£15k 2.8 it is a spanker though

[mrscalex]

Price seems a bit toppy. I would have thought it needed to be the right side of £10k. However a car this nice/low mileage tends to cross over into a different market, eg well-heeled people looking for a toy.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/99-T-BMW-...-ONLY-36-500-Miles-1-LADY-OWNER-/292149790949

 

[andyglym]

Yup, very nice looking Zed but as you say, a tad on the steep side

 

[Sean d]

It might just reach that price in ten years time.

 

[andyglym]

It might just reach that price in ten years time.

Agreed mate but somebody is bound to pay it or near to it thinking they've got a "bargain"

 

[Cheddars]

Wow!

 

[Low Rider]

I spoke to a guy yesterday who had a 2.8 with 42k wrote off two weeks ago and was paid out £4200 now that's a massive gap.
I do understand insurance companies don't like paying out.

 

[MAURICE THE MARTIAN]

There taking the P£SS!

 

[Slam]

I too saw this looks mint but at a high premium.

 

[Cheddars]

Proberly wants it to cover ebay fees

 

[lightning]

To the O/P l agree, not sure any non-M Z3 is worth that kind of money unless it's exceptional, say under 10,000 miles.
That one has only four stamps in the service book so there must be a fair time gap between them, my near concours 56,000 mile 3.0 M Sport has a FSH but a five year gap where it covered few miles and it put some off paying half that price when l tried to sell it so what does that do for the £15,000 one?
lnsurance on a Z3 needs to be "Agreed Value" if possible.
As prices are going up for good examples but the car is still in the price guides at banger money.
Older BMW's are starting to get into the silly money category, look at (for example) the 635csi, 2002, and E28 3 series.
Eventually the Z3 will go up particularly six cylinder versions, but only for the best condition examples.
So if yours is a minter get it insured Agreed Value.
Some companies now offer "Modern Classic" policies which cover the Z3.

 

[hard top]

wrote off two weeks ago and was paid out £4200

That's what happened to me, we all rave about our little cars but they are no more than a mass produced BMW 3 series.
And that, sadly, is a fact.

 

[Paul Rice]

Silly money, You can by a Dacia Duster for that sought of money (So is it daft?)

 

[lightning]

That's what happened to me, we all rave about our little cars but they are no more than a mass produced BMW 3 series.
And that, sadly, is a fact.

Not true!
Many older cars were "mass produced" and not that inspiring when new.
Have you seen how much a MK1 Ford Escort costs now?
And you can pay £5,000 for that classic of classics, a Cortina MK4.

 

[hard top]

Not true!

Afraid it is, the non ///M will only become worth money when there are hardly any left and people want one.
Just like the cars you mention above.
Fact of life.

 

[lightning]

Maybe.
I am talking about the best examples though.
Try and find a good six cylinder 3 Series E28 for less than £10,000.
There's still plenty of those about. But most have been to the moon and back and are more baggy than a pair of Tesco Jeans.

The E28 was a mass produced three box pigeon, more upmarket Cortina that exalted sports saloon.
And look at them now. The Z3 will go the same way.
Also the value of lesser versions (316,318) are going up on the back of the six cyl ones. Again only the best ones.

No good if yours is well worn and rough as a sack of spuds. It'll be a long time before Z3 restoration is financially viable.

It won't happen to Z4. Z3 is the last of a breed.

Hold on to your low mileage Z3 minter!

 

[lightning]

One thing that does count against the Z3 is that it's well made and rust protected.
You could sit in many 1970/80's cars and almost hear the metal dissolving.
I had a twelve year old 635csi and the scuttle/screen surround was completely rotten with holes you could poke a finger through.
The Z3 resists rust well. Old ones just won't die, they languish on Council Estates with opaque rear screens and mouldy seats. But still with seven months ticket, passed with advisories for brake pipe corrosion, play in suspension bushes and tyres wearing on the inside.
But they still keep going.

 

[mrscalex]

That's what happened to me, we all rave about our little cars but they are no more than a mass produced BMW 3 series.
And that, sadly, is a fact.

Afraid it is, the non ///M will only become worth money when there are hardly any left and people want one.
Just like the cars you mention above.
Fact of life.

Agree with both comments although they need to be considered together to get the full picture.

3.0s are going up in value not just because they are quick but because there were so few produced, less then the Ms in fact. Not enough supply to satisfy demand.

Of course being rare/low volume doesn't guarantee desirability either! It's a mixture of things.

 

[abh29]

Not true!
Many older cars were "mass produced" and not that inspiring when new.
Have you seen how much a MK1 Ford Escort costs now?
And you can pay £5,000 for that classic of classics, a Cortina MK4.

Look at ser 1 land rovers ,they are coming back from Australia and USA now a half decent truck cab will be around £10k. Just thinking of the three we have cut in our garage to make trailers

 

[hard top]

Of course being rare/low volume doesn't guarantee desirability either! It's a mixture of things.

Agree and also what the punters are willing to pay to get their hands on one, can't see that applying to the Z3 at the moment but would love to be proven wrong.
At the moment they are worth more in spare parts, as you well know.....

Look at ser 1 land rovers

As I said in a post further up the thread, rarity and what the punter wants to buy and pay, no demand, low prices.
Wish I still had my 66 SWB that I bought back in the 80's for peanuts......

 

[hard top]

@GazHyde, just out of interest, what did you do with your old LR?