Barn find Z3m advertised

[Tfp]

This has just popped up on Ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-R-BM...197271?hash=item33d9403a97:g:utIAAOSw~G1ZxA0o

Selling as spares or repair.

Dealers can do this but they should not let you drive the car away.

They should insist it's trailered away to protect them selves, and the customer, if they're not having the car checked for roadworthyness.

What if you crash and die at the first roundabout because the brakes don't work?

 

[Sean d]

Its been on before

 

[Tfp]

Its been on before

Ok, did it sell before?

Looks like the NS inner wing is pretty rusty.

 

[Sean d]

Ok, did it sell before?

Looks like the NS inner wing is pretty rusty.

I didn't watch it so not sure what happened, it was on ebay a few weeks ago.

 

[Tfp]

I didn't watch it so not sure what happened, it was on ebay a few weeks ago.

Ok.

It just annoys me when the ad says "it can be driven fine"

But the dealer wants to sell it "The car is being sold as spares or repair"

They are leaving them selves wide open to prosecution.

 

[Sean d]

Ok.

It just annoys me when the ad says "it can be driven fine"

But the dealer wants to sell it "The car is being sold as spares or repair"

They are leaving them selves wide open to prosecution.

Some of the liability must be with the buyer as its last MOT was October 2014

 

[Tfp]

Some of the liability must be with the buyer as its last MOT was October 2014

Yes, some liability.

But ultimately, if the buyer is allowed to drive it away and is then killed on the way home because the car was unroadworthy, then the seller would go to prison.

A dealer selling to a member of the public is obliged to ensure the car is roadworthy.

No problem if they deliver the car, or insist the buyer trailers it away.

But they've stated in the ad "can be driven fine"

 

[lightning]

As with the 3.0 "barn find" that sold on Ebay last week, it would need a thorough inspection particularly at £10,000.

It could be OK if the "one mature owner" stored it properly after he stopped driving it five years ago.

I don't think these cars are rare enough to take chances with, now if it was a Ferrari 328 that might be a different matter!

 

[lucky jim]

would everyone in their right right mind get involved with this ?

 

[Grumps]

I think it's just too expensive. He's trade, it's worth trade money so what's he paid for it?

 

[DavidM]

The only point of concern in my view would be the engine - if it's ok - all other areas of the car can be sorted as part of a Z3M project. Come in low with an offer of around £7000 to allow for a good restoration respray and any standard mechanical work that needs doing.

 

[Grumps]

The only point of concern in my view would be the engine - if it's ok - all other areas of the car can be sorted as part of a Z3M project. Come in low with an offer of around £7000 to allow for a good restoration respray and any standard mechanical work that needs doing.

I think your bang on with your estimation David.

 

[Sean d]

would everyone in their right right mind get involved with this ?

I would for the right money.

 

[Jack Ratt]

134k miles and hasn't been driven for 5yrs. This could have been a 200k miler if it had stayed on the road.

 

[ljauto]

sounds like a job for wheeler dealers never had a z3 on that

 

[mrscalex]

It's practically impossible to have it all ways with a Z3M. Either stump up £15k plus for a nice one. Or look out for something that's a bit tired and needs work for £8-£12k. You're very unlikely to find a nice car cheap. Any other Z3 model, maybe even a 3.0. But not a Z3M.

So a car like this is a good opportunity for someone prepared to roll their sleeves up. What's it worth?

Work backwards from it being all good but with the 134k miles on it. £12.5k maybe? I guessed at that and found this one (140k) to support that.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201707127320799

Valuing it then becomes much easier. How much work does it need? £1k? Then I don't think it's over-priced. £2k? You might want to haggle but it's still up at the right sort of money. £3-£4K. It's over-priced. And the more it needs spending on it perhaps the more you might under-estimate the actual cost.

This one went on open auction for £8,300 (134k). The seller had done a lot of work. But hadn't got as far as the respray and under-bonnet work it desperately needed. It doesn't look pretty and it was open auction. I'm not surprised it went for as little as it did but at fixed price this could have gone up at £9k.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z3M-3-2-Roadster-Reg-08-09-2000-134k-miles-NO-RESERVE-/122653041053

You do need to price up the repairs carefully as a Z3M has some very expensive parts to replace. Engine obviously. If that was knackered or you wanted to do big miles in it then you'll have an issue regardless. £5k for a rebuild or decent mileage swap-in? But even things like front air ducting can be outrageous. £10 on a non-M second-hand. Well over £100 on a Z3M for a new one as you'll be unlikely to find it second-hand (and it would be expensive anyway).

If I had a £10k budget to spend on a Z3M this would be top of my list to take a look at. Hopefully it wouldn't need a full respray, the engine would be sound and it needed no more than £1-£2k spent on it. I'd try and it pick it up for £9k( it's sold before for this) and if my repair estimate proved right I'd be happy enough.

 

[mrscalex]

This was the one that got away as far as I'm concerned though. It was relisted after this and I suspect it went for closer to £10k.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-BMW-Z3M-Roadster-3-2-/232503603532

 

[Lazzzydog]

The only point of concern in my view would be the engine - if it's ok - all other areas of the car can be sorted as part of a Z3M project. Come in low with an offer of around £7000 to allow for a good restoration respray and any standard mechanical work that needs doing.

This could be a good project for an all round d-i-y man. Plenty of home mechanics could overhaul the engine themselves if it actually needs doing taking the labour cost out of the equation. Could be a cheapish way into an M.

 

[Lee]

You could easily spend 10K again getting this car back up to scratch, everything will need replacing and all the parts have M tax. I would make an offer of 6-7k justifying why.

 

[DavidM]

Wish I had 7k spare!