88' e30 M3 with 27k orig miles! what's it worth?

[blunttech]

somethings wrong with this picture. either the owner has no clue what it is or theres something wrong with this car. 27k on an e30m3 thats had stripes slathered all over it and sitting outside with faded paint? stranger things have happened but id be very cautious

[Massive Lee]

Anyone paying $25K and up for an E30 M3 must be demented. With the economy where it is, you can pick up a good 996 TT for less than $40K.

You obviously haven't driven or owned an M3. In 10 years from now, that same M3 will be sell for $40k and the 996 for $20k. That says a lot about what car is the most fun...

Current price for a good Evo3 in Germany is arout $60k and it is not a pristine one...

Lee

[M635dude]

Thanks for all of the responses guys! I'm going to check it out more tomorrow and actually get to open it up and see what it's really like. I feel that if I bought this car and just slowly started getting everything in top condition that I wouldn't really lose any money on it, unless it needs an engine or something. I'm pretty sure it would need a full repaint though, someone put some stripes on it a long time ago and it really just doesn't look good at all. I'm pretty sure the owner knows what he has, but hopefully he can work something good on price with the economy right now. I'll let everyone know more when I see it and hopefully will have some pics.

Also as far as I know there might not be any documentation, but in my mind from what I've seen the interior and undercarriage prove the mileage to be accurate. It's also sitting outside right now :(

Yep, you also have to look at what you can buy for that kind of money. Anyone paying $25K and up for an E30 M3 must be demented. With the economy where it is, you can pick up a good 996 TT for less than $40K.

a 996tt will never have a uniqueness to it. I would take a perfect, mint condition, and fast e30 m3 any day over any 996 unless it had over 500 to the wheels. 964 turbo or 993 turbo is a different story all together though.

[chameleonleather]

Anyone who buys a car because everyone else wants it is buying a car for the wrong reason.

now your talking

[elsabor67]

How am I a fool? Why the need to be so rude? I simply went with the most logical thing I have ever heard to do if you are completely clueless to a price. I don't buy and sell cars for a living so I'm not an expert on it. I apologize, but that is simply what I would have done. Again, no need to be rude about it. Enlighten me with better ideas and ways such as smonkbmw did rather than being a complete ass.

http://www.autoscout24.de/List.aspx?vis=1&make=13&model=1646&fregfrom=01%2f01%2f1985+00%3a00%3a00&fregto=12%2f31%2f1991+00%3a00%3a00&pricefrom=1000&cy=D&page=1&maxresults=500&results=20&ustate=N&ustate=U&um=True&sort=price&zipc=D

Reign, Check this website out. Even though it's in Germany, it should give you an idea how expensive and hard to find one that is in "pristine" condition is. And some of these have over 135,000 miles on them. Bimmer magazine also listed the E30 M3 in their latest mag a one of the 10 cars for collectors to get their hands on.

OP, I would see what he (the owner) wants for it. Documentation is a must, but seeing what you own you should have no problems in getting a good or decent deal from the owner of the car 'cause he will know it's going to a good home. Good luck.

[Raxe]

Anyone who buys a car because everyone else wants it is buying a car for the wrong reason.

[smonkbmw]

Anyone paying $25K and up for an E30 M3 must be demented. With the economy where it is, you can pick up a good 996 TT for less than $40K.

yep, please continue to think that, more driving fun for me. who would want a mass produced volkswagon when they can own a car that is only 1 in under 6000 left on the planet? the one car people still rave about even though its 20 years old? the same argument can be had for any bmw m3 made after this. there are tens of thousands of e36s and e46s m cars. id be willing to bet that over 3/4 wish they could find a e30m3 to drive.

go back to lurking, you bother me.

[shmutzigE30]

kbb sux dick. anyways id say around 24k and id do a real good buffing and polishing before you decide it needs a respray

[S14pwrdE30]

I'll give you my first-born child for it ;)

It's kinda funny, kinda sad that E46 M3's seem largely to be found for the same price or cheaper than E30 M3's now...

Fixed.

[HiTheNameIsBJ]

It's worth your first born son.

[Raxe]

If you are completely clueless on a price, decide what it's worth to you and make an offer. There's always two sides to every sale: what you're willing to pay and what they're willing to accept.

[Jonny Cash]

How am I a fool? Why the need to be so rude? I simply went with the most logical thing I have ever heard to do if you are completely clueless to a price. I don't buy and sell cars for a living so I'm not an expert on it. I apologize, but that is simply what I would have done. Again, no need to be rude about it. Enlighten me with better ideas and ways such as smonkbmw did rather than being a complete ass.

Dont apologize. Its ok not to know the importance of the original M3. Not everyone is born with it.

All things considered, you simply just cannot put a price on these cars. Its only worth what someone will pay for it, and right now it'll be tough to squeeze money out of anyone. If you want a rough idea what theyre selling for, go to s14.net classifieds, or ebay. Theres always that one guy that has a ton of cash willing to spend, but how long are you willing to wait around for that 1/100000 shot?

I'd hold on to it.

[jmarch]

Agreed.

Yep, you also have to look at what you can buy for that kind of money. Anyone paying $25K and up for an E30 M3 must be demented. With the economy where it is, you can pick up a good 996 TT for less than $40K.

[MazterDizazter]

I'll give you my first-born child for it ;)

It's kinda funny, kinda sad that E36 M3's seem largely to be found for the same price or cheaper than E30 M3's now...

[reelizmpro]

you guys keep talking about all these cars on s14 or autotrader selling for 20k, 25k or higher. people are asking those pre-economic collapse prices, but how many of them are selling at that price? we seldom find out what the actual selling price is because people don't post that info. sellers on s14 keep bumping the same ads for month expecting to get top dollar when people aren't paying top dollar.
op, if the seller doesn't know the true market value of the e30 m3, offer them the minimum you think you can get away with and see what happens. if the car needs to be resprayed, you're looking at 5k minimum to do it properly. the mechanicals are a huge unknown and low mileage on a 20 year old car is not necessarily a good thing. use these points to your advantage negotiating and good luck.

There are a few...and you'd be surprised. Don't confuse E30 M3 buyers with E30 buyers. Some guys have that kind of money to spend on a cherry E30 M3. Bad economy or not. Even if you knock 5-7K off 30K, you're still at 23K...well above KBB recommended values.