Future Classics

[alwynpv]

The car looks to be in great condition. You can test the market with your preferred asking price and take it from there.

It may not be a collector’s dream but it could be an average Joe’s dream car and Joe may cough up your asking price or close enough.

That's the thing. I am that Average Joe...

I don't want to "steal" it from Ouma, I want to give her a fair amount.

PS. WeBuyCars just came in with an offer of R40k. No way in hell they are getting this car!

 

[NBN]

That's the thing. I am that Average Joe...

I don't want to "steal" it from Ouma, I want to give her a fair amount.

PS. WeBuyCars just came in with an offer of R40k. No way in hell they are getting this car!

The Market is so skew these days but also call up your insurance broker and see whats the book/trade values for these cars. If nothing else it should give you a ballpark figure to work with

 

[individj]

if we were buying cars based off book or trade values the world would be a much better place...its one of those cars that the right person will pay a little more for ... someone here bought a very neat 328i and used it as a base to modify ... I know someone who has a similar spec to yours with about 140 00km on the clock ..he is in his 20's and got it for a steal ...

 

[zabbo]

Although this car looks very neat and clean. There is nothing special about it spec wise and the mileage is not low enough to demand a significantly higher price.
I think somewhere between your R75k and R100k mark should be reasonable enough to secure a quick sale.

 

[Mytfine]

The E89 z4 35is roadster is such a good looking car and has all the makings of an affordable future classic.

 

[Mytfine]

Fishing for ideas on value here.

Vehicle: 1998 E36 328i Manual, 215 000km
Back Story: My wife's Grandfather bought the vehicle NEW in 1998. He passed away circa 2002. Since then his wife drove the vehicle. She is 87yo and the time has come to consider taking her keys away.

I am torn. I want to keep the vehicle in the family, but if we can get decent money for the vehicle I would rather have it go to a fanatic and Grandma gets a bit of a financial boost.

I have an idea of what value I would match myself and buy it from Grandma, but I don't want to influence opinions on this forum.

Thus the questions:
-Does this have the potential to peek the interest of collectors?
-Is there a specific characteristic that I can check that would make this specific vehicle "special"?
-Assuming all checks out and full Service History is shown in the booklet, what are the "Low", "Expected", and "High" values for this vehicle?

Values shared will not be seen as Offers, don't stress.
(If you prefer to not offend potential buyers on an open forum, you are welcome to send me an estimate privately)

100 to 120k i think will be attainable. Its clean but vanilla spec so desirable because its clean and reaaonable mileage.

 

[TBP88]

OK, let me put my theory out and let's see if people agree.

The expected Low, Mid, High for this kind of vehicle might range somewhere in these values:
(Very dependent on condition and if it has unique/rare characteristics)

Low: R75k
Mid: R100k - R150k
High: R250k - R300k (Assuming perfectly mint with zero issues, collectors item)

Even the best 328i on earth isn't a 300k car the moment.

I'd say (using these rankings and on *sale* price, not asking)
low - 40-60k
mid 70-100k
high 100-180k (and at 180k it'd need to be pretty special, manual, rare colour, clean interior etc. etc.)

 

[M3boi]

328i's are definitely not collector cars, there is nothing "special" about them and they literally made metric sh!t tons of them. The way some people price them is pretty ridiculous, marketing them as "collector cars" is silly.

What they do offer is value, they are phenomenal cars at the right price in the right condition. IMO paying anything more than R120-R130k for a really clean 328i doesn't make sense, because ultimately you're still going to have to spend on it to - A: get all the maintenance up to date (cooling system, belts and pulleys, bushings, etc) and - B: making it actually enjoyable to drive unless driving a 30 year old commuter car is something that gets you excited.

 

[zabbo]

True e36 Motorsport and Individual models are rarely up for sale - the original ones!! Not the ones just dolled up with M3/Motorsport bumpers and wheels then in many cases the rear diffuser is added to a normal bumper as well.

 

[alwynpv]

Great, thanks for all the replies.

This makes my life really easy, I can take over vehicle ownership will full confidence that I'm not depriving the family of the sale of a True Classic.

Over and Out

 

[TBP88]

328i's are definitely not collector cars, there is nothing "special" about them and they literally made metric sh!t tons of them. The way some people price them is pretty ridiculous, marketing them as "collector cars" is silly.

What they do offer is value, they are phenomenal cars at the right price in the right condition. IMO paying anything more than R120-R130k for a really clean 328i doesn't make sense, because ultimately you're still going to have to spend on it to - A: get all the maintenance up to date (cooling system, belts and pulleys, bushings, etc) and - B: making it actually enjoyable to drive unless driving a 30 year old commuter car is something that gets you excited.

TBH I think this can apply to pretty much every non-M bmw (and even a fair number of M cars too).

 

[Nishcat_M140i]

As an M140i owner, I would like to hope that my car would somewhat be some sort of future classic. Not only is it the last of its kind, but in that era of hot hatches, it was the only 6 cylinder hot hatch, because most manufacturers hot hatches were 4 pots and AWD like the 7R, A45, S3, etc. Even though the RS3 had a 5 pot, it still wasnt as engaging as the M140i. My car brand new back in 2019 would have costed about +R600k with all extras I have. Looking at the market today, highly spec'd cars like my one are still in the mid 600s - 700s almost. Even the plain EX JMPD cars without extras are still in the R500k range. I mean I don't expect this car to hold its value the way the 1M did, but its definitely something special without a doubt and its a car I plan on keeping for a long time. Its sad to say, but BMW has unfortunately lost the plot with the 1 series since the F40 shape and now the F70. There are newer F40 M135i's selling for less than M140i's on the market. I went or the launch of the new 1 series last year at SMG and I obviously took the M140i with me, and even the sales guys at BMW were telling me that I should never sell the 140 and if I did, i should never go for the new M135i's.

Then I would also expect the E9X V8 to be a future classic and we've already seen how they've skyrocketed in prices. In 2018, we could have gotten a clean E92 M3 Comp with low mileage for as low as R500k, and now R500k isn't even enough to get a high mileage Pre LCI.

 

[TurboLlew]

As an M140i owner, I would like to hope that my car would somewhat be some sort of future classic. Not only is it the last of its kind, but in that era of hot hatches, it was the only 6 cylinder hot hatch, because most manufacturers hot hatches were 4 pots and AWD like the 7R, A45, S3, etc. Even though the RS3 had a 5 pot, it still wasnt as engaging as the M140i. My car brand new back in 2019 would have costed about +R600k with all extras I have. Looking at the market today, highly spec'd cars like my one are still in the mid 600s - 700s almost. Even the plain EX JMPD cars without extras are still in the R500k range. I mean I don't expect this car to hold its value the way the 1M did, but its definitely something special without a doubt and its a car I plan on keeping for a long time. Its sad to say, but BMW has unfortunately lost the plot with the 1 series since the F40 shape and now the F70. There are newer F40 M135i's selling for less than M140i's on the market. I went or the launch of the new 1 series last year at SMG and I obviously took the M140i with me, and even the sales guys at BMW were telling me that I should never sell the 140 and if I did, i should never go for the new M135i's.

Then I would also expect the E9X V8 to be a future classic and we've already seen how they've skyrocketed in prices. In 2018, we could have gotten a clean E92 M3 Comp with low mileage for as low as R500k, and now R500k isn't even enough to get a high mileage Pre LCI.

This unfortunately goes for so many brands. If I had R1 for all the comments that told me to never sell my F90 including BMW folks I'd be able to buy my 488

I think all the x40 cars are going to be future classics in the 'sought after' sort of category. Even if they are not appreciating in value, they will certainly have a market forever. I think the M SUVs are also sleeping tigers in terms of this... I was at Ferrari a couple of times recently and on both occasions the sales guys were out to see the 4C (as they always are) but also the F90. These are guys that get to stare at 296s and 12 Cylindris and SF90s all day but they are still interested in coming to see 'real cars' - and they call out extras and ask questions or give comments. Always enthusiastic... and beyond just trying to sell you a car. It always fascinates me because Lambo and Bentley are NOT like this but Daytona and Ferrari, you always spend half your time outside around your own cars

These cars now approaching 'old' status are the ones that are sought after and always attract the same comments as your 140... that basically they are unique or will never be done again (4C) or were the peak before the fall (F90). IMO both those comments apply to the 140 and 240... again not necessarily that they are ever going to be approaching limited run M levels, but they are enthusiast cars, with a following, easily maintainable and more importantly attainable... everything BMW is supposed to be about (or at least it used to be). At Merc events, this is reserved for W204 era and earlier cars, GTs and SLSes. Every brand seems to have it as the enshittification of the car world continues... and some have just had it longer than others. Unfortunately it seems it is out turn. After the G8x era it's very likely downhill from here... and judging by the quality, we are heading towards merc W205 level drops in quality (if not already on the cheaper vehicles).

Once the entry points to enthusiasts die, so does the brand itself eventually. It has happened to more prestigious marques than BMW.

2c