Quick sale of BMW

[del320]

I thought I would put up a post-script to my C124 refurbishment thread.

My neighbour very kindly gave me an open-ended loan of his BMW 523 from the middle of June whilst the coupe was in the bodyshop. Apart from putting in petrol, the only condition attaching was that I give it a del-type clean. David had bought it in a filthy unloved condition and in several months of ownership, had still not got round to giving it the clean it deserved. His other car is an Elise.

It was truly manky - the interior being particularly objectionable with badly stained leather and carpets and the switchgear thick with gunge.

I did the necessary and ran around in it for 500 or so miles - great car. However, the owner decided the time had come to sell and did a repo job on me on Friday. I gave it a final wipe over, the advert went on Gumtree Saturday midday, and David had £1350 in used notes in his mitts by this afternoon.
I took possession of a 10 yo Glenmorangie this evening. Result! :bannana:

10 years old, 140k, steptronic, cruise, icy climate, leather, 170bhp. Sold with less than two months tax and MOT.

Looks like there's a brisk market in old smokers.

Happy days.

 

[Howard]

All that fetched was £1350 ? Thats a lot of car for the money !

 

[flango]

All that fetched was £1350 ? Thats a lot of car for the money !

Thats a good result if you check out one of the other threads on here a S reg 523i fetched £850 with <100k miles. These 5 series are great cars but worth nothing, been trying to talk SWMBO into one but he sees them as old mans cars so I have no chance, but get over that and awesome car for no money

 

[flango]

Del by the way awesome clean what did you use in the engine compartment?

 

[Will]

I hate to say it, but it makes rusty W210s of the same era seem expensive

There's got to be something to it though IMHO - perhaps these 5-series aren't as mechanically robust or perhaps they're more expensive for parts/servicing?

Will

 

[Howard]

BM's residuals have alway been low ...

Its why wannabe gangsta chavs drive around in barried up early E36 3 series with limo tints ... they get a lot of car for £500 ...

 

[Smiley]

I hate to say it, but it makes rusty W210s of the same era seem expensive

There's got to be something to it though IMHO - perhaps these 5-series aren't as mechanically robust or perhaps they're more expensive for parts/servicing?

Will

I have had a couple of these e39s - they do have their common faults like all cars but most are tough and very reliable - I hate to say it here but in my experience they have fewer faults than MBs and the faults that do arise are easier and cheaper to fix - just my experience. And they dont rust. The big thing with the 210 is the size - esp the estate.

 

[Will]

BM's residuals have alway been low ...

Its why wannabe gangsta chavs drive around in barried up early E36 3 series ... they get a lot of car for £500 ...

Although I agree with you, £500 buys a W202 C-class these days too

But the BMW is a much preferred chav-chariot I guess many of them just dont 'get' Mercs. E36s have been dirt-cheap for years now, I remember them being about £4000 back in about 2001.

Will

 

[Howard]

Saw a great one in Teddington the other day , M reg , dark green ( dented everwhere ) , limo tints on back windows , DTM exhaust , velour interior .

Booming stereo , 4 tracksuited crims got out and went into the pub by the river ...

Made me smile.

 

[Seamster15]

Great cars, sold this one last month 1996 (P);

Fantastic car, sold for £1500.

 

[lynall]

I remember my then boss had a new 97 reg 525td and he did serious miles in it and only problem i can recall was glowplugs, ran it for 4 years then became company hack with nearkly 200k on the clock.


Lynall

 

[trapperjohn]

Same question as flanaia1. What did you use on that engine bay? It fair twinkles.

 

[del320]

No secret, other than hard graft with fingernails and toothbrush. Autoglym plastic trim polish and Autosol metal polish - also used on paintwork .

First picture shows squint bumper, missing trim below o/s headlamp and some whopping stone chips. Generally paintwork very poor with numerous scratches, spiders and crazed lacquer. N/s front wing showing rust. Nasty gouge on n/s cill behind front w/arch.

David was prepared to go down to £1250 with new MOT, so all in all a good result.

There's no doubt, first impressions count and preparation will make for a quick sale. Always clean the glass - it's the one thing you can always get perfect. Think of all these e-bay adverts we love to slate!

 

[chord]

I have had a couple of these e39s - they do have their common faults like all cars but most are tough and very reliable - I hate to say it here but in my experience they have fewer faults than MBs and the faults that do arise are easier and cheaper to fix - just my experience. And they dont rust. The big thing with the 210 is the size - esp the estate.

The e39 was regarded as probably the best car around at the time it was released. Even today, it's still a great drive.

The bodywork is miles better than MB and the ride and engine were top notch. Suspension wear is on thing you have to watch out for. As with MB a good service history is essential for a decent one. The one down side I have found with them is that the interior wears quite badly if not looked after. The normal seats are not very supportive, the sports seats are better. The Alcantara option is probably the best option in my opinion, but very rare. Get a car with the sports bodykit and it still looks very nice.

 

[EDZ649]

I bet your lawn mowing skills are great, look at those carpet stripes!

 

[SilverSaloon]

looks a great car for the money.

Do you have any "before" photos?

 

[Carrotchomper]

I had an E39 touring, absolutely fantastic car. Build quality is absolutely spot-on- Everything just "clunks", really solid. No particular known faults apart from some niggles with early 530ds. Possibly my favourite car ever

They do look a bit "Old man"- But stick some 18" M-parallel alloys on and it completely changes the look!

 

[Adam230K]

I hate to say it, but it makes rusty W210s of the same era seem expensive

There's got to be something to it though IMHO - perhaps these 5-series aren't as mechanically robust or perhaps they're more expensive for parts/servicing?

Will

Thats true considering that the E39 5 Series is probably a better car (all round) than the E-class W210.

 

[MBK]

I bet your lawn mowing skills are great, look at those carpet stripes!

Yeah i noticed the stripes too, a few people on DW do this too.

Looks good

K

 

[Mike Walker]

Great cars, sold this one last month 1996 (P);

Fantastic car, sold for £1500.

I had one the same colour which had done 110K when I sold it before going to work abroad. Wish I had kept it now - an excellent car IMHO 2.5 litre straight six mmmm