Depending on FMV feedback, this will be my next Challenge build. Pix below from 2018. Car hasn't moved from this spot and looks 7 years worse, but i don't have current pix.
Back in 2012, my nephew bought a 1990 325i manual coupe (does that make it a 325is?). He drove it for a couple years, then life demanded he get a pickup truck and somewhere around 2017 he parked the E30 in a field near Harpers Ferry WV, where it sits to this day.
If it was nice, it would surely be a desirable and probably expensive car. However, it is most decidedly not nice.
The good (though not necessarily *Challenge* good): it's a late E30 coupe with the M20B25, black on black, manual.
The bad: rust in rear valance (and who knows where else after sitting in a field for 8 years). Exhaust system rotten off. Pass rear quarter pushed in from B-pillar to wheel arch. Interior has become home to assorted field vermin. Car hasn't been driven since 2017. Last known engine start was October 2018 when I jumped it off my E60.
I propose a Challenge FMV of $500. Looking for 5 Challenge veterans to agree.
[begin pix from 2018]
Why am I asking the hive for FMV? Because he's giving the car to me to keep it in the family. It's been sitting in his parents' yard for 7 years, and they're tired of it being there.
I could see $500 being a reasonable price. Rust and interior smells definitely bring the value down.
I'm not a Challenge veteran but I think $500 is generous. More like $100 because that's tops what it'd go for when the scrappers came out.
Mr_Asa
MegaDork
9/19/25 7:52 p.m.
I'm seeing similar ones go for 2-3x more, but the vermin infestation and concern about starting drops that significantly for me.
I'm good with $500, if you wanna consider me a veteran.
Kendall Frederick said:
I'm not a Challenge veteran but I think $500 is generous. More like $100 because that's tops what it'd go for when the scrappers came out.
I agree. I threw $500 out there only because it's a desirable car, albeit a poor example of one. I couldn't find any examples as rough as this one to establish my own FMV, so I'm asking for the experience and wisdom of the hive to back me up. I'd certainly be OK with a lower number. 🤘🏻
Mr_Asa said:
I'm seeing similar ones go for 2-3x more, but the vermin infestation and concern about starting drops that significantly for me.
I'm good with $500, if you wanna consider me a veteran.
I'm seeing similar models, but not similar condition.
So I've got 2 at $500, with someone Challenge-adjacent willing to go a good bit lower. Looking forward to hearing additional opinions.
Mr_Asa
MegaDork
9/19/25 9:21 p.m.
AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) said:
Mr_Asa said:
I'm seeing similar ones go for 2-3x more, but the vermin infestation and concern about starting drops that significantly for me.
I'm good with $500, if you wanna consider me a veteran.
I'm seeing similar models, but not similar condition.
I saw a couple on various BMW forums within the past 2-3 years, one on Reddit for what that's worth. Figured anything in the post-covid era was valid for a price point.
Unless it requires a tube frame because the entire chassis is gone from rust I have a hard time imagining any E30 has a Fair Marker Value of under $1000. At least I've not seen any for anything close to that.
Would I PAY more then $500 for a biohazard rusty BMW E30? No not when decent project chassis can be had for 3x that amount.
And that's the issue. We are CHEAP PEOPLE so we routinely undervalue FMV to an unbelievable point. We don't actually use a fair MARKET value, we tend to use an AGREED Challenge Value. Which is fine I guess.
Without putting in the legwork to provide actual documentation showing that a Junky E30 is worth $1500 and this one is actually only worh 33% of what "E30 Project cars" seem to be worth in my area, and that for real that that car is only worth $100 above the going scrap value I cannot support $500. The car shown would list for $1500+ here and I imagine sell for $900-1000.
nocones said:
The car shown would list for $1500+ here and I imagine sell for $900-1000.
I agree but the car isn't shown above. That's it years ago. There's not legit way to judge it's FMV until/unless AC post current pictures.
Stampie said:
nocones said:
The car shown would list for $1500+ here and I imagine sell for $900-1000.
I agree but the car isn't shown above. That's it years ago. There's not legit way to judge it's FMV until/unless AC post current pictures.
Right which is my point. What is shown is what we know. That's a $1000 car. AC needs to prove that it's not.
nocones said:
Stampie said:
nocones said:
The car shown would list for $1500+ here and I imagine sell for $900-1000.
I agree but the car isn't shown above. That's it years ago. There's not legit way to judge it's FMV until/unless AC post current pictures.
Right which is my point. What is shown is what we know. That's a $1000 car. AC needs to prove that it's not.
Yeah, nocones is right. I didn't show current pix because the field did a full resto on it in the 8 years it's been sinking up to the LCAs. 🤘🏻
In reply to AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) :
If you were looking at a car online and the seller said "Pictures from 7 years ago" would you buy it based on that? That's basically what you're asking us to do.
How about donated to the school and the kids build a challenge car?
Stampie said:
In reply to AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) :
If you were looking at a car online and the seller said "Pictures from 7 years ago" would you buy it based on that? That's basically what you're asking us to do.
Fair. When I go get the car in a few weeks, I'll post current pix.
No help on FMV. Just came here to savor the image of Angry teaching hs. Lucky kids, unless they're E36 M3heads, in which case luckier kids.
Marjorie Suddard said:
No help on FMV. Just came here to savor the image of Angry teaching hs. Lucky kids, unless they're E36 M3heads, in which case luckier kids.
Thanks Margie! I am doing my best. They're all good kids, and they all want to be there, even the ones who avoid participating.
nocones said:
We don't actually use a fair MARKET value, we tend to use an AGREED Challenge Value.
ACV, coming to a ruleset near you!
gumby said:
nocones said:
We don't actually use a fair MARKET value, we tend to use an AGREED Challenge Value.
ACV, coming to a ruleset near you!
I like that it has AC in it!
Based on how many similar cars are scraped for $300 because they are sitting dead in a yard, and 90 percent of the US population does not have a clue that we 10 percenters consider it to be of greater value, i agree with $500.
AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) said:
gumby said:
nocones said:
We don't actually use a fair MARKET value, we tend to use an AGREED Challenge Value.
ACV, coming to a ruleset near you!
I like that it has AC in it!
Coincidental, double entendre'd, backronym is sadly accurate.
gumby said:
AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) said:
gumby said:
nocones said:
We don't actually use a fair MARKET value, we tend to use an AGREED Challenge Value.
ACV, coming to a ruleset near you!
I like that it has AC in it!
Coincidental, double entendre'd, backronym is sadly accurate.
Accurate for sure, as the rule has been applied by this forum over the years. Why is it sadly accurate?
madmrak351 said:
Based on how many similar cars are scraped for $300 because they are sitting dead in a yard, and 90 percent of the US population does not have a clue that we 10 percenters consider it to be of greater value, i agree with $500.
There's 3 challengers who agree with proposed FMV of $500.
I'm no challenge veteran or even attendee, I enjoy reading all the challenge build threads though!
Considering this one for $200 was the closest equivalent to your car in questions, I think $500 is fair.
https://macon.craigslist.org/pts/d/alamo-1989-bmw-convertible/7873150281.html
