the fuse on that car to push it to over $40K

The Lachsiilber car on there now puts that car to shame.

[JimmyP]

Who owned it and built it also makes a big difference.

Who owned it?
I may have missed some special provenance of ownership that added to it reaching a higher price that I ever thought it would.

No one "built" the car, other than the hokey vinyl its basically just a well preserved stock car with 266K on the drivetrain.
Color me a bit perplexed.

[varg]

Yeah that was expensive. The vinyl was in questionable taste and should have hurt the value, but then again alpine white is the best E30 color

If someone buys an E30 cabrio for its performance (straight line or handling) they bought the wrong car.
E30 Cabrios are cruisers.
Top down, sunny day, cruiser.
Its like comparing a Harley chopper to a crotch rocket. Two different tools for two different jobs.

Want to go fast with no top, buy a Z3 M Roadster

You don't have to "want to go fast" to have a desire for decent handling and acceleration that isn't corolla-spec.

[Poorhouse]

You don't have to "want to go fast" to have a desire for decent handling and acceleration that isn't corolla-spec.

Are you intentionally missing the point?

[varg]

Are you intentionally missing the point?

Are you?

[JimmyP]

I'll just say that an E30 Cab is way fun enough for what I do with it. Sunday drives up through the Poconos, around mountain roads, going to Sunday car shows. Handles absolutely fun enough for that.
Is it different than my street M3, absolutely.
Do I care enough to swap it for an M Roadster, not yet. Cant compare the looks and the vibe.
I love that E30 Cabs look like they just rolled off the set of Miami Vice

[Poorhouse]

Are you?

I guess Corolla spec is good enough for me.

I'll just say that an E30 Cab is way fun enough for what I do with it. Sunday drives up through the Poconos, around mountain roads, going to Sunday car shows. Handles absolutely fun enough for that

Sounds terrible.

[reelizmpro]

Who owned it?
I may have missed some special provenance of ownership that added to it reaching a higher price that I ever thought it would.

No one "built" the car, other than the hokey vinyl its basically just a well preserved stock car with 266K on the drivetrain.
Color me a bit perplexed.

The seller on BAT stated they bought the M3 from Jim Powell, a long time BMW enthusiast/collector down in San Diego. Not sure how much that had to do with it but nothing surprises me anymore.

[cavpilot]

I love my cab. However, it is what it is. What it is is a sporty cruiser that looks great and provides a sensational road experience. Albeit not the same high performance handling you expect from a coupe. I've put a crossbrace on mine along with Billy Sports and e30 M3 springs, that really helps. I plan on stroking the engine at some point to enhance the torque for canyon runs, but I feel it would be overkill to boost it.

I honestly don't understand the aversion some people have towards the vert. Some here even claim to hate it.

[Echo30V]

I’m not a hater, I’m a congratulatory. I love my Vert.

[bradnic]

don't hate verts. just get 2 e30s, 3-5 if you want variety lol.
all these e30s have different personalities:

318i sedan
325i sedan
touring
ix sedan
ix touring
318i vert
325i vert
318is
325i/is coupe
m3

I'll leave the m3 vert off the list. Throw a suspension turbo, stroker or swap on any of these and it changes things of course.

personally, I have an IX coupe and a euro converted vert. I'll do an e30 coupe swapped hotrod down the road. won't do an m3 due to value.

[Poorhouse]

don't hate verts. just get 2 e30s, 3-5 if you want variety lol.

The character is different enough this makes sense.
I had planned to swap the vert, but we are enjoying it as is, M42 and all.
I've got a line on a 89 coupe (automatic, blown head gasket) to swap.
Should make a nice counterpart to a stock vert.

[Dagamus(NM)]

I agree with multiple e30s. Nothing like cruising the Pacific Coast Highway in a vert. Did it in a coupe which was fun but the whole time I was thinking it would be so much better in a vert and it was.

[cory58]

A 2-year old 318ic was my first BMW and I've been smitten ever since. Plenty of fun with the M42 and 5-speed. Beer and food came off the vinyl seats easily. Put 20k miles on it in a little over a year, but sold it because I was getting into SCCA racing. Missed it from the day I sold it.

Fast forward to 2006. As soon as I could afford a 3rd car, I went and found another low mileage 'vert. Will be buried in it. Yes, the driving dynamic is completely different than a coupe/sedan, but any E30 guy who doesn't understand is just a hater.

Cory