Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

So hard to value, especially with so little stock for sale in the second hand market right now to be able to compare. If I wasn't piling money into a knackered old e34 I'd be interested.

I know you've spent a boatload and I'm not sure there's a better person to buy a car from so good luck with the sale. Does this mean you're set on the E63?

There are a couple on eBay right now, both on 150,000 miles and both at £9,000.

One of the members of MB Club UK had one of those inspected - the inspection came back as "do NOT buy this car, the odometer reads 125,000 but the onboard computer says 260,000".

And, for your £9,000, you get this lot:

Battery negative loose - refitted
Pollen filter case incorrectly fitted - refitted
Battery clamp missing
Heater flap clicking on start up
Parking sensors inop
Top rocker covers leaking oil
Headlights clouding over and have condensation inside
Both front fog lights showing water ingress
N S F jacking point missing
O S inner arch panel not fitted correctly
Headlight level link broken (previously been cable tied)
N S F arch liner damaged
N S R brake binding
Rear arches rusting
Both front torque arm bushes psplit
O S R box joints splitting
Outside temp sensors inop - no plugs visible
General rust to rear end - see photos

Then you move onto Japanese imports - lower mileage and (crucially) no rust underneath to the floor and the subframe, they're £14,000 landed, but then you need to sort the stereo, fog-lights, and of course get it thoroughly undersealed to survive in the UK, and they'll never be worth what a UK car is.

Which is why I initially thought £16,000 sounded fair.