View Full Version : For Sale: 83 533i with over $2700 in new parts


MatthewakaMatt
10-22-2006, 12:07 PM
Car is sold.

edit: updated asking price: $1100. This is the blue book value of the car ignoring the thousands in upgrades and repairs. School is being slow about reimbusing for a pricy business trip and my bank account is a bit low right now, so I would prefer to sell the car in the near future.

I have finally decided that as a grad student I don't really have the time or money to finish getting my project E28 to the like new condition I wanted. First off it has 274k miles, so the parts I haven't replaced are rather old. There are also a few spots of rust, but nothing widespread or structural. (Just trying to fully inform any potential buyer, so you know what you are getting.) I'm not really certain how much it is worth, so I will just list approximately how much I have spent on it so far and hope for a decent offer.

Here's a list the new or newer low milage parts that I can remember off the top of my head. All parts listed as "new" have less than 1000 miles on them.
Newer 3.4L engine with ~80k miles from Eur-Asian Auto Parts(http://eur-asian.com/) $550
New UUC 9 puck clutch from TCD ~$450 (I forget exact price)
Lightweight 533i flywheel resurfaced (had part, $40 machining)
(haven't swapped in the higher lift 533i cam, but have it if you want to)
New Power Steering pump ~$170
New "Dog bone" suspension links $68
New front left wheel bearing $100
New distributor and rotor ~$100 I think
New starter ~$100
New battery ~$80
Style 33 wheels (3 used, 1 new) $300
new BF Goodrich G-Force Sport 225/50ZR16 tires $550
new brake accumulator ~$130
newer used brake master cylinder and brake pressure regulator $90
new rear brake rotors ~$40 I think, maybe it was $40 each)
naturally basic maintenance like plugs, air, oil, and fuel filter

That's roughly $2718 in parts I can itemize off the top of my head. I know there are many more little parts, but those are the more memorable ones.

Here are a couple pics. If you want additional photos let me know and I will go take them. (Side note, tint was bubbly and opaque, so it is removed now.)
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e376/mporterp/BMW%20533i/First%20drive/000_0148Medium.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e376/mporterp/BMW%20533i/First%20drive/000_0146Medium.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e376/mporterp/BMW%20533i/First%20drive/000_0147Medium.jpg
(Final thought, as you can see I don't have the AC parts installed because it doesn't get hot in Colorado, but they are in the garage if you want them as are many extra parts.)

MatthewakaMatt
10-23-2006, 01:36 PM
I'm going to be at a conference in Nashville tomorrow (10/24) through Sunday (10/30), so I apologise in advance if I take a while to respond during it.

MatthewakaMatt
10-23-2006, 02:02 PM
p.s. Just to be clear, the $2700 is roughly how much I have spent (not including buying the car in the first place). That's not my asking price. Feel free to make offers.

MatthewakaMatt
10-26-2006, 02:36 PM
bump

MatthewakaMatt
10-29-2006, 08:40 PM
bump

NoAZ68
10-30-2006, 11:40 PM
What are we talking in the way of rust? Any other issues? Is it driveable?

MatthewakaMatt
10-31-2006, 01:42 AM
After going through and trying to make a complete list of issues and annoyances, it seems that my request of $2k last week was a bit optimistic. I think $1500 is a more reasonable asking price. It is definitely drivable and until I bought my Miata I was driving it every day.

I hope my attempts to be brutally honest don't scare you away. Just trying to give a full picture of the good and bad so you can make an informed decision. Here's everything that I can think of that could use work. (I had a to do list for the car and these are the things I didn't get around to before deciding to switch cars.)
heater fan makes a "wobbly" noise when running.
idle occasionally wanders (900 to 1500 rpm). Need to check ICV and electrical connections
rear power windows need lubed, because they move a little slow
gas tank filler neck and fuel pump gasket need checked. Sometimes smells of fuel when tank is full.
the parking brake pads are worn. (I didn't even realize it had separate parking break pads until I was halfway through replacing the rear rotors.)

more on the level of minor annoyances than issues, the stock springs and shocks allow a bit too much body motion for my taste (keep in mind this is the only non-sports-car I have driven a since I was a teenager) and the open rear diff sometimes hurts power delivery in tight corners. Oh, and the previous owner swiped the tools out of the nifty tool kit in the trunk.

Regarding the rust, it's not bad for a 24 year old car. Here's a full picture walk-around of places I could find rust or discoloration. The underside and frame are completely rust free. Please pardon the crappy night shots and the leaves from the tree in the front yard.

discoloration under the heat protection on the inside of the hood and firewall
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e376/mporterp/BMW%20533i/selling/000_0187.jpg

small hole in fender liner in passenger side front wheel well
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e376/mporterp/BMW%20533i/selling/000_0190.jpg

hole in passenger side front door. This is the worst spot on the car.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e376/mporterp/BMW%20533i/selling/000_0188.jpg

spots of discoloration on passenger side rear door sill
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e376/mporterp/BMW%20533i/selling/000_0194.jpg

bubbling on lip of passenger side rear wheel arch
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e376/mporterp/BMW%20533i/selling/000_0189.jpg

surface rust on spare tire bracket
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e376/mporterp/BMW%20533i/selling/000_0191.jpg

spare tire well.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e376/mporterp/BMW%20533i/selling/000_0192.jpg

slight discoloration on front corner of the inside of the front driver's side door
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e376/mporterp/BMW%20533i/selling/000_0193.jpg

MatthewakaMatt
11-01-2006, 11:28 AM
bump

MatthewakaMatt
11-02-2006, 11:41 AM
I need to get rid of this car soon, so feel free to make offers.

MatthewakaMatt
11-03-2006, 11:23 AM
daily bump

MatthewakaMatt
11-05-2006, 01:16 AM
bump yet again. As always, feel free to make an offer. I would rather this car go to somebody who will love it as much as I do for less money than to somebody who doesn't get it for more.

MatthewakaMatt
11-06-2006, 03:13 AM
Updated the asking price. - currently $1100

MatthewakaMatt
11-07-2006, 02:26 AM
bump yet again

MatthewakaMatt
11-09-2006, 12:48 PM
bumpity

MatthewakaMatt
11-09-2006, 11:21 PM
The car sold tonight, so you can go on paying as little attention to this thread as was paid when the 533i was still for sale.

Yellow2
11-09-2006, 11:24 PM
i was hoping for it to sell as I am hoping for mine to sell :(

MatthewakaMatt
11-09-2006, 11:30 PM
Yellow. It seems like it can't be that hard for your car to sell. The turbo and lipo'ed bumpers make your car infinitely cooler than mine.

p.s. Hey everybody, go to http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=612964 and then buy Yellow2's awesome turbo 533i.