Well, its time i think....!!!

[gordon]

After owning the E34 since 2000, i have decided to put it up for sale... What a great 4 years its been (and joining in on the forum has been one of the high points). With increasing gas prices, a daughter two years away from college, and some other interests, i think its time... Not sure what can replace it as a daily driver, but hope i don't go through too much withdrawl?
Will keep you posted as to how it goes....

[billb]

Gordon forced to sell off his beloved 535i? Would you consider a trade for an economical, fully-sorted, freshly suspensioned '95 525ia, Oxford Green? I'd even have the dents in the passenger's door pulled for ya!

Gordon, find a replacement for the 318 you lost, store away that Fiver. It is part of history, and remains the most beautiful 535 I've ever "seen".

Reconsider, man, reconsider.



Bill B.

[George M]

Wow! Gordon...be sure to give it some long serious thought. If you do sell it, be sure to keep it in the family and sell it to someone on this board that will take care of it like you have and keep you appraised of its status.
Again...I would give it some long thought Gordon. There have been cars I have regretted selling in my past. I believe this one car you may seriously regret parting with.
George

[BigD]

Oh Gordon...nooooo...! At least bring it back to stock form as much as you can. Sell the wheels, suspension, chip, trade for stock + $ with someone for your powdercoated engine parts....

[tim s]

i thought on several occasions about selling my 540i/a, my wife will not let me. she constanly reminds me of the heads aches & expenses of any car. only sell if it is going to need something more than half of what it is worth at least. do you have it in the condition you would like it to be?????? the only thing i do not like about my 540i/a is that it needs a heater core. i replaced everything else. just consider what alternative cars that are not as expensive. they are not very desirable after driving one of these. every time i get in my 540i/a i remember why i drive a bmw. as part of you deciding points take some other cars for a nice country drive, then take the same ride in the e34.
tim s.

[Bill R.]

After owning the E34 since 2000, i have decided to put it up for sale... What a great 4 years its been (and joining in on the forum has been one of the high points). With increasing gas prices, a daughter two years away from college, and some other interests, i think its time... Not sure what can replace it as a daily driver, but hope i don't go through too much withdrawl?
Will keep you posted as to how it goes....

[gordon]

I certainly won't find another daily driver like this one... however, i really think its time while i can still get some value for it....

Will have this to play with until then...

[MicahO]

.....seeing how I already jumped ship.

BUT - the e34, particularly these 535iM's, are fabulous cars, plain and simple. They also can turn the corner and become more maintenance than they are worth. Yours does not seem to be at that point, but it's a point that's out there, lurking. That's the unfortunate reality when age, mechanical systems and budgetary concerns collide. At what point does it cease to make sense?

Anyhow - there are some fun vehicles out there, and not too distant from your 535. Bill's note about a later model e34 525 should ring true. Great cars are out there, the initial cost may be a bit higher, but the maintenance should decline for a while. Of course, the more you pay up front, the less you pay for maintenance. Or at least that's how the math is SUPPOSED to work....

As noted - bring it back to almost-stock, at least as far as looks, and get some money for the parts. Your car has been modified simply and tastefully, and that's a plus. Nevertheless, while you may get some money for the wheels on the car, there are few who would increase the purchase price for the underhood visuals you've done, nice as they are. Swap someone for stock parts, bolt them on, and get some cash in the process.

Whatever you do, don't travel the road I have gone down. It's like crack cocaine - far too addictive

[MicahO]

on another note - why are signatures not putting pioctures in properly, or is it just me?

[Robin-535im]

Hi Gordon,

Just last month I was in the market - too bad I didn't know you were thinking of selling or I would have made you an offer!

Some random info since you may be selling: I ran a ton of valuations on NADAGuides.com to see what a 535im would sell for. The chart below is about 4 weeks old but prices should be the same since then. I then cross-referenced it with the 535im's for sale on Autotrader to correlate the blue book price with market prices. What I found from looking on Autotrader is that there are two types of e34 owners: Normal people and Enthusiasts, of which we are all the latter of course.

In general, Enthusiasts list at high blue book, Normal owners list at medium blue book, and those "I-just-dropped-a-500hp-v8-into-my-e34" people ask 2-3 times high blue book!

Here's the data from NADAGuides.com, mid and high value by year and mileage for a 535im:

____1989 1989 1990 1990 1991 1991 1992 1992
____Mid__High_Mid__High_Mid__High_Mid__High
080k 6440 7540 7177 8327 7912 9087 9272 10497
090k 6440 7540 7177 8327 7912 9087 9272 10497
100k 6207 7307 6913 8063 7618 8793 8923 10148
110k 6207 7307 6913 8063 7618 8793 8923 10148
120k 6207 7307 6913 8063 7618 8793 8923 10148
130k 6207 7307 6913 8063 7618 8793 8923 10148

So hopefully you'll see the pricing data and tell yourself, "This is the best darn car I could ever drive, and no amount of money will make me sell it..."

Best of luck,

Robin