How much is my car worth?
Discussion
Hello folks,
I've decided to sell my E36 325i due to a fairly long commute and fuel prices being on the rise. I'm just not entirely sure what it's worth.
It's done almost 183000 miles and I paid £600 for it about two and a half months ago, but since then I've spent a few hundred pounds replacing the cooling system in its entirety and the alternator. It drives faultlessly but people are obviously going to be put off by the mileage.
I currently have it advertised at £950 in a few places and realistically I'd expect someone to haggle down to £850, but all I seem to be getting from people is "it's only worth £500 with those miles".
Please note that this isn't a for sale thread and that I wasn't looking to make a quick buck from it (I'm actually losing a bit based on the asking price); I just want a little bit of confirmation that the amount I'm expecting for it isn't unreasonable as I'll be sorely upset if it transpires that it really is only worth £500. Some truly shoddy looking examples seem to be on the market for more than this.
Thanks in advance,
Adam.
I've decided to sell my E36 325i due to a fairly long commute and fuel prices being on the rise. I'm just not entirely sure what it's worth.
It's done almost 183000 miles and I paid £600 for it about two and a half months ago, but since then I've spent a few hundred pounds replacing the cooling system in its entirety and the alternator. It drives faultlessly but people are obviously going to be put off by the mileage.
I currently have it advertised at £950 in a few places and realistically I'd expect someone to haggle down to £850, but all I seem to be getting from people is "it's only worth £500 with those miles".
Please note that this isn't a for sale thread and that I wasn't looking to make a quick buck from it (I'm actually losing a bit based on the asking price); I just want a little bit of confirmation that the amount I'm expecting for it isn't unreasonable as I'll be sorely upset if it transpires that it really is only worth £500. Some truly shoddy looking examples seem to be on the market for more than this.
Thanks in advance,
Adam.
It's old and it has done a lot of miles. For every part which has been replaced there are another dozen which haven't.
You've only had it a month and it's caused you plenty of problems; frankly I'd either keep it to earn some use from the investment you've put into it recently or start a 99p auction on eBay and be grateful for the highest bid.
You've only had it a month and it's caused you plenty of problems; frankly I'd either keep it to earn some use from the investment you've put into it recently or start a 99p auction on eBay and be grateful for the highest bid.
What condition is the bodywork/interior in?
I've got a 97 328 Coupe Auto which is close to excellent for both (having just had rear arches done) but with the miles on it 188K probably next to worthless at the moment.
It might be worth £1,000 to someone who really wants a nice 328 and isn't prepared to travel but with so much other stuff out there I can't see me selling quickly for more than £500.
At that value it's not worth selling so I'm holding onto it until the gearbox goes (no sign of it yet but they do go eventually). The way I work it, any extra petrol costs are balanced by zero depreciation now, and it gets 30mpg+ if I stick around the limit on the motorway so not too much worse than most stuff.
If you do want to sell it I'd drive around with a notice in the window, assuming it's good condition - you might find a non clued up buyer who doesn't baulk at the price - on pistonheads and Autotrader most people are fairly clued up on values and what you can get for your money.
I've got a 97 328 Coupe Auto which is close to excellent for both (having just had rear arches done) but with the miles on it 188K probably next to worthless at the moment.
It might be worth £1,000 to someone who really wants a nice 328 and isn't prepared to travel but with so much other stuff out there I can't see me selling quickly for more than £500.
At that value it's not worth selling so I'm holding onto it until the gearbox goes (no sign of it yet but they do go eventually). The way I work it, any extra petrol costs are balanced by zero depreciation now, and it gets 30mpg+ if I stick around the limit on the motorway so not too much worse than most stuff.
If you do want to sell it I'd drive around with a notice in the window, assuming it's good condition - you might find a non clued up buyer who doesn't baulk at the price - on pistonheads and Autotrader most people are fairly clued up on values and what you can get for your money.
The bodywork's good, but not immaculate. I've opted to keep it and grin and bare the fuel consumption irrespective of how the other half feels about it.
I had planned on replacing certain things just to proof it against failure when I bought it, yes. The alternator failed during the first week of ownership.
I had planned on replacing certain things just to proof it against failure when I bought it, yes. The alternator failed during the first week of ownership.
Im in the same boat, these cars just arnt worth anything at the moment, be fine once the chavs have had their way and destroying most of them, they will find their value again, Ive had mine for a couple of years, has done 160k odd and all I have had to do was the propshaft donut, had a thorough going over by a garage a few months back as one of my employees was going to have it off me and it came back with pretty much nothing up with it.
for a car with as much history as a 30yr old grandma, LSD, Full black mint sports interior, rustfree 325i I too would probably be looking at 500quid but I would get that almost just for the interior if I broke it! so just not worth selling and sits in storage, too nicer car to break!

for a car with as much history as a 30yr old grandma, LSD, Full black mint sports interior, rustfree 325i I too would probably be looking at 500quid but I would get that almost just for the interior if I broke it! so just not worth selling and sits in storage, too nicer car to break!

dan101smith said:
JonyPI said:
...but I would get that almost just for the interior if I broke it!
Unless you've got an electric Vader interior in mint condition, no you wouldn't.I will add that this is going by prices from when I broke a 328i quite a while ago, prices may have changed and if so, I'll throw the wheels in aswell


ETA nope I wasnt far off even with just the seats! though this must be absolute top money for them.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-E36-M3-3-2-EVO-SALOON-SP...
Edited by JonyPI on Friday 14th January 17:37
Edited by JonyPI on Friday 14th January 17:41
2 Wycked said:
JonyPI said:
That looks absolutely lovely and I certainly would pay strong money for it. I've never been a fan of the 'Sport' body styling.I just loved the wheels and they were for sale near me and different to pretty much everything else I had seen (genuine BBS) and my friend added the clear lights, the rest is as is out factory, including the rear spoiler which was an extra. I wouldn't change a thing about it personally (apart from maybe an S50 and manual box
)Edited by JonyPI on Friday 14th January 17:46
JonyPI said:
just looked at your profile and your car looks like my cars saloon brother, granite silver? early 325i and in staffs aswell, I'm just in Lichfield so not far away, I might have some spare bits for a loon you can have if they are of any use.
Tamworth here, used to live in Lichfield. A quick blast up the A5. I'm pretty sure mine's Sterling Silver, but don't hold me to that.What sort of parts do you have?
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