Thinking about selling my DINAN 535i Turbo...

[Kalevera]

I don't fault or blame you for arbitraging the car, but I think that the sale price comes down to the badge and what someone's willing to pay for it.

Here's my point: there's no certification that it's actually a Dinan-built car, it has no known history, we don't know the VIN and the pictures available of the car don't elucidate whether it's been spared new england salt or body work. And then there's the issue of the title's being branded TMU. All of these facts will make a collector, if there is such a thing for these cars, leery.

My perception of the badge is actually detrimental to the car, as Dinan routinely sells marked-up factory components as their own and generally poorly engineered aftermarkets.

So what we're looking at is a 535 with a turbo. A seller on eBay has been offering a similar car, with the same wheels, for the past 6 months or so. He claims it's been sorted. I think he wants 13.5k for it, but even in the height of car buying season, bidding hit a ceiling at around 9k. The realistic price for that car is around 6 or 7k. This car has stated issues, and we haven't seen enough of the interior beyond apparent shrinking door seals to know the full story.

So it really comes down to the perception of the badge and, as others have said, what someone is willing to pay for the big D. Good luck!

[Zackb911]

I don't fault or blame you for arbitraging the car, but I think that the sale price comes down to the badge and what someone's willing to pay for it.

Here's my point: there's no certification that it's actually a Dinan-built car, it has no known history, we don't know the VIN and the pictures available of the car don't elucidate whether it's been spared new england salt or body work. And then there's the issue of the title's being branded TMU. All of these facts will make a collector, if there is such a thing for these cars, leery.

My perception of the badge is actually detrimental to the car, as Dinan is a company that routinely sells marked-up factory components as their own and generally poorly engineered aftermarkets.

So what we're looking at is a 535 with a turbo. A seller on eBay has been offering a similar car, with the same wheels, for the past 6 months or so. He claims it's been sorted. I think he wants 13.5k for it, but even in the height of car buying season, bidding hit a ceiling at around 9k. The realistic price for that car is around 6 or 7k. This car has stated issues, and we haven't seen enough of the interior beyond apparent shrinking door seals to know the full story.

So it really comes down to the perception of the badge and, as others have said, what someone is willing to pay for the big D. Good luck!

Everyone is entitled to their own perception, but in all fairness:

-The car is branded DINAN all over it, I have been told DINAN would not sell just the turbo kit without the full suspension package, possible engine modifications, and all the goodies. Therefore to have the full turbo and other goodies one would have to assume it is a Full Dinan car. Also a badge is awarded on a points system so a much lesser car could still be a "DINAN" but would not be a "DINAN 535i Turbo" like this. If you saw the car in person there is no doubt....

-The one on ebay is a home built turbo, not a dinan tubo 535i, It does not have the dinan suspension, is not emissions legal, has no collectable value, or gauges and the color combo is hideous. To boot he is asking $3,500 more. To go further it is the Bimmerbros guy who personally owned the only other DINAN 535i turbo I found so god only knows how much more he sold that for!

-TMU: I explained to the woman at the DMV about the gauge not displaying the mileage but that it is still accrued and stored in the coding plug and that once the display is working the mileage should be displayed and be current. She told me the title could be ammended and TMU taken off if a certified mechanic would sign a statement that this is true.

-Poorly engineered? Then why is Dinan the chosen specialty tuner by BMW? I have seen reports of these cars being 405hp(European Car), and 450hp(bmwE34.net) all while being emissions legal! They were on the cover of several magazines and earned a great deal of respect by various magazines. They had better skidpad numbers than any Corvette every tested and accelleration in super car territory. That doesnt sound like poor engineering to me..

-I will provide the VIN to anyone that wants it, I will take pictures for anyone that wants them, I stated there is no, zero, zilch rust nor any signs of bodywork. I ran the carfax and the car was apparently stored for about 7 years under the same owner and there is no accident history, everyone and anyone is welcome to come see or inspect it.

Let's face it this car is a collectable rare car, I was told by the guy who bought the last E34 turbo kit built off a retired Dinan mechanic that this may be 1 of 5 of these. If a homebuilt and not too pretty regular 535i with a homemade turbo can bring $9,000 on ebay I am sure this car can bring a hell of a lot more all day long...

I'm sorry but I just think your reasoning was a little harsh and unfounded but everyone is entitled to their own opinion

[Digita1 Ecstasy]

-Poorly engineered? Then why is Dinan the chosen specialty tuner by BMW? I have seen reports of these cars being 405hp(European Car), and 450hp(bmwE34.net) all while being emissions legal! They were on the cover of several magazines and earned a great deal of respect by various magazines. They had better skidpad numbers than any Corvette every tested and accelleration in super car territory. That doesnt sound like poor engineering to me..

I don't want to bash your For sale thread because I've always wanted a turbo scooter myself but. Dinan is the only aftermarket company that went after the annoyance of being able to certify their product as smog legal. And though there is no proof I've read from places Dinan has paid alot to BMW to be the only certified and or authorized dealer for their cars.

What it all boils down to is now because of this added appeal Dinan can take a car, and fabricate their parts on it. And make it a totally new car. And sell as so. Sort of like what Alpina does. But then another aftermarket company can do the SAME thing. SAME results but they dont have the smog legal/still under BMW warranty bs. So the -percieved- value of the car is decreased. I know your just trying to sell your car saying omg its a dinan bmw aka a ferrari. But I dont think it will fool all that many people here.

Dinan has good products, but overpriced, gouged out and they totally over shoot the actual power gains on their site.


And like lowell was saying, your for sale thread isnt very descriptive. But hey. I'll buy your car for 7.5k Thats good enough for a down payment on a Honda right?

[weiss_535is]

Everyone is entitled to their own perception, but in all fairness:

-The car is branded DINAN all over it, I have been told DINAN would not sell just the turbo kit without the full suspension package, possible engine modifications, and all the goodies. Therefore to have the full turbo and other goodies one would have to assume it is a Full Dinan car. Also a badge is awarded on a points system so a much lesser car could still be a "DINAN" but would not be a "DINAN 535i Turbo" like this. If you saw the car in person there is no doubt....

-The one on ebay is a home built turbo, not a dinan tubo 535i, It does not have the dinan suspension, is not emissions legal, has no collectable value, or gauges and the color combo is hideous. To boot he is asking $3,500 more. To go further it is the Bimmerbros guy who personally owned the only other DINAN 535i turbo I found so god only knows how much more he sold that for!

-TMU: I explained to the woman at the DMV about the gauge not displaying the mileage but that it is still accrued and stored in the coding plug and that once the display is working the mileage should be displayed and be current. She told me the title could be ammended and TMU taken off if a certified mechanic would sign a statement that this is true.

-Poorly engineered? Then why is Dinan the chosen specialty tuner by BMW? I have seen reports of these cars being 405hp(European Car), and 450hp(bmwE34.net) all while being emissions legal! They were on the cover of several magazines and earned a great deal of respect by various magazines. They had better skidpad numbers than any Corvette every tested and accelleration in super car territory. That doesnt sound like poor engineering to me..

-I will provide the VIN to anyone that wants it, I will take pictures for anyone that wants them, I stated there is no, zero, zilch rust nor any signs of bodywork. I ran the carfax and the car was apparently stored for about 7 years under the same owner and there is no accident history, everyone and anyone is welcome to come see or inspect it.

Let's face it this car is a collectable rare car, I was told by the guy who bought the last E34 turbo kit built off a retired Dinan mechanic that this may be 1 of 5 of these. If a homebuilt and not too pretty regular 535i with a homemade turbo can bring $9,000 on ebay I am sure this car can bring a hell of a lot more all day long...

I'm sorry but I just think your reasoning was a little harsh and unfounded but everyone is entitled to their own opinion

To say that the Dinan Badge on a genuine car is worth 5k and the rest of the car isnt is just plain stupid. How much does the M badge on an M5 cost? Retarded comments. Lovely car and good luck with the sale.

PS I think your asking price is more than reasonable.
Cheers

[Wes F]

I remember being at the Barrett-Jackson auto auction in Scottsdale a few years back, I saw a Dinan 535i turbo just like yours (in fact I thought it was your car, but I guess the one I saw was a '91 - funny though how it had the same color combo as yours). Anyways, just wanted to let you know it sold on the block for 23 grand and change.

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/aucti....asp?id=172363

Now granted, this was back in 2003, and it was a later model, but I would say if you were to clean her up real nice you shouldn't have a problem getting around 10 large for it. Hell, if you were to bring it to one of those auctions, you could possibly get more for it. Just a thought. Good luck though whatever you do...wish I had the money

[Zackb911]

I remember being at the Barrett-Jackson auto auction in Scottsdale a few years back, I saw a Dinan 535i turbo just like yours (in fact I thought it was your car, but I guess the one I saw was a '91 - funny though how it had the same color combo as yours). Anyways, just wanted to let you know it sold on the block for 23 grand and change.

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/aucti....asp?id=172363

Now granted, this was back in 2003, and it was a later model, but I would say if you were to clean her up real nice you shouldn't have a problem getting around 10 large for it. Hell, if you were to bring it to one of those auctions, you could possibly get more for it. Just a thought. Good luck though whatever you do...wish I had the money

Wow thanks for the link!

[peter7907]

Hi guys,
i am new to the forum. Interesting reading the forum discussion about BMW tuners. I recently purchased a 1990 HARTGE H5SP.

I think the value in any BMW collectibles is its origins, uniqueness and how many were produced. I did some research on BMW tuners and it appears to me that, anytime a car has had its conversion completed early on and the earlier the better, the greater the value.

Alpina and Hartge cars were converted when new. The Hartge I purchase has a Hartge badge / ID plate in the engine bay with a hartge serial #. My opinion, irrelevant of tuners if it has documentation such as the Hartge , that they are all collectable. Opposite of that if they are bolt own items relevant of tuners, often it is a detriment to the car and lessen the value of a stock vehicle.

Quote from article www.bmwe34m5.com "It is not fair to describe Alpina or Hartge as just a tuners. Both are now regarded as independent car manufacturers. The most famous modified E34 is the Alpina B10 biturbo. With it’s 360DIN hp twin turbo charged 3,4 litre M30 engine, it was capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in just5.6sec and reaching a top speed of more than 290km/h5. Even the current E39 ///M5 cannot keep pace with a well a biturbo in good condition."

So, if the 89 Dinan has proof of documentation or however Diana identified their cars, than, this car is a collectible. I have heard from my mechanic a BMW specialty shop, that people in Europe or restoring these early Tuner cars and fetching in the 30-40 thousand mark.

I recently saw a Alpina bi 10 turbo asking 35,000. US E bay item 160025215069.

The Dinan is a beautiful car, the value is really at what stage is it in to becoming a 30,000 car. If the car needs 15,000 in restoration (paint ,interior, mechanics.) In my opinion, it is fair to good value at 10 thou.

It would be great to hear feedback on my HARTGE H5SP.

peter

[angrypancake]

pictures of the Hartge!!!! cmon now

[angrypancake]

To say that the Dinan Badge on a genuine car is worth 5k and the rest of the car isnt is just plain stupid. How much does the M badge on an M5 cost? Retarded comments. Lovely car and good luck with the sale.

PS I think your asking price is more than reasonable.
Cheers

I'm not going to jump on your case. But you've only been here for a short amount of time....


Whit is one of the most knowledgeable members on this board. He's one of the "old schoolers" that's been around the block a few times, and knows his **** inside and out. Works at Koala, etc.

He's right. Dinan used to sell a "big brake upgrade" for e34 m5's. It was the 345mm calipers/rotors from a Nurburgring packaged euro M5, rebadged as Dinan, and sold for what, $5,000, iirc? That's great business, but shitty to the little guy.


I don't want to take sides. Zack's turbo 535 is clearly a really rare car. Dinan has proven to be extremely overpriced. That being said, 10k is not a bad price, with records and history.

/soap box

[peter7907]

pictures of the Hartge!!!! cmon now

thanks for your interest.
Hope the file is not to large. My only disappointment is that the Hartge it is an automatic. I am contemplating converting it to 5 speed and keeping the automatic for a later conversion back to original future collectible status.