Barn find E30 325i

[Blue Shirt]

I have the opportunity to buy a 1990 2-door E30 325i with manual box out of a deceased estate. The car has not been driven for 4 years, but it has only 100000 km on the odo with a full dealer service record as a 1-owner car. The car is original as it came out of the factory, it even still has the complete tool set in the boot with the blue cloth. The leather interior is perfect and the dash is completely crack free. The car has a dust layer 1cm thick on it and the engine bay is full of cobwebs.

What should I look out for? Obviously all fluids and oils have be replaced, including brake fluid, clutch hydraulics and power steering fluid. I may have to replace all the coolant hoses, all 5 tyres are at least 12 years old according to the invoices in the file, so they will have to go. I could not start the engine yet, even with a booster pack as the battery has shorted internally, but externally the engine looks unmolested and well cared for with no visible leaks. I have no idea yet about the condition of the shocks, brakes or driveshaft guibo. The a/c is probably empty with rotten seals. The body is sound and accident free, the paintwork underneath all the dust seems good.

I will do a more thorough inspection in the coming week, but I need advice on how much to offer for the car. Good running condition original unmolested cars go for R60-80k depending on mileage from what I can see on the gumtree and autotrader, which this one should be worth after a proper restore.

How much is it worth in its current condition?

 

[Ram3on]

I'd say not to spend more than R55k on it cause all the things that you have mentioned would quickly add up! And then all the hiddens, standing for so long, even silly things like wheel bearings could have taken a knock, yet alone seals like main oil seals, gearbox, diff etc. etc. should be considered! But then again, how often does one find an item like this!! And it being a plastic bumper two door......you can have my front teeth if it will help the deal :roflol:

 

[Peter@AEW]

For an unmolested car R60k is reasonable.

Question though is are you buying to resell or to keep?

If you wish to resell be ready for price resistance at R70k as you will be at the bottom end of iS cars.

Good luck with it.

 

[wikk3d88]

30k max. You will need to replace all the rubber hoses and probably the suspension bushings. New tyres and shocks probably and whatever electric gremlins if rats have had a go at the wiring.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Hellas]

+1 on replacing everything rubber etc including the fuel tank too.

The truth is that a moth-balled car takes way more to get on the road than one that was driven fairly regularly.

 

[Jeremy]

30k max. You will need to replace all the rubber hoses and probably the suspension bushings. New tyres and shocks probably and whatever electric gremlins if rats have had a go at the wiring.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

i agree with 30k, this is a real gem, however you still don know how much you are going to need to spend in order to get it running, i personally think that if you buy this car, keep it for yourself, it would be very hard to find something like this again, just my 2c.

 

[wikk3d88]

30k max. You will need to replace all the rubber hoses and probably the suspension bushings. New tyres and shocks probably and whatever electric gremlins if rats have had a go at the wiring.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

i agree with 30k, this is a real gem, however you still don know how much you are going to need to spend in order to get it running, i personally think that if you buy this car, keep it for yourself, it would be very hard to find something like this again, just my 2c.

'real gem' vs 'money pit'

You have to decide if its worth your time and effort. People like to romanticize barn finds without realizing just how much work goes into restoring a car

 

[m20boy]

detailed pics will help

or offer 12k ,

 

[Blue Shirt]

Thanks for all the feedback. I did not think about the fuel tank, it will certainly need to be cleaned out and flushed, the remaining fuel must be varnish by now.

I will be going into this with eyes wide open. The trouble is that some guy apparently offered R60k when the owner tried to sell it a few months ago, but the deal then fell through and the car is now getting in his way. The interior and exterior is really pristine, and will take minimal work to restore to almost perfect condition. The mechanical side of things will be where the unknowns are. Maybe the previous buyer thought he could just put new fuel and drive it away, now the owner has that expectation in his mind.

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Here are some pics:

 

[Fuzz@tinyNET]

you WILL NOT find a car like this again... Take it even for 60k at a squeeze... Once you restore it, the value will rocket! :joy:

Bear in mind that not so long ago a minter of a 325is changed hands for almost 250k... :thumbs:

Good luck and hope that you get it before someone else does :thumbs:

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Wow!!!!!!!!!!!! Wish I found this

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

look at that condition, take it, its worth every penny

 

[m20boy]

its in a superb condition , crackless dash 107 000km ! wit sunroof, thats very rare indeed ,:thumbs:

60 k is max , i bet u can bargain still ,

i knw someone that pickd up a shadowline for 35k in a similar condition

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its in a superb condition , crackless dash 107 000km ! wit sunroof, thats very rare indeed ,:thumbs:

60 k is max , i bet u can bargain still ,

i knw someone that pickd up a shadowline for 35k in a similar condition

 

[Blue Shirt]

its in a superb condition , crackless dash 107 000km ! wit sunroof, thats very rare indeed ,:thumbs:

60 k is max , i bet u can bargain still ,

i knw someone that pickd up a shadowline for 35k in a similar condition

That's actually only 100744 km genuine mileage. :thumbs:

I have seen the service records. The car belonged to a pensioner who died 5 years ago and his son just parked it since then.

 

[UpNcOmiNg!]

I want it :fencelook:
Damn that is nice

 

[Fuzz@tinyNET]

I want it :fencelook:
Damn that is nice

I saw it first :tease:

 

[Fordkoppie]

PM ONLY ME the address :fencelook:

 

[wikk3d88]

That's actually not too bad. You said it has an electrical issue? If you can get it to start and run as it stands then 40-50k would be worth it.
Id also be wary since the previous deal fell through... but it looks good enough to take a chance on
If the car is 'in the way' you definitely have some negotiating room wrt the price

 

[Jeremy]

Oh my gosh that is gorgeous, and it is 2dr... definitely a very rare find, i still stick to a price of 30-35k.. good luck bro...

 

[Luis Malhou]

Get a battery, put it and start the thing.. If it starts it will take you around the block. Then decide..

 

[Blue Shirt]

I just realized that the cambelt will need to be replaced as well after sitting for so long, might as well do the waterpump at the same time. Any idea of the costs?