Craigslist find: worth it?

[jmg]

I'd have passed as soon as I read "Fresh Paint last year ($1000)” and saw the picture of the rear seat the seller couldn't bother to wipe down before taking pictures of it to go in a for sale ad. But that's just me...

The lack of effort on some of these ads is ridiculous. One can only wonder how careless the owner is about other aspects of the car's maintenance.

[Torston]

I don't think there is a lot of risk in buying any e30 318is unless you have frame defect, powertrain failure, or major rust issues. Most of you are familiar with BAT and the general price trend, I follow a lot of German sites too. These list on mobile.de and simply disappear within days flat. All conditions and price ranges. I suspect there are some bigger fishes across the pond starting to stock supply for re-conditioning and/or restoration. Demand is definitely there and its not like bmw is making any more of them.


That low mile 318is on BAT a couple months ago went to a collector in England if I recall correctly. And that's after the currency collapse. When you start seeing collectors buying from overseas, especially with a crap currency, its telling you your market is valuing the item too low. That will change.

[laidback93]

Contra I feel your pain. I spent months and months looking for the perfect E30. Prices in California are getting out of hand so I had to act fast. Unfortunately I sort of regret hastily buying my 90is because the body is rough and paint is half gone. I was blinded by all the tasteful upgrades that already been performed by the PO. Also the interior is mint minus the usual cracked dash from the cruel Cali summers.

Anyways, my main point is that I also would also suggest to find an example with a clean body and paint.

[Contra]

My very first E30 had a Macco paint job. Was half-decent when I purchased it, looked like absolute total garbage 8 months later.

Found out they did zero prep work. Paint underneath still had clearcoat and was smooth. Paint chips came off inches long.

OP there's better to be had for 4800. I'd walk.

Yeah you're probably right about the paint, and I am going to walk away. I think I might try to find a plastic bumper coupe that doesn't run for cheap, since I plan on doing a swap anyway. Just need to find one with a relatively clean body.

[Blau]

I'd have passed as soon as I read "Fresh Paint last year ($1000)”

My very first E30 had a Macco paint job. Was half-decent when I purchased it, looked like absolute total garbage 8 months later.

Found out they did zero prep work. Paint underneath still had clearcoat and was smooth. Paint chips came off inches long.

OP there's better to be had for 4800. I'd walk.

[Contra]

Yeah, I think I might pass on this one and continue saving. I just hope the price doesn't continue to rise and I end up kicking myself for skipping this one.

[e30davie]

How lazy do you have to be not to straighten the steering wheel? about as lazy as not cleaning the inside of the car for photos I suppose.

I am also very skeptical of photos taken when car is still wet from being washed, tends to hide imperfections. Id rather see it after its been washed AND dried. Still not as bad as photos of them covered in soap suds!

Looks alright for a 26yr old car. But like all 26yr old cars, expect to find issues, but thats part of the fun.

[ttrousdell]

E30 prices have been going up but I think for what it is 4000 would be an average price. 235k miles is pretty high.

[Jb325is]

Yep, I would bet that this car is a let down cosmetically in person.

[Musij]

That's pretty much how I came to find this car. I was planning on driving out to see it this weekend, but I wanted a PPI before I went because im pretty green when it comes to appraising older cars. "a little bit of surface rust on the rocker panels" doesnt seem like a huge deal to me, but for $4800 I figured the car I was buying would have no rust at all. Also the whole no A/C thing kind of sucks since I live in the south and the summer is just ramping up.

My main concern is getting too excited about this car and finding out I paid way too much. I honestly look forward to working on the car and getting the suspension and body sorted before swapping it. I already have another car and a motorcycle for dailies, so I'm getting a bit giddy about starting a project, I just don't want to over pay.

Then skip it. I think it looks like a decent deal. But not the best in the world. Set a budget for the car and for the work you're planning to do to it. If you think the overall budget will make this the car you want it to be, buy it.. prices are going up, as long as it's not a rusted bucket, it'll hold value.

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[agent]

I'd have passed as soon as I read "Fresh Paint last year ($1000)” and saw the picture of the rear seat the seller couldn't bother to wipe down before taking pictures of it to go in a for sale ad. But that's just me...

[Contra]

Buy whatever car that you find with the cleanest body/paint, least rust. The interior, engine, suspension, brakes are things you'd want to replace/upgrade and will probably need to soon anyway in most E30s for sale.

That's what I did eight long years ago, and it served me really, really well.

That's pretty much how I came to find this car. I was planning on driving out to see it this weekend, but I wanted a PPI before I went because im pretty green when it comes to appraising older cars. "a little bit of surface rust on the rocker panels" doesnt seem like a huge deal to me, but for $4800 I figured the car I was buying would have no rust at all. Also the whole no A/C thing kind of sucks since I live in the south and the summer is just ramping up.

My main concern is getting too excited about this car and finding out I paid way too much. I honestly look forward to working on the car and getting the suspension and body sorted before swapping it. I already have another car and a motorcycle for dailies, so I'm getting a bit giddy about starting a project, I just don't want to over pay.

[roguetoaster]

Yeah, not sure why I wrote impartial. I edited that bit out. In terms of stuff missed in the PPI, what else should I have asked for? Either way, I think I am going to pass on it. I figured I'd just check here to make sure I wasn't being picky because I don't really have any idea how to value the car. When I look at e30s for sale, I usually find either $10,000 and in spotless condition, or $2,000 barely runs POS. I wasn't sure if this was on par for a $4800 car, but I feel like it probably isn't. Thanks for the advice though

Buy whatever car that you find with the cleanest body/paint, least rust. The interior, engine, suspension, brakes are things you'd want to replace/upgrade and will probably need to soon anyway in most E30s for sale.

That's what I did eight long years ago, and it served me really, really well.

[Contra]

Seems like a really, really good buy for 4800

I thought that at first, but the PPI has me a bit concerned. Also I found this:http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=402611 in the classifieds for just a bit more, so I'm wondering if $4800 is worth it, or if I should just save a bit more up and get something cleaner/swapped. I'd really like to swap an S/M52 into whatever I buy at some point.

[ahrensNW]

Seems like a really, really good buy for 4800