roo 41 Report post Posted August 6, 2014 Has anyone else been keeping tabs on E34 and E39 540i pricing lately? It seems a good condition, well optioned NZ new E34 540i is listed on TM for more than a non motorsport E39. Are these E34's listed for over $6k selling or just sitting on there for ages? The same thing is happening with E36 v E46. Is it just because the E39/46's are still depreciating whereas the E34/36 have already hit the bottom and now coming up slightly as enthusiasts want them? And as nice ones are becoming hard to find? What is a good condition, well optioned, motorsport and NZ new E34 540i worth these days? '96 E34 540i 150kms w/ leather etc $5,200 http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-757008261.htm '98 E39 540i 160kms w/ leather etc $4,500 http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-763808252.htm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffbebe 1559 Report post Posted August 6, 2014 (edited) Almost certainly to do with supply and demand... There are bajillions of E46s and almost as many E39s around but unmolested E36s and E34s are getting hard to find... Hence the price - for a decent one - is going up (EDIT: or at least not going down). Edited August 6, 2014 by jeffbebe 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roo 41 Report post Posted August 6, 2014 While there are more E39's and E46's there isn't exactly a shortage of E34/36's though. It's interesting! Did you have any trouble selling the 540i Jules? (Or do you still have it?) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingkarl 136 Report post Posted August 6, 2014 E34 wins on maintenance costs. Biggest determinant of these cars value imo. e34 is NZ new That e39 is the start of the model run. The e34 is towards the end. e34 is better looking That e39 has faults. No air con, odd wheels and a munted front end. I'd take a good late model e34 over a sh*t early e39 all day. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1514 Report post Posted August 6, 2014 Been like that for awhile now and the gap is slowly growing with good E34's slowly going up in value. I bought a E39 540i for a daily driver for less than 4k, good value for money cars if you can handle the fuel economy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1514 Report post Posted August 6, 2014 That E39 is overpriced for condition but its not start of model run being 1998. No reason you cant get a tidy std E39 540i for around 4k, lots to choose from. The 4.4L pulls alot better than 4.0L too but not as robust. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sonic_attack 89 Report post Posted August 6, 2014 Nail/head with e34's having bottomed out already. If you have a good one hold onto it because you won't be losing any cash you sink into it maintaining it. As the time goes on and these and e30's, e32's, e28's, e26's become more scarce in Europe, ours will get siphoned off and head back there in containers. Same happened with pre fat-chick VW beetles and split kombi's. With those particular vehicles practically overnight we had a reasonable supply in NZ and all of a sudden they were rocking horse sh1t commanding $8K+ for a basketcase. I see similarities because the BMW models mentioned above are one of those iconic German auto's. They have a 'look' of an era of times past. the 36's and 39's are the next generation and have a while to go before seeing any fluster of activity. I mean if you want a tidy e36 or e39 you can just go grab one, it's not hard to find a nice tidy one, you'll have the choice of 20 any day of the week if you've cash in hand. Not so easy with e34's. If anything those little e30 coupes should be raising eyebrows. If you want one for a good price right now is the time to throw 4K at someone selling a clean honest one, because 5-6 years down the track you'll be paying double that, minimum, for a hack. I don't see those e28's hovering around much longer either. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
qube 3568 Report post Posted August 6, 2014 Hard to find tidy e36s but also hard to find tidy e46s. Unless paying a crazy price. Same story for all cars really. E34s are great cars but hold out for a good one. Same story with e39 but i would personallh stay away from 95% them that are on the market. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twisted 45 Report post Posted August 6, 2014 Shush. This whole thread is making me miss my v8 E34s Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twisted 45 Report post Posted August 6, 2014 Hard to find tidy e36s but also hard to find tidy e46s. Unless paying a crazy price. Same story for all cars really. E34s are great cars but hold out for a good one. Same story with e39 but i would personallh stay away from 95% them that are on the market. Have sunk a small fortune in to my e39, and that's with doing the bulk of the work myself. And it still needs lots of cosmetic work.Keep having thoughts about another V8 E34, but that could very well spell divorce hah. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1514 Report post Posted August 6, 2014 Hard to find tidy e36s but also hard to find tidy e46s. Unless paying a crazy price. Same story for all cars really. E34s are great cars but hold out for a good one. Same story with e39 but i would personallh stay away from 95% them that are on the market. You gotta have the knowledge and the time to check them out. For me its all about finding a well priced tidy one, fixing a few little things myself and then i've got a good car. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
qube 3568 Report post Posted August 6, 2014 yep thats precisely what i mean. the time and patience as well as knowledge to find that diamond in the rough! they truely are hidden gems but they certainly arent scattered everywhere! dammit i really want another e36/46/34/39 soon... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jjs 60 Report post Posted August 7, 2014 Almost certainly to do with supply and demand... There are bajillions of E46s and almost as many E39s around but unmolested E36s and E34s are getting hard to find... Hence the price - for a decent one - is going up (EDIT: or at least not going down). An E36 will never be a classic, sorry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffbebe 1559 Report post Posted August 7, 2014 A stock E36 M3 Evo will be and I think well kept E36 verts ought to be (though like you, I'm not a huge fan of the coupe and four door shape) but getting hard to find any that haven't been horribly butchered by people with caps. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
westy 614 Report post Posted August 7, 2014 An E36 will never be a classic, sorry E34 has a looonng way to go to. If ever... 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
michhod 26 Report post Posted August 9, 2014 (edited) "E34 has a looonng way to go to. If ever..." ...cut that out Edited August 9, 2014 by michhod Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1rotty 40 Report post Posted August 30, 2014 A stock E36 M3 Evo will be and I think well kept E36 verts ought to be (though like you, I'm not a huge fan of the coupe and four door shape) but getting hard to find any that haven't been horribly butchered by people with caps.Sorry Jules but no e36 m3 will ever be a classicSimply...neither the looks or performance or production numbers meet any serious criteria for a classic Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KwS 2372 Report post Posted August 31, 2014 Sorry Jules but no e36 m3 will ever be a classic Simply...neither the looks or performance or production numbers meet any serious criteria for a classic Then why does anyone consider the E34 to be a classic? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1514 Report post Posted August 31, 2014 Certain models in the future i think will be. It is the last BMW build that had the classic BMW styling with good build quality and lower production numbers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1rotty 40 Report post Posted August 31, 2014 Then why does anyone consider the E34 to be a classic? dude get a grip the only classic e34 is the m5 the rest are just old tanks 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
michhod 26 Report post Posted September 3, 2014 the e34 along with the 30 e32 all have that classic twin light, chrome grill look that makes 'em recognisable to most, as a true BMW. January next year my e34 becomes officially a classic i.e. can be registered, insured, and join the classic car club... as a classic. Classic! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sonic_attack 89 Report post Posted September 3, 2014 The e34 probably has a bit of leeway seeing it's a 'one shape only' car too. It's not like there's a coupe in there to mix up any sport variation. Like an XR, XW, XY falcon kind of thing. I can see the e36 coupes being a sought after classic in time. That boxey looking shape is growing on me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lord_jagganath 421 Report post Posted September 3, 2014 is it 20 years to classic status? that's great news! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmw335i 16 Report post Posted September 3, 2014 A stock E36 M3 Evo will be and I think well kept E36 verts ought to be (though like you, I'm not a huge fan of the coupe and four door shape) but getting hard to find any that haven't been horribly butchered by people with caps. stereotypical much? I know of plenty of " normal " people that don't know what they are doing to cars. I see it every day. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ahmedsinc 414 Report post Posted September 3, 2014 Funny, only info I can find online suggests 'classic' in NZ is 40 years old Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
