What price should I be asking for my BMW?

mwddrwg

Morning all,

Finally decided it's time for me to sell my beloved BMW 316i Compact (S-reg, 1998). Has been off the road for a couple of years (garaged) due to cutting down to using one car (change of job so no longer needed). Was intending to keep it and get it back on the road when I could afford it but looks like it won'r happen

Only done 75,000 miles so plenty of life left. Body and interior are in great condition, with mild rusting underneath as you'd expect of a car this age. Problem is there is no tax or MOT on it but I'm confident it would pass with flying colours. Has been moved and engine turned over regularly since it's been SORN'd.

How much would you be asking for a car in this condition? Is it worth MOT'ing it to try to get a higher price?

Cheers all

LandyAndy

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201308308536031/sort/default/usedcars/maximum-age/over_10_years_old/engine-size-cars/1-4l_to_1-6l/model/3_series/make/bmw/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/radius/1500/postcode/sp61ej/page/2?logcode=p

Here's one ready to go at £695. So buttons for yours I'd imagine.

Well almost ready, needs taxing but so does yours.

colino

Unless you are willing to accept scrap price, MOT it. Then ebay/gumtree and hope someone looking for a first beemer will pay £400-500. Not many cars take to enforced idleness and with even trade cost of brake pipes, pads and discs and battery and service make it marginal.

OddballJamie

The limited mileage in the last few years would put me off.
If you think it will pass an MOT book it in at the local council centre, if it passes then great. If it fails on a fair bit, list it honestly on Ebay with the starting price being a touch above scrap value.

Prothet_of_Doom

Daft question, but why not just keep it? In 20 years you can do an ebay barn find sale.

Strider590

BMWs can be a bit funny, same with Audi, if the car doesn't have all the added extras, its worthless.

Herzlos

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

Daft question, but why not just keep it? In 20 years you can do an ebay barn find sale.

If it was something special like an M version, and might become a classic, then maybe. But if it's a fairly average 3 series it's unlikely to reach that status and it's a bit of a gamble as to whether it'll be in a useable condition at 35 years old or worth much.



You'll get a lot less for it without MOT or tax, because people are suspicious about why it's not been MOT'd (is it going to fail on something expensive?).
If it'll pass with no issues you're looking at about £40, and it'll sell faster for more, BMW's are regarded pretty highly and it'll be a fairly decent runabout for someone.

If it's going to cost much to pass MOT, stick it on ebay with a list of what needs done, a starting price of about £50 and see what you get for it.

If it doesn't shift, you can either pay to get it past the MOT, just scrap it in, or keep it.

TrickyWicky

It's a beemer.. how about £1? If you really push me, I'll throw in a mars bar to sweeten the deal? :rotfl:

Weird_Nev

THe compact is an unloved model, and that's a bottom spec compact. (not being rude like dear wicky above, just being honest).

I'd spend a couple of hundred freshening it up, get it a years MOT and 6 months tax, valet it and make it as shiny as you can, and market with good pics and description at £950 aiming for £850 minimum sale. Gumtree first, if no joy, try ebay and autotrader.

If it won't get an MOT easily, then scrap value only I'm afraid.

GAZ237

As above the compact was the poverty spec model and was not at all popular.
In top nick, its worth £700 at best, with new MOT.

If your going to MOT it, I presume you will need to insure it to drive it there?. If your pretty certain it will pass it is probably worth doing.

Not sure I would be spending a couple of hundred on it, to freshen it up, for little gain.

Other option is to just sell it spares or repair and I would guess around £300 would be expected.

Iceweasel

My local indy garage (7 miles away) is quite happy to come and collect the car from me without tax or insurance, and bring it back afterwards.

I have to make an appointment for the MOT to fit in with a slack time in the garage of course.

Always best to cultivate your local businesses.