Thinking of selling my E30 327 cabriolet - advice

[Scoot1]

HI
Am thinking of selling my 1990 E30 325 cabriolet in Schwartz black.
Car is original un-restored with 10 months MOT and some tax.

History:-
1990 model, Schwartz black, 140k on clock (327 engine fitted four years ago) only done 2000 miles on new engine, manual, LSD.
New - clutch, radiator, hoses, undertray, under bonnet insulation, brakes, discs, fluids, battery.
Interior - beige leather heated seats, cd radio mp3 player, new speakers, BBS wheels, full Mtech kit (fitted by BMW from new - have BMW original build spec), M Tec suspension and springs (as originally supplied by BMW)
E/ windows and mirrors (all work ok)
Have original engine, spare boot lid (chin spoiler), and M Tec 2 spoiler (not fitted)
Car first owned by world famous writer, then musician, car lived majority of life in Chelsea.
Have file of receipts
No rot, good spec, has trip computer (bulb gone), headlight wash wipe (need stripping and cleaning in my opinion).
Original hood no leaks but age related condition
Private UK plate
Car dry stored throughout ownership, it is a genuine car.
Am member of BMWOC, attended classic Silverstone last few years that is about total mileage completed, MOT guys smile each year when they look at mileage change as it is so low - MOT passed each year without problem.
Reason for thinking of selling am just not using it, have three other cars so think time has come to consider selling.
Would welcome any advice please on price I should ask and where to sell it.
Ideally would like an enthusiast to have it as hate time wasters.
Thanks

[Nobby_N]

Pictures or any advice u get will be unhelpful

[daimlerman]

Very,very difficult to give accurate values on these cars without seeing them in the flesh,their ability to hide rot behind bodykit components is truely amazing!

But;
Genuine,unmolested cabbies with a good spec and a solid,rust free shell are rising in value.So IMO;

£1000 to £5000.

As a CC member,it would be possible for you to get an INSURANCE valuation via the club register,but bear in mind that this would be a figure that would indicate what you may have to pay a retailer to replace your car,NOT what you could expect it to sell for.

As always,the thing is worth as much as some-one else is prepared to pay!

[Scoot1]

Thanks daimlerman,
Appreciate your advice,
I will be sad to let the car go
It does not have any rot or panel damage, but is a very honest car which polishes up a treat.
No accident damage or HPI, it has never been stolen recorded, or placed on an insurance register.
It has not been mucked about with or suffered suspension or wheel arch damage, kept it original.
I did have an agreed valuation price of £5500 a couple of years ago but given the low mileage covered and it is permanently garaged
I have been insuring it on a classic policy limited miles since.


I will advertise it in the BMWOC magazine but welcome any other places where I should advertise it.
Will be genuinely sorry to see it go if I sell it.

[daimlerman]

May be an to keep it until the winter is over,cabbie's should always fetch their best price when the sun is shining,or there is hope that the sun will shine!

The specialist dealers,such as Four Star Classic's,seem to be able to obtain top dollar for 'proper' cars,but if buying from that type of retailer the buyer expects some security regarding condition,which the private seller is unable to offer.So the private seller has to settle for a lower value.

If you MUST sell,and the thing really is immaculate,one of the specialist auction houses may be worth looking at,they advertise widely and seem to obtain fair prices for cars like E30 that are on the 'cusp' of 'classic' status.

As your car reads like an un-molested original spec car,it should sell to another collector for a decent price,it's the 'modified' cabbie's with 'out of period' engine conversions and 'my suspension has collapsed' lowering with huge diameter wheels fitted with very low profile tyres that some seem to think are worth mega money,but in reality are only worth the sum of their parts.

[B7]

What is the 2.7 conversion and what history of the build do you have.?

I ask as it sounds a dead ringer for mine. In original condition and all sorted. Mine too has a 2.7 from a c2 alpina. It has a club valuation of 6.5k.

But for it to be worth that on the open market and be worth top money, I would refit the 2.5 for originality. I have the full build spec and build sheet from the alpina engine but I know the car would be worth more as a fully original car.

HTHs

[Gert_8]

Mileage of 140k will devalue it to some. The fact that its had an engine change means it is no longer unmolested, if it was originally manufactured with a 2.5.

Pics would be a great help.

[Scoot1]

Thanks for all your honest good advice, it is appreciated.

I have kept the original engine but changed it out as I bought a 327 off the zone several years ago and it had all receipts regarding the rebuild.
I believe it is a 525e auto block coupled to 325 head.
The cabriolet is absolutely standard in every other way than the engine.
I believe that at the time of manufacture the first owner specced the car quite highly (for the time).
It really is fun to drive (esp with hood down) but with three cars and a possible fourth on the horizon space in my garage will be needed.
I know exactly what you mean re being on the cusp of classic status as so many people have chopped them around and personalised their cars which is no bad thing, but now and again it is nice to see an original example occasionally and the rarity of good honest original cars starts prices rising.
Also so many people simply break good cars for a quick profit then scrap the remainder which is a waste as once they are gone they are gone. they then move on like locusts to the next quick buck.
I passed a Ford Cortina recently and it had drawn quite a crowd, who would have believed that 10+ years ago.
I would not want the car being broken as its pedigree is I believe quite rare (previous owners etc) and it runs very well esp with the original MTEC suspension set up.
I suppose it is what it is and worth what someone wants to pay but thought I would ask on here as I have read some super posts over the years with plenty of good sound advice.
I do not think the car is good enough for auction from what you all say but possibly the celebrity first owner may be interested (nostalgia).
Back to reality I know summer has passed but would welcome ideas on where to advertise it for a sensible response.
Thanks

[Gert_8]

Who is the celebrity owner?

[Scoot1]

The first registration was SS32 residing in Surrey then moved to Chelsea,
According to Right Move the house it was registered to last sold for £3.5 million several years back.
Have to withold original owners personal details as part of DVLA search agreement.
But will obviously pass my documentation with the car if I sell it.

Been bad weather here today but I will take some pics and upload this week as it does look very good in Schwartz Black with the original M TEC body kit (minus rear spoiler as it affected cabbie handling)

[Gert_8]

The celeb thing might help the price from those that may be interested in that sort of thing, but the car itself will be the most important thing. If it's Gary Glitter or Savile, then it could have the opposite effect you'd like...

[pacerpete]

The celeb thing might help the price from those that may be interested in that sort of thing, but the car itself will be the most important thing. If it's Gary Glitter or Savile, then it could have the opposite effect you'd like...

Being a convertible, chances are the original owner is / was a mincer / gaylord/ fiddler type ..........

[Nobby_N]

If it Savilles or Gary glitters then the market would be limited to me Kos or Diable

[Gert_8]

The celeb thing might help the price from those that may be interested in that sort of thing, but the car itself will be the most important thing. If it's Gary Glitter or Savile, then it could have the opposite effect you'd like...

Being a convertible, chances are the original owner is / was a mincer / gaylord/ fiddler type ..........

Hahahaha....er, fair point!

[Scoot1]

Neither of those named owned the car,
May ask for dignity to prevail as people to whom you refer have acted illegally causing suffering to others.
Take a minute to reflect how you would feel if one of your children or niece or nephew had been subjected to abuse.
Please keep to the subject as some of the views expressed are offensive and illegal.

As previous posts the original owner is a world famous writer,
The original owner has children of their own and have raised a family and is a law abiding citizen.
The second owner was a well known musician.

[Gert_8]

Offensive? You've got a dozen posts mate. Stick with it and you'll get to know what offensive really means. Start with posting pics of your turd...

As for illegal, you might want to explain that one.

All the best with the car.

[pacerpete]

Offensive? You've got a dozen posts mate. Stick with it and you'll get to know what offensive really means. Start with posting pics of your turd...

As for illegal, you might want to explain that one.

All the best with the car.

There goes my theory it was Ross using an alias

[Gert_8]

Offensive? You've got a dozen posts mate. Stick with it and you'll get to know what offensive really means. Start with posting pics of your turd...

As for illegal, you might want to explain that one.

All the best with the car.

There goes my theory it was Ross using an alias

I'm just pleased Pony hasn't turned up with his thoughts

[pacerpete]

Offensive? You've got a dozen posts mate. Stick with it and you'll get to know what offensive really means. Start with posting pics of your turd...

As for illegal, you might want to explain that one.

All the best with the car.

There goes my theory it was Ross using an alias

I'm just pleased Pony hasn't turned up with his thoughts

What with it being black, things could get 'messy'

[B7]

Neither of those named owned the car,
May ask for dignity to prevail as people to whom you refer have acted illegally causing suffering to others.
Take a minute to reflect how you would feel if one of your children or niece or nephew had been subjected to abuse.
Please keep to the subject as some of the views expressed are offensive and illegal.

As previous posts the original owner is a world famous writer,
The original owner has children of their own and have raised a family and is a law abiding citizen.
The second owner was a well known musician.

They mean no harm, the zone is pretty liberally minded with copious piss taking to boot. This ain't your normal forum by any means. Or Pete Ross etc. would be sharing a cell in Broadmoor by now. And don't mention daughters when Pony is about!


Get some pics up ASAP. Looking forward to seeing this one.

Adam Faith had one and Neil Mcdonald had the car in hand I believe. Not that car is it? Sure that was a motorsport.

[gooner1]

[quote="Scoot1"
The original owner has children of their own and have raised a family and is a law abiding citizen.
.[/quote]

Well, that rules Jeffrey Archer out.

[TPS]

[quote="Scoot1"
The original owner has children of their own and have raised a family and is a law abiding citizen.
.

Well, that rules Jeffrey Archer out.[/quote]

lol

[Scoot1]

Honni soit qui mal y pense

[pacerpete]

Never mind the Urdu, where are the pics of the turd ?

[Gert_8]

Never mind the Urdu, where are the pics of the turd ?

The previous celebs probably have editorial rights to any images so he cannot post them to comply with his legal obligations now...

[gooner1]

Honni soit qui mal y pense

Have you mispelt that, or is that an archaic version?

[pacerpete]

Honni soit qui mal y pense

Have you mispelt that, or is that an archaic version?

Get with the program Rob, text speak, innit