FS: 1989 320I 22,000km

[82eye]

Originally Posted by nuts4bmw Dale, you're right on all counts. A four door 320i automatic is basic transportation, and in this case like you said, low mileage transportation, and there is nothing wrong with that. I'd still buy this car in a heartbeat rather than a run-of-the-mill ford, GM, Chrysler,toyota, or whatever, but that's just me.

+1, total agreement.

The hassle is most potential buyers aren't going to look at it from that point of view. They're just going to look at the low km then try and lowball it on the age factor. It's the km that'll attract them, most of the buyers for this car could care less if it's GM, Toyota, etc. Actually it'd sell in a nanosecond if it was a Toyota or Honda. F'ing shame really.

[nuts4bmw]

Originally Posted by 82eye +1, total agreement. The hassle is most potential buyers aren't going to look at it from that point of view. They're just going to look at the low km then try and lowball it on the age factor. It's the km that'll attract them, most of the buyers for this car could care less if it's GM, Toyota, etc. Actually it'd sell in a nanosecond if it was a Toyota or Honda. F'ing shame really.

Yup! and for maybe even more money because they are so much more popular......there probably isn't even a 20 year old Honda or Toyota on the planet that has such low km's come to think of it....at least not in North America, Japan maybe.

[1989E34M5]

Rook and Euro you obviously havent seen the cars I have brought in from Japan, there is some junk out there no doubt, but if the car has been in undercover storage or garaged in Japan the cars are immaculate, My M5 is probably one of the nicest ones in the lower mainland, not bragging, just stating a fact. take notice of all the rubber on this car and the injection system air bleed adjuster limiter caps (yellow) are still on, this car had 59,000 km on it when I brought it in. anyone want to take a bet on dried out rubber ???? im in

[nuts4bmw]

I've seen Brian's car........it is absolutley beautiful, which shows that even older cars from Japan can be a really good buy.

[Mr. Red]

beautiful m5! how hard is it to source a euro m3 from japan?

[JimB]

Unique isn't just a body style or a mechanical spec. In this case it is unique because it has extremely low mileage. A car can be uinque because it's a rare colour!
On the issue of everything rubber is dried out, I had found a 1990 E30 Me Cabrio I purchased from Switzerland back in 1999. It has 2,400 klms. I owned it until June '09 and put on another 9,000 klms. That car had absolutely NO leaks, rattles or bumps. Mind you, when I got it I made a point of treating all rubber I could find. But my point is, you wil always hear people say low mileage cars are all dried up, which is the same as saying all red trucks are fire trucks.

Just my opinion of course

Jim

[1989E34M5]

I agree Jim, not all red trucks are firetrucks. on the M3 front they are hard to source and expensive! but there are some very low km pristine cars there if you are willing to pay. similar condition to my M5 would set you back between 25-30G, too much money in my opinion. you have to really watch what you buy and when you buy it, no use paying too much for a car when you can find a better one deal wise, you have to be patient. that is why i have all but stopped bringing vehicles in, they are too expensive there and people here are not willing to pay the price. simple math really, this 320I is a good example of what I mean, no one wants to pay 8G for a pristine car with low km, the car market is just very soft rite now, heck you can get a 2 for 1 deal on a brand new dodge/Chrysler out of the US.

[JimB]

Well, to sell en masse is quite different than my situation was. I had many guys come up to me and ask if I would sell her...but most were really just dreamers. Eventually one guy came along and offered $30k more than anybody else had.
So, I could afford to say no

Jim

[1989E34M5]

Hey Jim did you have that M3 convertible?

[JimB]

This was mine....
Sorry I should have said owned it until June 08.



Jim

[1989E34M5]

Did you sell it locally or overseas?

[JimB]

A guy from the US bought it for his private collection.
JIm

[Mr. Red]

Hey Brian, thanks for all the interesting info! I was wondering, what is the process to get a Japanese car federalized here? is it harder/easier than importing from the states? Thanks!

[nuts4bmw]

Holy Cow Jim that was one gorgeous M3 you had there!!!

[1989E34M5]

about federalizing cars in Canada, cars imported from other countries except the US, have to be at least 15 years old, have to go through MVI, cars newer than 1990 must have DRL and high mount brake lights, all glass and lights must be DOT. Thats why it cost so much to import a car in from Japan, and there is big risk if you dont know what you are doing or who you are dealing with. you import a car without DOT compliant glass, throw it away. replace tires on almost every vehicle. shipping around 1g, tires brokerage, some minor repairs another 1g, and dont forget your 20% for GST,PST and duties. It aint cheap thats why it pisses me when someone offers you some rediculously low price for a car brought in from Japan. People have this notion all the extras dont cost that much, BS take a 3G car and turn it into 6G after all the shipping taxes, repairs etc. and you dont make any profit. Some people also have this idea you can bring them up from the US cheap, good luck, hit the border and watch the bills pile up. I brought in some Benz SL's and was selling them for 20-25G these cars were pristine under 50,000km's, federalized etc. some idiots come and offer 15, telling me they can buy a 98 or 99 SL out of the states for 15, told them better go buy it, its 15 US, then GST, PST, duty is more on a newer car, dont forget your airfare, time, and repairs on top, aint such a hot deal after all. just an example of how expensive some cars are to fix a set of DOT left hand drive headlights for an SL is $500.00, if the roof doesnt work, the module another 3G, oh and DRL set up on a SL around 2G, US cars dont have DRL's. As far as importing cars from Japan look out, I know guys that got poor condition cars as noted by some people on the forum, rubber completely gone, paint sun bleached etc. or better yet send your $$$ and get stiffed completely, dont laugh happened to a coworker of mine! That is why I want a decent $$$ for the cars I import. I usually have buyers set up before I bring them in, I have taken the time and $$ to cultivate a good buisness relationship with 1 buyer and have spent a lot of my own hard earned $$$ flying to Japan, going to the auction first hand to see what its all about. Most vehicles sold out of Japan on the auctions have not ever been inspected by the companies selling them, they are going only by the auction grade, and what the vehicle is graded at varies greatly from auction to auction. My buyer goes to the auction, personnaly inspects the vehicle then sends me pictures and gives me his opinion before I buy, or in the case of this car found it outside the auction on a private lot. If you want to search some prices google carview japan, these are retail listings and are a little high in my opinion.