Hey guys - Trying to get a feel on my e24 so I can give it a correct selling price.

85 635csi
200k miles - very very strong
Auto Tranny - very smooth shifting
Lowered with Bilstein sports, H&R sport springs
ACT (BBS-style) 17x8.5 wheels with 235/45/17s
Absolutely brand spanking 100% new paint job -- actually, it's still in the booth, should be out this week :)

Interior is AMAZING. The front and rear seats are extremely soft and wrinkle free, like new leather - only a rip in the stitching on the front passenger headrest and one in the stitching in the rear.

Bads:
- There is headliner droopage on the sunroof's liner -
- and your typical cracking dash -- nothing horrific though.
- Also, the rear speaker covers located behind the rear seats need replacing.
-There is no cruise control. You need a new column stalk, and lines from the control motor to throttle. The stalk shorted out one day - causing a nasty little short so I had to remove it... no more cruise control.
-The A/C compressor needs replacing, it has a leak and won't hold pressure.



Here's some pics -- now mind everyone

.... the suspension isn't installed yet, it's been waiting till i get her back

.... It's painted and being buffed and curing right now and therefore no trim, front spoiler etc.

...i know the tire is flat, it's been in that damn booth since June

... and it's on my camera phone

... damn :rolleyes -- I guess yall can't get a good estimate with it still "in progress"

Front (http://e28-535i.com/upload/Tj_sixer1.jpg)
This side hasn't been buffed yet (http://e28-535i.com/upload/Tj_sixer2.jpg)
From the rear - see the speaker thing needing replacement through the window? (http://e28-535i.com/upload/Tj_sixer3.jpg)
Driver's side, mid-buff (http://e28-535i.com/upload/Tj_sixer4.jpg)
Driver's door post-buff (http://e28-535i.com/upload/Tj_sixer5.jpg)

I plan on shadowing out that nasty 'chrome' trim too...

I would LOVE to see $5,000 but I think $4,500 is slightly more realistic. Feedback please!

A couple of observations...

NADA lists the price range for '85 635CSi's from $3425 to $8650, with an average of $5525.

The average price is probably achievable in the current market with a nice, all original car with around $100-140k miles, all basic systems working, interior in presentable condition, original paint with minor imperfections and manual transmission.

Here are what might be turn-offs to a lot of people for the car you are trying to sell:


It's a repaint. Hard to see the quality of the job by the pictures you are providing, but the simple fact of not removing the glass and trim will always show that the vehicle has been repainted. It even looks like the door handles were left on. Was the repaint necessary to hide some rust or collision damage, or was it simply necessary to freshen up some degraded finish? I am also wondering what paint system was used, as you are talking about "curing". Usually, a couple of hours in the warm booth, 1-2 days worth of cool down and settlement, some slight color sanding and buffing should do the trick, unless you are using some cheaper single stage stuff. Do you have pictures to show to the potential buyer what the condition was before it was painted?
Automatic transmission vehicles are definitely not as desirable as the manual cars. At over 200k miles you might have to provide some documentation showing a rebuilt or replaced transmission.
Competent A/C repairs are usually getting costly, $1000-1500 get accumulated real fast. If I was presented with a car with non functioning A/C, I would, as a buyer, always assume that the whole system needs to be replaced or serviced and therefor ask for an appropriate discount.
Minor interior damage and wear are usually not a big factor as long as they don't accumulate excessively. Headliner, Speaker Pods and Dash might detract from an otherwise decent interior just by pure volume.
You don't mention any documentation or owner history, which would be important to get a decent price.
The cruise control is a debatable situation, hard to say if it influences the price by itself. But it points to another problem, what's the overall shape of the wiring if something as reliable as the factory cruise control system produces a short close to the main wiring loom?
The aftermarket wheels might be more a detraction then an asset, ACT wheels are pretty much German made cheap copies of older BBS wheel, with spotty quality history, spare parts, like caps, are hard to find, BBS parts usually don't interchange if I remember right.
I am not trying to make your car look bad, I am just trying to point out a few things that might show up during a buyer's inspection for a $5000 car, especially with some very nice and reasonably priced 85's to 87's around.

Also, Shadowline trim looks good on darker color E24's, it has to be done in a complete and consistent manner to achieve the desired effect. Other then the mirrors and door handles you might have a hard time finding any chrome trim on an US E24, window trim and bumpers are anodized aluminum, almost as impossible to paint as chrome, ask me how I know...

Anyway, without any more details and documentation, I would probably see your car in the $2500-3000 range for a BMW enthusiast, probably around $3500-4000 in the standard used car circles.

Just my opinion, it still looks like a reasonably nice car.

Klaus

A couple of observations...

NADA lists the price range for '85 635CSi's from $3425 to $8650, with an average of $5525.

The average price is probably achievable in the current market with a nice, all original car with around $100-140k miles, all basic systems working, interior in presentable condition, original paint with minor imperfections and manual transmission.

Here are what might be turn-offs to a lot of people for the car you are trying to sell:


It's a repaint. Hard to see the quality of the job by the pictures you are providing, but the simple fact of not removing the glass and trim will always show that the vehicle has been repainted. It even looks like the door handles were left on. Was the repaint necessary to hide some rust or collision damage, or was it simply necessary to freshen up some degraded finish? I am also wondering what paint system was used, as you are talking about "curing". Usually, a couple of hours in the warm booth, 1-2 days worth of cool down and settlement, some slight color sanding and buffing should do the trick, unless you are using some cheaper single stage stuff. Do you have pictures to show to the potential buyer what the condition was before it was painted?
Automatic transmission vehicles are definitely not as desirable as the manual cars. At over 200k miles you might have to provide some documentation showing a rebuilt or replaced transmission.
Competent A/C repairs are usually getting costly, $1000-1500 get accumulated real fast. If I was presented with a car with non functioning A/C, I would, as a buyer, always assume that the whole system needs to be replaced or serviced and therefor ask for an appropriate discount.
Minor interior damage and wear are usually not a big factor as long as they don't accumulate excessively. Headliner, Speaker Pods and Dash might detract from an otherwise decent interior just by pure volume.
You don't mention any documentation or owner history, which would be important to get a decent price.
The cruise control is a debatable situation, hard to say if it influences the price by itself. But it points to another problem, what's the overall shape of the wiring if something as reliable as the factory cruise control system produces a short close to the main wiring loom?
The aftermarket wheels might be more a detraction then an asset, ACT wheels are pretty much German made cheap copies of older BBS wheel, with spotty quality history, spare parts, like caps, are hard to find, BBS parts usually don't interchange if I remember right.
I am not trying to make your car look bad, I am just trying to point out a few things that might show up during a buyer's inspection for a $5000 car, especially with some very nice and reasonably priced 85's to 87's around.

Also, Shadowline trim looks good on darker color E24's, it has to be done in a complete and consistent manner to achieve the desired effect. Other then the mirrors and door handles you might have a hard time finding any chrome trim on an US E24, window trim and bumpers are anodized aluminum, almost as impossible to paint as chrome, ask me how I know...

Anyway, without any more details and documentation, I would probably see your car in the $2500-3000 range for a BMW enthusiast, probably around $3500-4000 in the standard used car circles.

Just my opinion, it still looks like a reasonably nice car.

Klaus

Klaus that was one bitchin' appraisal! To address a few questions -

The paintjob is because the original paint on this baby was toast. The person I have painting my car is extremely talented - and mostly does choppers and dealership jobs - of which he has had bikes of his take front page of Street Chopper Magazine --- he's not some cheap-o maaco guy.

As far as the curing. This guy is OCD about paint, painting, and more paint. Apparently solvents in the paint will slowly come out over time - he wants me to cure the car outside in the sun for a good amount of time (weeks) then hit it with another wetsand/buff to make it look perfect. Again, OCD OCD OCD -- he wants his shit perfect because it's his name on the car. Anywho...

I totally understand how the auto-tranny is a weak spot, especially with the miles. Luckily, it hasn't provided any problems and shifts nicely. I might go ahead and flush the tranny fluid out and take a look to make sure it's not black and full of bits... that might be a redeeming option.

As far as everything else you've stated - Once I get her back I'll get the VIN and do a carfax for everyone - check wiring etc - No worries, I make sure my potential buyers know everything!

$3500 is a decent settling point for me - but again, I might start high then work my way down - you never know if someone will bite for a higher price :)