Bring a Trailer Auctions, E30 edition

[2mAn]

1988 325iX

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-bmw-325ix-27/

This one was sold in 2019 for $4500 and the current seller has done some interesting mods...

[2mAn]

Already at $21k and going ...

1991 318iS

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1991-bmw-325is-10/

1991 316 Touring

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1991-bmw-316i-touring-2/

[McGyver]

Already at $21k and going ...

1991 318iS

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1991-bmw-325is-10/

I just can't even deal with these prices anymore. I guess prices are just going to keep going up, and these cars are fun, but I just don't see the value.

[roguetoaster]

I just can't even deal with these prices anymore. I guess prices are just going to keep going up, and these cars are fun, but I just don't see the value.

10/10, it's a very common car. Never fear, at some point the market will entirely collapse under the weight of markups and someone will be left holding the massive depreciation, just don't let it be you.

[varg]

Ouch, that wagon is going to be expensive. Collectible I guess, steering wheel is on the correct side and all, looks like it's in decent shape though the visible corrosion means there's most likely some hidden somewhere. Good basis for a swap if you have deep pockets. The wild prices of them are why E30 wagons never entered my mind.

[roguetoaster]

Ouch, that wagon is going to be expensive. Collectible I guess, steering wheel is on the correct side and all, looks like it's in decent shape though the visible corrosion means there's most likely some hidden somewhere. Good basis for a swap if you have deep pockets. The wild prices of them are why E30 wagons never entered my mind.

You can always import your own, and if you don't like it, just change the v belts and oil, then flip it like that dealer. Even today you can still likely source one and have it shipped for about 7k.

[2mAn]

I’m guessing most of the wagons coming over here are failing their inspections for rust and then getting shipped here for cheap...

BTW I think the only cheap cars left on BaT are racecars... that MGB GT is causing problems right now. Might have to ask my wife for forgiveness soon.

[McGyver]

You can always import your own, and if you don't like it, just change the v belts and oil, then flip it like that dealer. Even today you can still likely source one and have it shipped for about 7k.

This is the way I always thought about doing it. Fly to Poland or some other "cheaper" euro country, find the exact wagon you want, buy it for $2k-ish, ship it here for $5k-ish, get a trip and a rare car for under $7k.

[Sampson]

This is the way I always thought about doing it. Fly to Poland or some other "cheaper" euro country, find the exact wagon you want, buy it for $2k-ish, ship it here for $5k-ish, get a trip and a rare car for under $7k.

Serious question - Is this an informed view of trans-atlantic shipping and importing costs? I was looking into bringing an e36 touring and got quoted about $2,400 to ship Roll-on from Belgium to NJ (i think). This included about $600 in fees for customs clearance and EPA/DOT.

Maybe I was missing an amount of fees, but $5k would seem more than adequate to included your vacation as well!

[McGyver]

Serious question - Is this an informed view of trans-atlantic shipping and importing costs? I was looking into bringing an e36 touring and got quoted about $2,400 to ship Roll-on from Belgium to NJ (i think). This included about $600 in fees for customs clearance and EPA/DOT.

Maybe I was missing an amount of fees, but $5k would seem more than adequate to included your vacation as well!

Its a total Wild-Ass-Guess, I have no idea what it costs these days. I was looking into it 5 years ago and I think it was closer to $2-3k.

Another benefit of the vacation, you can drive the car to the cheapest port of your choice! Maybe we should have a r3v road trip where we all buy and ship home tourings?

[AWDBOB]

Serious question - Is this an informed view of trans-atlantic shipping and importing costs? I was looking into bringing an e36 touring and got quoted about $2,400 to ship Roll-on from Belgium to NJ (i think). This included about $600 in fees for customs clearance and EPA/DOT.

Maybe I was missing an amount of fees, but $5k would seem more than adequate to included your vacation as well!

twright just went through the process of importing his wagon. The price seemed quite reasonable.

[2mAn]

1988 325is

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-bmw-325is-50/

[Staszek]

1988 325is

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-bmw-325is-50/

Weird half-ass Mtech kit on it and it's already at $12800.

[roguetoaster]

If you pay a broker to do the work for you and get the car to a lot one should expect to pay 2500 to 3k USD from N. Europe to most cities on the eastern seaboard via RoRo. The cheapest decent looking E30 tourings are in the 3k Euro range, so 7k US is about what it would take, and and E36 tourings can likely be had for sub 1k EUR in okay shape.

Time of year has an impact, and you also need to figure out the export paperwork if you want to buy the car in person, so sticking to Germany may be a better bet for fly in/buy/drive/ship as their regs are a little more clear.

[McGyver]

Weird half-ass Mtech kit on it and it's already at $12800.

Much worse than that. Its a USDM 1988, so it's a late model car that came with diving boards. The front got a euro bumper and an 325is lip, sides have the stock 325is skirts (not mtech), then the rear got the mtech-II bumper and the stock 325is spoiler.

So early euro + late 325is + mtech-II = aesthetic basket case, I wonder what "attention to detail" the owner has for all the mechanical stuff...