This is a strange one but cheap
Discussion
No '86 car that I've ever seen wore a Series 2 390SE front spoiler. The interior is the same as my '87 390SE so that's not an issue.
That car also has leading-edge flares to the arches only rather than the front and rear flares of the later ones, and I've often thought my car is a Series 1.5 SE (although there was never officially such a thing) so the 420 is about right for a S1 car. Apart from the front spoiler
That car also has leading-edge flares to the arches only rather than the front and rear flares of the later ones, and I've often thought my car is a Series 1.5 SE (although there was never officially such a thing) so the 420 is about right for a S1 car. Apart from the front spoiler
The engine and numberplate are worth more than that.I wouldn't worry too much (although I'd hope my 390SE might fetch more than that) - a lot of shiny paint can be hiding some right horrors, even on low (or supposedly low) mileage cars.
For all we know the guy has found a lot of corrosion and has gone the Ebay route hoping someone will buy without inspecting it... I looked round a 400SE the other week that had done half the mileage of mine, not a mark on the paint but the chassis was 'as bad' as mine if not worse. Given that he was asking twice what I'd like for my car, it wasn't twice as good.
For all we know the guy has found a lot of corrosion and has gone the Ebay route hoping someone will buy without inspecting it... I looked round a 400SE the other week that had done half the mileage of mine, not a mark on the paint but the chassis was 'as bad' as mine if not worse. Given that he was asking twice what I'd like for my car, it wasn't twice as good.
lots of car for the price....can be a bargain!! hope the chassis isnt a mess.
but rare to find that somebody sells something today under value.(especially at ebay...the biggest scrap-yard on earth). There is a catch in it! (....a sceptic person would say)
is the new owner also a member of this forum? so lets listen what he can report abouthis new toy.
if the car is really ok, even 3500,- would have been a correct price.
but this is a good example about the "real" values of our cars.
but rare to find that somebody sells something today under value.(especially at ebay...the biggest scrap-yard on earth). There is a catch in it! (....a sceptic person would say)
is the new owner also a member of this forum? so lets listen what he can report abouthis new toy.
if the car is really ok, even 3500,- would have been a correct price.
but this is a good example about the "real" values of our cars.
Edited by Comadis on Thursday 7th June 15:07
At the end of the day - any car (or anything else for that matter!) is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it. I spent probably a bit on the high side for my 350i, but then I had spent a few months looking at dogs that were a grand or two cheaper...
Some of my mates think I am mad - the others think I am some kind of demi-god!! You pays your money...
Some of my mates think I am mad - the others think I am some kind of demi-god!! You pays your money...
GV said:
It looks an odd job - series 2 body series 1 bonnet strange engine and there was never a 420 before a 390. Hmmmmmmmm
It's not a Series 2 SE shell; the flared arches are wrong as are the sills - the S2 appeared in late '87/ early '88. The original buyer may have preferred that bonnet style to the usual SE vented version. The original 390 dates from about '84, albeit a scarcely-modified 350 other than the engine. Very quickly the 3.9 engine was developed into a 4.2 and of the 103 SEs usually acknowledged, about 20 were 420s, built concurrrently across the years.
I think the value thing is always going to be a difficult one...
Ive spent a bloody fortune on mine, and whoever gets her after me (i think) will be a lucky fella (or fella-ess of course!) The previous owner on mine was actually a woman!
What i hope ill get back for her will be more than a paid for her, but NOwhere near the money ive spent on her bringing her up to scratch-and thats parts alone! I do all my own jobs on the car!
Still, if i wanted an investment, id have bought a porsche!
PS-my mates about to buy a chim...dont worry, im ready with the slippers and golfing jumper present!
Ive spent a bloody fortune on mine, and whoever gets her after me (i think) will be a lucky fella (or fella-ess of course!) The previous owner on mine was actually a woman!
What i hope ill get back for her will be more than a paid for her, but NOwhere near the money ive spent on her bringing her up to scratch-and thats parts alone! I do all my own jobs on the car!
Still, if i wanted an investment, id have bought a porsche!
PS-my mates about to buy a chim...dont worry, im ready with the slippers and golfing jumper present!
Edited by matt-man on Friday 8th June 11:24
matt-man said:
I think the value thing is always going to be a difficult one...
Ive spent a bloody fortune on mine, and whoever gets her after me (i think) will be a lucky fella (or fella-ess of course!) The previous owner on mine was actually a woman!
What i hope ill get back for her will be more than a paid for her, but NOwhere near the money ive spent on her bringing her up to scratch-and thats parts alone! I do all my own jobs on the car!
Still, if i wanted an investment, id have bought a porsche!
PS-my mates about to buy a chim...dont worry, im ready with the slippers and golfing jumper present!
Busy as usual eh Matt ? get blo&%*y working! Ive spent a bloody fortune on mine, and whoever gets her after me (i think) will be a lucky fella (or fella-ess of course!) The previous owner on mine was actually a woman!
What i hope ill get back for her will be more than a paid for her, but NOwhere near the money ive spent on her bringing her up to scratch-and thats parts alone! I do all my own jobs on the car!
Still, if i wanted an investment, id have bought a porsche!
PS-my mates about to buy a chim...dont worry, im ready with the slippers and golfing jumper present!
Edited by matt-man on Friday 8th June 11:24
I was prepared to buy this car at the asking price if genuine, but the vendor did not respond to my email. I assumed this was because I sounded like I would know that the car may not be genuine. The car looked like a series 2 350i as it was very similar to my 1988 350i. At that time I was a regular visitor to the factory and I am fairly certain no 4.2 engines were produced until well after 1989.
Having seen other 350i's and read about the problems people are having I am very happy with mine which has now done over 1,000 hard miles with no expense. I just need more power in 4th and 5th gear.
Having seen other 350i's and read about the problems people are having I am very happy with mine which has now done over 1,000 hard miles with no expense. I just need more power in 4th and 5th gear.
GRIFFONMARK said:
I was prepared to buy this car at the asking price if genuine, but the vendor did not respond to my email. I assumed this was because I sounded like I would know that the car may not be genuine. The car looked like a series 2 350i as it was very similar to my 1988 350i. At that time I was a regular visitor to the factory and I am fairly certain no 4.2 engines were produced until well after 1989.
Having seen other 350i's and read about the problems people are having I am very happy with mine which has now done over 1,000 hard miles with no expense. I just need more power in 4th and 5th gear.
I think you'll find very few 4.2 engines were produced after 1989. By that time the 400SE was more or less the standard wedge, although the 350 was still going. If you wanted a bit more it was either a 350SE (a 350 with a 3.9), a 430SE or a 450SE... or a SEAC of course which historically was primarily a 4.2 and latterly a 4.5.Having seen other 350i's and read about the problems people are having I am very happy with mine which has now done over 1,000 hard miles with no expense. I just need more power in 4th and 5th gear.
The 390SE first appeared in about '84 and was a 350 with a specially-developed engine. For production it soon got the A-frame rear suspension, lower wing and then a selection of flares and different bonnet/ sills/ front spoilers to set it apart from a 350. It wasn't long before the 4.2 was created, giving rise to the original SEAC (B or C reg, 1985/6) and the 390SE could be ordered with it instead of the 3.9, creating the 420SE.
So in time it was 280i - 350i - 200 - 390SE - 420SEAC - 420SE - 400SE - 350SE - 430SE - 450SEAC - 450SE - 660SEAC. More or less. Leaving aside the factory racers, 'White Elephant' and the elusive 500SE.
Comadis said:
lots of car for the price....can be a bargain!! hope the chassis isnt a mess.
but rare to find that somebody sells something today under value.(especially at ebay...the biggest scrap-yard on earth). There is a catch in it! (....a sceptic person would say)
is the new owner also a member of this forum? so lets listen what he can report abouthis new toy.
if the car is really ok, even 3500,- would have been a correct price.
but this is a good example about the "real" values of our cars.
Sorry, whenever prices are mentioned I can't resist.but rare to find that somebody sells something today under value.(especially at ebay...the biggest scrap-yard on earth). There is a catch in it! (....a sceptic person would say)
is the new owner also a member of this forum? so lets listen what he can report abouthis new toy.
if the car is really ok, even 3500,- would have been a correct price.
but this is a good example about the "real" values of our cars.
Edited by Comadis on Thursday 7th June 15:07
Take a look at some of the other "classic" cars around and what you pay for cars that weren't as rare, weren't as well built (try and buy an 80's Alfa without tinworm), weren't as quick and didn't turn heads as much.
These are TVR's we drive, not TR7's, so let's talk the prices up not down.
Gassing Station | Wedges | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff