My Poor Poor Pristine e30.....

[einstein57]

Appraisal. End of story.

[scabzzzz]

Appraisal. End of story.

Basically.

And to those who seem to think a mint E30 is worth near 10k is fucking crazy. Its paper value only. Every mint E30 i've ever seen has sat and sat and sat for sale. I guarantee if you guys had an extra 8k lying around and you saw a mint E30, you would find everything to buy but that E30.
Not to shit on the OP's car or anything, but E30's just arent worth that kind of money, IS or not, without having some sort of specialty to it ie:Mtech, turbo, supercharger, motor swap, real euro import etc..

[joshh]

Worth and what some are willing to pay are not the one in the same.

It's worth about 4k and some are willing to over pay at 7k for it.

[Tavern Gnome]

I'd put it closer to 7K+ as well. I sold my 87 325is with 150,000 miles for 5 grand in an hour. There was a line of people behind the guy if he flaked too.

[E30 Memorial]

DO NOT TALK TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY! All communication should be in writing only(email/snail mail). Know where you stand legally before you deal with them. Here is a link to some very important info from a car enthusiast advocate. Good luck.

http://www.hauryscollision.com/info/

[einstein57]

I'd say high five low sixes. Unless you have a bunch of suspension work. I received $4,700 from my insurance company for my 87 with 300k miles. When your dealing with a 20 y/o non collector car, mileage does not affect the market value to much. Its like a penny a mile. It's all about the cars presence. My views are based on my experience as a total loss value coordinator.

[bmwtyler]

I honestly believe the car is worth $10,000+. This car is impossible to find. I know the blue book is only around $5000. I highly HIGHLY doubt I will ever be able to find a car on this condition with such an extensive documented history. Besides my first car (74' 2002) I have only owned e30's (this was my 5th) and this by far was the most enjoyable to drive, and this is the only unmodded e30 Ive ever had. I have searched for this very car for years and was surprised when I came across it, so I snatched it up. I have since searched for anything comparable and nothing even comes close. This is why the value is so high in my eyes. Thanks for all your sympathy's. Any other info is greatly appreciated. Thanks again

[gearheadE30]

One in similar condition to that except a '90 and hennarot with 98,000 miles on it sold on ebay about a year ago for the buy it now price of $9,000 in two days. If you were in the east, it would be worth a lot more. In CA, it would probably be worth $7k-$8k because there are more rust-free examples. Probably more like $7k.

GL with insurance; the damage really doesn't look terrible unless the frame/unibody is bent. If it's not, then you could keep the car and repair it. That isn't very cost-effective, though. 64k miles...dang, I didn't know there were any left in that kind of condition...

[einstein57]

How much did you buy the car for?

[FredK]

dude. THAT SUCKS!

I hope you get every last penny that the car was worth. 64k mile cars in mint condition don't pop up often at all!

[Aptyp]

OK, here's my new area of expertise, since i wrecked my car lastg month and got it settled just today after 42 days of negotiations ($8k for 325eS, modified)

Step by step.

1. they will send out the adjuster and appraise it. If they offer you $2000, don't get pissed. just send in receipts and that will add in a little more, but keep the chains moving. it's like a football game, you'll have to grind the field 10 yards at a time.
2. Request an independent appraiser and make sure you pick one, not them.
3. Go to NADA and get the value yourself, and fax it to them, alond with a few advertisements of similar model.
4 Read your state's general assembly laws about total loss claims.
5. Request appraisal clause, may get denied, but worth asking for.
6. If the adjuster is being a dick, call another adjuster and ask for manager's name and number. Do NOT let your adjuster know you will do that, let the manager come down on him and review files. Remember, in insurance industry, every manager has a manager, so don't be afraid to jump around on the management tree.

PM me, if you want, I'll help you go through your state's general assembly, also tell me what's the insurance company. Some companies are a pain in the ass to deal with (allstate, gave 40 day run for my money). As long as they have to increase offer little by little, they will HAVE to pay for your rental.

[Aptyp]

OH YEAH, 88 models this year became classics, so make sure your production date of the car is late months of 88, and don't tell you insurance company the year. Let them read it for themselves. Classics are usually 500-1000 more expensive. NADA value is $5,225, which is a joke. If your state has this law, ask them to find you a similar model. Every state that has that law, requires them to by a car of equal or better condition. Since 89 is the first year of plastic bumpers, and no air bag, it makes it especially rare, so make sure you point that out as they try to look for one.

Make sure you have all your reciepts for the past year, and all other reciepts of upgrades (if any) fax them all in after they evaluate it first.

[bmwtyler]

I paid $7500 cash and did about $1200 worth of labor to the sellers car. I still think I got a deal, and would pay it again. The have the adjuster up to about $6500 but it still is NOT enough. My whole thing is by law they have to get you into a car the same or better than what you had, and with this value it aint never gonn happen. Also, does anybody have an A to B car(any make) for sale in socal (santa monica area) for cheap that I can tool around in for the meantime? Thanks in Advanvce

[TDE30]

My whole thing is by law they have to get you into a car the same or better than what you had, and with this value it aint never gonn happen.

Devil's advocate: "Sir, you've been driving around a near twenty-year-old BMW that is valued just above $6000. You can take that money and buy a car ten to fifteen years newer."

For us E30 enthusiasts, it's hard to imagine what is "better" for this kind of money, it sounds cheesy but you get my point. However, to the rest of the world, it's an old BMW. Sure it has low-mileage, sure it's in great shape, but to others (your insurance company included) a 2000 Honda or Toyota is their idea of "bettering" your situation.

Like aptyp mentioned, you have to sell your car as a low-mileage classic, a car that on forums such as this would fetch very close to five figures. If you don't they're going to see it as some run-of-the-mill BMW that someone forgot to drive for 10-12 years.

[Raxe]

Devil's advocate: "Sir, you've been driving around a near twenty-year-old BMW that is valued just above $6000. You can take that money and buy a car ten to fifteen years newer."

For us E30 enthusiasts, it's hard to imagine what is "better" for this kind of money, it sounds cheesy but you get my point. However, to the rest of the world, it's an old BMW. Sure it has low-mileage, sure it's in great shape, but to others (your insurance company included) a 2000 Honda or Toyota is their idea of "bettering" your situation.

Like aptyp mentioned, you have to sell your car as a low-mileage classic, a car that on forums such as this would fetch very close to five figures. If you don't they're going to see it as some run-of-the-mill BMW that someone forgot to drive for 10-12 years.

Sad but very true. E30 prices here are ridiculous though, at last count there were 5 cars $9000+, none of them anywhere near the condition of the OP's car. For some reason it bothers me that people think their beat up unspecial cars are worth that much, but then on the other hand I wouldn't take any less than $15,000 for mine...