Value my car please? 318iS - Standard - 47,000 miles

[pugboy]

Hello
I've been on here for ages since I got the car, but haven't used the forum much in the past few years as I haven't been using the car.
I'm looking on eBay etc, but its really hard to value my car. I don't really want to sell it, but I don't use it and we are moving house and won't have room for it at the new place.

So this car has been within my extended family from new. Owned by my cousin and before that his grandparents. Unfortunately my cousin misplaced the service book, but I am going to try and phone the local dealer to see if its on record as I'm told it had a FSH.

So its an 89 model. White and standard. Don't think it has any extras fitted (sunroof maybe?). Never modified still has the original radio, toolkit, first aid kit, unused spare wheel etc.

No MOT as its been off the road for 5 years.
Its going to want a bloody good service. Several small areas of surface rust on the bodywork, but no holes.
The interior is pretty much perfect. No wear on the seats or cracks in the dashboard - its a time warp inside and reflects the low mileage.

My question is this please:
What's it worth as it currently stands with no MOT and needing some minor bodywork correction?
What's it worth with a fresh MOT and the bodywork refreshed?

I've got pictures, but just need to get them off my phone.
Please don't message me asking to buy it as its not for sale at the moment.

Thanks

[Grrrmachine]

With no MOT, no use for 5 years (so shagged brakes and tyres), visible rust and a fairly basic spec, you'll be lucky to get more than 500 quid for it.

With 500 quid's worth of tyres and servicing, and another 1000 spent on bodywork, it might be worth 1500-2000.

Impossible to value without pics.

Oh, and sort out your avatar. It's way too big.

[polsta]

Sadly no service book and no mot is a downer, does it have every not from new and original folder and other documents and years worth of reciepts etc ? What color ? Condition of engine bay and wheels and general trim condition ?

[GB69]

The way it is about £500 if you're lucky. With Tax and MOT maybe £1,500.

[Fastroad]

The way it is about £500 if you're lucky. With Tax and MOT maybe £1,500.

History to confirm mileage would help achieve that

[Sanchez]

5years off the road, how it was stored?

Warm garage with a cover and after a dam good clean including underneath, arches etc then she won't be too rusty but if she was driven through a salty road and left then it will need new fuel/brake lines and some welding.

Difficult to judge a price I think but as is not a lot.

[pugboy]

Hmmm
Yeah that's pretty much what I was thinking - not much.

My mate has a bodyshop so I can get that sorted easily and cheaply enough. I agree it will want the brakes refreshing as well as a service though.

Probably worth more if I strip bits off and crush it. Seems a shame though doesn't it.

[pacerpete]

Your car is worth a lot more than £1500 IF you can verify the mileage and produce documentation to back it up and sort out the cosmetic issues and put a fresh MOT on it.
A white sub 50k 318is is a very saleable turd and could well make the bones of 4k + as a very nice well prepped car.

[Z3I]

If its still insured, take it for an MOT, see what you are up against.

Leaving cars static for a long time in the garage is just like leaving food in the fridge, expect the worse.

[stew72]

47k is an attractive mileage if you have the history to back it up, however its not really mega low and isn't going to add thousands to the value. What will add value is if the condition is good enough that the mileage could be considered genuine.

[lhd220turbo]

got to laugh at some of the valuations on here; if you stuck it on ebay now as it is it would make much more than £500 IMO - people are crying out for low mileage classic 80's cars.

As above, take it for an MOT and see what it fails on. Assuming its not rotten, you can get the paintwork sorted and provide decent enough evidence of the mileage it would be worth 3.5k all day long.

[polsta]

It would only be worth that sort of figure if it was pristine and imaculate paint all over and fsh all the mots and service book- which it hasn't got , he also states it has areas of surface rust on the body...

[lhd220turbo]

i dont agree, they dont have to be in 'pristine conditon' to achieve that sort of figure.

here's a few nice examples which have been selling of late on ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131113515908? ... 1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310874782819? ... 1423.l2649

plus, ive seen cars which need alot of work go for 1k plus


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331131880588? ... 1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231162787835? ... 1423.l2649

[Z3I]

Cars do, and often sell for over the odds on Ebay.

But that doesn't necessarily equal happy customers, who get the car home only to find out later its just another rusty turd.

There are still quite a few out there who will bid, pay up, take away but cry all the way home.

[lhd220turbo]

wether they sell for ' over the odds' or not - ebay is a decent barometer as to what things are worth.
How many times do you see threads on here by people asking what things are worth? the answer is normally to but it on ebay!

either way, the car this chap is wanting a value on is certainly worth more than £500.

[polsta]

The beauty of eBay sold for prices - I'd you never know if they actualy sold or who bid who won and if the cars change hands

And you can't possibly value this chaps car at any price without full details and full lots of pics

I'm sorry but Any "47k" car with no old mots and no original service book, will not fetch top money unless the whole car really suggested it and even then no history detracts from price of any car

And he's not ousted pics so who gives a fook !!

[lhd220turbo]

The beauty of eBay sold for prices - I'd you never know if they actualy sold or who bid who won and if the cars change hands

And you can't possibly value this chaps car at any price without full details and full lots of pics

I'm sorry but Any "47k" car with no old mots and no original service book, will not fetch top money unless the whole car really suggested it and even then no history detracts from price of any car

And he's not ousted pics so who gives a fook !!

think you missed the bit where i said

Assuming its not rotten, you can get the paintwork sorted and provide decent enough evidence of the mileage it would be worth 3.5k all day long.

people get to hung up on FSH, old MOTS etc etc. Buy a car on condition not mileage or history

i'd much rather have a solid 318is with patchy history, then a rotten one with FSH & all previous mot's

[polsta]

The beauty of eBay sold for prices - I'd you never know if they actualy sold or who bid who won and if the cars change hands

And you can't possibly value this chaps car at any price without full details and full lots of pics

I'm sorry but Any "47k" car with no old mots and no original service book, will not fetch top money unless the whole car really suggested it and even then no history detracts from price of any car

And he's not ousted pics so who gives a fook !!

think you missed the bit where i said

Assuming its not rotten, you can get the paintwork sorted and provide decent enough evidence of the mileage it would be worth 3.5k all day long.

people get to hung up on FSH, old MOTS etc etc. Buy a car on condition not mileage or history

i'd much rather have a solid 318is with patchy history, then a rotten one with FSH & all previous mot's

Who wouldn't , BUT a 47k car with no history that has various areas of rust on the body - who knows where ? Rear arches ? Roof ? Rear panel ? Wings ? - is not "worth 3.5k all day long" night need a full re spray and regardless no one will spend 3.5k on an is that needs various body and paint issues need attending too, for even 2.5-3k buys a lovely example and. 3.5 buys one of the best needing nothing and all round imaculate lovely paint work

[lhd220turbo]

Polsta, i'll quote it again for you as you seem to be missing what ive written above ^

Assuming its not rotten, you can get the paintwork sorted and provide decent enough evidence of the mileage it would be worth 3.5k all day long.

[whiterhino]

Polsta don't forget to get the carpets up

[polsta]

Polsta, i'll quote it again for you as you seem to be missing what ive written above ^

Assuming its not rotten, you can get the paintwork sorted and provide decent enough evidence of the mileage it would be worth 3.5k all day long.

What bit of "it has various areas of rust on the body"

And "people won't pay 3.5k for an IS that needs paint work sorting

Do you not understand !!!

[lhd220turbo]

i give up, clearly clueless

[e30topless]

you will never get a decent valuation on the Zone, there's too many penny pinchers and way too many that think they own the crown jewels
MOT and Clean the car up as best you can and create an advert with good detailed pictures and a honest in-depth description,

stick it on ebay with no reserve, do NOT end the auction early to one of the usual E30 traderzz that will low ball you, and let the market speak !!

it's probably worth what someone will pay for it and not a penny more

[ImysE30]

Polsta man, chill out, it's only a turd like every other E30

[Rtaylor2208]

It's going to be a rare beast at 20+ years old with a FSH and MOTs, at 10+ years old therss were just an old car that servicing at a dealer did not make financial sense, in the same way a 2002 E46 doesn't. Condition is key. But if your very lucky and have a fully documented history and low Owner V5 there is no reason even a ropey condition car is not worth good money.

[BHadley]

It's going to be a rare beast at 20+ years old with a FSH and MOTs, at 10+ years old therss were just an old car that servicing at a dealer did not make financial sense, in the same way a 2002 E46 doesn't. Condition is key. But if your very lucky and have a fully documented history and low Owner V5 there is no reason even a ropey condition car is not worth good money.

Sound advise that

[pugboy]

Well I've done it. Sold the car.

Needed it off the drive as I'm moving house and a nice chap that lives around the corner and kept asking after the car has bought it to restore it.

A very hard car to value, but I'm happy enough with what I got for it.

I wouldn't be surprised if you have a new member on here soon - assuming he hasn't already signed up.

[daimlerman]

As this one has not been molested with coilovers, strange wheels,painted a vile colour and so on,it must be worth decent money to the correct punter.

The classic car market likes low milage,low owner turds,two things that this poor 318iS has going for it.
Against it,however,is a missing history to back up the low claimed milage,no MoT and the admission that it has stood for several years.This means that at the very least,the poor thing will need a full brake service and most of it's suspension re-newed.Couple this with the 'odd few rust spots',and some-one is looking at,what,£2k?
So if in mint,restored condition,a low miles 'baby M3' is worth £3.5/£4k,in it's current condition it's worth no more than £1/£1.5k.

Really,it's a potential 'barn find' for some-one...

[MurphyE30]

Any car is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it

[pacerpete]

Any car is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it

This must be one of the most pointless and annoying lines I have ever heard and yet people keep repeating it !

[lhd220turbo]

Well I've done it. Sold the car.

Needed it off the drive as I'm moving house and a nice chap that lives around the corner and kept asking after the car has bought it to restore it.

A very hard car to value, but I'm happy enough with what I got for it.

I wouldn't be surprised if you have a new member on here soon - assuming he hasn't already signed up.

What did you get for it?