[Alex.Devol]

Hi guys,

I'm looking for some advice on a dilemma i have, after several weeks of intense nerve pain and being unable to do much i have been provisionally diagnosed with degenerative disk disease, pending MRI scan results. It's normal i guess but not particularly for someone of my age. One of the i suppose less serious side effects, but perhaps one of the most traumatic for people like us, is the prospect of having to trade in my car for a for c-max or similar! Unfortunately the harsh reality is that firm suspension, sports seats and road feedback are almost certainly not helping my back problems and so one of the points my neurologist sympathetically raised was i should have a think about which is more important to me, my love for my car or my health.
Herein lies my problem, how do i value a car which i have owned for less than a year but invested into a huge amount of modifications for. I realise that the changes i have made are not going to be to every bodies taste and certainly make it a more difficult sell. stripping it apart would break my heart but I want to recover a good amount of my investment.

Have any of you sold a heavily modified car, have any advice based on experience, or i suppose ideas on how I should be pricing this car?
I bought the car for 30K and have spent in excess of 45k on it in total so i don't want to let go of it cheap and I'm not desperate to get rid of it in a hurry.

have to say i am utterly heartbroken at the thought of selling it, after going through many cars in the last years i really have built this car into the one which i had hoped to keep forever, far worse things happen in the world though i guess.

Anyway i've written up the spec in prep for if it goes on auto trader / piston heads, if any of you want to take a look and give advice see below:


September 2011 (61 reg) LCI e92 coupe, 325d, Auto, 13k miles.

Factory Options
Msport
Auto Paddle Shift Transmission
BMW individual Piano Black interior trim
BMW individual Santorini blue paint
Lemon leather interior
Professional Nav / Idrive
Media Package - Professional
DAB Digital radio
BMW apps
PDC
BMW assist
Interior Lighting Pack
Enhanced Bluetooth telephone functionality
Voice Control
Elec Fold Mirrors
heated seats
comfort access
(everything… if there's something i've missed it probably has it)


Performance mods
BMW performance BBK
Custom Quad tip stainless exhaust.
Quaife Limited slip differential (fitted by Birds garage)
Birds b3.5 / Eibach suspension
Birds b3.5 sway bars
The engine is tuned by DMS from a 325d to that of a remapped 330d from 204hp to 300hp+/-
Matt black 19" vmr v710 reps
Goodyear eagle F1 Asymetric 2 tyres


Cosmetic mods
OEM M3 wing mirrors with real Carbon fibre covers
Prior Design side skirts
Prior Design rear bumper
PP M3 style front wings
OEM M3 side gills + indicators
BMW performance rear spoiler
3m carbon roof wrap + lacquer
Carbon fibre kidney grilles
BMW performance shifter + gaiter
Bmw Performance Handbrake
Carbon fibre centre console
window tints


Audio
Morel Hybrid Ovation II door Speakers (fronts)
Morel Hybrid Ovation II Tweeters (fronts)
Morel Hybrid Integra Coaxial Speaker (centre)
Hertz Energy ECX 100 Coaxial speaker (rears)
Jehnert XE200 8" midbass drivers (underseat)
JBL MS-8
JL XD 600/6 amp Hertz


Aftermarket Security
Viper Alarm System
Viper 2 way LED Pager
Additional Glass Break Sensors
Proximity Sensor


Extras
BBS LM-R 18" wheels
18" Continental WinterContact TS 830 P tyres








So.. what would you do? Mostly, if anyone can advise me how should i go about selling it and for how much that wound be great.
cheers,
alex

[E92Dan]

Such a lovely car. Can you not keep it as a toy and buy something comfy for daily use?

[andyoxon]

WOW I like, I wonder if the wife likes blue?

[Crewchief05]

damn...thats sexy

[Alex.Devol]

Yeah sentiment would tempt me to keep it and buy something cheap to run around in, but i sunk everything i have to spend into this car and the idea was that it would be everything i enjoy about driving in terms of handling and performance but also a perfect daily driver for its economy, reliability etc... the plan was for it to put a smile on my face every day. With that in mind i'm not sure it makes sense to have it as a Sunday car when i could have bought an M3 for less. I guess its probably just a bit too expensive and sensible to have as a toy and not get full use out of.

[E92Dan]

Fair point. Get every penny from it that you can and go buy a daily driver and an M3.

Hope your back improves

[AWBimmer]

Alex,
I can only imagine your sadness with the thought of having to sell the car. I hope it all works out for you since you have done some of the best mods and potentially one of the nicest e92s this side of the pond! Such a beautifully done car!

If you do split parts and I'm sure now's probably not the best time, but I'd be interested in the rear lights, spoiler, viper alarm system (if that's transferable?), LSD and the handbrake gaitor.

[Kerr]

Get well soon.

That is one of the nicest M3 I've seen.

[The_Bear_Yid]

Wow that project moved on since I last saw it!!! Some lovely parts.

So sorry to hear about your situation. It definitely puts you in a hard spot. I think you'll struggle for takers as is. I think ultimately you'll have to strip parts and sell for as near standard as you can.

[mob17]

Originally Posted by AWBimmer

If you do split parts and I'm sure now's probably not the best time, but I'd be interested in the rear lights, spoiler, viper alarm system (if that's transferable?), LSD and the handbrake gaitor.

Haha get in there! By the way i don't think the LSD would fit a 335D?

Hope everything gets better with you Alex, its such a nice car. Can't you just get a softer suspension set up?

[AWBimmer]

Doh!! I thought they would :-( damn 335
Well still going 1st dibs on the others beautiful car!

[Stevese90]

If I was in your position I would sell as much parts as possible then sell the car as I feel that you would lose a lot more money selling it as it. Good luck with your back hope you get well soon. By the way got to say 1 of the best e92 on this forum

[SteveC]

My back pain was so bad I was on strong pain killers every 3 hours, with morphine in between and used to wake at 2am and think about calling an ambulance. I started to lose the use of my right leg

They asked if I had bladder problems, meaning incontinence....I had problems o'right that I couldn't pee 'cos I couldn't relax enough due to the pain!

Nerve blocks....corticosteroids injected into the nerves gave me complete relief for a limited time. Regular, everyday exercise extended that relief to the point I now live a normal life without medication. I drove a Z4M for 2 seasons with no problems whatsoever and currently drive an M-Sport X5 whose suspension is most definitely on the firm side. Go to kspine for a list of exercises

Take some time and see how your treatment goes before selling your car. In my experience, sports seats and firm suspension had virtually no effect on my back and I have 3 vertebrae that cause various problems. Lifting anything heavy will cause weeks of pain but a long drive is no problem. Knowing what I know now, I would certainly not sell a gorgeous car like yours until I'd proven that driving actually causes a problem

[Meshyo]

Damn such a nice car!!!! Part out if prob your best option. Is there really no way you could keep it as a weekender?

[chaz_master]

Originally Posted by Kerr

Get well soon.

That is one of the nicest M3 I've seen.

It's not a M3....

Sad story though. Hopefully you can come back to BMW as a weekend car or something.

[richk84]

My favourite car on here, was looking forward to it getting finished.

Hope you get well soon

[Robin330i]

Sorry to hear about your back and hope things improve health wise.

Did I read correctly in you saying you've spent £45k on the car? That's surely including buying the car yeah?

If you do need to sell up then you will stand a much better chance selling it standard.

[Alex.Devol]

Originally Posted by SteveC

My back pain was so bad I was on strong pain killers every 3 hours, with morphine in between and used to wake at 2am and think about calling an ambulance. I started to lose the use of my right leg

They asked if I had bladder problems, meaning incontinence....I had problems o'right that I couldn't pee 'cos I couldn't relax enough due to the pain!

Nerve blocks....corticosteroids injected into the nerves gave me complete relief for a limited time. Regular, everyday exercise extended that relief to the point I now live a normal life without medication. I drove a Z4M for 2 seasons with no problems whatsoever and currently drive an M-Sport X5 whose suspension is most definitely on the firm side. Go to kspine for a list of exercises

Take some time and see how your treatment goes before selling your car. In my experience, sports seats and firm suspension had virtually no effect on my back and I have 3 vertebrae that cause various problems. Lifting anything heavy will cause weeks of pain but a long drive is no problem. Knowing what I know now, I would certainly not sell a gorgeous car like yours until I'd proven that driving actually causes a problem

Thanks for that advice, driving posture is definitely aggravating it and along with sitting at a desk all day and night has caused separate issues like sciatica which has prompted a few car swaps although never to anything too sensible, the 3ers seats are actually the best I've found for comfort, but these recent symptoms have come from nowhere and are completely crippling as you say, supposedly nerve damage related from compacted disks I'm my lower back. Anyhow your points about exercise and physical therapy are probably right and Its reassuring to know that someone in a similar position is still driving around. how do you find the x5 seating?

[Alex.Devol]

Originally Posted by Robin330i

Sorry to hear about your back and hope things improve health wise.

Did I read correctly in you saying you've spent 45k on the car? That's surely including buying the car yeah?

If you do need to sell up then you will stand a much better chance selling it standard.

Hah yes that's including purchase!

Thanks to everyone for the comments about the car. part out seems to be the general opinion.

[sives]

Get well soon Mate.

One of my Favorite E9X cars on this forum. The colour is so nice, would love too own one with this colour.

I agree with part outing with the mods, as you should make most of it back.

good luck with it mate.

[Josh1a1h]

Mate, I am sorry to hear about your problems! This is terribly unfortunate and I can imagine how frustrated you must be.

I doubt the modifications would add much to the cars value, but parting out should get a nicer chunk of your money back.

Good luck with it.
Definitely try and keep it first mate. Change out for softer seat as well as suspension?

[drsilvershot]

Just be sure your diagnosis is correct.


"What do you call the medical student who finishes last in his class?"
..... A Doctor :-)