M3 evo convertible - good time to sell?
Discussion
Hi just wondering, I've not had much response in trying to sell my evo convertible. I believe it's priced competively against the others, the spec is good, it's been cherished like you wouldn't believe. Last thing I want to do is p/ex I've had a fair few offers but have already purchased my next car.
Anybody got any pointers? It's advertised in pistonheads, eBay and ahem.. autotrader. The link for the car is below, would like some expertise on where I'm going wrong. Thanks
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1998-BMW-M3-EVOLUTION-MAUVE-...
Anybody got any pointers? It's advertised in pistonheads, eBay and ahem.. autotrader. The link for the car is below, would like some expertise on where I'm going wrong. Thanks
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1998-BMW-M3-EVOLUTION-MAUVE-...
Hi
It's the usual kinds of things that are potentially putting a large proportion of prospective buyers off
1. It's modified.
2. You haven't taken any decent pictures of the car - they're mostly quite dark and I'll assume for a second, taken with a mobile phone of some sort.
3. You need to backup how nice you make it sound, with more details of the service history, who did it, when and where etc.
4. Enthusiasts pick up on the more subtle things you've mentioned, both sets of alloys for instance, and the orginal head unit. Other people haven't got a clue, so will see the M6 alloys on it, think oh it's been modded or played with and click back off your advert.
5. Never forget, ebay users encompass everyone, from the intelligent like you and I, to ones you'd think in how they developed within the human gene pool. Make everything listed, explained and shown.
Cheers, Dennis!
It's the usual kinds of things that are potentially putting a large proportion of prospective buyers off
1. It's modified.
2. You haven't taken any decent pictures of the car - they're mostly quite dark and I'll assume for a second, taken with a mobile phone of some sort.
3. You need to backup how nice you make it sound, with more details of the service history, who did it, when and where etc.
4. Enthusiasts pick up on the more subtle things you've mentioned, both sets of alloys for instance, and the orginal head unit. Other people haven't got a clue, so will see the M6 alloys on it, think oh it's been modded or played with and click back off your advert.
5. Never forget, ebay users encompass everyone, from the intelligent like you and I, to ones you'd think in how they developed within the human gene pool. Make everything listed, explained and shown.
Cheers, Dennis!
I have just bought one, last week, so I shall tell you what I think!!
The hisory etc on your car looks great, there can be no complaints there. The colour probably isnt to everyones taste, but wouldnt have put me off-I was after the best car I could get for my money and the coulour of my cars has never been a "deal breaker".
Being brutally honest, the wheels and very low suspension would stop me buying it. I personally was after a car that was as standard as possible. i dont disagree with lowering cars, but it does make me have a pre-conception of how its been driven-probably the wrong pre-conception, but its still there. As for the wheels, I just dont like aftermarkets stuff-look a bit chav for me. Having said all that, you do have the original parts, so I suppose that could all be put be back on (at an expense to the buyer).
I ended up with a 1996 P with 97k, full history etc in Estoril. Bodywork pretty much perfect. Only problem is that its got the wrong wheels-they are what it came with from the factory, but the rears are the same size as the front, so while they look original, I will have to buy some wider rears. It also needed new rear trailing arm bushes and a new drop link, but that was reflected in the price.
All that said, I think yours with the normal wheels on is great looking car and I would have been tempted, but its also out of price range.
The hisory etc on your car looks great, there can be no complaints there. The colour probably isnt to everyones taste, but wouldnt have put me off-I was after the best car I could get for my money and the coulour of my cars has never been a "deal breaker".
Being brutally honest, the wheels and very low suspension would stop me buying it. I personally was after a car that was as standard as possible. i dont disagree with lowering cars, but it does make me have a pre-conception of how its been driven-probably the wrong pre-conception, but its still there. As for the wheels, I just dont like aftermarkets stuff-look a bit chav for me. Having said all that, you do have the original parts, so I suppose that could all be put be back on (at an expense to the buyer).
I ended up with a 1996 P with 97k, full history etc in Estoril. Bodywork pretty much perfect. Only problem is that its got the wrong wheels-they are what it came with from the factory, but the rears are the same size as the front, so while they look original, I will have to buy some wider rears. It also needed new rear trailing arm bushes and a new drop link, but that was reflected in the price.
All that said, I think yours with the normal wheels on is great looking car and I would have been tempted, but its also out of price range.
Nedz said:
Only problem is that its got the wrong wheels-they are what it came with from the factory, but the rears are the same size as the front, so while they look original, I will have to buy some wider rears.
WTF!! ???????????
Lol. I know it didnt read right.WTF!! ???????????
The wheel that they come with are a bit wider at the rear-staggered set up. Mine has the same on the rear as the front.
Not as mad as it seems, loads are like that!
bull996 said:
Nedz said:
Only problem is that its got the wrong wheels-they are what it came with from the factory, but the rears are the same size as the front, so while they look original, I will have to buy some wider rears.
WTF!! ???????????
Lol. I know it didnt read right.WTF!! ???????????
The wheel that they come with are a bit wider at the rear-staggered set up. Mine has the same on the rear as the front.
Not as mad as it seems, loads are like that!
Nedz said:
So what your saying is that it has the same wheel and tyre size combo on the rear as on the front,as though the previous owner has put a set of fronts on the back? I dont know what the factory tyre sizes are for the E36 m3,but on the E46 and E90 that would just look and surely make the car drive very wrong indeed!
Yes thats the case. And I am sure it dosent drive as well as it should. I am just in the process of getting a new set of correct wheels and tyres. Havent reallt driven it much-its in my garage getting pampered!It was all taken into consideration when buying and reflected in the price.
I think it's 225/45/17 at the front and 245/45/17 in the rear. I've got the original wheels on the vehicle only reason I got aftermarket was to show off the big brakes as there are many lookalikes where I'm from (power drums usually give the game away lol) got a bespoke exhaust system that only fits an m3 for the same reason. I suppose il readvertise in a month when the weather picks up and see how it goes.looks like it's going to occupy the garage in the meantime.
Firstly, Ive tried to sell cars i have "modified" in the past and whilst im an enthusiast rather than a boy racer, it really does put people off. You are nearly always better off returning the car to standard spec and selling the modified bits separately. You have an excellent history with the car and it looks very clean, so as a standard(ish) car it should be attractive to prospective buyers.
Wheels and suspension are fairly easy to swap back so shouldnt cost you much to do. You can then ebay those aftermarket bits off and get some extra cash.
Secondly, it is still a bit early to sell summer convertibles at their best prices. Ive just sold a convertible (not an M3 i hasten to add), but never the less a nice convertible and I had to sell it for about 25% less than the same car would fetch in the summer months!
Third and lastly, the price. At the end of the day people will only pay what they think something is worth. If you put it on ebay for .99p start then X million people will decide between them what the market price is for that car. It maybe that the market price is lower than what you would ideally like. But, thats the market price. Sometimes you can get more than market price by advertising in enthusiast clubs etc. where someone may pay more. But in my experience buyers will normally check on ebay and see what sort of prices similar cars have sold for and bid accordingly.
Good luck with the sale.
Wheels and suspension are fairly easy to swap back so shouldnt cost you much to do. You can then ebay those aftermarket bits off and get some extra cash.
Secondly, it is still a bit early to sell summer convertibles at their best prices. Ive just sold a convertible (not an M3 i hasten to add), but never the less a nice convertible and I had to sell it for about 25% less than the same car would fetch in the summer months!
Third and lastly, the price. At the end of the day people will only pay what they think something is worth. If you put it on ebay for .99p start then X million people will decide between them what the market price is for that car. It maybe that the market price is lower than what you would ideally like. But, thats the market price. Sometimes you can get more than market price by advertising in enthusiast clubs etc. where someone may pay more. But in my experience buyers will normally check on ebay and see what sort of prices similar cars have sold for and bid accordingly.
Good luck with the sale.
olly22n said:
My 2p as i was considering an M3 recently.
I would dismiss your ad immediately, reasons very similar to above posts;
headlights
numberplates
wheels
suspension
no detail of history
poor photographs
leather looks flithy (maybe just the photos?)
induction kit
A lot of the above is very easily changed. If I was looking for an M3 vert and you changed the above points it would change from clicking the next ad to picking up the phone.
all imo, but standard will always win
Thats the crux for me. The car is now becoming a classic and while I'm sure the mods you've made are great, they're not to everyone's taste. Return it to standard (including the plates), show standard pics and you'll open it up to far more buyers.I would dismiss your ad immediately, reasons very similar to above posts;
headlights
numberplates
wheels
suspension
no detail of history
poor photographs
leather looks flithy (maybe just the photos?)
induction kit
A lot of the above is very easily changed. If I was looking for an M3 vert and you changed the above points it would change from clicking the next ad to picking up the phone.
all imo, but standard will always win
Good luck with the sale.
As others have said, the basic car seems to be in good nick, for me though the 'mods' would put me off straight away. The plates, lights and wheels would stop me even reading further. If I was you I'd take off the induction kit and put the original springs back on. To get top price for it you're going to want to be aiming at the enthusiast that sees it as a classic. As it is you aren't going to get that type of person.
110k miles isn't too bad considering the age. If the history is all up to scratch then I don't think the price is too optimistic. Colour will be a bit subjective, but again if it's in good nick then an enthusiast will take condition over colour.
Good luck with the sale.
110k miles isn't too bad considering the age. If the history is all up to scratch then I don't think the price is too optimistic. Colour will be a bit subjective, but again if it's in good nick then an enthusiast will take condition over colour.
Good luck with the sale.
I just bought one yesterday.
Looked at your ad on pistonheads.
Was put off straight away by the ride height, its far too low.
Maybe not a major job to change, but the fact theres loads for sale, didnt fancy having a suspension change to do as soon as i bought it, so clicked "next".
The newer wheels dont do it any favours either.
Price is fair tho. GOOD LUCK WITH THE SALE.
Looked at your ad on pistonheads.
Was put off straight away by the ride height, its far too low.
Maybe not a major job to change, but the fact theres loads for sale, didnt fancy having a suspension change to do as soon as i bought it, so clicked "next".
The newer wheels dont do it any favours either.
Price is fair tho. GOOD LUCK WITH THE SALE.
Return it to standard, those bits dont make any difference to the price,and get some decent pics
Its amazing what a difference a decent image will do
I dont think the price is wrong, its got a hardtop, which is worth £400
here is mine to compare, 69,000 genuine miles, fsh,immaculate condition,with the hardtop and deflector, might be selling for £6500 in the summer
heres mine for example, If you were a buyer what would you view mine or yours? mine isnt the best picture in the world, but it gives you an idea on the quality of the car
Its amazing what a difference a decent image will do
I dont think the price is wrong, its got a hardtop, which is worth £400
here is mine to compare, 69,000 genuine miles, fsh,immaculate condition,with the hardtop and deflector, might be selling for £6500 in the summer
heres mine for example, If you were a buyer what would you view mine or yours? mine isnt the best picture in the world, but it gives you an idea on the quality of the car
M3s look great when new in both standard and modified form (within reason) but as they get older they look far better in standard trim. i spent a while getting rid of crappy wheels, black grilles, etc, etc when i got mine and the only reason i bought it was because i bid really hard and could see enough of a straight car hidden underneath. most people won't look that hard though.
yours is a nice colour and the standard wheels look good. get is as OE looking as possible, drive it somewhere nice and get some better shots and it'll go.
yours is a nice colour and the standard wheels look good. get is as OE looking as possible, drive it somewhere nice and get some better shots and it'll go.
just to let u all know finally sold the car about a month ago but forgot to post it up. The guy who bought it was an e36 fanatic who sold his the night before due to vanos issues. He saw the car and fell in love with it and is still in touch. Got the right price for it too. I suppose theres a buyer for every car but you just need to wait and the funny thing is as soon as it sold i must have had about 15 calls for it!
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