E3's for Sale in the USA (edited title 20250917)

If I am reading the date code correctly those tires are 11 years old. That's five years beyond their safe usable date. Most tire manufacturers and Discount Tire recommend new tires after six years. Okay to roll on the trailer, nothing more. A buddy bought a cherry, not the color, '75 tii with 10 year old tires. I refused to ride in the car until he changed them out.

Depth of tread is no indicator. Dry rot can be invisible. Steel belts may already be seperating.

Unsafe at any speed.
 
I just put tires on my coupe, the 2019 tires were aged out, but plenty of tread. The spare was a "kelly" brand tire that was really old. I was happy to have one of the 2019 vintage tires installed, it will be fine as a spare that will likely never see the pavement. I hope to wear out the cn36's, but when I purchase a new set, one of the used tires will then earn a spot as a spare.
 
I think the Polaris was a pretty special E3 due to the low mileage, one owner, documented provenance, original condition (including some neat original details). But the plates expired 8 years ago so it has been sitting a while, lots of unknowns about mechanical needs, automatic, cosmetically good, but that original paint will never shine. It probably did OK in today's soft market.
 
Dick Steinkamp said:
I think the Polaris was a pretty special E3 due to the low mileage, one owner, documented provenance, original condition (including some neat original details). But the plates expired 8 years ago so it has been sitting a while, lots of unknowns about mechanical needs, automatic, cosmetically good, but that original paint will never shine. It probably did OK in today's soft market.
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It seemed low, but all of those reasons make sense. Nice original car.
 
This guy hit BaT yesterday. The antithesis of the bone stock e3 sold there earlier this week.
Not a fan of the blackout tail lights and rear panel. Nice build nonetheless less. Didn’t meet reserve last year at $21.5K.
NR this time
bringatrailer.com

No Reserve: 3.5L-Powered 1972 BMW Bavaria 5-Speed

Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: 3.5L-Powered 1972 BMW Bavaria 5-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #242,647.
bringatrailer.com bringatrailer.com
 
John, it probably will not do any better this time around. In this market second tries seem to do worse than the first one for e3, e9, and 2002. At least that is my impression.
 
JMinPDX said:
This guy hit BaT yesterday. The antithesis of the bone stock e3 sold there earlier this week.
Not a fan of the blackout tail lights and rear panel. Nice build nonetheless less. Didn’t meet reserve last year at $21.5K.
NR this time
bringatrailer.com

No Reserve: 3.5L-Powered 1972 BMW Bavaria 5-Speed

Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: 3.5L-Powered 1972 BMW Bavaria 5-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #242,647.
bringatrailer.com bringatrailer.com
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The pic of the 'custom stainless exhaust'...yikes! LOL.
 
StephenZ said:
The pic of the 'custom stainless exhaust'...yikes! LOL.
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That’s what it would look like if I tried exhaust work. Not sure I’d leave it like that, but may be it was one of those times where the “I’ll finish that up later” saying comes in, especially if it sounded great.
 
e30strube said:
I was watching this auction... bit of a curiosity for when I decide to sell mine. E3s are already rare, modified versions even more so. No reserve feels like it would be pretty touchy.
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RichenFamous said:
That’s what it would look like if I tried exhaust work. Not sure I’d leave it like that, but may be it was one of those times where the “I’ll finish that up later” saying comes in, especially if it sounded great.
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Yeah, it's been tough watching e3s going for such low prices lately...I know the market is soft all around, but man, I'd expect some love one day...Granted, not many people do a full strip down on these cars, which helps create the cycle of lower and lower prices.. Original vs mod is also an interesting question. Since they're so rare and not valuable yet, does a properly modded e3 bring more money? Modding is such a fine line..done right, it's amazing...done wrong, it's an abortion...lol.

Yeah, I don't think I'd leave my exhaust work on a car for sale if it looked like that...LOL. I guess the thought is that you never really see it that often....but yikes, I'd know it was there..
 
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