Help with valuing an E34 BMW

[benjj]

My neighbour knows I like old tat so he's offered me his father's car.

We've not talked cash so I'm wondering whether to a) buy it and keep it or b) buy it, tidy it up and sell it.

The car details:

1989 BMW E34 520i SE manual
Dolphin Grey
20,244 miles (real, not doctored!)
Full BMW service history
Grey cloth interior (immaculate)

It is completely rust free, original wheels, original everything. Bit of a timewarp car really. Paintwork is utterly perfecto. All glass mint.

However it's been off the road since 2008 (so for 7/8 years). It wasn't laid up because there was a problem with it, just that the old boy got another car and just stuck it in the garage. The MOT expired in 2008 and he didn't drive it again apart from warming it up every few months.

It starts, idles etc perfectly. Guess the brakes are all fubar though.

A few pics below.



















The registration is "OO 1900" so not sure if that's worth any money or not. Will come on the car.

Any ideas what it could be worth?

Cheers gents,

Ben

[battered]

God knows, a time warp like that could be very desirable, esp with the "barn find" aspect.
The plate is worth something. Again, God knows, but it's not a dirt cheap £200 special.

[benjj]

It's a trick one to figure out alright.

[Soov535]

I'll be watching Hexagon Classics for this at £40k shortly.

[benjj]

Soov535 said:

I'll be watching Hexagon Classics for this at £40k shortly.

I was thinking more like 4 Star Classics at POA.

[vixen1700]

benjj said:

I was thinking more like 4 Star Classics at POA.

First thing that popped into my head too.

[miniman]

I bought one in not dissimilar circumstances, 525i (based on the photos) in quite a bit nicer condition but with 60k miles. I gave £800 for it.

If it has been stood, worth checking the fuel tank breather pipes and other fuel related areas. First time I brimmed mine, it all came pouring back out the bottom

[sim16v]

Normal Ebay sale the car would be worth £2-3k, prepped and at a specialist, it would normally have been £6-10k, but now with the likes of 4star it really could be advertised for £20k plus.


The plate is a pretty good one as well, I'd say £2-3k.


Depending how good a friend it is, you shouldn't have posted on here and just offered £1k to take it away

[benjj]

sim16v said:

Normal Ebay sale the car would be worth £2-3k, prepped and at a specialist, it would normally have been £6-10k, but now with the likes of 4star it really could be advertised for £20k plus.


The plate is a pretty good one as well, I'd say £2-3k.


Depending how good a friend it is, you shouldn't have posted on here and just offered £1k to take it away

WTF!

I've just offered him £500!

[Soov535]

benjj said:

sim16v said:

Normal Ebay sale the car would be worth £2-3k, prepped and at a specialist, it would normally have been £6-10k, but now with the likes of 4star it really could be advertised for £20k plus.


The plate is a pretty good one as well, I'd say £2-3k.


Depending how good a friend it is, you shouldn't have posted on here and just offered £1k to take it away

WTF!

I've just offered him £500!

Double it QUICK!

[miniman]

I'd say the plate is a st Irish one personally, and that £500 is probably on the low side, but if it hasn't moved in years you have to assume some early bills to get it on the road. Mine had been MOTd every year regardless of being laid up, and that had only been 3 years.

[EJH]

miniman said:

I'd say the plate is a st Irish one personally...

A swing and a miss... The plate is 00 1900, as opposed to OOI 900; last MOT was 25th January 2007 with a displayed mileage of 19,522

[benjj]

The plate is not a crappy Irish one. It's a mainland UK plate from the very first cars registered (as in the ones that ran from A1 to XX9999). This was 1903 to 1930.

I suspect OO 1900 is around 1926/1928 or so.

OO is Chelmsford apparently.

[benjj]

Soov535 said:

Double it QUICK!

No way. Dont you watch Fast & Loud? I've just emailed again to say if he doesn't accept it'll be £250 tomorrow.

[HustleRussell]

I'm J4M35 on the BMW5 forum.

I see this one is dividing opinion!

[benjj]

HustleRussell said:

I'm J4M35 on the BMW5 forum.

I see this one is dividing opinion!

Greetings!

I think the Lord chap is probably bang on the money. Just got to figure out if I can afford to tie up the cash.

[Mr Classic]

Bit low of an offer, a higher mileage one in reasonable nick would be 500-1000, if that had an mot and was tidy it would be 2k+

[benjj]

Erm, it was a joke, haven't really offered him 500...

[HustleRussell]

I think that if you want it you'd do well to pick it up for not much more than a grand. If you don't want it and are just planning to upsell it, I'm not sure the yield would make it worth it.

[benjj]

Good points.