Help me establish my car's real value...

[horseheadnebula]

I think I'm going to parting with my beloved E34 since I'm starting a new job in the city and I won't have anywhere to park her.... So, it is going to be up for sale shortly. I need you guys to give me a ballpark of what it's worth to an average enthusiast, or someone looking for a reliable and nicely kept BMW.

The car is a 1992 525i 5-speed with the M50 engine. It has a clear title, and it was maintained all its life at the same BMW dealer where it was purchased since it was brand new and I have records [from day one, up to about 2 months ago]..... A really, really, thick book of BMW dealer receipts.

Here are the specs:

1992 BMW 525i 5-speed
-230,000 highway miles
-Alpine White II
-Black Leather (mint condition interior)
-5-speed transmission (shifts smoothly, clutch has plenty of life left)
-Power everything, windows, sunroof, etc.
-Premium Sound w/ 6-disc CD changer
-BMW Security System/Alarm/Keyless Entry
-BMW Car Phone
-15" BMW Style 5 Wheels w/ full size matching spare (all have center caps, though not shown in photos)

Everything on the car works, there are no alert lights on the dash, and it drives nice and tight, like a new car. Suspension is tight. Engine pulls like a freight train and does not have any flat spots. Cooling system is recent, engine is clean, and there are no leaks on the floor when parked overnight. Oil is nice and clear and so is the coolant.

The only modifications are:
- 6 BavAuto Performance Coil Packs
- Bosch Platinum+2 Spark plugs
- Clear front indicators
- Body-color matched bumpers and skirts
- Hella OEM smoked projector fog lights (not shown in pictures)
- Rear sunshade
- AC Schnitzer style manual pedals
- Oval chrome exhaust tips
- L.L. Bean signature floor mats

And of course, the photos...

http://128.153.5.68/~pericics/e34/e34.jpg
http://128.153.5.68/~pericics/e34/e34%20(1).jpg
http://128.153.5.68/~pericics/e34/e34%20(2).jpg
http://128.153.5.68/~pericics/e34/e34%20(3).jpg

[horseheadnebula]

http://128.153.5.68/~pericics/e34/e34%20(5).jpg
http://128.153.5.68/~pericics/e34/e34%20(6).jpg
http://128.153.5.68/~pericics/e34/e34%20(7).jpg
http://128.153.5.68/~pericics/e34/e34%20(8).jpg

[horseheadnebula]

http://128.153.5.68/~pericics/e34/e34%20(9).jpg
http://128.153.5.68/~pericics/e34/e34%20(10).jpg
http://128.153.5.68/~pericics/e34/e34%20(11).jpg
http://128.153.5.68/~pericics/e34/e34%20(12).jpg

[horseheadnebula]

http://128.153.5.68/~pericics/e34/e34%20(13).jpg
http://128.153.5.68/~pericics/e34/e34%20(14).jpg
http://128.153.5.68/~pericics/e34/e34%20(15).jpg

[angrypancake]

starting a new job in the city, NYC?


with all those reciepts and service you could do pretty well with that car. depends on who the buyer will be though. if you want it moved really quickly, you'll lose a couple dollars. I'd ask $5500, maybe a little more. The real question is what do you want to get for it, ideally?

[brosher]

Thats pretty high milage but it looks clean and 5 speed. I'd say $4k.

[Thayne]

$5000

[horseheadnebula]

Thanks guys... so basically, advertise it for $6K OBO to leave some bargaining room?

[Thayne]

Thanks guys... so basically, advertise it for $6K OBO to leave some bargaining room?

Sounds like a good idea.

[Qube]

I'd offer $5000, if the paint is in good condition, and the leather is all right ;)

[fkong777]

if you can get $5000 would be very good in your favor. pretty high in miles.. I do believe you will get a lot of offer at lower price like $4000 or so.

[Evan]

advertise at $6K and you won't get much attention

ask yourself what you really think the car is worth... how much do you have invested and how much use did you get out of your investment?

what does the car need to be "right"
is it leaking
is the motor in great shape or is oil getting into places it shouldn't

and finally

do you really want to sell ???

[horseheadnebula]

advertise at $6K and you won't get much attention

ask yourself what you really think the car is worth... how much do you have invested and how much use did you get out of your investment?

what does the car need to be "right"
is it leaking
is the motor in great shape or is oil getting into places it shouldn't

and finally

do you really want to sell ???

Well, to answer your questions...

1. that's why I made this thread
2. well over $50-60,000 with the purchase price of the car and repair invoices over the years, but a car is not an investment, so that really cannot be taken into account.
3. I got 230,000+ miles use out of it
4. Nothing, the car *is* right
5. No leaks
6. The motor is in wonderful shape
7. Not really, but I won't have any place to keep it or drive it, and I refuse to pay upwards of $100-200 per month just to store it.

[Gayle]

OMG An original owner! We don't get many of those here. I am my car's fourth owner.

[RichG]

if you can get $5000 would be very good in your favor. pretty high in miles.. I do believe you will get a lot of offer at lower price like $4000 or so.

If a 1991 525i "parts car" can get $2,000 on e-bay, It seems a fully functional 1992 525i one-owner with receipts should get close to $6,000 (even with the high mileage) if the right person can be found. I guess it depends on how long to wait for the "right person".

[Evan]

good luck.. let us know how the sale goes

[ILoveMPower]

Original owner? Sorry guys, but with the condition I can see in those pics, I would definitely ask $6k considering he is the original owner and knows exactly how well the car was taken care of.

[angrypancake]

receipts and the pile of records make a hell of a difference. I know I'd sure as **** pay an extra $1k for peace of mind to know the history of a car. hell I found out last night that I have an instrument cluster from an e32 that's been there forever, wtf? I'm gonna build a time machine and kill the PO's of the car

[Gayle]

When we sold our 90 525 with 200,000 miles last year, no one was interested in it on Auto Trader because of the miles. People would call, ask the mileage, and hung up. We sold it for $4,600 by putting it at the corner with a for sale sign where people could see it. It was immaculate, no rust, good upholstery, everything worked, and it had M par reps. We dealt with the mileage thing by pointing out that the engine had been rebuilt 40,000 ago. From experience, I can tell you that the number of people that are not going to freak at the mileage is small. People on this board were blown away that we got $4600. They were telling me to expect $3,000.

That said, the right buyer will pay at the high end of the range. I paid $1,500 over what people thought my 535 was worth. They said $7,000 and I paid $8,500 (the owner wanted $10,000). The low mileage, service records, and the expensive mods that had already been done, it was worth $8,500 to me. For us it was a wash. We sold the 525 high and bought the 535 high. You can wait a long time for the right buyer to get top dollar.

[Qube]

The key is to find enthsiasts that appreciate the value of your car :|