BMW E12 Values

[e28525e]

Evening all

I have an E12 528 (carb, manual) which I've owned for a few years. No idea on market value and need to get an agreed value on it. Also looking to sell at some point. Possibly maybe.

Any ideas where it sits with regards to value?

[g3org3y]

I suppose bodywork would be an important factor, is it rust free?

[e28525e]

Yes, as much as can be expected on one of these. I had the body restored to a good standard a couple of years ago. Screens out and back to metal. There is a very slight bubbling under the paint on a couple of door corners but that's about it. Unfortunately, doors are no longer available. Mine were repaired with new metal. The underneath is excellent.

[Mark-Clio182Trophy]

Hard to say without seeing but I'd be wanting an agreed insurance value of at least £15K given how values of E12 / E28 have gone. Maybe ask BMW Tony? Tony Chamberlain is a wealth of E12 knowledge and runs the M535i register. He's a very nice chap too.

[The Conflated Outlier]

E12's are generally worth a bit less than the E28. They aren't as good a car and parts are an absolute nightmare now. I had one in for some work a year or so ago - two front dampers and a sinking brake pedal. Both the master cylinder and remote servos were all fked. A pair of new dampers came from Sweden and I had to convert it from twin servos to the later single servo set up. It took about 100 emails to find these bits. Nothing was found in the UK.

A carb 528 will have either twin 35/40 Solexes or the dreadful four barrel 4A1 Solex.

A manual box does help.

Condition is everything. Most of them were scrap 30 years ago - rotten, knackered cam, shagged suspension and a drivers seat that looked like it lost a fight with a bear. I bought one for £100 in 1995 and they were rare then. Put some pics up!

[Mark-insert old BMW]

Lots of stuff available via main dealer and W&N.

https://www.wallothnesch.com/en/partfinder/index/i...

I bought a really early 520 about 10 years ago for £400. Just sold by someone else for £12K back in June. I wish I'd kept it. Personally I think E12 are great cars. Especially is 528/535 form.

[alabbasi]

I owned an E12, 81 528i and I loved driving that car more than any car I've ever owned (and I currently own a CL65, V8V, SL55, Continental R, 928S4, E24 M635csi and E28 M5 and a few others).

It wasn't the fastest and it does did handle the best. It was just a delight.

[e28525e]

Thankyou for the input everyone, some good points made. I have not had problems with any parts, I only struggled with 2 pieces of chrome trim. Everything else is still available at from BMW or specialists!

The 4a1 seems to be a very fine carb in all honesty. So long as it's set up correctly and the air cleaner bolt is tapped into the inlet manifold and doesn't rely purely on the carb base plate to hold the tension. The one on mine ran well for over 110k miles. I have now had a brand new one fitted so should do another 100k miles!

I understand that E12's don't have quite the same following as E28's. As such, I have listed it at just under £18k (nice examples of M30 E28's are up to £10k more!)