RE: Thanks and another question

["Fadeev, Alex" <Alex.Fadeev@xxxxxxx>]

Joel Gallun <joel@domain.elided> asks:
>
> Today I looked at a 89 325i with 135K. The owner is asking 
> $4500 for it.

good price!

> It seems sound to me other than a few things: leaking 
> steering rack,

$300? for a rebuild rack + labor.

> bad thermostat

$15 for 80C thermostat + 10 minutes to swap them out.
Are you sure it's the thermostat?

> flaky OBC (bad ground maybe?)

if not, a spare used OBC is $50-100 

> some rust-thru on the cat housing,

This will hurt: $600+ on an after market cat + labor.

> drivers seat cover was worn out, torn shift boot, 

this is to be expected. Both items can be had for around $50. The latter is
much, much, MUCH easier to replace then the former.

> missing foglamps

$80 each only from the dealer

> and the ever-popular shimmy at 55MPH.

could be a ton of things (from control arm bushings, to control arms
themselves, to un-balanced wheels, etc)

> Does $4500 seem like a reasonable price? 

After listing all of the problems, I would now suggest that the car is way
overpriced. 
You will spend months and $K's fixing it up. 

> Should I hold out for a 325is?

Not necessarily, but I would hold out for a less neglected E30 is a better
shape. 

happy hunting,
alex f

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