e3 on BAT....
- Thread starter BorgBmw
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1972 BMW Bavaria
Bid for the chance to own a 1972 BMW Bavaria at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #50,736.
1972 BMW Bavaria on BAT - Agave w/ nice Tan/Saddle Vinyl Interior (not Leather as ad states)
Interesting to see a Bavaria with Tan Leather Seats (corrected, they are vinyl, ad said tan leather). This color works well on an e3. One of the nicer ones to come up for sale in a while. Should be interesting to follow. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1972-bmw-bavaria-11/
e9coupe.com
And I even thought I checked to avoid duplication…1972 BMW Bavaria on BAT - Agave w/ nice Tan/Saddle Vinyl Interior (not Leather as ad states)
Interesting to see a Bavaria with Tan Leather Seats (corrected, they are vinyl, ad said tan leather). This color works well on an e3. One of the nicer ones to come up for sale in a while. Should be interesting to follow. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1972-bmw-bavaria-11/
The original post was pretty much buried. No problem. The more E3 talk on this site...the better! 
A beauty. Following the auction and might even bid if it doesn't go nuts... we had a '75 530i in nearly the identical configuration...
It's pretty much already gone nuts. The combo of record breaking prices for collector cars these days coming out of COVID and a very special Bavaria. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess it will do $60k.
That's my guess, too... was hoping closer to $50K but recognized a potential frenzy when it was listed. Same for the blue M635.
Truly regret not buying a good 3.0Si a couple of years ago... Bav's are common by comparison.
Truly regret not buying a good 3.0Si a couple of years ago... Bav's are common by comparison.
Bearmw
Well-Known Member
This helps reinforce that I made a good decision picking up my Agave 72 a couple of years ago. At times I question it. Now I need to put in the time to get it on the road after taking it apart without having driven it. The good idea was getting the car. The questionable idea was trying to improve everything rather than just fixing what was broken.
That's a gorgeous example and I will guess it goes for 53k. E3s have been undervalued.
That's a gorgeous example and I will guess it goes for 53k. E3s have been undervalued.
CSBM5
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't be surprised if it goes way higher than $50k...nothing in the current hyper-inflation time can surprise me anymore since my "surprise-meter" is now defunct after being pegged for so long.
On a side note, does anyone have any thoughts on undercarriage restoration on a car like this one? I feel like if I owned it I would want to fully cleanse that undercarriage, replace any/all fasteners, drop the subframes and restore them, etc. Just looking at the bolt/nuts on something like the rear strut lower bolts on this car makes me cringe. I'm sure they would not be a cakewalk to remove...
On a side note, does anyone have any thoughts on undercarriage restoration on a car like this one? I feel like if I owned it I would want to fully cleanse that undercarriage, replace any/all fasteners, drop the subframes and restore them, etc. Just looking at the bolt/nuts on something like the rear strut lower bolts on this car makes me cringe. I'm sure they would not be a cakewalk to remove...
CSBM5
Well-Known Member
Any links to more pictures and back story on your former E12???
Back in 2012 I bought a 72 Bavaria, one owner car for $2000. I ended up with a total cost of about 12K to restore it. I have it at 15K for insurance purposes, may have to rethink that. Hagerty and Grundy must be making a lot of cash as we all run to increase our coverage while we have not changed our driving habits.
Well, it broke $50k with 2 days left. The real action usually occurs with less than an hour to go by serious bidders that know that bidding earlier in the auction is just bidding against yourself. My guess of $60k is going to be low, but I won't even try to guess by how much.
^ +1
I agree. Frankly, I could see north of $60K if the underside detail matched the shiny side. There will be a flurry of activity in the last 20 minutes by the parties willing
to pay that much for the privilege of bringing this car up a bit more. Like they say, you never pay too much, just too soon. Every E3 owner will rejoice at the result.
I agree. Frankly, I could see north of $60K if the underside detail matched the shiny side. There will be a flurry of activity in the last 20 minutes by the parties willing
to pay that much for the privilege of bringing this car up a bit more. Like they say, you never pay too much, just too soon. Every E3 owner will rejoice at the result.
Actually, I think the opposite. If the underside, engine compartment, etc. was not left mostly original, there wouldn't be the frenzy we are seeing. It would still sell for very good money, but not what an original, low miles car brings. The new owner is certainly free to take the mechanicals apart, detail them to stock specs (even beyond), but I don't think that will happen to this one. It's the originality that is bringing the big and early bids. The car is likely going to go to someone who values the originality over a restored undercarriage.
Detailing the undercarriage, not restoring it. Dry ice blasting by a good technician does wonders without altering OG finishes.
Small brushes and cleaner where needed. I'm a dedicated practitioner of "sympathetic" restoration for examples like this.
Small brushes and cleaner where needed. I'm a dedicated practitioner of "sympathetic" restoration for examples like this.
CSBM5
Well-Known Member
Detailing the undercarriage, not restoring it. Dry ice blasting by a good technician does wonders without altering OG finishes.
Small brushes and cleaner where needed. I'm a dedicated practitioner of "sympathetic" restoration for examples like this.
I agree. I would think it would make sense at the 50 year mark to dry ice blast it, carefully, and attend to any problem areas that come to light. Then again, in this market if it continues to stay red hot on fire, buy this thing, do no maintenance, enjoy it for 9 months and then back to BaT next spring?
(or conversely, top tick the trillions in free money inflation rate peak, and buy at the top of the market like an early 911 circa 2012-13). It seems to be "the thing" recently where many years of future potential appreciation is brought forward to the present over 18 months or less time and then flat lines to down for many years afterward (i.e. look at something like a 1970 911S where it tripled in value from Sep 2012 to Sep 2014 and has been trending downward for the past 7 years).tmh
Well-Known Member
To me, the previous 2 E3's that sold recently were nicer than this car.
I think '75 is the best year e12 with the hood scoop AND no smog issues in CA. Good looking car!