Need info on how much 316 is worth
Moderator: martauto
I met a bloke who has a mint 1987 316 in red, I have a pretty good condition 316 and am happy with having 80,000 on the clock (genuine) .. He then said how his has 10,000 on the clock and said the bloke never used it and was kept in a garage.
He's now asked if I want to buy it of him but said he wants 6000 for it! He said a specialist told him 5500 at a min.
To be fair the car is absolutely mint, solid car all around with no rust at all, everything original, it's just like it came out the show room really. I can't see how it's worth what he wants for it as it is only a 316 and I know there not as wanted and fetch as much as say 325.. So yeah, any info or any help of a price to offer and reasons why would be extremely appreciated!
Cheers Matt
He's now asked if I want to buy it of him but said he wants 6000 for it! He said a specialist told him 5500 at a min.
To be fair the car is absolutely mint, solid car all around with no rust at all, everything original, it's just like it came out the show room really. I can't see how it's worth what he wants for it as it is only a 316 and I know there not as wanted and fetch as much as say 325.. So yeah, any info or any help of a price to offer and reasons why would be extremely appreciated!
Cheers Matt
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Grrrmachine
- E30 Zone Wiki / Team Member

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Take a zero of his asking price, and you're closer to its value.
Also, there's a HUGE difference between a 316 and a 316i, so find out what it is since both models could be bought in 1987.
Also, there's a HUGE difference between a 316 and a 316i, so find out what it is since both models could be bought in 1987.
'89 325i Touring | Touring Resto Thread | In-Dash Screen install
Should it be genuine sub 10k miles and true reflecting condition... How on earth do you dream up a value of £600Grrrmachine wrote:Take a zero of his asking price, and you're closer to its value.
Also, there's a HUGE difference between a 316 and a 316i, so find out what it is since both models could be bought in 1987.
Of course chances are it is such a car are slim
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Grrrmachine
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Oh, I misread the 0's - thought it was 100k, not 10!
Yes, minty fresh mileage would make this one special, but it's still a boggo 316. As a collector's item it's still probably closer to 2k rather than 6k though.
Yes, minty fresh mileage would make this one special, but it's still a boggo 316. As a collector's item it's still probably closer to 2k rather than 6k though.
'89 325i Touring | Touring Resto Thread | In-Dash Screen install
Thing is although i would like too keep mine and buy his and keep it in a garage but forking out near 6 grand sadly isn't possible
so would have to sell mine to get his.. realistically i would only ask possibly just over 2 grand for mine thats with 80,000 on the clock 316i (whether that makes much difference being injection) with near all service history and apart from a bit of rust on the rear two arches its absolutely mint. So am curious to what to spend on his.. His has (without an extremely good look) no rust and only 10,000 genuine miles.. Just still am clueless on the price as i haven't had a very common figure thrown in..
Keep on with the comments, any info is good info!!
Thanks Matt
Keep on with the comments, any info is good info!!
Thanks Matt
try him for 5000. Hey may say he has had a specialist value it at 5500, but at the end of the day its only worth what people are willing to pay for it.
If I said my car was worth 10K and then had 20 people offer me 7, the 7K becomes the market value because thats what people are willing to pay.
It happens all the time, cars sit around for months at a high starting price, and the gradually start to drop in price bit by bit because there is no interest in the car at the original starting price
If I said my car was worth 10K and then had 20 people offer me 7, the 7K becomes the market value because thats what people are willing to pay.
It happens all the time, cars sit around for months at a high starting price, and the gradually start to drop in price bit by bit because there is no interest in the car at the original starting price
Happily paid £3500 for my 41,000 mile Zinnobar 316 last month, its as mint as they come and im delighted with it - its only worth what someones prepared to pay for it.


Last edited by RustyRuss on Thu Oct 23, 2014 10:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Russell A Macfarlane
Central Scotland
1987 Lachs Silver BMW E30 320i 4 Door Manual
Central Scotland
1987 Lachs Silver BMW E30 320i 4 Door Manual
It's the kind of car that if you don't buy it now, KGF or 4Star classics will be selling for 10 grand next week and you'll regret not buying it then.
Rusty your car looks a cracker was reading your thread on it the other day, great find
Rusty your car looks a cracker was reading your thread on it the other day, great find
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Topblag
- Old Skooler

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That's probably a £1000 repair if done properly. Paint on both sides of the car is what costs the money.MattCreed wrote:apart from a bit of rust on the rear two arches its absolutely mint.
That's like saying that your bird looks like Gemma Arterton except she has a big fat arse.
1990 325i Cab auto in Alpine White II
1988 Alpina C2.5 moredoor in Black, 71k
1990 325ix, moredoor auto in Laser Blue. 51k
1984 Hartge H35 in Black
2004 996 C4S in Silver 43k manual
2006 Audi S6 V10 in Black 58k
1988 Alpina C2.5 moredoor in Black, 71k
1990 325ix, moredoor auto in Laser Blue. 51k
1984 Hartge H35 in Black
2004 996 C4S in Silver 43k manual
2006 Audi S6 V10 in Black 58k
rusty russ thats a very nice bm, if i knew how to share photos on here id show you mine! i agree that one in this condition and low miles is very rare to find, but in my head I'm thinking that it is only a 316, it won't fetch the same money as say a 325 or something along those lines for a very long time, even then you will have to keep it in a garage for years and do very few miles on it. Mine itself has a full undercoat (underneath is rust free) has the rust on the rear two arches which isn't major and some tiny bits in places where water pools.. i bought the car for 2100.. if i spend say between 1000-2000 on getting every tiny blemish and bit of rust done then it would be the same condition as his with just the 70,000 more miles. mines a 86 too so isn't a lot of miles on it either, i machine polished the whole car and coated with two coats of wax about a month ago and it came up absolutely MINT! (also my engine bay is cleaner
haha) so me spending at a max round 4000 altogether to get mine to his position i could have saved a couple of thousand just like that..
don't know whether though its worth doing that to mine or sell mine and get his..
????
don't know whether though its worth doing that to mine or sell mine and get his..
????
Seems everyone with a 316-318 with rusty rear arches describes it as nothing major or thinks it's a quick cheap fix and the cars worth more than it is, as topblag says it's an expensive job to do on both sides and needs paint and skilked welding which costs the money , and when you paint both quarters you end up ideally needing or best to paint both sides to make it look really nice and no color match issues , and then you can easily think well you just aswell paint the bonnet and boot lid so it all looks very nice
And if you have water pools ? (Where ?) it's very likely there will be more issued to find
And if you have water pools ? (Where ?) it's very likely there will be more issued to find
i know its not gonna be a cheap job and am willing to pay whatever for a top job, thats why i then am wandering if me putting say 2000 on my car for it to be done and then adding up to just over 4000 to have it rust free, or offer whatever for the one I'm querying about..
when my cars not in my garage it on my drive on a slope so water doesn't run away from some places and pools until drove, i need my door seals done ideally, little things around the car to have it same condition as his.. just don't know whether to spend on mine or offer whatever on his, so wandering how much to offer on his to see which on come out the best ...
when my cars not in my garage it on my drive on a slope so water doesn't run away from some places and pools until drove, i need my door seals done ideally, little things around the car to have it same condition as his.. just don't know whether to spend on mine or offer whatever on his, so wandering how much to offer on his to see which on come out the best ...
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pacerpete
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The value in a 10000 mile 316 is the mileage. Unless it is a two door in a desirable colour scheme with some nice options, it really is the runt of the E30 litter. Once you start exposing it to the elements and racking up some miles, watch that value decrease at a rate of knots.
Spend a bit getting on top of yours and use it and enjoy it. I can think of few things more tedious than looking at a low milage 316 waiting for it to increase in value !
Spend a bit getting on top of yours and use it and enjoy it. I can think of few things more tedious than looking at a low milage 316 waiting for it to increase in value !
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Topblag
- Old Skooler

- Posts: 7095
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I've been considering this one and I can't think of anything more tedious.pacerpete wrote: I can think of few things more tedious than looking at a low milage 316 waiting for it to increase in value !
1990 325i Cab auto in Alpine White II
1988 Alpina C2.5 moredoor in Black, 71k
1990 325ix, moredoor auto in Laser Blue. 51k
1984 Hartge H35 in Black
2004 996 C4S in Silver 43k manual
2006 Audi S6 V10 in Black 58k
1988 Alpina C2.5 moredoor in Black, 71k
1990 325ix, moredoor auto in Laser Blue. 51k
1984 Hartge H35 in Black
2004 996 C4S in Silver 43k manual
2006 Audi S6 V10 in Black 58k
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Jesus325iTouring
- Frog freak !

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Having a debate over which is better, 325i or 318is?Topblag wrote:I've been considering this one and I can't think of anything more tedious.pacerpete wrote: I can think of few things more tedious than looking at a low milage 316 waiting for it to increase in value !

X5 V8 for thrills, CRV for chills, Range Rover P38 V8 for sooooo much aggravation...
Thanks Matt and 106, much appreciated
Have to say id just personally enjoy the car you have Matt - you know the car by now and know its a good one - spend a little cash on getting it the way you want it
For me its not about Spec or engine size, I just wanted a mint low mileage E30 with fsh the way I remembered my dads at the time and ive achieved that, just a nice little play thing to potter around in on nice days. I really couldn't care less about its value or future worth, I paid my money and am enjoying having it - that's what id be doing if I ws you Matt just enjoying the one you have
Cars with that low a mileage can suffer in other ways aside from bodywork - things can stiffen up and seals can dry through lack of use etc etc. If you were at all concerned with future worth the only way with that car would be basically just not to use it as its current value is in its mileage. At least you know the car you currently own - just enjoy it
For me its not about Spec or engine size, I just wanted a mint low mileage E30 with fsh the way I remembered my dads at the time and ive achieved that, just a nice little play thing to potter around in on nice days. I really couldn't care less about its value or future worth, I paid my money and am enjoying having it - that's what id be doing if I ws you Matt just enjoying the one you have
Cars with that low a mileage can suffer in other ways aside from bodywork - things can stiffen up and seals can dry through lack of use etc etc. If you were at all concerned with future worth the only way with that car would be basically just not to use it as its current value is in its mileage. At least you know the car you currently own - just enjoy it
Russell A Macfarlane
Central Scotland
1987 Lachs Silver BMW E30 320i 4 Door Manual
Central Scotland
1987 Lachs Silver BMW E30 320i 4 Door Manual
you can not even start to compare your 80,000 mile how ever many owner rusty E30 to a 1 owner 10,000 mile car, its not a car you would drive more than twice a year [to the mot station and maybe to GAYdon ] nobody will throw 6 bags at a 10,000 mile car and start using it as a daily.
again no it wont be as much as a 325, if this was a 325 it would prob be 20 bags.
it really is a hard call without seeing it as we can all picture a showroom car and a turd, try getting some pics of it
again no it wont be as much as a 325, if this was a 325 it would prob be 20 bags.
it really is a hard call without seeing it as we can all picture a showroom car and a turd, try getting some pics of it
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Jim320i
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Would you be using the 10k 316 at all or would it be in the garage all of it life? As Pete said above, the minute you start putting miles on it, the price will start to drop.
£6000 is an expensive garage ornament if you're not the sort who usually buys garage ornaments
£6000 is an expensive garage ornament if you're not the sort who usually buys garage ornaments
Think I've made up my mind now, i would have to use the car to be able to drive about and would put miles on it, not a lot but enough, not worth it i don't think, id rather keep mine and go from there..
big thanks to everyone who has commented!!
much appreciated
Matt
big thanks to everyone who has commented!!
much appreciated
Matt
There was a 25k mile 316 on facebook that's just sold for £750, apparently mint except for a gaping hole each end of the scuttle which I suspect the buyer thinks will be an easy job.
As for having to repaint the whole side when rear arches have been replaced, really? On weathered colours yes, it probably will be necessary but if overall the paint is good you may just get away with the rear quarters
As for having to repaint the whole side when rear arches have been replaced, really? On weathered colours yes, it probably will be necessary but if overall the paint is good you may just get away with the rear quarters



