Why did this eBay E30 sell for so little??

[Poorhouse]

You just described me. My first car was a beat E21 320i and I really liked the E30 325is back in High School. Now I want one. $20k is way to high for me, but I'm willing to spend up to $12K for a nice example.

I was describing myself as well.

I graduated in 1990 and lusted after E30's in highschool. I was lucky to have a 2002, but at that point they were old cars not classics.

When I bought my E36 a year and a half ago I was looking hard for a small bumper 325is too. I didn't see anything nice below the teens. Equivalent E36Ms were under $10k. I couldn't justify the extra money for an E30.
No regrets buying the E36. The M version came out as I was graduating college and I lusted after them too. It is an awesome car but not an E30.

I lucked into my E30 last fall from a guy who wasn't using it much any more and didn't want to store it. I'm normally not into convertibles. My 7 year old loves them and so does the wife, plus they are cheaper than coupes. Made it easier to jump on the deal.

Good luck in your search, hope you find a nice one.

[djjerme]

EAG and BAT have infected everyone. I'll be over here cutting some more holes in my racecar and enjoying it while you guys buy plastic bubbles for your collector cars.

That's why you have to keep multiple E30's. The garage queen, the modded driver, and the race car (that you really can't get to hung up on what happens to it.)

..at least, that's my current reasoning.

I'm just waiting for the bottom to fall out on the inflated values for 318is'. I mean I get the arguments for, but the prices are being inflated purely based on speculation and being a single year model.

[rturbo 930]

They are almost 30 years old, I would consider 150k low miles.

Age doesn't make a difference, 150k isn't low miles. I would say anything under 75k is low miles, and I think that's being a bit generous to be honest. Depends on the situation somewhat as well.

[stonea]

Age doesn't make a difference, 150k isn't low miles. I would say anything under 75k is low miles, and I think that's being a bit generous to be honest. Depends on the situation somewhat as well.

I would say age does make a difference. 75k miles on a F30 is a lot, 75k on a e90 is average, 75k on a e46 is really good, 75k on a e36 is low, and 75k on a e30 is a rare sight now and days. If age doesn't make a difference then you have to agree that 75k miles on a 2017 F30 is low miles.

[Rusty.Piranha]

I would say age does make a difference. 75k miles on a F30 is a lot, 75k on a e90 is average, 75k on a e46 is really good, 75k on a e36 is low, and 75k on a e30 is a rare sight now and days. If age doesn't make a difference then you have to agree that 75k miles on a 2017 F30 is low miles.

Well said! That is a very good point. I've only seen a few e30's below 75k miles and the majority of them are automatics

[rturbo 930]

I would say age does make a difference. 75k miles on a F30 is a lot, 75k on a e90 is average, 75k on a e46 is really good, 75k on a e36 is low, and 75k on a e30 is a rare sight now and days. If age doesn't make a difference then you have to agree that 75k miles on a 2017 F30 is low miles.

If I were buying a car to daily drive, I would agree with you. However, we are talking about E30s in the context of collector cars, where the best condition and most original cars are very valuable relative to the rest of what's available. If the car has enough miles that it would be starting to show wear and tear to a noticeable or somewhat significant degree under typical use, then IMO, it is no longer "low miles". A newer car like the E30 can get away with more miles than say, a 1st gen Corvette I think, due to technological improvements that result in the cars lasting longer, but overall, I still maintain that 150k is not low miles. You could make an argument that 90k is low miles, but you aren't going to sway me on 150k. That's a well used car, regardless of the fact that they can go much longer.

As for your example of 75k miles on a 2017 F30 - for being under a year old, it has a lot of miles, but based on the expected lifespan of the car, it has relatively low miles. When I say a car has low miles, what I mean is a car has low miles period vs a car having low miles for its age, ie, over the course of its lifetime, the average number of miles driven per year is low.

Hope that makes sense.

[MrBurgundy]

I wouldn't call 150k low miles for any car, any age.

It's like looking at a 100 year old piece of toast with a tiny mold spot on it and saying "its not that bad" and taking a bite out of it.

[e30davie]

Miles mean nothing after 30 years.

Mine was low kms at 150kms on purchase (~93k miles) and everything was stuffed:)

[mjposner]

First, there are some of us on this Board...I am 56, and always liked the 325i in the 80s (My first new car was a $2,500 Suzuki Samurai in 1985). Just couldn't afford a new BMW. Got my first BMW in 2002, and have been hooked ever since.

After being aggravated with a 160k 1992 oil leaker slush box that I bought for $3,900 (after selling off the hard top for $1,100), I put 4k in, and sold for $6,750, and waited for that prime example. My budget was 15k and I found a White over Black 5 speed with no leaks, two owners, full service history, R134a a/c, hardtop with 29.2k miles. Listed for $16.5k, purchased for $14.5k, sold hardtop and windscreen for $1.9k so I am 12.6k in.

I am modding a little, but carefully storing old stuff and driving weekly. I figure in 5 years it will have 35k - 40k miles and easily be worth double what I paid.

[lukeADE335i]

Mine was low kms at 150kms on purchase (~93k miles) and everything was stuffed:)

True - I'd rather buy on condition / maintenance. My car has done around 340,000km but it's grandpa's axe (ie. has had 3 new handles and 2 new heads :D ). Would be in better condition than many cars with lowish km, except for the time capsule ones that have sat under a tarp in someones shed.

The prices in the US are pretty amazing really. e30s have nowhere near hit those kinds of prices down here in Australia yet. I guess living in a place with no snow or salt, and is one of the driest places in the world has its plusses.

[jmg]

I lucked into my E30 last fall from a guy who wasn't using it much any more and didn't want to store it. I'm normally not into convertibles. My 7 year old loves them and so does the wife, plus they are cheaper than coupes. Made it easier to jump on the deal.

Good luck in your search, hope you find a nice one.

Thanks! Hopefully I get lucky with a well cared for one.

I figure in 5 years it will have 35k - 40k miles and easily be worth double what I paid.

I'm planning on getting it running reliably and driving it twice a week or more. Making money on it isn't a priority, I really just want to enjoy it to the fullest.

[2mAn]

EAG and BAT have infected everyone. I'll be over here cutting some more holes in my racecar and enjoying it while you guys buy plastic bubbles for your collector cars.

x2

Im too stupid to not modify a car. I modded my daily driver too

[stonea]

Hope that makes sense.

I get what you are saying, but I think we just have different opinions on this.

[Rusty.Piranha]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1989-BMW-3-Series-/262974648181?hash=item3d3a82af75:g:A8AAAOSwSypY~vjb

And it's back up for sale...

[MrBurgundy]

lol

Buyer probably backed out