Coupe in Newport Beach

[HB Chris]

I have not seen this coupe in my own backyard, now on eBay. It was on Ben Miller's site for a while and now sports a claimed $45K restoration which is not unreasonable.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-3-Serie...d1ef5bfc7&item=331231903687&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

The Reserve is probably set very high.

 

[tightbox]

Wow, same color combination as my CSi. Sure wish mine was done to this standard!

 

[flobloc]

$29k + $45k = $74k. That's what the owner thinks his vehicle is worth?

 

[bmwmadman]

Great story. Hard to say if someone will buy from a seller with Zero feedback. I guess its good advertising.

 

[verde2002]

He seems to be a honest guy, at least that is the sense I get from his description. Looks like a very nice and solid car.

 

[BavarianCream]

Based on his description of what was done, I'm struggling to see how 45K was spent on the interior and exterior restoration. I don't think it's unreasonable to spend 15k on a really well done interior these days, however that leaves 20k or so on paint and another 5k for misc. That seems high considering the body was in pretty good shape to begin with.

Would be interesting to see the receipts, and where exactly the 45k went, however if the seller is really thinking the car is now worth 74K I think he's high.

 

[jmackro]

Would be interesting to see the receipts, and where exactly the 45k went, however if the seller is really thinking the car is now worth 74K I think he's high.

Agree. Seems like a case of "if I spent $74K then you should be willing to spend $74K". Unfortunately, life doesn't usually work that way.

I did not do any major mechanical work on the car other than boil the gas tank and check all the systems to make sure everything worked. The car drives very well. The tires have good tread but the sidewalls are cracked.

This guy is definitely more into cosmetics than mechanicals! I would guess that some further mechanical sorting will be needed.

White would not have been my choice for the interior. Was that color ever offered by the factory?

 

[jefftepper]

First, this looks like a very nice car which may need a thorough going over mechanically given the seller's comment about the sparing mechanical work done as part of his 'restoration".

Second, not meaning to sound hyper-critical, but does the hood gap look a bit odd to anyone else?

Lastly, to jmackro's comment about the asking price, I've seen that logic referred to as "the greater fool theory" which essentially stands for the proposition that it doesn't matter what I pay because the next guy will pay me more.

 

[jmackro]

...does the hood gap look a bit odd to anyone else?

Yes. The hood looks too far back or sitting too high at the front. This is probably nothing major - the hood was probably aligned before the spring mechanism was installed. But yea, on a $74,000 car, you expect these things to be taken care of.

 

[polaris68]

Agree. Seems like a case of "if I spent $74K then you should be willing to spend $74K". Unfortunately, life doesn't usually work that way.



This guy is definitely more into cosmetics than mechanicals! I would guess that some further mechanical sorting will be needed.

White would not have been my choice for the interior. Was that color ever offered by the factory?

White interior was a factory color

 

[CoachKel]

The value is not a product of receipts but of its condition. A very nice coupe will have certain qualitative features irrespective of some previous owner showing off a pile of receipts, or lack thereof. I've seen coupes that were bought for $10k and then sell a year later for $60k. And we all know someone who has spent 2x the amount of restoration money in contrast to what they would ever fetch if they sold.

Based on his description of what was done, I'm struggling to see how 45K was spent on the interior and exterior restoration. I don't think it's unreasonable to spend 15k on a really well done interior these days, however that leaves 20k or so on paint and another 5k for misc. That seems high considering the body was in pretty good shape to begin with.

Would be interesting to see the receipts, and where exactly the 45k went, however if the seller is really thinking the car is now worth 74K I think he's high.

 

[HB Chris]

Thought I would resurrect this thread as I met the owner today and inspected his coupe. Chris Kiefer from LJI was there with a prospective buyer as well. I have to say it looks even better than the photos. This was a one owner car since being sold at Bob Smith BMW in Canoga Park in October 1973 until 2013, it has the original service book with dealer stamps and service receipts which back up the stated 75K miles. It has a very professional and beautiful Fjord paint with new white leather interior, both the original colors. Engine bay not painted but shows original paint, everything still there and in working order including speed relays, York A/C pump and original hoses still blowing cold air, 1973 head, perfect fender seams, original owners manual, booklets, keys, etc. Wood refinished by Madera in correct satin finish, trunk panels amazingly clean and untorn. It needs tires and the underside would benefit from a cleaning and restoration but this fits my definition of a solid, well restored, photo documented coupe that could be driven instantly and enjoyed and is certainly worth $65k or maybe more. And I didn't arrive at this number by looking at receipts, it speaks for itself. Someone will be very satisfied owning this coupe.

Chris

 

[Sooner]

Interior

Chris, do you know where they got the white interior?
thanks

 

[HB Chris]

It was redone by a local shop but I don't know the name.

 

[Sooner]

Seats

Thanks

 

[RonP]

Very nice description, Chris and your word brings so much more than a bunch of photos on an internet ad.