Prices all over the place..totally confused !?*£$

[Ade33]

Hi I recently joined the forum..I've started looking to purchase a Z3 and have over the last 8 weeks viewed a number. I've decided I'd like a late 2.2 or 3.0 litre manual. The price range they are for sale is absolutely enormous...Put it this way I went to see a rough 3.0 manual that sold the other week for £3500 after it had been up for £4700 and would't sell. It was a runner with an MOT with 104,000 on the clock but the usual (as I've discovered sill and wing bubbling)... On the other end of the spectrum there are a couple on Autotrader that appear to have "FOR SALE" signs gathering dust given the length of time for around £13,000. One of them presented as a cherished by the owner etc etc doesn't exactly have an MOT history that fills me with enthusiasm either..Its the same story with the 2.2's..One has just appeared with extremely low mileage in the same place for 10K but yet a high mileage one of the same year with highest spec is still sticking unsold for weeks below 4K

As a prospective purchaser who just wants to buy for market value and not to make a profit its leaving me absolutely clueless as to what these cars are worth to be honest and very cautious..Anyway I will keep looking I guess......

 

[Jam03]

I feel your pain. I spent a lot of time looking for mine in late 2021 and early 2022 in winter. Not much to choose from at that time, but the ones I drove then that I didn’t like are still for sale. But there must be 4 or 5 times as many for sale now than there were in winter, so people holding out for anything over about £5k are needing to be very patient, irrespective of the condition. There are enough decent looking cars below that price point to put people off the dearer ones. Having said that, I would be willing to pay a premium for a car that has had recent suspension refresh work and corrosion dealt with, and one that comes with newish tyres. If not, the driving experience will be disappointing and you’ll have spent another few grand before you know it.

 

[Althulas]

Just bide your time is my advice a pain in the ass when you won’t to get out there and enjoy some miles per smile but better in the long run buying the right one it’s worth keeping an eye out here for ones that members are selling so you can buy from an enthusiast with documented history.

 

[Oddly Godly]

It's a buyers market at the moment so you have chosen a good time to buy. It's worth remembering that sills are not sills but sills covers and bolt on. If you find a car where they need replacing it might not be that bad the same with most body panels. 3 litre cars fetch a premium but a lot of sellers are trying to recoupe what they paid for their cars and are finding prices have slumped. As winter gets closer prices will only be going in one direction.

 

[SV8Predator]

I went to see a rough 3.0 manual that sold the other week for £3500 after it had been up for £4700 and would't sell. It was a runner with an MOT with 104,000 on the clock but the usual (as I've discovered sill and wing bubbling)...

That might be my latest car. I bought it two weeks ago (and paid no where near £3500...). Just had it up on the ramp today. No structural rust whatsoever, and as you said, a few external wing and sill blisters, but these are not from the "inside-out" but the opposite. It's had a lot of front suspension work, but ideally could do with rear subframe bushes and new dampers all round. No oil leaks! Full MOT. I've bought is as a project, as I've got nothing to do on my glorious Z4 E89 other than wash it, and I like to tinker. The 3.0 badge on the boot lid makes me smile, and it goes like stink.

Bought it from Southam, Warwickshire. Is this the car you looked at?

What I've paid for it lets me spend money on it. The plan is larger wheels, proper seats, and ultimately after all the mechanical work, changing colour from Topaz to Dakar. I can't wait!

 

[Ade33]

That might be my latest car. I bought it two weeks ago (and paid no where near £3500...). Just had it up on the ramp today. No structural rust whatsoever, and as you said, a few external wing and sill blisters, but these are not from the "inside-out" but the opposite. It's had a lot of front suspension work, but ideally could do with rear subframe bushes and new dampers all round. No oil leaks! Full MOT. I've bought is as a project, as I've got nothing to do on my glorious Z4 E89 other than wash it, and I like to tinker. The 3.0 badge on the boot lid makes me smile, and it goes like stink.

Bought it from Southam, Warwickshire. Is this the car you looked at?

What I've paid for it lets me spend money on it. The plan is larger wheels, proper seats, and ultimately after all the mechanical work, changing colour from Topaz to Dakar. I can't wait!

Yep that's the one! ... It just wasn't for me.. I hope you manage to sort out it veering to the left when you take your hand off the wheel.. Tracking maybe..

 

[SV8Predator]

I hope you manage to sort out it veering to the left when you take your hand off the wheel.. Tracking maybe..

The front left hand tyre was at 18 psi! Runs straight and true with pumping up the tyres!

 

[Ade33]

Thats great that you have managed to sort that so easily..I was very suspicious when I had completed my road test and informed the vendor that the car was veering to the left..He was aware of it! despite me asking him up front if there was anything wrong with the car before taking it for a drive and that I would be giving it a thorough once going over!... It never ceases to amaze me peoples sales technique..and he wondered why he never got 5k...That lack of a simple putting air in the tyre probably cost him 2k!!

 

[SV8Predator]

It never ceases to amaze me peoples sales technique..and he wondered why he never got 5k...

I'm with you on that one. I'd have spent ages on prep and had it looking as good as it could be.

This car was filthy, (including the interior) and as I've said, he hadn't even checked the tyre pressures. The "garage" had "polished" the headlights to get it through the MOT and they hadn't masked anything up. The engine bay and front of the car was covered in compound dust.

But there's a great little car there struggling to get out. It's safe now, and in a good home. I've just fitted the perspex wind deflector. What a difference it makes, and it looks great!

 

[JimS]

Z3 pricing in particular is a minefield at the moment. Private owners and a few dealers think prices are well on the up, which means optimistic pricing of even the most battle worn and weary looking cars, but there are a few realists that accept a 20year old plus 2 seat convertible fun car with over 100k miles is never going to be worth £10k or more before a full restoration.

To be honest i would stay clear of the 3.0 and look for a good 2.2 That's partly because there are a lot more manual ones and the price optimism is not quite as silly. There is a nice looking 2.8 re-commissioned silver one with red interior ( not for everyone) and roof on ebay at £8900 if you're interested.

There are some decent looking (from photos only mind) 1.9 cars at very realistic prices (£4-6k) around. So if you're just into the shape and looking cool while cruising I would recommend those instead.

 

[Duncodin]

Z3 pricing in particular is a minefield at the moment. . . . . .

. . . .There are some decent looking (from photos only mind) 1.9 cars at very realistic prices (£4-6k) around. So if you're just into the shape and looking cool while cruising I would recommend those instead.

For a 1.9 I think 4-6k is still too much I reckon. I'd value mine at around 2 to 2.5k Turn up at my door with 5k and you can drive it away. (No. Don't )

 

[JimS]

No, sorry I was talking about decent looking 1.9's. (Just joking)
Your hardtop is probably a grands worth and the fact it has one confers value on the rest of the car, so I would happily give you 5k for it if it wasn't so GREEN.