whats this car worth? I know I know...

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philv

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You hate this kind of Q but here goes.
73 3.0 CS I will go look look at. Current owner say be bought it
6 yrs ago and has not drive much. Engine probably needs a total
rebuild. Interior "looks like two cats had a fight in it"
front and rear shock towers are solid. rockers are good.
needs some floor work and the spare tire well may have been replaced.

based on this description give me a ballpark. I've looked through
ebay and the for sale section on this board but cant find anything
this ratty to compare price to.

thanks,
Phil
 
Men have spatial minds, if you send pictures we'll reply with the value of the car.
 
In terms of just money, it's worth less than nothing. You'll lose money ( a lot) over paying more for a better car. In my experience though, there is an emotional element that comes into play. There is satisfaction from rescuing a car such as this and building it to your liking. Sometimes one doesn't have the cash up front to buy a better car and so they want to fix up a project over time. In the long run, it would still be better to save your money until you can find a better example.
 
Mechanicals, unless you are trying to be original, can be had for 1500$. (The entire drivetrain+EFI)

The int and the body are the money pits. The exterior doesn't sound too bad, but you'll end up trying to find a parts car for the int.

Based on the very minimal description, you are looking at about 3-10k in body work, (minimal rust repair, floorboards, and a good paint job) 2k for mechanicals, (unless you want to rebuild it, then it is about 4k for parts and machine work) and another 5k for interior.

Were the car in perfect condition, it would be worth around 10-15k.

I picked up my CS with a blown motor, pretty good interior, and minimal body work for 3k. I'd offer him 1.5-2k.
 
thanks for your input

thanks for the input. for what it's worth, I own an 88 535i and a 76 2002 so I'm aquainted with rust, body and paint work and yes, rust. 02's don't show up around here very often and an e9 is an ever rarer bird.
 
It's worth whaterver you or anyone else is prepared to pay. It boils down to how badly you want the car and only you can decide that. Get a figure in your mind and halve it cos you can be sure that it'll take at least twice as long to complete as you think and it'll cost at least twice as much as you think it will. Factor this into your descision also.
Belive me when I say this a restoration shouldn't be undertaken lightly I know I've just started my second. They ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS take far longer than anticipated.
Having said all that, if everyone saved up to buy a better one (which in itself is sound advice) then none would ever get restored and hence there wouldn't be any better ones to buy!!!
There is also the satisfaction (as already stated) of doing it yourself.
Regards
 
what to pay

the last post comes close to the realities of planning cost and the time related to properly restoring a Coupe--it comes very close to the truth--IF you are doing most of the work yourself--if not--be prepared for MUCH MORE to do it well--

I speak from nearly 35 years of continuous CS ownership--including 3 fine ones--and 500K seat miles in Coupes with continuous ownership now of the highest mileage CS on planet earth that I know of--with 405K miles and in fine complete condition--all but 38K of which I have logged in the years that I have cared for same--plus many other fine CS's that I have since located and sorted for other enthusiasts and knowledgable collectors--plus the recent experiences of resurrecting a 1973 2002, a 1973 Bavaria to VERY HIGH standards for reliable long distance travel and recently a 1972 2002tii and a 1972 3.0CS to near show condition--all of these cars mentioned are in correct cosmetic condition.

the suggestion of saving your money to buy a better one is VERY GOOD ADVICE as in the long run you will be less likely to abandon the project when paying too little--or take some time to learn as much as you can about these lovely to look at 35 year old cars that are extremely prone to RUST AND CORROSION hiding beneath their pretty exteriors--and the reality of spiralling costs for trim bits and pieces, etc., etc.

Let me cite one actual example that is ongoing here locally--a friend who is very thorough in his auto refurbishing activities--i.e.; correct in all respects and who has done 2 or 3 interesting cars including a beautiful MBZ 230SL--wanted to undertake a Coupe project--paid $10K for a good solid starter 3.0 CSA with no rust issues--thus far he has $27K total invested--it still needs paint and a few other things--he has personally done all except major mechanical and re-covering leather interior--results thus far are right on and meet very high standards of enhanced originality.

an earlier suggestion was made that for $15K you can have a perfect one--is wishfull thinking--suggestion has come from a new owner with limited seat time and very little chronological experience with the Coupe--so that suggestion is VERY optimistic.

BTW--when I first acquired my CS there was no one around to give me guidance as to proper care and treatment of these beauties.

HTH
 
I will back Murray on that last statement, I would say if you want a coupe that requires no work look at the high 20s, fifteen will buy you a nice driver that will need work in the future, as do all these cars as they are over 30 years old.Just my 2 cents worth.

I picked up my 2002 track car project today , I must say I am a little excited to get into it and get her on the track next season. May be some autox this fall if I am lucky

Be good have fun

PJ
 
What to pay

Murray, Good thing my wife doesn't see these posts! I think I'm closer to $30K right now. Next year is paint and chrome and I'm probably done for a while. I'll be at Concorso and Laguna Seca next week, hope to meet more of the Coupe crowd.
 
I seem to have ruffled some feathers with my previous post. It was unintended, so let me clarify.

I was merely relating my costs, as I have seen them thus far. Right now, with a completely mechanically rebuilt CS, (used engine, trans, EFI, new springs, shocks, rebuilt brakes, new brake booster, rebuilt master cylinder, etc.) I am in it for about 8k, including tools and the car itself. (like a lift) I fully expect this to double or more after body work is done.

My "10-15k" statement also needs some clarification. "Perfect", in this particular instance, to me, means a perfectly good car. It won't rust out from you in the next 5 years, and the engine won't croak. Based on the coupes I see at auction and on ebay, this is not unreasonable. It will not be a concourse car.

Concourse cars tend to go for a bit more. Based on auctions and ebay again, a concourse coupe (CS or CSI, CSL is a lot more) should go for low to high 20s, depending on the originality and quality of the resto. CSLs seem to start at about 40k, if the resto was good.

Sorry if I upset people.
 
x_atlas0 said:
I seem to have ruffled some feathers with my previous post. It was unintended, so let me clarify.....Sorry if I upset people.
Click to expand...

It's just that you woke up Murray from a very sound sleep and he gets way grumpy when that happens.
 
Concours CS's in the 20's--NOT HERE!

I've stated more than once that a well sorted rust free CS in fine slightly enhanced mechanical and correct original cosmetic condition will consistently attract more than suspected by many on this board when it's properly displayed and exposed to the right group of prospective buyers--

knowledgable collectors and enthusiasts that I have dealt with outside this message board have consistently stepped up to the plate for quality offerings presented in recent years and have been happy with their finds--thus--based on my actual experience it is fair to say--many contributors on this message board are really not aware of the true market for quality examples of the Coupe--especially if depending on e-bay results or some out of date publication on which to base their understanding of values.

Perhaps in geographical areas where Coupes are unknown, scarce or where they bear the marks of neglect, abuse, molestation and rust--very common when passed through careless hands--and where they fall well short of anything resembling a quality car--they do go for give away prices. I'll take my hat off to whoever will restore one of those cars to new life.

In Concour original condition a CS not a CSL went into a collection for public display at a record price--it was superb in all respects and purchased by a very knowledgable group--BTW--VERY FEW that I have seen in my many years of ownership and attendance at Coupe gatherings are of that quality--

However--when in fine condition and rust free they consistently attract very high 20's and low to mid 30's here in our immediate area--and I have never had an oversupply available. I contend that the Coupe is probably the most overlooked drivable classic for the price--and am actively engaged in influencing price changes to more nearly reflect their true value.

My long term mechanic who helps me sort the cars I have processed has stated for years that Coupes in the condition we work with will be $50K soon--I agree!!
 
You can also have a ton of fun in a $2,500 rust bucket before you drive it into the ground and part it out. Just make sure you know in advance that this is how you intend to use it. Fix issues on the cheap as they come up and resist the restoration urge. That was my first coupe. In many ways it was more fun than the nice one I own now -- I wasn't worried about driving in the rain or getting shopping cart dings -- yet I still got compliments wherever I went.
 
You can also have a ton of fun in a $2,500 rust bucket before you drive it into the ground and part it out. Just make sure you know in advance that this is how you intend to use it. Fix issues on the cheap as they come up and resist the restoration urge. That was my first coupe. In many ways it was more fun than the nice one I own now -- I wasn't worried about driving in the rain or getting shopping cart dings -- yet I still got compliments wherever I went.
Click to expand...

This is a great point, I made this mistake more than once, and wish I had just driven and enjoyed the car a little more before attempting a failed resto.
 
guys,

i am one of the guys in a limited market, BUT i have been looking for a car for 4 years and i paid 70k A$ (50+ US) last month for a minter. and i am still smiling.

cheers
mark
 
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