Matching # Bavaria Motor - added value (if any) if I ever sell car the car? Opinions needed....

GolfBavaria

GolfBavaria

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I have a dilemma and would appreciate some honest opinions. I always thought it was cool to have the matching number motor on my '73 Bavaria. However, some things have changed and are currently changing; now I'm wondering how much "added value" it really adds (if any) to a Bavaria. I can understand the importance of matching # motors on really rare cars, BMW or not, especially CSL's etc. So here is the dilemma...... Now that I am moving to Idaho from CA, is it really worth loading the motor into a moving truck that already has limited space? Just to lug it around for another move once we find a house we want to buy after moving out of the rental we currently have in ID. For one, it is on an engine stand, which are awkward at best. It will have to go up a ramp on the moving truck, unload in ID, then sit in a small garage with limited space as well. Then rinse wash repeat when we have have to move again. Now that my car has a 3.5L, what are the chances of someone taking this car back to 100% stock which in reality isn't even really possible anymore. Most everything has already been rebuilt, replaced parts with NOS or quality BMW parts, refurbished etc. and what few mods I have made air dam, Petri, wheels, etc. can all be easily reversed.

I am at a crossroads, mainly due to the circumstances, on whether to sell the matching number motor or not? On top of that, I have another newer ('87) rebuilt head with a mild cam that has just been rebuilt and I just had a valve cover nicely refurbished by Speedway out here in SoCal which does a great job that fits on the head that is currently on the motor. I have the receipt for the rebuilt '87 head. This was going to be put on the 3.0L original motor that I was going to rebuild but then opted for the 3.5L and here I am. I'm thinking of selling the original matching # motor, the rebuilt '87 head w/ mild cam and beefier valve springs ('87 head better flow than the older heads I'm told, I.e. there is a 79' head on the matching # lower that replaced the '73 original head which I don't have anyways). Hope that makes sense.

I'd like to sell as a package if I sell: the 3.0L original motor with older '79 head, the rebuilt '87 head with cam and beefy valve springs, and the refurbished '79 valve cover. Anyone interested in that? Opinions on what to do appreciated.....
 
My opinion is that your car is already hens teeth. A numbers matching golf bav is pretty sweet! Keep the bottom end for future sale, but strip it down to cut down on space. That’s my plan as well.
 
I dont think numbers matching has any impact on the price of an e3, unless it has less than 50k miles

If I remember correctly, BMW stopped using engine number/vin match at some point anyways.
 
My opinion is that your Bav is probably worth more with the motor you installed than if it had the original motor. Also, I think if you ever decide to sell the car, few if any buyers would be willing to take the original motor along with the car even for free.

I don't think doing a "package deal" has a good chance of being successful. That original motor is not worth much and may have to be given away to avoid having to move it. The head and valve cover, OTOH, can probably be sold (even then, not as a package deal). Even if they can't be sold before your move, they are relatively easy to transport to your new place where you can take your time marketing them.
 
Keep the block, don't let these chuckleheads poo poo you into tossing it, When you got your E3 you had no idea that today there would be 10x or 100x or maybe 1000x more people crowing about it being valuable than every offend and horrify arrested development SSR member that ever existed all put together. And remember, next to none of the SSR crowd (and even very very few if any people here) unhesitatingly pony up 20-30+ G's for a Bav. But the numbers matching public might. If that matters to you ("resale"), then...how much hassle could it be really? I mean...if you have to ask us if its a good idea or not....?

-30-
 
Being a sentimentalist, and especially for your rare color, I couldn't part with the heart it came with from the factory. That doesn't mean it will have any bearing on future value, just my peace of mind as the custodian.
 
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craterface said:
Make a coffee table out of it. I know my wife would LOVE to have that in our LR.

I have a buddy who has a quarter midget in his LR as a conversation piece. His wife is very tolerant.
Click to expand...

And they make great gifts for the car guy in the family:

20150704_152631.jpg
 
You saved it for some reason only you know. Unless that reason is gone, keep it. Imagine arriving in Idaho sans motor. Besides, when neighbors see you moving that thing, they will have instant respect (or disdain) for you.
 
Hey, if the bores are good, you might need a block to rebuild someday. It's not like M30B35 engines are going to be readily available in Idaho.
 
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