Help me decide e30 fam

[Clark]

so I saw the convertible thread. I am in a similar position with e28s...

On one hand we have a local 1987 535is. Alpine white over cardinal. This is the one of the cleanest e28s I have ever seen. immaculate paint. Cardinal leather has some patina. no tears or scratches. Insane maintenance records back to the window sticker. 84k miles. 2 owners. Manual. Owner wants 12k if he sells it. He is on the fence about selling it. Met and drove it and he is having a tough time selling it.

On the other hand: 1987 535is salmon silver over cardinal. Grail color scheme. Very clean. is across the country. AUTO. 8k estimated to be around 100k miles which looks accurate. has a broke odo.

[Stanley Rockafella]

what is the question exactly?

Obviously the Alpine over Cardinal is the better choice...

...unless I'm missing something here

[Clark]

yes the question is which one. There is also 4k difference in price. I have heard good things about e28 auto trannys. I obviously prefer manuals. I don't think manual swaps are a huge deal in e28s so could do that down the road. The interior on the salmon silver looks to be in better condition.

[Clark]

There is also potential for me passing on the silver car and the alpine white owner not selling so I miss on both cars. Just not sure what to do on this one. patience is usually the route I take in these things. In fact I've been in discussions with the alpine white owner for around 3 months. Here i fear patience could potentially leave me with neither cars.

[ELVA164]

e30 fam

OP, maybe I'm out of the loop but the white car sounds expensive. I guess with all that documentation you get some value, assuming everything's been done correctly.

[5Toes]

leather can have patina??? wtf I dont know about that, "fam". Perhaps you meant "wear and tear"? Im just nit picking

if you are dropping that much on an e28, my only question is why?????? they are not worth that much money, are these cars even rust free?

a $8000 automatic m30b34 - youre going to be the laughing stock of r3v. A $12,000 e28 thats not even an ///M5 - also a potential way to get made fun of on this forum LOL

OP E28's are great cars, I have had two of them. That said, alot of them by now have had been neglected. Dont let the miles fool you, each car is still going to need work. These cars will last forever, dont get me wrong... my 535i had around 335,000 miles.

The $12,000 car sounds nice, but about $6000 nice TO ME. What it is worth to you is exactly that - what it is worth to you. I just looked at a $500 528e in fair condition with little rust in my neck of the woods. It jus blows my mind that someone thinks 12grand for a non m5 e28 is fair

my advice, I guess, would be to find a good runner with good bodywork with 250k miles for $2500. Replace all the bushes and control arms, etc. etc. and in the end you will have a better driving car for half the money

[flyboyx]

the white car could be worth 12k.

i'm personally not a fan of the e28, but that is a matter of preference.

what i do love is cardinal interior. even more than that is a cardinal interior with a silver exterior.

that said, the e30 is going to be the much more desirable car today and in the future.

[agent]

I've seen the white over cardinal one. It really is immaculate.

And to clarify, I don't believe Clark is getting rid of his E30.

[Clark]

no keeping my e30. That will never be sold. I have emotional ties to that car. also fully expected the bmw forum 'that car is not worth that much i bought one in the 90s for 3.50'.. If you are familiar with the current e28 market and have seen what cars go for I am interested in your opinion. thx.

[Clark]

leather can have patina??? wtf I dont know about that, "fam". Perhaps you meant "wear and tear"? Im just nit picking

if you are dropping that much on an e28, my only question is why?????? they are not worth that much money, are these cars even rust free?

a $8000 automatic m30b34 - youre going to be the laughing stock of r3v. A $12,000 e28 thats not even an ///M5 - also a potential way to get made fun of on this forum LOL

OP E28's are great cars, I have had two of them. That said, alot of them by now have had been neglected. Dont let the miles fool you, each car is still going to need work. These cars will last forever, dont get me wrong... my 535i had around 335,000 miles.

The $12,000 car sounds nice, but about $6000 nice TO ME. What it is worth to you is exactly that - what it is worth to you. I just looked at a $500 528e in fair condition with little rust in my neck of the woods. It jus blows my mind that someone thinks 12grand for a non m5 e28 is fair

my advice, I guess, would be to find a good runner with good bodywork with 250k miles for $2500. Replace all the bushes and control arms, etc. etc. and in the end you will have a better driving car for half the money

to answer your only real question, both of these cars are rust free.

6k? 12k for an m5? either you are broke or delusional or both. I mean I wish you weren't. but you are.

[stonea]

e30 fam

[Clark]

smh at this board sometimes. anyways pulled the trigger on the auto.

[MrBurgundy]

[iXguido]

what is the question exactly?

Obviously the Alpine over Cardinal is the better choice...

...unless I'm missing something here

+1 on this. Documented service history, manual, low miles, local vs shipping across country, estimated milage due to broken odo, automatic

Also why don't people post pictures when they make these threads?

patience is usually the route I take in these things.

Seems like you should have stuck with this? I guess in the end as long as you're happy thats what counts. Either way, post pictures when you get it!

[2mAn]

to answer your only real question, both of these cars are rust free.

6k? 12k for an m5? either you are broke or delusional or both. I mean I wish you weren't. but you are.

you dont know toes.. he is both

BUT

he will be the first DJ at the E30 picnic pre party so....