Originality and Re-Sale Value

[mat_patsy]

Just a quick question regarding originality. I am doing a fair bit of work on my 86 320i Auto and was wondering what the general concensus on keeping the car original is.

My first thought was that i would have to keep as close to original condition as possible, but having read some of the forum posts, it seems that people tend to prefer the upgrades and modifications.

Is there a general concensus on what is best for re-sale value?

Thought i'd better add that my project isn't to fix-up and sell - i have the car because i love em, so she's a keeper!! However, i don't want to plough money into it if it isn't adding value appropriately.

Any thoughts?

[m_jermyn]

factory upgrades are ok mate.... Rice upgrades are not... No aftermarket body kits either.

[mat_patsy]

So, keep the general appearance of the car as it was meant to be? But any official bits off later models is ok?

[Ollie_bwoii]

What parts are you thinking?

[mat_patsy]

Lots of things - upgrading engine management has been suggested, not sure whether auto or manual is best. Also, it's not a top of the range model, so wasn't sure if adds ons would attract or detract from value - i'm not into body kits so no bother there.

[e30den]

Standard looking with unseen upgrades is the way forward imo

[mat_patsy]

Tops, thanks for that, i kind of figured that this would be the case - makes sense i guess

[Ollie_bwoii]

Looks perfect here, so just subtle oem upgrades/luxuries is the way to go.

[mat_patsy]

Thanks for the advice - i'll keep her as she is, that's the way i like em.

Loving the pictures of 'The Turd' by the way!!!!!!! very nice. My first E30 was called 'Poo' on account of the 'once nice' burgundy paintjob fading to a bit of a browny colour!!!

It was the wife's nickname - i loved her, even though she was a bog standard 83 318 with only 4 gears!!!

[e30den]

That's no way to talk about your wife lol.

[mat_patsy]

Ha ha - i re-read my post this morning and thought the same thing!!!!

[bootyman]

There seem to be a general thing by people who know nothing about modding that you will lose all your money or you wont get a good price for modded cars and that's crap! My red cab was built with no though of what i'd get if i ever sold it. I built her to push the boundries of modding from the engine to ICE and Body to paint and i wont even get a fraction of what it owes me back, but then i've modded other cars, used them for a year or 2 and sold them for more than it cost me. It all comes down to what mods you choose to do and who is looking to buy at the time. Do what you want and enjoy the car. As long as you mod well you will get most of your money if not all back and at worst you can always replace the modded parts with the original part if you keep them

[powelly]

factory upgrades are ok mate.... Rice upgrades are not... No aftermarket body kits either.

So that would include Hartge, Alpina, AC Schnitzer etc, all highly respected after market modifications.

[mattG]

I think a good option for your car would be,

Nice set of 15"BBS wheels £200,
Tech 1 sport sterring wheel £40,
Smart Tech 1 sport interior £200,
lower it -35 mm srings £100.
may be a Tech 1 sport body kit say £200 + fitting & paint

You can easily convert back to standard & get your money back on the parts.

[mat_patsy]

Mattg,

Do you think its worth fitting all the sports kit to an Auto though? Or would would you then go for a manual box conversion?

[mattG]

What do you use the car for? The white sport in my avatar is an auto! nice if you commute in heavy traffic.
( a manual 2.5 will be/feel very fast compared to a 2.0 auto)

[mat_patsy]

Its a driver and a keeper for me - but as i stated at the start of the thread, I am just concerned with spending money on things that add little or no value. I love the E30 in any form, Modded, original or somewhere in-between so it matters little to me, as long as i am spending my hard earned cash wisely rather than wasting on non-value adding mods.

I think one o fthe previous posts hit the nail on the head - keepo the original components and you can always put them back on and re-sell the mod kits if required.

However, i think i am going to stay pretty original for the time being, maybe a nice set of wheels!!!

[Dave_M3]

There seem to be a general thing by people who know nothing about modding that you will lose all your money or you wont get a good price for modded cars and that's crap! My red cab was built with no though of what i'd get if i ever sold it. I built her to push the boundries of modding from the engine to ICE and Body to paint and i wont even get a fraction of what it owes me back, but then i've modded other cars, used them for a year or 2 and sold them for more than it cost me. It all comes down to what mods you choose to do and who is looking to buy at the time. Do what you want and enjoy the car. As long as you mod well you will get most of your money if not all back and at worst you can always replace the modded parts with the original part if you keep them

completly agree there. If you go mad, you obviously won't get the money back as the car won't appeal to everyone and people that it does appeal to tend to enjoy modding a car themselves from a blank canvas.


On the other hand, well modded E30s are always worth more than they would be if completely standard if parts are good quality and no shite it stuck on as everybody likes better suspension, steering, nicer interiors such as Sport cloth or leather or Recaros, nicer wheels such as 15" BBSes and some extra performance such as a b25 instead of a b20 or even an M52, M30 or S50.

although the S50 or other M-power engines can be getting pretty close to not selling for as much as you spend on it because of the expense of a well done conversion, it would still be more valuable than if the car was left standard.

[mattG]

Its a driver and a keeper for me - but as i stated at the start of the thread, I am just concerned with spending money on things that add little or no value. I love the E30 in any form, Modded, original or somewhere in-between so it matters little to me, as long as i am spending my hard earned cash wisely rather than wasting on non-value adding mods.

I think one o fthe previous posts hit the nail on the head - keepo the original components and you can always put them back on and re-sell the mod kits if required.

However, i think i am going to stay pretty original for the time being, maybe a nice set of wheels!!!

15" BBS wheels (don't get the 14" ones) & a set of sport springs will transform its look & ride nicley

[m_jermyn]

Look at wheel for example, Its best to keep your mods to the period the car was in.. Wheel are a great example as there are not alot of wheels that look good on a E30 BBS, Alpina, hartge and a few 5 spokers look good but put anything else on them and they look terrible (there are exceptions to the rule however) Chrome wheels almost always look dumb except those ronal turbo wheels...

Nice



Bad



The other thing about keeping it period OEM looking is it atracts less attention and also everyone appreciates a well looked after old car no matter what make it is...

Mike

[BMJG]

The old thing less is more, if you like the car how it is spend nothing other than a real good service on it. Save the money you would spend on mods to it, then sell up and trade up when time and cash is right.

[Dave_M3]

Pfft, if the shell is good, then its ripe for modding I say

320s are a brilliant base as having the smallest 6pot on paper and the boot can make them great sleepers with some extra grunt

[mat_patsy]

Started an interesting ebate eh?!?!?!?! Clearly there are two sides to this argument so i guess there will always be buyers for both original and modded cars - i think i am going to err on the side of originiality however! Thanks for everyone's input.

What about re-con engines - is that an area that appeals on re-sale. I have already considered it as an option but have since taken the view that if it aint broke then don't fix it. But i did like the idea of having a realtively new and reliable lump under the hood. Is this an area where you would re-coup your cash or would it be money down the drain?

[mattG]

I think most people will want to buy a 325i manual or a 316/8i manual, spending a lot of money getting a recon motor for a 320i there would no chance of re-couping it.

Have a look at this car
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 63&start=0

[Dave_M3]

Don't need a reconditioned engine, A secondhand one in good condition with a great service with all new gaskets and seals etc and clean up would be just as good in my opinion.

[mat_patsy]

What's the general concensus on the realistic life of a M20 engine then. With most cars, anything over 100k seems to be a bonus, but on others this is just warming up!!! i.e. Peugeot or Merc Diesels seem to be good for 250k no bother.

Would be interested to hear views on how long a well looked after M20 should last.

[Dave_M3]

Friend of mine has an M20 with about 250K on it and it still is running perfect with no drop in compression or signs of wear since the time he got it.

Slightly smoky alright in the mornings lately as the valve stems are possibly showing their age but nothing major and its not bad enough to need to top up oil or anything yet.

[mat_patsy]

Top news - i had hoped that my 120k was not something to worry about. Haven't had it long enough yet to see what oil usage is like so fingers crossed she's a good one.

Cheers

Mat

[hennabm]

My 320 has 178k on and the bottom end is still fine. I had to put a new head on it two years ago because of the usual M20 problem of head cracking.
Oil consumption on both of my M20 cars is negligible.

As others have said go for subtle mods and drivable if you are keeping it as a daily driver. Comfort and luxury I's ay eg sports seats; map reading lights; boot lid liner; air con if you can find one.
All OEM stuff as well incl Hartge, Aplina etc.