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BringATrailer.com readers point out a dealer in Ohio who has 14 BMW e30 M3's in stock, many with low miles and solid maintenance. Pricing is as one would expect for a dealership, but how can you beat the selection?!
dc
Paul and I braved the 100 degree heat to check out the sweetest 356's in Pacific Northwest at the Parts Obsolete Campout. This has to be one of the coolest shows to attend all year because the atmosphere is totally laid back and it's almost more of a social gathering than a car show. Not to mention the incredible access to the property that houses the Parts Obsolete business.
The pictures tell the story better than I do, check them out below. And of course, I made sure to take pictures of all the for sale cars too!
dc
If you're like me and grew up lusting after unusual European sports models, the Alfa Romeo Milano Verde is on your list - the list of cool cars of course. I love the odd angles, old world suspension, and the oh-so-80's gaudy molding running the entire hip-line of the Milano. But the Verde ups the ante not only with special fit Recaro interior with every whacky 80's feature they could install, it also has the larger and more sporting 3.0L engine. When new in 1987, specs like 180hp and 0-60 in 7.7 seconds were very respectable. And with Super Unleaded running around $4.50 right now, the 35mpg highway looks appealing today.
1987 Alfa Romeo Milano Verde 3.0 on eBayMotors:
quote from the eBay listing:
Here is a rare car with ALOT of upgrades. There has been tons of work and money put into this car. Its a ALFA ROMEO MILANO 3.0 Verde.
super nice recaro seats, they have been redone at some point with factory material.
I'm not really feeling the DVD player and carbon fiber accents that have been added, as I think period correct updates would be more fitting. I do really like the wheels shown on the car in most of the pictures. Unfortunately the listing states they are not included, but that the car will come with some old school Zender rims -- which if they're in good shape, would be a period correct wheel and probably pretty desirable themselves.
Finally, this auction is no reserve with a starting bid of $3k. There is a buy-it-now shown for $6500 and only 3 days remaining. If this car slips under the radar and someone can snag it for close to $3k, that would be a stellar buy. On the other hand, $6500 looks really fair too.
Read more about the Alfa Romeo 75 (as it's known everywhere else in the world but in the states) on Wikipedia and about the Verde specifically on Bruce Timberlake's Verde page. Or check out other Alfa's that have been previously featured on dancrouchblog.com
dc
Dr. Paul from Sports Car Shop has given the 535i a clean bill of health and proclaimed her the buy of the year! While that might be a bit dramatic, Shana and I are still really enjoying our new purchase. Yesterday we went wine tasting at Benton Lane and Tyee, and the modern classic e28 was right at home on the back roads and rubbing shoulders with Merc SL's and Infiniti's at the wineries.
The car will need mufflers and front end suspension work soon to be as well mannered as she looks. But otherwise it's proving to be great transportation at a bargain price.
Here's a recent glamour shot from an evening photoshoot for practice:
It's a bit noisey at full resolution (Old Canon 10D doesn't like low light), but I'm happy with the result anyway!
Stay tuned for more e28 Family Car updates.
dc
Only 56k miles on this very early Lotus Esprit. Looks like a really fun car!
1977 LOTUS Esprit S1 on Portland Craigslist:
quote from CL posting:
Custom Connelly Leather and wood interior. New tires. 24 mpg 140 MPH. Manheim Gold Book says $17,000 for excellent. $13,000 for good. $25,000 for show. I think this is close to excellent. More than $35,000 invested. 56,000 miles
I will sell it this weekend to the best offer over $10,000
I had to check Wikipedia on the S1 to know all the specs on this car. Under 2200 pounds, 140hp engine, and mid-engined. What other exotic could you buy for $10k with these kinds of credentials and pedigree?
Ed, is this the same twin cam that was fitted to your Jensen?
dc
If you haven't heard yet, there is an epic thread on VWVortex about the guy who got his Audi booted in his own housing development by Arizona Parking Solutions and took matters into his own hands by moving his car with the boots on into his garage via jacks and dolly's. Brilliant!
Unfortunately, the original thread was locked and a new forum, The Parking Enforcement Forum, has been created to continue the diary of this victim's tale. Very entertaining! Best of luck to the original poster!
dc
This car has received lots of love by someone who is very obviously a huge e28 fanatic! The time and effort to convert the front end isn't that easy to do or source. The list of important maintenance makes the 108k miles a non-issue. And those recovered seats look fantastic!
1988 BMW e28 M5 Euro Conversion For Sale on Roadfly:
quote from ad:
1988 M5 Euro Conversion
108,146 miles
$17,500- Euro Bumper conversion (Brand new bumpers and all associated parts purchased from BMW, not some old rusty parts)
- Euro headlights w/working wipers and factory reservoir (Powder coated with new trim rings and Euro factory harness, not a butcher job)
- Euro turns and fogs (Brand new units purchased from BMW)
- Hartge replica front spoiler (Brand new)
- Zender rear valence
- New black leather front seats (Brand new leather)
- Crack free dash
- Strut braces on the front and rear shock towers
- Koni Sport (Yellow) adjustable front and rear dampers
- New spring pads
- New strut mount bearings front and rear
- Front camber plates
- H&R springs
- E34 M5 big brakes front and rear, powder coated black
- New rotors and pads front and rear
- New parking brake
- Dinan chip
- Rear headrests
- Metric Mechanic Sport Exhaust
[...]
I think the $17.5k asking price will scare off many casual onlookers. But for a true e28 M5 enthusiast, this M5 has just about everything you could want short of having a real euro import.
Like the black e28 but can't swing the asking? You could go the opposite direction with this 85 535i for $1200 
Quite a swing in value considering they're on the same platform!
Update: Also listed on Bring A Trailer
dc
As usual, I'm a sucker for low mileage, modern classic sports cars. This classic Porsche 928 fits the bill with only 35k miles. The 86 S model is one of those odd combination middle-year cars that got the updated 32 valve motor that was slated for the 87 S4 models, but hadn't received the updated bodywork yet. I always liked the funkier early tail lamps anyway!
1986 PORSCHE 928S, 35,000 ORIGINAL MILES, SHOWROOM on eBaymotors
quote from eBay listing:
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE FIND, A 1986 PORSCHE 928S WITH 35,000 ACTUAL MILES, THE CAR IS SHOWROOM NEW, EXCELLENT FACTORY ORIGINAL PAINT, THERE IS NOT A DING IN THIS CAR, NO SCRATCHES, SHINES LIKE NEW, FLAWLESS ORIGINAL BLACK LEATHER INTERIOR, RUNS AND DRIVES LIKE BRAND NEW, AC IS ICE COLD, CAR IS SUPER TIGHT
[...]
Currently the high bid is $9600, reserve not met. Leave a comment with a value you think is fair.
dc
This car was apparently in storage since 1985 and sports only 33k miles!
1970 BMW 2002 Roundie For Sale on Roadfly for $13k:
quote from ad:
This car is a time capsule. Bought new in Riverside, California in 1970 by a teacher, who only drove it back and forth to school. He parked it in his garage in 1985, and there it sat until now. This car has original interior, original paint, original blue plates (current), 4 speed, dealer installed A/C (Frigiking), no radio or sunroof. All factory stickers intact.
Car looks very sharp and reasonably priced. But if you need an even cleaner 1970 Roundie, check out this Atlantik Blue 1970 BMW 2002 previously listed (and still for sale) listing on dancrouchblog.com
dc
Update 1.12.10: Dennis email me to tell us that he is the current owner of the car and here are some recent pictures from the local Cars and Coffee event. Thanks for the update Dennis!
Update: This listing is very out of date. Why not check out one of these barn finds on eBay right now:
 | US $50,134.34 (21 Bids) End Date: Thursday Mar-11-2010 18:44:04 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
 | US $22,450.00 (45 Bids) End Date: Friday Mar-12-2010 18:30:00 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
 | US $16,600.00 (21 Bids) End Date: Thursday Mar-11-2010 17:53:41 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
 | US $16,301.01 (4 Bids) End Date: Friday Mar-12-2010 11:16:45 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
 | US $10,500.00 End Date: Wednesday Mar-31-2010 17:29:23 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $10,500.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
 | US $10,100.00 (2 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 20:11:29 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $18,500.00 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list |
 | US $10,000.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 18:29:09 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
 | US $7,000.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 16:51:52 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
 | US $5,950.00 End Date: Monday Mar-22-2010 9:55:58 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $5,950.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
 | US $4,500.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Mar-11-2010 14:11:54 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
 | US $3,900.00 End Date: Friday Mar-26-2010 17:44:26 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $3,900.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
 | US $3,900.00 End Date: Friday Apr-09-2010 12:30:14 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $3,900.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
 | US $3,500.00 End Date: Friday Apr-09-2010 11:06:14 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $3,500.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
 | US $3,000.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 1:14:50 PST Bid now | Add to watch list |
 | US $2,500.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Monday Mar-15-2010 16:25:32 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
 | US $2,400.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Mar-11-2010 14:28:25 PST Buy It Now for only: US $2,500.00 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list |
 | US $2,130.00 (6 Bids) End Date: Tuesday Mar-16-2010 20:15:00 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
 | US $1,990.00 (2 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 20:00:00 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
 | US $1,976.00 (12 Bids) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 20:10:03 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
 | US $1,700.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 10:02:47 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
Update 6.19.08 - Still for sale, price down to $21850.
Blair recently posted one of these while I was on vacation, and this model has been on my mind ever since -- Especially if in the market for a modern classic German tourer, I don't see how you could look past a good example of a Mercedes w124 500E. I suspect maintenance and parts are just as expensive as that of the S4, otherwise known as the price of admission. But the presence of this car is still really striking in person, not to mention the pedigree of these cars speak for themselves.
1993 Mercedes Benz 500E in Portland, Oregon on Craigslist for $22850
1993 Mercedes/ Porsche 500E *Very Rare/ Numbered!
Only 72k miles.
All service history.. Clean title, clean carfax, no wrecks. Babied & garaged.. the nicest 500E you will ever find!
18" Chrome AMG wheels etc...The 500E was a limited edition sports sedan developed in conjunction with Porsche. The Mercedes 500E was based on the popular 300E model which had been released in 1986. Each 500E was transported back and forth between the Mercedes plant and Porsche's Rossle-Bau plant in Zuffenhausen during assembly and hand built, taking a full 18 days to complete each model. It was produced between 1992-94 in which time approximately 7200 cars were built, with only 1505 total cars imported to the U.S.
Besides a totally new engine, the 500E was also equipped with a hydraulic self-leveling suspension, 11.8 inch vented discs in the front and 10.9 inchers in the back, wider wheels and tires and shorter and stiffer springs which lowered the 500E nearly an inch over the 300E. While the resulting slalom time is nothing to boast about (61 mph), the 500E still manages a healthy 0.84g on the skidpad and a sports-car-like 116 ft stopping distance. The engine was the same unit used in the 500SL but with a Bosch LH Jetronic fuel injection replacing the KE Jetronic and a redesigned intake manifold with longer runners that resulted in an additional 22 lb-ft of torque over that powerplant.
With 322HP and 354 lb-ft of torque on tap combined with 2.82 gearing caused 60 to come in less than 6 seconds and the car was electronically limited to 155. The W124 chassis was fortified with Porsche's help to ensure this car performed flawlessly in all aspects. Adaptive rear shocks and subtly flared fenders conceal the 225/55/16 Z-rated rubber on newly added 18" AMG wheels. Virtually every possible option available on a W124 is standard. Four bolstered sport seats replace the conventional 2 front 3 rear configuration of other E-class cars. This is perhaps the most desirable and collectable Mercedes of the last 20 years.
I quoted the entire ad because the seller does a good job of describing what makes the 500E special. And I think he may be right that the 500E could be the most desirable and collectable car of the last 20 years -- in the United States. In the world, I think you'd have to consider the 190E 2.3-16 Evolution models and other homogolation specials.
$23k probably sounds like a lot for a car of this vintage. Actually, check that, it is a lot. But I've seen examples even higher than this. If it's as nice as he describes, has full documentation, serviced air ride suspension and had the wiring harness replaced... It's probably worth it for someone who's been looking for a good one.
dc
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