Newbie buying advice

[amazak]

Hi E30 members, I am new to the forum joined today as I am contemplating buying an E30 which I have been offered locally. The guy who is selling is a genuine person and the car speaks for itself however I want to gauge your opinions regarding value before I splurge all my hard earned cash on this baby.

The car itself is an early chrome model 1985 320i 3 door coupe in Platanen-grÃan metallic, absolutely mint, no rust, no marks, no dents, original paint that looks like it just rolled off the factory but has approx 65K on the clock, well cared for and garaged all it's life. The paintwork literally looks newer than my wifes 11 reg 318 cab! Appears to true collectors item which is why I am interested. I have bought many classic rare cars in the past mainly VW so this is my first venture into classic BMW's. The car has two owners from new, I will be the third, it has sunroof and electric windows, full documented history, MOT's, invoices basically all paperwork.

I am looking for your experienced opinions on a price guide as these are rare, also I think this particular example has sunroof and electric windows which I think was optional in 1985?

thanks in advance, hopefully I can get this bought after your helpful advice.

[aimlessrock]

sounds like a nice car, and if the paperwork stacks up then its worth considering. Chromies are becoming sought after.

Very low mile cars can bring with them their own problems, does the paperwork show that its been served regularly?..what about the cam belt?..when was it last changed.

[Brianmoooore]

There's also the matter of the third door - very rare!

[amazak]

Hi guys, thanks for the replies. The car has got full service history, 1 owner was an elderly man who had bought the car new and serviced it at BMW, 2nd owner for the last two years or so.

I have seen this advert on carsandclassic but I am not too sure how old this sale is... If the price on this advert is recent and can be used as guide then I will be seriously overpaying!

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C117 ... _buyer.php

[aimlessrock]

There's also the matter of the third door - very rare!

lol

[Motorhole]

Hi guys, thanks for the replies. The car has got full service history, 1 owner was an elderly man who had bought the car new and serviced it at BMW, 2nd owner for the last two years or so.

I have seen this advert on carsandclassic but I am not too sure how old this sale is... If the price on this advert is recent and can be used as guide then I will be seriously overpaying!

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C117 ... _buyer.php

2-doors (which I assume is what you're looking at?) fetch a premium over 4-doors too. Car in the ad is a 4-door.

For a genuinely rot free, mint condition, well-serviced, low owner, low mileage 2-door 320i, £2.5-£3k isn't entirely unreasonable imho.

[Brianmoooore]

It's a reasonable amount, and in a few years time will probably be seen as an absolute bargain.
You can't compare, because you don't know how much rust is in the one in the ad., neither do you, or it's current owner, know how much rust is in the one you're looking at.
I've bought quite a few e30s (and other cars) in my time, and have found that you can often go by the condition of the seller as much as by the condition of the car.

[darkchild]

I've bought quite a few e30s (and other cars) in my time, and have found that you can often go by the condition of the seller as much as by the condition of the car.

This.

Nice people tend to sell nice cars.