Help valuating car before sale

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bimmerman78
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Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2012 12:48 am

Help valuating car before sale

Post by bimmerman78 »

Hello everyone,

I am reaching out here for help with pricing my 81 320iS as I get ready to sell it.
Based on the research I've done in te last week, the market values for these cars seems to fluctuate a lot, even with cars that based on pictures from ads, seem to be in very similar conditions.

Details on my car are:
1981 320iS 5spd, 157k miles on chassis.
As for the car's repairs/upgrades, we began the mechanical rebuild in early 2017, paused while we moved to the PNW and got settled, and the car was roadworthy once again on 1/1/18. All work performed by myself and my lady, both of us were BMW Master Technicians, I now work at a Porsche performance shop, and she works at a collector car repair and restoration dealer/service center.

photos here:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/188805222@N03/w7366i


Body/Electrical:
Foha front lip, cracked from hitting wildlife (I was nearly in tears!)
Zender side skirts, trunk spoiler and rear apron
Fender flares, grafted into body
Tucked US bumpers
Repaint in the 90s in Alpine White II, by previous owner
New door seals, 2020
New sunroof drive cables, 2020 (will need headliner replacement)
New sunroof seals, 2020
Driver's side floor pan, section replaced to remove rust, 2019
Rebuilt driver's door harness (electric driver's mirror) 2018
New hazard switch 2019
Tool kit, missing a few pieces
New trunk seal 2020
World Source battery, 2019

Interior/Trim:
Recaro sport seats -Driver side restored (foam and vinyl) by Sunmark 2019
Driver's side seat mount lowered 2" with fabricated mounting brackets
Upgraded M10 and M8 mounting hardware
Momo Personal 3 spoke steering wheel
Momo Personal leather shift knob
New dome light 2019
New all-weather floor mats Genuine BMW 2019
New hood liner 2019
Working A/C and Heater -Control panel cables do get stuck
Radio is Genuine BMW -Powers on but no sound, have not diagnosed
New shift bezel and shift boot, 2020

Drivetrain:
M10B18 with K-Lambda fuel injection
Top end rebuild, late 2017, including:
Metric Mechanic ported head
New valve stem seals
New fuel injectors
Ireland camshaft -unknown specs, transferred from original head
Rebuilt and re-wrapped engine harness
New vacuum/breather hoses. ALL of them
New water pump, thermostat and ALL coolant hoses
ALL new upper gaskets
plugs, wires, cap, rotor, filters, 2019
new fan blades, 2019
Fuel pump/filter, ALL rubber fuel hoses 1/18, I always use Shell 92 octane
Early AFM (larger plate) 6/19
WUR rebuilt 6/19
Accumulator 5/19
Fuel system tests/adjustments 6/19
System pressure corrected to 5.2 bar
Control pressure set to 3.2bar
Long tube exhaust header
Custom 2.25" exhaust with Magnaflow muffler and resonator, vertical stack twin exhaust tips
5spd trans, fluid service 2018 Redline Lightweight Shockproof
Guibo 2018
Short shifter, linkage rebuilt 2018
OEM LSD Diff, fluid service 2018 with Redline synthetic
Starter motor 2016
Valve adjustment 2019
Oil service, 2019 Shell Rotella 15w40
Clutch hydraulics 2016

Brakes:
Front non-vented disc brakes with Sport pad compound (I tracked it 4 times in 2019)
Rear drum brakes, new shoes and wheel cylinders in 2016
Front wheel bearings, Redline CV2 High-Temp Grease
Motul 660 RBF high temp brake fluid
Booster rebuild 2019
Master cylinder w/ reservoir 2019
Rubber brake hoses replaced with braided stainless

Wheels & tires:
Ford Mustang SVO 10 hole -centers filled, re-drilled and complete refinish, including spare
Hankook Ventus V2 Concept 205/50/15, installed 2018
12mm hub centric wheel spacers, set of 4
hub centering rings -made to order for correct fitment of Ford wheel hub bore

Suspension/Steering:
Bilstein sport (B8) shock absorbers
Eibach Pro lowering springs
ST front and rear sway bars
Urethane steering rack mounts
Front strut brace
Rear strut brace with battery relocation tray
New shock mounts front and rear
New front control arms
New tie rods and steering rack bellows
Alignment

The vehicle is not perfect by any means, but is mechanically sound and reliable as a daily driver for me.
This is a list of repairs I have been chipping away at, an would continue if I was to keep the car:

Headliner fabric (torn/came apart during sunroof repairs, Looking for repair estimates this week)
Right headlamp jiggles
weld-in battery Ground post in trunk (currently grounded to strut brace)
replace ground cable
re-wrap harness behind left headlight
Speedometer drive noisy
Door pockets cracked
Pass side seatback adjuster trim missing
heater controls/cable mountings
Restore ash tray (faded coler)
Repaint window trim (shadow line paint, previously done in 2008)
Repair Foha valance, reinstall badge
restore steering column trim
Fabricate Caster adjustment plates
Rear subframe rebuild with adjusters (currently rear has almost -4* camber)


I also have a comprehensive spares package, including a disassembled engine (valve cover to oil pan), trim, electrical and drivetrain items.

Thank you in advance for any input. If there is any interest in this car, please contact me directly.
Cheers,

Memo
817-658-1110


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Jeroen
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Posts: 29194
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 12:23 pm
My E21(s): '81 323i Baur
Location: The Netherlands
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Re: Help valuating car before sale

Post by Jeroen »

Enough time and money spent I'd say! Still, this very much depends on regional conditions. Over here a 4 cylinder wouldn't fetch too much, but that is bacause we have plenty supply of 6 cylinder models. So our market is very different. All the detailed info does help though. Hope someone closer to your home can shed some light on current market conditions on your side of the pond. God luck with your sale.
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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uwbuurman
E21 VIP
E21 VIP
Posts: 18637
Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:49 pm
My E21(s): 1978 type 1 323i 5speed dogleg Polaris
Location: Ljouwert

Re: Help valuating car before sale

Post by uwbuurman »

Well, last year I was in Texas, stumbled upon a 320i e21. Was the only one available on ebay within the USA. Rare makes wanted? You'll need a BMW enthusiast, who'll appreciates all the good work done.

Pricewise I'm with Jeroen, totally different market overhere. So can't help you there. GLWS!
It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
1980 BMW 528i maior restitutio
1987 BMW 325iA cabriolet
2006 BMW 320d touring High Executive
2015 BMW 320dA touring xDrive High Executive ///Msport
bimmerman78
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Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2012 12:48 am

Re: Help valuating car before sale

Post by bimmerman78 »

Thank you both for your input. I agree the E21 chassis is a forgotten one, and it is only a niche group of people who are interested.
We also own two ECE 323i BMWs, E21 and E30, so I am very familiar with all the differences. I hope she goes to a good home, although that may take some time.
We'll see.
Cheers
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