Whats it worth

Your Dad's workmate's neighbour just told you about an E30 in a shed somewhere, and you want to know what its financial value is. Let's work through the checklist to find out:

Base Value

Cars currently return around 150 pounds at the scrapyard, and the E30 is no different. Before you get all offended, this is purely our BASE price; the Chinese will pay this much for the raw steel of the car. Now we need to know whether there's anything valuable attached, or anything that would reduce the value. So we'll start at 200 pounds to be generous.

Warning: If you can't provide photos of the car, we will never value the car higher than the Base Value.

Model

Some models are worth more than others. You can try to argue with it, but the market decides and buyers will always pay more for a 325i than a 316.

316	316i	318i	320i	325i and 318iS	325i Sport
Add 300				Add 800	Add 2000

Body

It's an unfair situation that Coupe versions command a higher price than the Saloon, but that's the way it goes. Remember, the most desirable E30 models, the 325i Sport and M3, only came in a 2-door body style.

The Cabriolet is the other clear winner. Topless models command a higher price, despite their clear disadvantages.

There's a mixed feeling about the Touring; some love the stiffer shell and more practical size, others hate the idea of rattling around in a hearse.

So if your car is a Coupe or a Cabriolet, add 200

Shell

This is the most crucial area affecting the car. It doesn't matter what body the car has, if the shell is in poor condition the car can be rendered worthless.

Rust

The biggest factor affecting value is Rust. No-one wants to see scabby patches and crusty bubbles on their car, so any rust will have a devaluing factor. But rust in certain places will render the car worthless. Check it out:

Location	Remove value
Wings, Bonnet, Boot lid, Doors	150 per affected panel
Sills, Floor, inner arches, valances	100 per affected area
Pillars, scuttle, roof	Return to base price

Paint

Paint is entirely a matter of taste, and there's nothing to say that one paint colour is better than any other. Some love the early 80s metallic colours including Pearl Beige, while others lust after the simplistic cleanliness of Alpine White. But no matter the colour, if it is faded, patchy or scratched then the price of your car will be reduced. This is especially prevalent for Tornado Red models, which turn Haribo Pink over the years.

Equipment

There is a vast amount of equipment available for the E30, and it's almost impossible to put a financial value on every component. But there are some parts that buyers consider Essential, and without those the car is considered Poverty Spec; the lowest of the low models. On the other side, there are ultra-desirable options whose practical design or market scarcity will ramp up the price of the car.

Therefore, add 300 if the car has at least 3 of the following:

• Fog lights
• 13-button OBC
• Leather seats
• Comfort seats
• Heated seats
• M-tec steering wheel
• Front electric windows

And add another 500 if the car has:

• Aircon (in a working condition)
• Rear electric windows
• Limited Slip Differential

Wheels

Without wheels, the car is going nowhere. And BMW chose an excellent model, the 15" BBS, to grace most models. These wheels are considered the benchmark rim. But that doesn't mean that bigger is better. There are hundreds of Wheels to choose from, and some command thousands of pounds on their own, and others are worth little more than scrap.

As a basic rule, trusted names like BBS, Avez and Borbet wheels will add 300 to the price. Anything less than standard, like 14" steels or bottletops, will deduct 150 from the price. If the car has been fitted with 17" wheels, especially BK Alpina reps, the car's value returns to base price.

Suspension

The original BMW suspension was a great design from the factory... but that was 20 years ago. If the car is still running its original setup, then the shocks and springs be very tired after 20 years and be very close to the end of their lives, if not already past it.

If the car has evidence of recent suspension work, add 100