http://nh.craigslist.org/car/253672791.html

Let me know what you guys think.

Give me thumbs up or thumbs down.

Looks like it could be a nice car. What I would look out for is Rust. I'm sure you've been told this. Mechanical things can be fixed (and parts are cheap), even by someone with little mechanical experience (with patience). Rust in these cars, especially for us in the North East is different story. Check the rear shock towers, under the spare, floor pan (expecially drivers side under your pedals), rockers, and front fenders. These cars seem to start to rust first under the moldings, arounds the trunk seal and around the rear lights. Hope it turns out to be a nice car for ya.

Scott

Not a bad looker but price is a tad bit on the steep side I'd say. Have you driven it? What are the bad points with it? Probably lucky to get much more than $1500 for it. Just my ballpark opinion....

Not a bad looker but price is a tad bit on the steep side I'd say. Have you driven it? What are the bad points with it? Probably lucky to get much more than $1500 for it. Just my ballpark opinion....

I am calling the guy tonight, I will offer him 1500 and see what he says.

He also says there are only 2 rust spots on the rocker panel.

If it was me though I would pay a tad more in the North East for decent example just because they are so few decent ones around here. I looked at quite a few "rust bombs" around NY/NJ/CT/MA. Can be frustrating. Anyway, surface rust on the rockers is an easy fix, but it you have holes, your gonna need some welding done to have it repaired correctly. Not real hard to do, but can be expensive.

If it was me though I would pay a tad more in the North East for decent example just because they are so few decent ones around here. I looked at quite a few "rust bombs" around NY/NJ/CT/MA. Can be frustrating. Anyway, surface rust on the rockers is an easy fix, but it you have holes, your gonna need some welding done to have it repaired correctly. Not real hard to do, but can be expensive.

My uncle Scott owns his own shop in Worcester, MA so if any welding needs to be done then he can do it.

I am going to call and see if it is still for sale because the ad was posted December 26th.


I just really want to get one of these cars so bad, I showed my mom the posts that everyone posted in my other thread and she was so impressed so it is looking good I would really like to be able to post here and actually have an e21 instead of posting without one.

It looks decent, but like everyone said. RUST is EVIL! Take up Shadyduk1979 on his offer and go with him to check out the car. Don't bring any cash with you, and don't plan on buying the car that day.

Look it over, and don't mention any offers. Just get a good look at it, take it for a drive, and if you are still interested tell the owner and make a time to come back a second time.

When you make an offer, low ball them, even if you are willing to pay more than the car is worth. If you lowball them, they might accept. If not, you have wiggle room to go up in price. If you start with a high price then you can never go back.

I'm not sure how long they have had it for sale, but I bet you can get it for much less than the asking price. Try not to insult the owner, but use things like RUST as a major point in your offer.

What I said to the previouse owner of my car was somethign along the lines of this...

"I'm interested in the car, and I would like to make an offer on it. I understand if you do not accept, because you are expecting a bit higher for this car than my offer. My friend advised me this car is worth X amount (because of rust), and I trust his input, but I really like this car and willing to offer you Z amount."

If they say no, then see if you can bargain with them. Set you max amount before hand, but offer low. Then if they say no on the low offer, you can bump it up slowly, or you can say "MEET IN THE MIDDLE" and split the difference of your offer and the asking price.

Hope this helps, and GOOD LUCK!

That does help, thanks.

That does help, thanks.

You'd be surprised, you might pick up the car for a good price. My previous owner wanted 2500, but she had for sale for a while, and I guess they got no offers on it. I expressed my interest, but didn't check out the car right away. They emailed me back a couple times asking if I still interested. I knew they were desperate.

Funny thing is, I found an older for sale sign in the trunk that was at 5k dollars.

If you do end up buying the car, and something goes wrong, you would atleast be able to break even, or even make a profit by parting out. That's in the worst case scenerio if the car absolutley shits the bed on you.

From what I have read, these cars are pretty darn bullet proof if taken care of the right way so hopefully this guy/girl knew how to take care of it.

I like the colour!

Just as a point of comparison, I paid an even $3k for the 320 I just bought in December. It had only 58,500 actual miles, and NO rust, spotless interior. Also the original owner had already installed the OEM rear sway bar, which was a :woot:

Depending on rust, running condition, etc. I would personally not go any higher than $2k. If you can get it for $1500 and the body is solid it sounds like a deal.

I like the colour!

Just as a point of comparison, I paid an even $3k for the 320 I just bought in December. It had only 58,500 actual miles, and NO rust, spotless interior. Also the original owner had already installed the OEM rear sway bar, which was a :woot:

Depending on rust, running condition, etc. I would personally not go any higher than $2k. If you can get it for $1500 and the body is solid it sounds like a deal.

As do I on the color, yeah I told my mom that if we offer we are going to start out at an even $1k.

And damn dude 58,500 miles your a lucky guy.

Edit:Your avatar is very funny.

I paid $1900 for mine which had 62k on it. This one has 160k. I'd bring $1300 cash and start waving it around. I am sure you can get it from 1200-1500 if its clean enough.

I paid $1900 for mine which had 62k on it. This one has 160k. I'd bring $1300 cash and start waving it around. I am sure you can get it from 1200-1500 if its clean enough.


Damn I wish I could find deals like that around, there is one in boston that is eurospec it was shipped from Geneva Switzerland over to the US in 2004 and it only has 23,500 miles.

The guy wants $6500

Damn I wish I could find deals like that around, there is one in boston that is eurospec it was shipped from Geneva Switzerland over to the US in 2004 and it only has 23,500 miles.

The guy wants $6500

Patience is the key...I looked for over a year for my 540. Had almost decided on a 2003 M5 that was virtually new (just over 5000 miles) in Cali that would have cost me close to $70k, (this was last March) then decided I had no desire to spend that much on a car. Kept looking...I saw the 540 I ended up buying on the first day it was listed...a 2003 with only 11,300 miles for $42,500.00...exactly what I wanted, except for colour...colour was not a "must have" for me. I called the dealer the next day as soon as they opened...he said I was the first caller. As I was talking to him, someone else called another salesman about the car, but I had already told him I wanted it. He said, "you were lucky by about 10 minutes..."

Found my 320 the same way, although oddly it didn't take me as long. After about 2 months of searching I found my 320...I called the guy, he said there was somebody already coming out to take a look (private seller). I was like, f*ck me...if that car is as nice as it looks/sounds, it's sold. He called me the next day and said, they never showed up...I'm next on the list. He was asking $3500...I wanted it so bad (BIG mistake!!) I offered $3k and he accepted. I had the PPI done by the local BMW dealer...I found out later that the service manager that did the PPI offered to buy the car from the guy if I changed my mind or backed out for any reason. Ironically, I wanted a rust-free car...so I concentrated on Cali/AZ/TX...the car I bought had been bought and driven in NY. BUT, the owner never drove in winter, and rarely in rain. (Yeah, I know...sounds like :bs, the proverbial old lady who only drove to church on weekends...but if you saw my car at a meet you would be like "oh....damn...") :D

End result is I have two awesome Bimmers that I never thought I would own for a grand total of $45,500. I didn't compromise on anything (I wanted 'last year' models of E39 and E21), low mileage, no rust and got exaclty what I wanted.

The moral of all this? The perfect car (for you) is out there...when you find it, you will know. If you have to convince yourself its "good enough" then its probably not 'the one.' If you can't sleep the night before because you are sweating it out that someone else may have bought 'your baby' ahead of you...then you are on track. :thumbup:

Thanks man, that really made me think.

I live in Poland, Maine--about 45 minutes from Portland. I could meet up with you to go look at the car if you are interested.

I live in Poland, Maine--about 45 minutes from Portland. I could meet up with you to go look at the car if you are interested.

Let me PM you about that tomorrow some time it would have to be next weekend most likely because I start college on monday.