What's it take to have a $5000+ E30 (NON-M3)?

[Joey Link]

I've been curious about this for some time now. I see the prices of non-M3 E30's vary so greatly that it's difficult to get a proper gauge. My last E30 I sold for $4500 and it was gone in a day or two. It was a 1990 325i 2dr 5spd with 141k. Good condition, no mechanical problems, a couple cosmetic blemishes, stock aside from a Z3 1.9L lever. That seemed like alot of money to me to pay for that car but I was getting calls for weeks and I got my full asking price. I see some E30's around here go for as high as $9k+. This makes me wonder what my current E30 is worth as well. It's a 1989 325i 2dr 5spd with 169k. Very nice exterior, interior is probably a 7 out of 10 (but I'm working on it), stock aside from a head unit and speakers, and for this purpose we'll say no mechanical problems (very minor stuff that I'm taking care of). With the price of E36 M3's and the demand for E30's, I might trade sometime in the near future.

Anyway, what would you say makes a non-M3 E30 worth $5k+?

[smonkbmw]

motor swap (stroker,m50,52s50,52), suspension, rare parts. LSD diffs etc

[rede30]

If i was in the market for a clean e30 i would pay 5000 easy for a stock 89 5spd 325is. I would guess your car is around this but you can also still find a good deal for like 3000 since thats the kbb value and people sell their cars based on that. Once i get plastics on my white is i plan on getting around 4.

[Van Westervelt]

E30's are becoming an enthusiasts car. Harder to come by good and well sorted. The line between trash and fine cars is becoming wider and wider. The price on e30's I beleive is starting to go up for good examples and will do so slowly for a while. Probably another 10 years or so and top out with good examples ending at $10k.

For $5k you dont even need a swapped car, just one that has reasonably low miles, no mech issues, clean paint and interior, and proof of the condition of the car wether it be rebuilt or just gone through with documentation. Mostly only 89-91's go for that as they are plastic bumpered with the m20b25 being the preferred lump.

Above $5k I would say then its into swaps, strokers, trurbos and rebuilds with all sorts of goodies that determine the value up to $15k for the oh so nice ones.

[wRek]

KBB means nothing in the world of modified cars. A car is worth whatever people are willing to pay for it.

[DarkWing6]

Cars are rarely worth using as an investment piece. If you are going to sell your car don't put a bunch of money into trying to get that back out of it. Maybe clean up the interior a bit with new seats or something like that, but unless you plan on heavily modifying it (engine swap, paint, etc) most people just want to do their own thing and will pay more for it as a clean stock car.

[E30 Wagen]

most people just want to do their own thing and will pay more for it as a clean stock car.

qft

[96 Cosmos]

KBB means nothing in the world of modified cars. A car is worth whatever people are willing to pay for it.

Agreed.