topnotchrally

To answer your question 'Reis', and boy, is it.

Too much $$$ for 200k km 1.9. IMHO $6000, tops.

Apparently I turned all the emails off so as not to received so much crap from them...

Yeah, I just figured that out. WTF Who has a 'sale' but doesn't advertise it? Did anyone get a email from trademe about this? I didn't.

We have a winner! https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/3973499037 No photos, no description. Says it all.

Please supply the new rego, or the VIN... Thanks.

Does the cruise control work? (asking due to it being converted). Thanks.

My guess is a tree or pole fell on it. There was one in raglan last year. Could be this one. I heard the driver had minor injuries but a passenger would have been killed if there had been one.

It's a (rather expensive) model. https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/toys-models/die-casts/auto-art/listing/3938093233

M3 Evo Convertible https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/3925269192 In the past these have been worth less than the coupes/sedans, which makes sense to me since it's more dangerous to drive (and enjoy). However, the last one of these sold for $30k last year in Chch, after being for sale for ages for $45k, then lowered to $35k. It was bought by a dealer and immediately put up for sale in Auckland for $38k. It had 100k kms as well. I went to look at it in Auckland. It had been partially repainted, not a great job, had missing trim on the interior and most alarming the VANOs was almost nearly inoperative... I doubt it was making 220hp. Still, even with all this fixed I can't see if fetching more than $35. $60k is the price for 2030... I hope. Side note...I was considering buying the above car so looked into the 'automatic roll over protection'. It's a bit of a concern. It seems if you get it 'light' over a crest. (pretty common in NZ when driving spiritedly), it will trigger the roll bars to pop up. The good news is they can be reset with a bit minor amount of labour, the bad nows is sometimes they bust the trim bits/etc when deploying. (youtube source of info)

Carjam confirms (says?) imported from Japan.

IF you search bimmersport I think you will find the history of this car, there is plenty. I *think*, because I can't be bother to search at the moment, it was imported as a LHD wreck from Japan and rebuilt using a RHD non-M car. It is said to be done to a very high spec but still... I don't think it should be sold without its true heritage being advertised. I think the silver one (for less $$$) on TM right now is NOT a rebuilt wreck, but I haven't gone to lengths to verify this. Here's a starting point. There may be another posting with more history.

I have a ‘99 523i touring manual. Uk import. Terrific car.

Beautiful. If it was manual it'd be on it's way to my driveway. (Are there ANY manuals?!?)

A fair price imho. I’d have paid that. (Damn)

Why do you mention SA? Vin says make in Great Britain, and it's LHD.... Don't think they made LHD in SA.

The plot thickens... I got photos from Webbs. The colour IS blue, this VIN is right... so why is the vin info from BMW wrong? The colour and year are wrong on the VIN decoder?

Webbs has informed me the car will be on site on Monday.

I requested photos of these from Webbs but of course they have not provided them. Please me more specific in your information, what things 'don't line up'?

It seems this is NO hard data on the providence of this car, but a lot of speculation. If I'm wrong about this please let me know. I am moderately serious about buying this car, so I started doing some research about the things that have been mentioned here. My first step was to talk to Webb's. They are useless and seem oddly interested in putting in any effort. I asked them to confirm it has been painted, they guy wouldn't even give me his opinion on if the paint was original or not, just refused to comment... said I should come look myself... not helpful. I asked them to provide the Japan auction record (I checked that it is available), they refused... they won't invest $80 to help sell a $40k car... not good customer service. (ok, I could buy it myself, but I'm not that serious, yet) Also, perhaps there's a reason they don't want the record known? There is speculation the car has been assembled from pieces. This arrises mostly from the mis-matching interior colours (are there any other reasons?). 'Cream' is a fragile colour so this could just be from sun damage... any other opinions or things to support this speculation? The VIN data is concerning, sort of. Should it be Black? If it was made in 1988, why is it labeled 1993 Should it be 3.8? on the 3.8 thing I've done some reading and there is no conclusive evidence it should be 3.8 http://marker.to/zAH7jk If it was built for USA or Japan, it should be 3.6 I ask Webbs to send me a photo of the vin plate(s) and door jam. They haven't come through... Any nutters (like me) out there want to chip in to get the Japan report. 😱😀

What they said. It's 240hp... single throttle body... a nice motor but not 'really' M worthy. I had an M3 in Canada with this motor.. great fun but then I only paid $12k for it.. 15 years ago. And the steering wheel was on the 'right' side. 😀

I like it more than I expected to but...what he said.

Yep, I don't get it. The black 'highlights' on the hood (bonnet) are horrible. Tacky Interior touches...

This is a LHD M3 Sedan, why does the passenger seat have a handle, on the wrong side, to tilt it forward? It would seem this is the drivers seat from a RHD coupe. Were they produced this way?

Awesome, is it automatic too?