what on earth is my E21 worth?

[pistonheader]

as you've seen in some pics i've previously posted, my car is in pretty good condition, no structural rust, minor spots on front splitter is all. car is an '82 316 with 94k miles
the car has had £4k ( ) spent on it in my ownership (all backed up by history) to get it running the way it was intended and has done 23k miles in 26months (surely a positive thing?) and is my daily driver. car uses no more than 200ml of oil between the 3k mile intervals for oil changes i do. in my ownership car has been serviced more regularly than needed too, just to make double sure.

4x BBS alloys, 5 speed OD gearbox, spax -60mm suspension, 323i front brakes, weber carb, E30 sport seats front and rear to name a few upgrades.

i'm still sorely tempted by an E34 525i but i'd sell my E21 first with 12months MOT but no clue as to what to sell it at, if i do go to sell it. anyone can clearly see it's been well looked after.

always (in my ownership at least) been driven extremely easily from cold etc etc, no funny noises, the little M10 revs freely right up to 6200rpm (never taken it beyond that).

tyres replaced in june, new discs and ferodo pads.

any ideas?

[e21-Mark]

It's worth whatever someone will pay for it. Some 316's seem to go for around £1500 or so and others nearer £2000. I'd aim for the higher figure if I were you.

[--ALPINA--]

You`ve got the bug to sell your car for something modern?


J

[pistonheader]

an E34 is hardly modern jimi, the youngest ones are knocking on 15 years old, and they still look quite retro IMO. it's just a thought, i do have a hankering for one as i think the sport models look really good.

but i know i'd really miss my E21, and i'd never, ever be able to get another in the same spec and condition, ever. so that's a real put off, as i really do love it to bits.

if anyone comes across a good 525i example for around the £2k mark let me know (i know they can go cheaper, but i don't want a dog...) let me know. must be a manual gearbox, leather would be nice, but not a must, paint must be good, and must be a good runner, and MUST have an M50 engine.

i'm am in no means in a hurry to sell. i may not even sell, as i do love my E21. a lot of my driving is motorway, and do like the idea of something a little more of a cruiser.

[jimbob]

your cars gota be worth £2000 all day mate.is there anyway you can keep both.i know what you mean about the e34 theyre nice big comfy cars

[pistonheader]

no way i could keep both....i'm a student! though i suppose, if i bought in the next 6 months, i could buy a 525i and still have 2 cars for a littlw while. so could sell the 525i if i preferred the E21 charm.

i'd probably write the longest advert ever, listing all the things it's had done in my ownership, the date and mileage of the work (showing how regularly it's been used during intervals) and all the little upgrades i've done for it. i just love the idea of a big comfy german saloon. i've been in an E34 535i when i was down at fritz, only as a passenger but i did really like it. they offered it to me for £500 i think it was, but didn't fancy it because it was a little rough around the edges, and had nigh on 190k miles on the clock. i'd want a decent example.

it's just a massive, massive waiting game. trouble is, if i did get one before selling my car, and money ran tight, i may not have the time to wait for the right buyer to pay the right price. it would kill me if it left me for under 2k, as i've spent a lot on it, and i've seen other 316's in worse condition, not doing regular miles (so unlikely to be reliable) with worse spec (e.g. auto box or 4 speed manual, original torn seats, no radio, original carb etc) go for not too much under 2k.

i still have 5 original steelies with all legal tyres, which would of course go with the car.

hmmmm, decisions.

[jimbob]

the e34s will still be around when you can afford 2 but the e21s are going to get rarer and rarer i think.
so hold on to your little shark . as you said letting it go to just anyone who may not apreciate it would be a
crime.and allso i think e21s are undervalued considering how many are about.

[--ALPINA--]

an E34 is hardly modern jimi.

True but its newer than the E21 isnt it so comparing the two cars together id call it modern.


j