As a newbie to the e21s, I've got a purchase advice question for the group. I'm thinking of picking up a 1983 320is that is modified and loaded with Alpina parts (taken from a totaled Alpina).

Specs on the car are;
- 125,000 miles
- Black on black, Recaro sport seats
- Paint refreshed on a few panels, excellent match. Few blemishes here and there, but overall a straight, non-rust and very presentable paint job
- Brand new brakes all around, including cross drilled front discs
- Bilstein sport shocks with BMP lowered springs
- Front strut brace, rear Alpina independent suspension and trunk cross brace
- New Sumo tires all around on original silver basketweaves
- 5 speed Alpina transmission
- Supersprint header and exhaust system
- New in last 10K: battery (relocated to trunk), all sensors, plugs, plug wires, distributor, radiator, belts, poly bushings all around
- Front Alpina removable skirt
- H4 sealed headlights
- Rear trunk badge shaved along with licence plate mount/recess...relocated below the bumper
- All guages, lights, relays, hazards and wiring works perfectly
- Schroth 4 point harnesses
- Alpina door panels with houndstooth inserts
- Internior is nearly perfect, may needa headliner cleaning or resplacement

I've driven the car and it runs very nice, shifts smooth, does not appear to leak or burn any oil and handles very well.

My question is the value of this car. The owner is asking what I think is a very high price of $6,000. He is asking the price based on the Alpina parts, the meticulous condition of the car and the money he has into it.

My feeling is that the car is worth more like $4,000 based on what I've seen on these boards.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of the car, but it's safe to say it's very clean and nice.

I'm not trying to pick it apart but it doesn't seem to me to be very special at all though a rust free example on the east coast is more valuable than out here in the west where they are more common.

The only real "Alpina" parts I see on your list are the door panels and the front valance.

Front and rear strut braces are common and not expensive.

Unless the trans is a "dogleg" 5 speed it's just a normal trans.

320is cars didn't have the rear 320i emblem from the factory.

Front suspension is good aftermarket quality, rear suspension is unknown as your description "rear Alpina independent suspension" means nothing at all.

Sounds like a nice car... worth no more than $3000 to me and that's pushing it... but you know what they say about opinions...

A car is only worth what someone is willing to pay, you are that someone and it's your decision entirely...

ken

I saw that car and I have to agree it is quite nice for its age. Ultimately a car is worth whatever anyone is willing to pay for it (not what the owner has invested). As a point of reference that Alpina was for sale back in Nov and he was asking $5k back then - with no takers. Then he invested more time/money into the car (tires, brakes etc.) and added another $1k to the price. IMO - I think you're spot on and $4k is a fair price for the car, unless you really love the car then maybe a few hundred more.

I'm not trying to pick it apart but it doesn't seem to me to be very special at all though a rust free example on the east coast is more valuable than out here in the west where they are more common.

The only real "Alpina" parts I see on your list are the door panels and the front valance.

Front and rear strut braces are common and not expensive.

Unless the trans is a "dogleg" 5 speed it's just a normal trans.

320is cars didn't have the rear 320i emblem from the factory.

Front suspension is good aftermarket quality, rear suspension is unknown as your description "rear Alpina independent suspension" means nothing at all.

Sounds like a nice car... worth no more than $3000 to me and that's pushing it... but you know what they say about opinions...

A car is only worth what someone is willing to pay, you are that someone and it's your decision entirely...

ken


I never heard of alpina door panels. I have two Alpina's and one has the inserts in the door panels and one has solid vinyl panels.

6K is way to much for that car. As stated before it wont be worth more then 3k maybe 3.5k, thats all. The parts are not that rare and nothing special. The only way that car would be worth 6k is if it was a real alpina and in good condition.

I would break it to him that he is asking way to much for that car.

Sorry to disagree, but you CA folks are spoiled (not in a bad way). Finding an e21 in the Northeast with no rust and well cared for is rare - therefore costs more. I think there a lot more "survivors" out there in sunny CA. Just my opinion as I look out my window at the snow and ice...

That's absolutly true, as I said a rust free example in the east is worth more than in the west but not twice as much. They are even more rare in the mid west... You can come west and buy a nice rust free example for MUCH less and drive or ship it back and still save lots of $$$.

ken

I really appreciate the feedback from everyone. So as far as you all know, Alpina did not feature an independent rear suspension?

Yellowdog, your feedback is probably most relevent, given you have seen the car and are local. I like the guy selling the car, but parts of his story were a little fishy...did you get the same vibe? He had parts for receipts he claimed to have purchased and installed, but the receipts showed the former owners name, etc.

Overall the car seemed really clean though. I had seen the ads before for $5,000 with no takers and as we all know, adding parts on to a car in now way adds value to a car.

I tend to agree with everyone that $3,500 - $4,000 is the max for the car. I'd personally pay more, but I don't want to be left holding the bag if I ever were to sell it.

I really appreciate the feedback from everyone. So as far as you all know, Alpina did not feature an independent rear suspension?

All e21's had an independant rear suspension. Alpina just added an ADJUSTABLE sway bar, specially valved Bilstein shocks and Ahle progressive rate springs. S package 320i's also had a sway bar, but not adjustable, although it was the same diameter. It sounds like you have found a nicely modified 320iS in great shape. For your own reference- Last year I sold my '82 320i with a 2.7i m20 w/motronic efi, a FULL nos Alpina suspension, Alpina knockoff 15x7 wheels, 5 speed, 3.64 Limited Slip diff, fresh interior with new factory carpet and cloth Recaros and functional a/c for $5800, and that took awhile. In short, it was an absolutely awesome car that needed very little, and was WELL above the average 320i. I hope that helps you place a value on the car.
--Dennis

Im just ganna say its not even worth 3k. Then again thats over here in the West coast.

Those Alpina parts alone are worth about $500 used, so tack that onto the common price of a 320 of about 1500 being on the slightly high side.

My 2psi

He was a little shady. He told me he was selling it for someone else.
But the car speaks for itself - its been well cared for.

I really appreciate the feedback from everyone. So as far as you all know, Alpina did not feature an independent rear suspension?

Yellowdog, your feedback is probably most relevent, given you have seen the car and are local. I like the guy selling the car, but parts of his story were a little fishy...did you get the same vibe? He had parts for receipts he claimed to have purchased and installed, but the receipts showed the former owners name, etc.

Overall the car seemed really clean though. I had seen the ads before for $5,000 with no takers and as we all know, adding parts on to a car in now way adds value to a car.

I tend to agree with everyone that $3,500 - $4,000 is the max for the car. I'd personally pay more, but I don't want to be left holding the bag if I ever were to sell it.

I agree that over here there is very little nice e21s.
They guys are giving you a ballpark for the car.
If you want, I will go with you and see it in person.
I have had every bolt apart on my car, and know them inside and out.
I live very close to Boston, and know most neighborhoods.
Where is this car located.

Well, I took some of this feedback and my gut on this and emailed the seller last night. I "broke it to him" that the car was not worth what he was asking and that to me it was worth closer to $3,500. He has not responded so this may answer my question.

jjbbmw323, I may take you up on your offer if the seller responds.

Seller is down a bit on price - mid $4,000s.

I still think it's a sub $4,000 car though so I'm going to keep negotiating.

Sounds likes he's getting there. I will agree that living in the Northeast, they are all rust buckets. I ended up shipping mine in to get a rust free example after looking at a flock of rust bombs (for too much money). So, the way I look at it is you pay more around here for a decent one, or pay less for a car from out west, and pay 1K in shipping. Kinda stinks....

Am I crazy to be thinking $3,500 for this car?

The car does have some rust: little spot inside one of the rain gutters, small spot or two on the surface in the engine bay, but other than that, it appears to be very rust free.

Comes with lots of extra parts: 2 sets of basketweaves (gold and silver), extra steering wheel, etc.

The rust you describe could be easily handled as touch up not cut out and replace.... so it should not be much of an issue other than a chip in the bargining.

If you like the car and you can come to terms on a price you might as well buy it and enjoy it... don't be concerned with getting your $$ back when you sell it. Cars are like art, don't buy it because you think you will make $$ on it-buy it because YOU like it and enjoy the hell out of it...

ken

I paid $6,000 for my 323i Baur, it's a bit of a rare beast and isn't perfect, but I wanted one and had wife approval and being it was in Alaska made it a deal for me...

Sometimes paying a little more for something that's close by is worth it to avoid the hassle of getting something from somewhere else shipped to you. For me shipping a car from anywhere to Seatlle is about $1000.00 and then about $1000-$1500 to have it shipped from Seattle to Anchorage by boat...

Is this that one that was on craigslist for a while?

I haven't seen it in person, but from the pictures I remember it looking really good. Definately over priced though. I think if you could get him down to about 3k that would be a decent price for such a nice example, but clearly the guy doesn't understand that e21's aren't worth shit to anyone except a select few.

People need to understand that just because you put money into a car does not mean you will get your money back. Even if you completely restore your car, you won't get the time and money you spent on it back, unless it something super rare with matching numbers like you see at those Barrett-Jackson auctions.

I agree with everyone here....although, I'm a believer that if you buy a car right (read: someone else invests the time and money in restoring), you don't have to take a bath when you sell it. No matter, this car would be a long time keeper I think.

I don't think he's going to go anywhere near $3K, but maybe high $3s which may not be bad. I could sell the extra set of baseketweave rims and maybe get closer to mid $3s on my outlay.

....and yes, this was/is the car on Craigslist.

I've offered a non-negotiable $3,300.

If I get this car, when's the first e21 meet??

Good luck. If you get it for that you s/b happy.

I've offered a non-negotiable $3,300.

If I get this car, when's the first e21 meet??

We are going to have them around somewhere by wakefield lake...where yellowdog and I both live.

Update. The seller is standing fairly firm at $4,000. I went to see the car again yesterday and drive it again. He had brand new tires on this time which helped a lot. The car has a few more blemishes than I thought at about 5 feet away, you can see them. Probably about 10 smaller dings, waves in the trunk from the bondo to fill in the roundel recess.

Unfortunately, at $4,000, I'm passing. I think $3,300 is spot on for the car, but if someone else is interested, I can pass along the seller's info.

The search continues....

sorry to hear that man. hell he might come back in a few days or weeks and give you that 3300 because chances are, he won't get a buyer for 6,000$ even 4,000$. and if this one doesnt come to you, maybe you'll get lucky and a b6 will pop up.

My has all the goodies, non Alpina of course, but since it was non-running I paid $550. No rust except where he put some side skirts on and took them off. If you keep the car a long time, 4k may be worth it, but it probably wont sell for that much. Make sure the carpet is spotless for 4k, no sunroof leaks, heater motor doesnt chirp, and it needs absolutly nothing to drive it for the next few years but oil changes. BTW, you didnt mention the engine..is it the Alpina engine swapped over, or the M10? Engine and tranny make most of the value of the Alpinas-
John

BuMP!

I just checked out the car tonight. Very nice car, and I'm considering buying it if I can come up with the cash. I'm not sure what to offer. I'm hoping that the fact several people have made lower offers on it, that he will come to terms with what the car is really worth.

I agree with the vibe he gives off. He's not shady in any way and a nice guy, but he seems to talk the car up to more than it is. With that said, I am still considering this car, but it's going to be difficult to get him down.

He tells me he has an offer of 4k on it that he turned down and that he wants more like 5k for it, but willing to settle for 4.5k. He told me that he told the other guy that he would sell it for 4k if it doesn't sell soon. I'm not sure if I believe him. I'm thinking it might be a bluff so he can get the money he wants.

Anyways, I don't know what to do. I just hope I get my insurance money soon.

Kev-
Good luck. I personally don't think that $4k is too much for that car in the northeast, but others here (with more experience than me) seem to think its worth less. There are fewer and fewer of these around (one less now that your's met its end recently) and it may be that the E21s are becoming more valuable.

I bought it tonight for 4k. I would have liked to spend a little bit less, but this car is in really good shape. The seller is giving me some extra time to get my insurance check, so I guess it works out (even if I do have to spend a bit extra.)

I'm so happy! Hopefully will have it for next week.

Glad to hear some good came out of what happened to you last week.
Can't wait to see the new one.

I was surprised how clean the car is and how well it drove. The only issues i saw were a few minor rust spots, it needs a wheel bearing and the engine is basically stock :shifty. I think it is worth the 4k

I was surprised how clean the car is and how well it drove. The only issues i saw were a few minor rust spots, it needs a wheel bearing and the engine is basically stock :shifty. I think it is worth the 4k

Thanks again for helping me out. I'll let you know when I'm going to pick it up, and we can stop and take some pics along that beach.

Thats what friends are for;). I am just glad something good came of the accident.

Congrads. Make sure to bring it by my house sometime so I can check it out.
In a way the accident led you to this car.
What color is it?


Also can you order a chrome piece from the dealer for me?
Bav Auto keeps comming up with bent parts that need to be returned.
later,
J

Congrads. Make sure to bring it by my house sometime so I can check it out.
In a way the accident led you to this car.
What color is it?


Also can you order a chrome piece from the dealer for me?
Bav Auto keeps comming up with bent parts that need to be returned.
later,
J

Yeah, sure. I'm still waiting on those control arms too. They haven't shown up yet.