Pricing - BMW Forum

Cable · 02-19-2005, 10:22 AM

Ive been negotiating on this 1990 525i and wondered if im in the right ballpark
car is in pretty good shape (for a Vermont car)
104000 miles
service record until 2004
good tyres
two sets of wheels (stock & Borbet)
5spd trans
interior good
needs- lower controll arm bushings, in my opinion new rotors & pads all-round
is due for timing belt / waterpump service (I think)
radio amp not working but the owner of the car lot says he,ll either replace amp or head unit?
needs new gas tank strap (has the parts needs install)
price is $4450 as of now
any opinions appreciated!
also it drives pretty well no shakes

Torque · 02-19-2005, 12:45 PM

that car better be flawless because that is higher than the blue book.

Cable · 02-19-2005, 01:06 PM

Thanks
Its not flawless
KBB.com says Retail, good condition $5700
private sale value $4100
still trying to decide though?
TIA
Eric

catalyst. · 02-19-2005, 02:25 PM

Don't buy an m20 5er, the only e34 525's worth buying are the later m50 models. (sorry torque)

You could def. pick up a 535 with an m30 for about that amount.. more reliable and more power suited for the heavier car.

thats to much for that car.

Cable · 02-19-2005, 04:15 PM

Thanks much for the info!

BeelZibub · 02-19-2005, 06:03 PM

In the UK you would pay about £1000- £1400 for that car if it was mint and had a full BMW service history, otherwise about £750.

Edit - I just re-read your post - with all the problems offer around £250 - don't know what that is in $'s

Torque · 02-19-2005, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BeelZibub@Feb 19 2005, 08:03 PM
In the UK you would pay about £1000- £1400 for that car if it was mint and had a full BMW service history, otherwise about £750.

Edit - I just re-read your post - with all the problems offer around £250 - don't know what that is in $'s

[snapback]295029[/snapback]

Is that not like 600 dollars or something ? BMWs hold their value a lot better over here in the states... I paid 3200 for my 90 about a year back, and I consider that being a great deal. full service records/history, good condition in and out etc.

BeelZibub · 02-19-2005, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Torque+Feb 20 2005, 02:05 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Torque @ Feb 20 2005, 02:05 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-BeelZibub@Feb 19 2005, 08:03 PM
In the UK you would pay about £1000- £1400 for that car if it was mint and had a full BMW service history, otherwise about £750.

Edit - I just re-read your post - with all the problems offer around £250 - don't know what that is in $'s

[snapback]295029[/snapback]

Is that not like 600 dollars or something ? BMWs hold their value a lot better over here in the states... I paid 3200 for my 90 about a year back, and I consider that being a great deal. full service records/history, good condition in and out etc.

[snapback]295065[/snapback]

[/b][/quote]

£250 works out to $473.552 USD - Time for the scrapyard.
Your car works out to £1689 - you're having a laugh, for a 15yr old car, noone over here would pay £800 for a 525 that old - I only paid £6500 for a 98 523 (2.5ltr) SE with leather and a few other extras + full BMW history, last May (Although I admit I got a fantastic deal as my missus works for the lease hire company I bought it from! (about 2500 less than dealer)).

Torque · 02-19-2005, 08:34 PM

I can assure you that my car was a good deal as funny as that may sound to you.

Recently a 95 325 sold for 3500 US dollars in my neighborhood. And compared to my car that car was in terrible condition.

BeelZibub · 02-22-2005, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Torque@Feb 20 2005, 03:34 AM
I can assure you that my car was a good deal as funny as that may sound to you.

Recently a 95 325 sold for 3500 US dollars in my neighborhood. And compared to my car that car was in terrible condition.

[snapback]295116[/snapback]

Sorry didn't mean to knock your deal. I personally think the e34 is a fantastic car and for the money you are getting a hell of a lot of motor. I think the mentality is a little different over here - 100,000 miles puts off most second hand car buyers so as soon as a vehicle nears this magic number the price plummets. Also 15 years old is looked upon as a VERY old car and therefore not worth much at all. It's a shame really cos as I said, a good well looked after e34 is a fantastic vehicle and puts a lot of modern lesser marque (ford, vauxhall, rover etc.) to shame.

superdeadman · 02-22-2005, 07:50 AM

i'm 19 and personally i wouldn't pay $4500 for it. I'd go for 2500-3000 at most because the car is 15 years old, and things will go wrong, and let me tell you - bmws cost a lot to maintain. i'd say you should buy a civic, drive it for few years, save up like 10 more thousand dollars, and when you will be a senior in high school, that's when you go and buy urself a used 528 or 540.

machinehead · 02-22-2005, 08:00 AM

I have to agreee with BeelZibub, obviously we get more car for our money in the UK! My 1992 525i M50, leather, cruise, auto, remote locking/alarm, etc, was £1,500 with FSH, 119,000 miles. my brother's 525 M50 with LPG gas convertion was £1,100. Both in good mechanical and physical shape! They are great cars and would buy / recommend one to anybody