Why not go to the source where you will find $7K? (archive)

As many that have been driving over the hill (value wise = 10years/100K miles) BMW's for the last 10 years more or less know that good ones can be bought for 80-100% of TRADE-IN-VALUE based on www.kbb.com which is $7,125 for this car. Hell will freeze over before you will see on a BMW dealer lot is the reason they have so little value.

Do you really want to make the point that the new car you are selling will still look and drive like new perhaps down the road but only be worth 10% of what you are paying for it today?

Even if it is tight in the front end when you drive it do not expect it to be after the bushings rip after you have it upon the rack for a brake job. How many of you had no shimmy until it was on the rack for a while with the wheels hanging down the full travel of the struts?

Old BMW's are just old cars and unless it is 30-40 years old it is just scrap-iron in price. The is no point in being a sucker over a has been but we all know that a worn-out 7 is safer than a new Honda if is more than a fender-bender.

Know what you are in for before you get in and be quite afterwards. I personally never plan to put more in an old BMW than I am willing to walk away from and not loss a night's of sleep over because there is no need to do that. If you want something for nothing then I have not answer that will make you happy.

Nissan (Datsun) served me and my family well for years for peanuts. On a 73 1200 couple that I drove for 175K miles before giving it away I never had to put brakes on the front or rear. At 101K I had to put in a clutch due to a leaking rear main but for peanuts. I had to do the valves 3 times but that was only $50 a pop from the machine shop.

My still drive my 86 hardbody king cab pick-up on trips since it has 100K less miles and is more comfortable seat and leg wise. (I have had both hips replaced and the shape of the 735i seat puts press on both of them and there is not room to fully extend my legs.) Since I seldom drive the truck I keep thinking a window is down or a door is open because of the road noise but it is just the tin box effect. :)

Our children are 4 years old and I really do not like them riding in the jump seats and have never been over a mile from the house with them in the truck. Nearly every time I am out on the interstate running 80-85 MPH and have to get on the brakes hard it wants to get sideways.

It is basic but not safe transportation. I drive it because I bought it with 3K on it in 1987, it is very dependable, it will haul more than the 735i and IT IS PAID FOR! I would not buy another on today because of the safety issue.

Know what you are in for before you get in and be quite afterwards is all I have to say. :)

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