Our cars sure are getting harder to find...
Our cars sure are getting harder to find...
I like craigslist, and surf it just for fun. Is it my imagination or are e28's getting harder and harder to find? Especially for a good value. People seem to be charging almost double what they were going for 2 years ago. If you can find one in good shape, people are asking $4000+! On here, enthusiasts seem to be selling them at fair prices, but craigslisters are losing their minds! What is going on? Have good examples really become that hard to find or are there just a few people that love their e28's so much they think they can get crazy prices for them? I bought my first e28 2.5 years ago, in near perfect condition for $1800. If I had that car now, I bet I could sell it for $5000 on CL! What gives? Not that I don't like seeing them appreciate so much. It makes me proud to drive my sweet little euro 525i.
Worth noting, virtually all used vehicles that are in decent shape have seen a noticeable increase in price over the past year.
Why? People are simply holding onto them longer. In recent years, build quality has improved, so the sled is not as inclined to turn into a piece of trash as quickly. Second, priced out new iron lately? Third, we have an economy which sucks muddy canal water. This leaves the 99% of us looking for something other than a financial ream-job. Used vehicles supply < demand. Prices go (or stay) up. Simple, no?
And where 25 y.o. sedans are concerned, beaucoup attrition--wear, tear, wrecks, cannibalization. If $1800 is your price point, time to start thinking 1990 Honda Accord, son.
Why? People are simply holding onto them longer. In recent years, build quality has improved, so the sled is not as inclined to turn into a piece of trash as quickly. Second, priced out new iron lately? Third, we have an economy which sucks muddy canal water. This leaves the 99% of us looking for something other than a financial ream-job. Used vehicles supply < demand. Prices go (or stay) up. Simple, no?
And where 25 y.o. sedans are concerned, beaucoup attrition--wear, tear, wrecks, cannibalization. If $1800 is your price point, time to start thinking 1990 Honda Accord, son.
A lot changed a few years ago when scrap metal prices went up really high. I got rid of a few cars back then that i wish i hadn't. Also scrapped some parts that were at the time worth more in scrap than as a good, used part. I think a lot of people did the same thing and now the older cars and the parts for them are becoming more and more scarce. I think a compounding factor is that the older cars are hitting another wave of not usual wear items wearing out and requiring replacement to remaing serviceable. Its hard to say, but i think several people are finally to the point that its no longer worth it to them to keep their e28 serviced and running.
I've been in the e28 community for over ten years now and the threads you see about rebuilding engines were once un-heard of. even on the early cars, but they are all showing their age now. The un-availablility of parts is also fairly recent. It used to be that the only part you couldn't get brand new from the dealer was the glass moonroof cover slider pieces. I think the major tipping point was when the blue toolkit rags vanished from stock. After that, parts stated becoming harder and harder to get.
i think there are more factors such as generally getting worn out, having wrecks, and just being abandoned that have had an adverse effect on the supply of these cars but those are the big ones.
my opinion is to hang on to the decent ones and try to keep the nice ones for sunny day duty.
I've been in the e28 community for over ten years now and the threads you see about rebuilding engines were once un-heard of. even on the early cars, but they are all showing their age now. The un-availablility of parts is also fairly recent. It used to be that the only part you couldn't get brand new from the dealer was the glass moonroof cover slider pieces. I think the major tipping point was when the blue toolkit rags vanished from stock. After that, parts stated becoming harder and harder to get.
i think there are more factors such as generally getting worn out, having wrecks, and just being abandoned that have had an adverse effect on the supply of these cars but those are the big ones.
my opinion is to hang on to the decent ones and try to keep the nice ones for sunny day duty.
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stuartinmn
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rmiddendorf
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rmiddendorf
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Don't forget those are asking prices, not sale prices. A couple of people here have had real trouble selling their cars in the past year or two. I still don't know if was lucky or gave it away when I sold mine two years ago. But there is just a limited market for cars with 330K on the dial, even if they are solid.
I know of six -- rumors of a seventh -- in my local area. One is in the junkyard, one is a total crapwagon and two others have significant rust issues, so I doubt they'll be around much longer. Makes me sad whenever I hear of anybody parting one out to send to the scrapper. As the numbers dwindle that shouldn't happen so often, even to the lowly etas, unless there is significant damage.
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stuartinmn
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Rich Euro M5
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Yes they are dwindling in number, but as Mike pointed out, the prices you referenced are asking not sold.
There's a huge difference.
Someone pointed out a few weeks back that the gap between the garage queen and the beater daily driver is widening.
This in itself will cause the value of the beater to escalate somewhat.
The model, "you raise the bottom by raising the top" fits this scenario.
I've got an '88 rust free 535i auto that has a title issue that's not far from being parted.
I may not be able to resist much longer.
Oh yeah, it's Bronzit.
There's a huge difference.
Someone pointed out a few weeks back that the gap between the garage queen and the beater daily driver is widening.
This in itself will cause the value of the beater to escalate somewhat.
The model, "you raise the bottom by raising the top" fits this scenario.
I've got an '88 rust free 535i auto that has a title issue that's not far from being parted.
I may not be able to resist much longer.
Oh yeah, it's Bronzit.
No, not on Craigslist, at least by me.nik77356 wrote:If that's the Craigslist one I think it is, I call dibs on the motor!1st 5er wrote:I've got an '88 rust free 535i auto that has a title issue that's not far from being parted.
I may not be able to resist much longer.
Oh yeah, it's Bronzit.
I did buy it through CL though, was that in 2010?
If it's the motor you want, you know how to reach me...
Re: Our cars sure are getting harder to find...
bane.oh wrote:If you can find one in good shape, people are asking $4000+!
I'd take 4k for mine any day of the week.
Most definitely! Through my efforts of baselining the car over the past year, I frequently get shorted on an order or it's just plain not available. Kinda fun though since it leads to getting deeper into the fix or inspection and ususally reveals an issue waiting to happen.al525i wrote:. After that, parts stated becoming harder and harder to get.
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RossDinan6
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Even TX has one of these stinkin' programs.RossDinan6 wrote:Considered "Cash for Clunkers"? No way .gov could affect the market, could it?
Ross
It's all location. Most of the above I see are beaters. A little less so for E36s, but especially E28s. Once in a while a nice car, but not often. And far rarer that it's an enthusiast car.Nicke28 wrote:I think at this point e28's are either owned by enthusiast or parted out. I'm starting to notice the same thing with e34's and e36's. I don't see as many non enthusiast e34's and e36's anymore.
The great state of Texas has the never of telling me I should trade in my M5 for a more fuel efficient, greener and safer car.1st 5er wrote:Even TX has one of these stinkin' programs.RossDinan6 wrote:Considered "Cash for Clunkers"? No way .gov could affect the market, could it?
Ross
Last time I was in in the bay area I saw a fair amount(not a lot by any means) of e30's and e28's being driven around.Mike W. wrote:It's all location. Most of the above I see are beaters. A little less so for E36s, but especially E28s. Once in a while a nice car, but not often. And far rarer that it's an enthusiast car.Nicke28 wrote:I think at this point e28's are either owned by enthusiast or parted out. I'm starting to notice the same thing with e34's and e36's. I don't see as many non enthusiast e34's and e36's anymore.