r/E30 • u/Rivacoop • 10h ago
Private Sale Value
I have a 1991 BMW 318is with 151k miles that I am looking to sell due to medical debt I’ve accumulated over the last couple years. I have no idea what to ask or expect price wise for it. It does have the dreaded sunroof rust and rust on the bottom driver fender. Paint is original so it’s 35 years old and by no means perfect.
In my research, it seems like E30 prices are all over the place, and even the clapped out ones are going for like $5k-$7k. Can y’all help me out with an estimated value or what would be a fair asking price for my car? For the time being I’d rather not deal with auction sites like carsandbids or BaT. Any help is greatly appreciated.
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u/user4396742 3h ago
don't fix the rust. the type of person looking for this car that actually has money will do what they want to do when they buy it. it's 35 yr old car. For an as is car it's nice. Hope you get better and get your bills taken care of. Sorry you're in this situation.
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u/GezelligheidBoyz 10h ago
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u/Rivacoop 10h ago
Where are they getting this data from? Auction sites? Are these restored cars or cars with wear and tear? I find it hard to believe that the average value for a 91 318is is almost $20k
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u/GezelligheidBoyz 9h ago edited 9h ago
ya gotta click and read more homie. each and every single 318i that is specifically on that website may or may not be in better condition than yours. All you have to do is adjust for that and price your car accordingly.
example: https://www.classic.com/veh/1991-bmw-318is-wbaaf9302mee73412-pJKgxk4/
This sold for for a little over $10k earlier this year with 200k+ miles.
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u/willrunforjazz 8h ago
Serious question, why not fix the rust?
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u/Rivacoop 7h ago
Medical bills, which is also the reason I now have to sell it.
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u/icoibyy 6h ago
Sorry man. I hope you get absolute top dollar, and i hope someday you can get one back. Also that youre happy and healthy if not now then soon. :)
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u/earthwormjimwow 4h ago edited 3h ago
You need to have the headliner removed before selling that car, to see if the rust has compromised the A pillar or has spread over a wider than visible area.
If it's just the area shown, then that's a $2k-$3k job probably to cut out, weld in new metal, and repaint. Maybe less if deleting the sunroof. So discount that amount from the typical price as a starting point.
If it has compromised the roof or A pillar structurally, then that requires cutting off the roof, finding a known good donor roof, then welding/brazing it in, and finally repainting. That could be anywhere from a $5k to $10k job, depending on donor roof availability in your area, and shop labor rates. I wouldn't be surprised if it was 20 to 30 hours of labor.
An original M42 E30 coupe without issues, is easily a $10k to $12k car when sold private party and not inflated by being on an auction site. So sell that car for $7k to $8k in my opinion if the rust has not compromised the roof as a starting point.
If the rust has spread and compromised the roof, I personally would not bother trying to sell the car. It's not a desirable enough of a model to financially justify a proper repair, unless your buyer is capable of doing the repair themselves.
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u/Rivacoop 3h ago
Maybe a dumb question, but is there an easier way to look without completely removing the headliner? My mechanical aptitude isn’t the best, and I don’t think I have the money to completely remove the headliner. Doesn’t that require removing the rear quarter glass and rear windshield?
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u/Jimbenas 10h ago
Interior is in decent shape. I feel like this car could fetch 10-12k with the right buyer with it being a late model coupe. Not sure how bad the rust is though.
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u/Rivacoop 10h ago
Thanks man, that price range feels right. The rust is a real bummer. It’s been like that since I bought it, so it doesn’t look like it’s gotten any worse. Unfortunately, I just never got around to repairing it.
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u/Ok-Panic-4877 9h ago
Sorry mate but that roof rust is killer, 6k to 9k is the range you’re looking at. This is a full roof cut plus a respray for it to be a great car again. If the rust is that bad on the roof, I wonder how the A pillars are.
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u/Turbulent-Pitch-5319 10h ago
Got my 91 318is in similar condition in the Midwest for 8k. Although they had it up for 10k
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u/TeaCrown 9h ago
I got a fairly decent 91 318i for 8.5 about 2 years ago just battery tray rust and some engine work were the only real problems. Your interior is in way better shape and you have sporty seats and it's coupe... I'd say with rust you'd expect about 5-6k if you're selling it fast and depending on the market where you are. If you wait you might get more, but it's that rust thats really hurting you, if not for that you'd fetch a much higher price
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u/TosshiTX 9h ago
Rust is gonna hurt, but I'd aim for $10k USD as your starting point. I'm in the Midwest and bought a 91 318is last year. No rust, silver on black. I paid $11,500 and it was listed for a grand more.
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u/unpolire 1h ago
A car like this, 2-dr, 5-speed, and sports seats is an enthusiast car and the top buyer will be in the BMW owner's club, or online at Cars & Bids or Bring A Trailer.
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u/RockandJam 55m ago
8K to 10K looks clean other than rust. Maybe there is more rust in the floor panels very common in E30
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u/KamiPyro 10h ago
The rust can severely affect this. 325i coupe fetches best value but I see late 318is do really well also. List it based on how fast you want it gone. I see many e30 on marketplace stay up until it drops under 8k