Webby Posted November 29, 2013 Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 Im looking to purchase a second car to restore and keep for 5/10 years and hopefully earn some money. Ive been looking at old Merc coupes aswell as the E21/E30. With desirable engines and features spend a bit making it look OEM+ and using it as a fun weekend car with classic insurance. What do you think? Money pit or a decent idea? What cars would you also consider? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted November 29, 2013 Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 Anything classic you make 'oem+' will lose value. You need to keep it mint and original or do an extreme conversion for it to be worth something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian332isport Posted November 29, 2013 Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 Whatever model you go for, just look at any car as a body. If the body needs serious work - and most will, you'll never make any money. All the mechanicals are relatively cheap and easy to repair/ replace. It's all about the body shell. Unless you pay a lot of money, you'll really struggle to find a desirable E30 with a rot free shell. It's also very easy to find what appears to be a clean car with nightmares lurking under the body kit (assuming it's one of the sport models - either MTech 1 or 2). Ian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shabaza Posted November 30, 2013 Report Share Posted November 30, 2013 I think theyre already classics. The value of these cars are subject to the buyers value/opinion. Theyre already going up in value. I think this is a relative bargain on the face of it: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201310319565195/sort/default/usedcars/page/1/radius/1500/make/bmw/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/postcode/ha86se/maximum-age/over_10_years_old/price-to/9000/model/6_series?logcode=p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Syxx Posted November 30, 2013 Report Share Posted November 30, 2013 As Ian pointed out body is the key. You will be hard pushed to find one with a clean shell unless you have the dough. E30's are appreciating slowly in value and will continue to do so. If your thinking of getting one do so now as parts are becoming more expensive.E21 harder still and there far less parts available. Have a look at E28's. They are also going up in value as well and becoming an appreciative classic.As for "OEM+" mods, there isn't much you can add to those cars from other models to make it look OEM+.If you buy an E30 sport for example that's pretty much it, unless your going for aftermarket which then defeats the whole point of OEM or + whatever you want to call it.Also bare in mind with E21/30 wheel choice is limited as they are 4x100 so your limited with putting other BM wheels on.Buy the best one you can with as little rot as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Webby Posted November 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2013 Great advice thanks! When i say OEM+ i mean a set of wheels not much else! So rot is the worst thing yeah? I suppose engines and parts you just replace! I think the E30 has more availability for parts as E21s seem very rare now! I just love the rear end on them! Im watching a E21 on eBay at the mo, its a 323i convertible. The leathers could be restored, the hood looks half decent! a fresh respray by a friend a decent set of wheels, a service and bushes and it'll be very nice! Just cant help think I'm crazy! RedDevil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Syxx Posted November 30, 2013 Report Share Posted November 30, 2013 Great advice thanks!When i say OEM+ i mean a set of wheels not much else!So rot is the worst thing yeah? I suppose engines and parts you just replace!I think the E30 has more availability for parts as E21s seem very rare now! I just love the rear end on them!Im watching a E21 on eBay at the mo, its a 323i convertible.The leathers could be restored, the hood looks half decent! a fresh respray by a friend a decent set of wheels, a service and bushes and it'll be very nice!Just cant help think I'm crazy!The grey one? The hood looks like it has a tear on the rear, leathers debatable, condition of the body doesn't look great. Really need to get it on a ramp see what underneath is like plus being a baur might be difficult to get hold of replacement roofs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Webby Posted November 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2013 Yeah thats the one, i did think that about the roof but you could get it professionally repaired at the worst! It looks half decent tho, they not listed the mileage I've sent them a message about going to see it and try to get underneath it to have a half decent look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuelbills Posted December 2, 2013 Report Share Posted December 2, 2013 Check for rotten battery trays bulkheads and a pillars Rotten sunroof surrounds Also e30's like to crack there heads so keep an eye out for that :0) on a positive note they are much more fun to drive than an e46 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonlpearce Posted December 2, 2013 Report Share Posted December 2, 2013 ^^^ Just about any car is more fun to drive than an E46, lol, (M3's not included). If it were me i would be looking for something like an E36 M3 GT/GT2 that needs a bit of work. If you could find one around £6/7k then throw another £4k or so at it, in 5-10 years time you will probably double that if not more. mit 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coop Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 ^^^ Just about any car is more fun to drive than an E46, lol, (M3's not included). If it were me i would be looking for something like an E36 M3 GT/GT2 that needs a bit of work. If you could find one around £6/7k then throw another £4k or so at it, in 5-10 years time you will probably double that if not more. I find my e46 nicer to drive than my old e36 tbh, mainly because my e36 used to tramline really badly. also I think that e30 is way more desirable than e36. I was tempted to buy a nice e30 325 sport coupe a few months ago, which was advertised at £5k, but I've got no room in my garage to store it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob- Posted December 7, 2013 Report Share Posted December 7, 2013 E34s seem to be appreciating. If you can pick up a 3.8 m5 for a good price then you might be onto a winner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
