1985 BMW E28 525e - The OAP…
Discussion
Evening 
18 years ago when I was an apprentice mechanic my boss had an E28 M535i which he would let me use to go and get the bacon rolls on a Saturday morning. I loved that car and ever since then have wanted an E28.
In those 18 years I’ve had in excess of 50 cars but never an E28. They’ve just sort of fallen by the wayside a little, however a few weeks ago I made the decision to hand my company car back. I barely use it and it costs me around £250 a month in company car tax. That meant I needed to find a new “daily”. I always have a few different cars that I search for every so often and the E28 is one of them. There are never many for sale and generally the ones that are out there fall into two categories. Really effing expensive or absolutely rotten & really effing expensive! However on this occasion I spotted one that I hadn’t seen advertised before. It was over on Car and Classic. A well written advert with plenty of pictures and it wasn’t rotten, or really effing expensive! I messaged the owner and got plenty more info and a load more pictures showing every angle of the car. We chatted for a few days, videos of the car were sent etc and then we agreed a deal. This was all done via phone calls and text because the car was in Glasgow and I live in Surrey!
So yesterday was the day. My Brother and I flew up to Glasgow first thing yesterday morning, Glenn (the owner) picked us up from the airport and drove us the 30 miles back to his house where the car was waiting As we pulled up to his house I was grinning from ear to ear. It looked brilliant and I couldn’t wait to jump in and drive it home! Glenn ran through everything with me, made sure I was happy with it all and then off we went. Now it’s been a few years since I’ve driven anything this old so it was a bit of a shock to the system initially but within half an hour or so I was more than happy with everything.
Anyway, here it is. My brother took this just before we left. I forgot to take a “first fill up” picture as it was absolutely pouring with rain and blowing a gale so I just wanted to get back in the car haha!
We left Glenns house around 1pm and I walked through the front door around 9.15pm. We stopped a couple of times to go to the toilet and get food so all in all it wasn’t a bad drive back. The car does need a couple of bits sorting which we’re a little annoying but I’ll go through those in a bit
18 years ago when I was an apprentice mechanic my boss had an E28 M535i which he would let me use to go and get the bacon rolls on a Saturday morning. I loved that car and ever since then have wanted an E28.
In those 18 years I’ve had in excess of 50 cars but never an E28. They’ve just sort of fallen by the wayside a little, however a few weeks ago I made the decision to hand my company car back. I barely use it and it costs me around £250 a month in company car tax. That meant I needed to find a new “daily”. I always have a few different cars that I search for every so often and the E28 is one of them. There are never many for sale and generally the ones that are out there fall into two categories. Really effing expensive or absolutely rotten & really effing expensive! However on this occasion I spotted one that I hadn’t seen advertised before. It was over on Car and Classic. A well written advert with plenty of pictures and it wasn’t rotten, or really effing expensive! I messaged the owner and got plenty more info and a load more pictures showing every angle of the car. We chatted for a few days, videos of the car were sent etc and then we agreed a deal. This was all done via phone calls and text because the car was in Glasgow and I live in Surrey!
So yesterday was the day. My Brother and I flew up to Glasgow first thing yesterday morning, Glenn (the owner) picked us up from the airport and drove us the 30 miles back to his house where the car was waiting
As we pulled up to his house I was grinning from ear to ear. It looked brilliant and I couldn’t wait to jump in and drive it home! Glenn ran through everything with me, made sure I was happy with it all and then off we went. Now it’s been a few years since I’ve driven anything this old so it was a bit of a shock to the system initially but within half an hour or so I was more than happy with everything. Anyway, here it is. My brother took this just before we left. I forgot to take a “first fill up” picture as it was absolutely pouring with rain and blowing a gale so I just wanted to get back in the car haha!
We left Glenns house around 1pm and I walked through the front door around 9.15pm. We stopped a couple of times to go to the toilet and get food so all in all it wasn’t a bad drive back. The car does need a couple of bits sorting which we’re a little annoying but I’ll go through those in a bit
RECr said:
That looks lovely. Growing up, these cars and others from the 80s always looked ancient and dated alongside their successors but. they have since grown on me hugely.
This is the one with the stroked out M20 isn't it?
It is indeed. Although something isn’t quite right with this one. It’s a little gutless at the moment. This is the one with the stroked out M20 isn't it?
Sammo123 said:
It is indeed. Although something isn’t quite right with this one. It’s a little gutless at the moment.
"With 127 BHP, the naturally aspirated 2.7 Litre 12v Inline 6 petrol engine (BMW M20B27) accelerates this 525e to 62 mph in 10.8 seconds and on to a maximum speed of 118 mph"MC Bodge said:
Sammo123 said:
It is indeed. Although something isn’t quite right with this one. It’s a little gutless at the moment.
"With 127 BHP, the naturally aspirated 2.7 Litre 12v Inline 6 petrol engine (BMW M20B27) accelerates this 525e to 62 mph in 10.8 seconds and on to a maximum speed of 118 mph"Sammo123 said:
MC Bodge said:
"With 127 BHP, the naturally aspirated 2.7 Litre 12v Inline 6 petrol engine (BMW M20B27) accelerates this 525e to 62 mph in 10.8 seconds and on to a maximum speed of 118 mph"
Yes I realise it’s not a quick car, but this is as flat as a pancake. Something isn’t right. Is it a manual or automatic?
great stuff!
i had an 84 528i in my late 20s in the same colour, bronzitbeige, with brown velour seats. bought it on ebay for abut £500 and it was in surrey when i lived in leeds. took the train down and was met at the station by a chap in an e46m3, who then took me to his house where he had, amongst others, an f355, 924, etc. turned out he was a pher!
great car, dailied it for several years and drove it to london and back every weekend to visit the gf at the time. other than the tiem it caught fire it was very reliable hehehe. loved it!
i had an 84 528i in my late 20s in the same colour, bronzitbeige, with brown velour seats. bought it on ebay for abut £500 and it was in surrey when i lived in leeds. took the train down and was met at the station by a chap in an e46m3, who then took me to his house where he had, amongst others, an f355, 924, etc. turned out he was a pher!
great car, dailied it for several years and drove it to london and back every weekend to visit the gf at the time. other than the tiem it caught fire it was very reliable hehehe. loved it!
MC Bodge said:
Yes, it shouldn't be slow. MAybe it just needs a service and/or an Italian tune-up and some new petrol?
Is it a manual or automatic?
It’s Auto which means it’s even slower, but it’s still not right. I’m sure of it. Is it a manual or automatic?
The previous owner had it serviced not long ago including having the fuel filter replaced. I drove it back from Scotland so it’s got fresh fuel and I had my foot down so it’s given it a good clear out, but today it’s the same.
That was quite a trip!
As far as feeling flat goes I think you need to put it into the context of 2021! I had a 1985 Scorpio 2.8i Auto with 150bhp in 1990 that felt pretty sluggish even then.
At least you have a stunning E28 to enjoy that is unlikely to earn you points on your licence.
As far as feeling flat goes I think you need to put it into the context of 2021! I had a 1985 Scorpio 2.8i Auto with 150bhp in 1990 that felt pretty sluggish even then.
At least you have a stunning E28 to enjoy that is unlikely to earn you points on your licence.
MC Bodge said:
Mine (LHD) was manual ex. factory.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff