[16volt]

Rambling Post Ahead

Compared to some folks on here I have been a multiple car owner for only a very short time (11/12 yrs). Until the last few years this has been restrained to a daily driver and a fun car. Recently I have been fortunate enough to have multiple fun cars and a daily driver. This has allowed for the wildly popular justification of 'a car for each purpose'. Sunny? Take the Cabriolet. Long drive? Take the E24. Angry? Take the rabbit. Need a touch of fear? 930 it is. I work hard but more so I have been unbelievably lucky to have had a chance to do this.

Then there is there is inevitable/unpleasant side of selling a car. I hate selling cars. I am way to emotionally invested, the car has invariably become a talisman for that time and place in my life. Its hard to let go. I post for sale ads noting every single blemish, annoyance, cracked piece of plastic. Perhaps I do this as some sort of passive aggressive tactic that will prevent the car from selling. They always do though...

I have toyed with letting the E24 go for sometime, then I usually drive it and forget all about ever selling it. More and more though I loathe watching it sit. I find myself getting annoyed trying to do any work on the 930 as its tight in the garage. I was organizing the BMW service history yesterday and it dawned on me that since I bought the car in July 2010 I have put just under 7K miles on it. The good news I guess is that it feels like to me that I have driven allot more than that. The bad news is....well I just dont feel like a very good owner from a stretching the old girls legs perspective. I start to think about how maybe someone else would enjoy it and pile on the miles like it deserves.

So my question is this, when/how do you make the call to let a friend go to a new owner? Especially so when it costs you essentially nothing to own it?


Shovel nose shark pics for clicks
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/looneys_on_the_lawn/8949753672" title="processed522-0594 by Shannon, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2827/8949753672_9fe2679a44_c.jpg" width="800" height="534" alt="processed522-0594"></a>

 

[Shmi]

For a good car that I like and gives me no problems, once it gets the point that I think someone else may get more, better use out of it. For example, I'll sell the A4 in the spring, because I really don't need it anymore and it just sits for long periods of time. I often drive it out of guilt, because I hate letting it sit. In the winter, I drive it all the time. But, I can just throw snow tires on the ST and that is what I'll do going forward, until I let the ST go and pick up my next ride.

For a POS that hurts my wallet, it's whenever I get fed up. :laugh:

 

[juicemoney]

The mileage is low because you are in the position of being able to store multiple vehicles... I envy you

I say keep it and get a lift. A car that treats you good doesn't have a high cost to benefit ratio. It sounds like you know the car and enjoy it. I say keep it and put more miles on her over time. Besides, the longer you keep the better value proposition you will get as a seller when you sell it. Great stable :thumbup:

EDIT: Get some euro bumpers instead of those diving planes

 

[Ross1013]

Sunny? Take the Cabriolet.

Pics of Cabriolet?

 

[pawa_k2001]

Is this a for sale thread? How much? :laugh:

Beautiful E24. :thumbup:

 

[retro_rocket]

I had my Mk1 GTI for 8 years, and eventually reached the same point as you - it just sat in the garage way too much and got driven way too little. There was a lot of time and money spent getting it back into nice shape, and then I ended up being afraid to drive it a lot for fear of it getting damaged. I only put 15,000 miles on it in 8 years of ownership, but the majority of those were in the first 5 years. After I stopped taking it to shows, I found myself driving it less often, which was exacerbated by moving in 2010 but leaving the car in storage at my parents' house. The last year I owned it, I put less than 500 miles on it.

I finally decided it was time to move on, which was very difficult, but I was fortunate enough to find a guy who cared about the car as much as, or possibly even more than me (which I never thought possible), and I was very comfortable selling it to him because I knew it would be in good hands. The last week I had it in my possession, it was absolute torture because it was late spring and the weather was beautiful - sunny and 70 degrees the whole week, perfect cruising weather. I still miss it and would like to own another one some day :beer:

 

[Sold Over Sticker]

Like I've said a few times now, if I hadn't bought my E9, your E24 would be in my garage. It's gorgeous. Funny too how I told you Bronzit wasn't my favorite, but I ended up with Sahara. Life is funny sometimes.

I cut my E39 loose for a similar reason. Long since paid off, worked just fine, maintained well, and I was attached to it. I bought it for myself as a college graduation present, and it was a pretty big life goal to buy a nice 4 year old E39 540i/6 when I was 22.

I couldn't sell my E39 myself. I paid a friend of mine to do it. I told him what was the right asking price, what was the lowest I'll take, and said call me when it's time to count money and sign a title.

I owned that car for 8 years, and I was really sad to see it go. I had a bad case of sellers regret. I'm glad I didn't keep it since I'd have put 500 miles on it this year and it was still depreciating. If it was appreciating like your E24 is, I seriously doubt I would have sold it.

I'm the same way man. I keep cars forever and get really attached to them.

 

[Iroczgirl]

Don't sell it. I used to get bored with cars, or feel bad that I wouldn't drive them 6 months out of the year.

It all changed with one particular car. I had this Scirocco that was in absolute beautiful condition, but I couldn't stand to let it sit...then one day I needed money.

So I sold it. And have regretted selling it every single day since. I had put many years into getting it to the point where it was.

So now? I try not to let it get to me. The '55? Well, it hasn't left the shop in a year because I've been too busy with work (and going to school) plus I'm broke.

Every now and then I will pull the car cover off it and smile...yeah, it's not going anywhere. And neither are any of my other cars. :heart:

 

[ValveCoverGasket]

the easiest way ive found to ensure things go to good owners is to post them only on enthusiast sites, or CL but be prepared to weed out tire kickers, and ask well above average for them... :laugh:

but ive been there before, its hard to move on from something you become emotionally attached to, but when it gets to the point that im feeling like im keeping the car from the world and someone else would get it out and enjoy it more, its usually time to pass it on. :beer:

 

[Numbersix]

Shannon, I get it.

My E30 325is was damn near perfect. One 1/2" scratch on the entire car thanks to a glass-out respray. Fully rebuilt/refreshed mechanicals down to a new OEM hood pad. Near-perfect interior. I could go on.

I drove the car less than 4000 miles in over 2 years. I couldn't leave it on the street. I agonized about parking it next to other cars in a garage. The only covered parking I had accessible to me was at my dad's house, which was a long drive away.

Eventually, I came to the conclusion that as much as I really liked the car, I didn't have the right place to keep it and couldn't use it the way it should be used. I sold it to a guy who absolutely loved it.

I regret it from time to time; it was a beautiful car, one of the nicest E30's I've seen. But it was the right call at the time.

YMMV of course. You have the space for the E24, and could easily make it your winter driver again on most days.

 

[westopher]

Eventually, I came to the conclusion that as much as I really liked the car, I didn't have the right place to keep it and couldn't use it the way it should be used. I sold it to a guy who absolutely loved it.

If you are in a financial position to do so, waiting for the right buyer at a lower price would be awesome. I'd love to be able to do that when I'm a wealthier man and have had my fun with my cars and its no longer necessary for me to keep. Like a friend who has always wanted it but hasn't had the means for a fun car. Then everyone wins, and you can still drive it whenever you want.

 

[MylesPH1]

Sooner or later, the right buyer will find you. Some enthusiast you know or know of, who would take care of it correctly, and lives where you could still see it occasionally, will make you a fair offer.

That's the moment you'll really know if you could sell it, and probably not a moment before.

 

[YellowDieselGolf]

So how much does it cost to keep a "weekend" car registered over there?

I'd love a toy, but it'll cost $300 USD for registration, $300 for compulsory third party injury insurance and $30 for a roadworthy inspection. Then insurance on top of that. I've done the math on a 911 this week - just under $2000 USD a year before it even leaves the garage. I could get a "limited use" policy, but that'd only save a couple of hundred.

 

[16volt]

Pics of Cabriolet?

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/looneys_on_the_lawn/5216771868" title="IMG_3263 by Shannon, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5204/5216771868_a089c05e80_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3263"></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/looneys_on_the_lawn/4614924169" title="IMG_2484 by Shannon, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4063/4614924169_4890b5e34a_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_2484"></a>

 

[16volt]

Thank you all for your honest/serious responses.

Value wise the E24 has a very long time before it is 'worth' anything. My particular cars value is in its condition, now if it was a E9 () then I could see hanging onto it for reasons of value. I think at this point I am probably at 1.5-2x the purchase price in maintenance, in all seriousness I dont really care about that though. Thank goodness I am not a financial planner ehh.

I would just love to have the 930 in the center of the garage for an extended period of time to address things w/o having to worry about parking the E24 outside.

After reading all your comments I decided to take the E24 out on Sunday for a little roadtrip up to Camano Island. A random Porsche guy offered to give me some workshop manuals etc. I disconnected the trickle charger and the BMW fired immediately and settled into a rock solid idle. I let it warm up in the driveway to make sure it was healthy and I am still continue to be struck just how solid this thing is. Never got hot, no leaks, no nothing and it hasnt run in over a year.

Up on the highway this car just loves to settle into a 75mph cruise and lope along at 2700rpm. What the M30 lacks in its breeding compared to the S38 it makes up in smoothness. It just churns along, its like driving a hydroelectric damn, solid and unceasingly reliable. That's a weird metaphor but its what came to mind. Even with the somewhat aggressive wheel/suspension setup its comfortable and relaxed. Probably its biggest issue is that with the tire widths it does require some steering attention on our heavily cupped freeways. I guess if I have to complain about something with it would be the seats and the mileage. The seats are just tired after 206K miles and the seating position for someone who it height challenged kind of sucks. Fuel consumption is really bad, like if you wanted something cheap to fuel the 930 is a better choice. I think this is probably due to the Dinan chip which seems to run real rich.

I pulled off for lunch (you caught me, still smoking). While standing by the car an older gentleman parked next to me and came over to eye the car.

Him - 635csi right? (my car is de-badged other than a shark logo)
Me - Yep.
Him - 1986? (wow)
Me - Yep.
Him - This is one of the most beautiful cars ever made.
Me - Thank you, I agree.

Then he just turned and walked back to his car and drove off.

Had a great drive with the car, maybe there is enough room in the garage after all.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/looneys_on_the_lawn/8932268853" title="IMG_0738 by Shannon, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3707/8932268853_1a37c35541_c.jpg" width="800" height="534" alt="IMG_0738"></a>

 

[J2G]

Add more garage?

 

[16volt]

Add more garage?

Oh man, I wish. The other side of that coin is that the limited storage space is what keeps me from buying more bad ideas.

 

[ATL_Av8r]

I wish you were closer. I'd give it a good home.

 

[nuron]

I live in Seattle and would love to see this one day! Do you have any interior pictures?

 

[Wilhelm0075]

The E24 is my favorite BMW of all time. Yours is freaking gorgeous. I couldn't let it go if I were you. Just my opinion. My 2004 R32 is the car I just can't sell right now. Every time I say I'm going to, I just can't pull the trigger