Can any Aussie zoners help me out?

[DublinBMW]

Hello,
I'm thinking of moving down under at some point in the near future. This will of course mean selling my beloved e30

I've had a look at used e30s and e36s(haha yeah I know) on the net down under and Ive found fook all really.

All the e30's have about 250-300k on them and most of the e36s are either very overpriced or have been counciled to the max.

It seems really hard to find a nice BM down there so can anyone give me some advice?

Thanks all.

[poolnoodle]

E30s weren't a huge seller in Australia, hence, relative to Europe, UK or US there aren't a lot around. This means a good example is harder to find. On the up side - if you hunt around you will find plenty of good examples but normally pretty low spec. On the very very plus side, rust is almost non existant in Aussie cars so high mileage isn't such and issue. High mileage is also related to the size of Australia compared to Europe. High mileage is very often loots of highway cruising and not a big issue. Also, I haven't seen an Aussie E30 without A/C
Some quite good examples appear on eBay Australia quite regularly but as stated, mostly 318i and low spec (comfort interior, no leather, etc). Alpina, Hartge, ///M, etc cars are very rare downunder.
Several good BMW clubs in Australia would also be a good starting point - google time!
Hope this helps

[oze30]

Ship your car over. Save you the hassle in the long run. It's what I'm going to do when I move back.

As poolnoodle said, it's hard to find a cheap one in good nick. The guy up the road from my parents place had a 93 318is on bottle tops and no lip spoiler, no OBC, pov spec manual windows, he wanted the equivalent to 4,000GBP!

Look around you'll find some, but I'd just export your car.

[DublinBMW]

Yes I was certainly considering shipping.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

[LeonNewton]

when i moved back to the uk from oz i wontid to bring back my 75 landcruser with its shevey 8 block but it wos going to cost a fortune so i left it ther. canot remember haw moutch but i do knoe i loved the car and still could not aforde the shipping cost.

[march109]

All the e30's have about 250-300k on them and most of the e36s are either very overpriced or have been counciled to the max.

That really is only circa 155k miles. Taking your car over will cost an absolute bomb but if you can lay out the cash to take your car over it won't be worth as much as it could be given the limited popularity of them over there. Still prices are generally strong for the early BMWs in Oz.

[mick_318is]

Last time I looked you are looking at about £1k to ship your car over.
There are also some rules about having to have owned the car for over 12 months to avoid some duty / TAX
A pre 89 car is best so as to avoid some emission rules as well. Get on the net as there is plenty of info out there on it.

[oze30]

As above. There was a post on this before with links etc. Pre July 89 and owning the car for 12months AT LEAST, will be cheaper. 1k for a container with parts, is not bad. Put it this way, a mint dash here costs... what.. 30quid? In Oz, 200AUD gets one with some minor damage, 250-300 for a MINT minter! Plus other things like Mtec parts/kits will fetch a fortune. Genuine BMW stuff for E30/E21/E12/E28's will go for string money. Load the container up and have a ball!

I plan on doing this when I go back... Maybe sooner than later at the mo, but need to get another car for the pre 89 bit, then come back for it in a few months, drive it round a bit, then when 12 months is up, ship it back.

[poolnoodle]

1k for a container with parts, is not bad. Put it this way, a mint dash here costs... what.. 30quid? In Oz, 200AUD gets one with some minor damage, 250-300 for a MINT minter! Plus other things like Mtec parts/kits will fetch a fortune. Genuine BMW stuff for E30/E21/E12/E28's will go for string money. Load the container up and have a ball!

Great idea. I reckon by advertising on this site you would get plenty of takers to buy parts off you by consignment and stuff them all in a container. I, for one, would gladily contribute to your expenses if you could get me a set of 15" BBS baskets. Plenty of other items here are really rare or expensive - sports seats, 15" or 16" alloys (BBS, Alpina, etc), uncracked dashboards, m tech kits.
Kind of like a Aussie Zoner group buy!!!

[DublinBMW]

Great idea. I reckon by advertising on this site you would get plenty of takers to buy parts off you by consignment and stuff them all in a container. I, for one, would gladily contribute to your expenses if you could get me a set of 15" BBS baskets. Plenty of other items here are really rare or expensive - sports seats, 15" or 16" alloys (BBS, Alpina, etc), uncracked dashboards, m tech kits.
Kind of like a Aussie Zoner group buy!!!

That is a real idea.

If I could get guaranteed buyers for some stuff, I would seriously think about it.

[poolnoodle]

I am definitely interested if I can get the wheels I want where you are. PM me if you decide to go ahead.

[oze30]

Poolnoodle are you on eurocca?

[poolnoodle]

Yeah, but get on here mostly

[AlpineAde]

I'd certainly be interested in an uncracked dash!

Dublin, which state are you thinking of moving to? Different states sometimes have different regs on personal imports.

A good 325i will set you back anywhere from 4000-7000 pounds in Australia. A 325iS around 5000-9000 pounds. I've twice been offered around 6000 of your English pounds for my car ~ and that's for a 4 door! (I know how much you guys hate them. LOL!) Mind you, it is very clean and has much that has been renewed/rebuilt.

A 318iS can be had for around 2500 pounds (and that is for a pretty decent one).

Move to Australia and prepare for finding your jaw on the floor when it comes to prices for BMWs.

Mind you, you CAN find some very clean cars here. You just have to remember that you are dealing with a prospective pool of cars that is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy smaller than What your side of the world has. 100 000 mile cars are still very gettable if you are patient and are prepared to look. Find one...and snap it up!