M5 (E34 1990)

[mudplugger]

I am second owner from new of a Macao BMW M5 E34 1990/G. I bought it in 1996. It has covered just 80,000 miles from new with full BMW main dealer service history. Bodywork and interior both look good and it has a recent set of Yokohama tyres fitted.

Sounds good? Now for the bad bit...

In December 2001 the car suffered a light fire in its transmission tunnel when the catalytic converter sprung a leak and caught the sound-deadening alight. I tried to extinguish it (four extinguishers) but only succeeded in containing it until the fire brigade arrived. They extinguished it very quickly with the aid of a large hose.

Subsequently I was recovered to hospital with smoke inhalation and the car to my garage where I prompty stuck a dehumidifier in it and kept running that for several weeks until there was not one drip of moisture remaining. Looking at the car the only visible damage is some melted carpet adjacent to the transmission tunnel and a reluctance for the heater controls to operate.

I was persuaded by a couple of lads who run a garage that they would fix it up again for cash for labour etc and so I delivered it to them in September 2002 together with a cash advance to cover any parts required. They have subsequently made very little progress with the car other than (I am told) to replace a cracked rear section of the gearbox and remove the heater box. To my mind that's not much progress for 2 years and they are now saying that they cannot complete teh work because they cannot obtain a second-hand heater box for the car.

Its apparent to me that I am being 'had' by these two and they are nowing saying that they want me to take the car away, incomplete, and do with it as I choose. I have no use for it any more, having long since bought another car, so I want to sell it.

As far as I know, all the major mechanical components are still 100%. So, the question, what's it worth?

And I'd love to post pictures to help answer that question but the car's 150 miles from home and I haven't seen it since I dropped it off there 2 years ago.

Anybody got any ideas?

[m-five]

It's probably better to scrap it and sell the parts!

The engine is probably worth £1500, and the gearbox another £1000.

The alloys/tyres will net another £500.

The interior another £500-£750.

In all you could end up with £4000 for it, which is not far off what it is probably worth as a fire damaged motor!

[mudplugger]

To answer the emails, the car is light grey inside with a full motorsport half-leather / half-motorsport-cloth interior. The seats are 3 position electric, with memory on driver's side. The memory also operates both door mirrors too. All the interior is, as far as I can see, fine except for the melt-marks (about the size of a fist) on either side of the transmission tunnel.

It looks as though the best bet may be to sell the car as a whole though as, while breaking it may get me more money, its hassle that I could well do without.

I am led to believe that, if the interior was refitted, it would drive away (albeit with neither heater nor MoT). I haven't seen it for two years though and only have the mechanic's word to go on.

So, does anybody want to make me a sensible offer for the whole car, as it stands? Its near Cambridge at present but I could possibly be persuaded to deliver it using my Land Rover for the cost of fuel and trailer hire.