Ignoring the debate injected, non injected, and the various carburation selections available for these cars I believe the real value in the E9 Coupes is all around body and chassis condition long before you start to consider the mechanical differences.
Comparing body work and mechanical work, the driveline on any E9 is cheap in comparison to the body work. To be fair, do this on a commercial retail price point done by the professionals who know an E9.
Yes, a solid unrusted original car is worth more, "to the collector". But after a professional life time of working on German high line cars, I've seen rusty cars from CA and AZ and solid cars that come from Italy and New England. These are old cars and condition is entirely dependant on care and use. Drive a car in the dusty southwest, then take a few vacation trips when it rains and that car will waste away like one driven in New England. The dry southwestern dust will absorb the moisture and hold it for a long time . .
The long and short of it, These are all OLD cars, and a professionally restored car done correctly WITH the protective work done to preserve it going forward, is a far better investment for the average owner that wants to use the car and not keep it as a collection piece.
We've recently completed 2 major body restorations that were done by another well known shop here in the US within the past 12 years. I will only say that the owners were shocked with what we found, and sadly it cost them many dollars to correct.
Generally, cars discussed on BMW internet forums by forum members are all to often undervalued.
IMO, any E9 that is solid and original, and not presently a car with structural rust is worth more money than where I've seen anyone here place the value. These cars are easily worth more than $25-30K solely on body condition! Scarey to a few of you here I'm sure. It's my feeling that a turn key driver, with no mechanical issues, no structural or rust through anywhere is a $40K+ car all day long. And the show quality driver is well beyond that.
Seems folks here place that car at $25K . which makes no snese when it costs tons more to build / restore one to that condition.
Consider that a very simple repaint on a CS Coupe is $12K PLUS! That's a car w/o rust work, disassembled, stripped to bare metal and redone, professionally, and assuming that you are not replacing all the trim. Add to this door , hood and trunklid gaskets $1K.
E9 CS Coupes are as much labor to restore as a MB 300SL, or a complete 1967 911S. Do a comparison in value when you're all done, and know that the CS costs as much to do.
I ask that you all consider where the real value of these cars is . .and to compare . .lets look to another BMW milestone car that has skyrocketed in value. The forums for this car also hold down its value .. One of my own favorites the E30 M3 . .like the E9, low volume production, a coupe, a huge race winning history, and expensive to own and repair . .
Like the E30 M3, The E9 has a very passionate following of owners, and is also a model that has recently enjoyed numerous magazine articles and positive accolades from writers and drivers.
Possibly the E30 M3 has a bit more market demand, but the owners of the choice cars have worked to move the prices up. Marketing the select cars at higher prices and advertising them outside of the "club" market and away from the forums.
This is the only real dedicated forum for the E9 on the US side of the www, and there are international members. Many of the real players with the BMW marque read here but don't partake.
Think seriously about the value of these cars. There are too many comments here that are negative towards cars, to many conclusions drawn by viewing pics on your computer screen . .negative comments only hurt all of us, and these may hurt you when you go to sell your car . . . .
Thank you!
Mario L.
www.VSR1.com
