My '85 M535i

[bob1179]

Well here is my new toy, it's a 1985 M535i in metallic diamond black. I've always wanted a black one with cream leather and a manual gearbox and now I've managed to get one! I bought it off a friend of my sister, she was actually the second owner and bought it in 1988 at 9000 miles.



It's now just run in at 153,000 and the last owner spent a fortune on all the oily bits, it came with a full service history from new including the original reciept of sale. It pulls like a train and makes the most amazing howl when you keep your foot in.



Plans for the future are a full respray (in the same colour) and get rid of 22 years worth of stone chips and the odd ding. I am also looking for a set of original 16" BBS E28 M5 wheels to replace the metric ones currently fitted, though there is no rush as the last owner has just spent over a grand replacing all four tyres, then I want to tweak the engine a wee bit. Alpina squeezed 260bhp out of the M30 so that's going to be my first goal, I also want to upgrade the front brakes and servo, I've been told the calipers and discs from the E31 8 series and E32 7 series bolt straight on then hopefully it will stop a bit better!

[nightfever]

That's an absolute beauty! Looks so damn sturdy.



Have fun with it

[Rochester BMW]

Very nice, my brother had one of these a few years back.



Am I right in saying that the M535i was the first road going BMW to wear the 'M' badge?

[cableguy]

The e28 is a Superb looking motor.



I see the cars still wearing TRX's. A lovely set of old school BBS or e28 M5 Rims would really finish things off IMO.



C.

[L100NYY]

That is a stunning car and oh so

[bob1179]

The E12 M535i was the first saloon to wear an M badge, that came out in 1980, this one is it's sucessor but wasn't built on the separate production line like the M5 and other 'M' models.

I'm on the look out for an original set of BBS M5 wheels if anybody knows of a spare set! The TRX wheels and tyres aren't that bad in the dry, but make the handling interesting in the wet!

Thanks for the good comments.

Edited by bob1179 on Thursday 24th May 11:08

[deadslow]

Very nice looking car.

Had one years ago and loved it. Still look at them in the classifieds with fond memories. Great cars.

[bob1179]

By the way, does anybody know of a good specialist where I can take the old girl for fettling and to get the bodywork done? We seem to be a bit thin on the ground up north.

[GT500]

Pure old skool!!! I really love the classic Beamers.

[LeoZwalf]

Looks bloody lovely, I can't get enough of the old BM's.

Centreish exit exhaust is just too cool

[M3John]

Very nice car there sir, i am VERY jelous ! Want to swap?

Really do love the old `square rigger` M535i's and M5's. It was because of these very cars that i'm soooooooo into my ///M cars.


M3J.

[Slowly Slowly]

bob1179 said:

By the way, does anybody know of a good specialist where I can take the old girl for fettling and to get the bodywork done? We seem to be a bit thin on the ground up north.

Don't bother going to Peter Michaels of Bolton,

http://www.bmw-parts.biz/

I sent my 2002 there and everytime (3 I think) it had to go back, I spent over a grand on the front suspension just before its MOT, when it went for its MOT straight from PM they told me there was a pin missing from a castle nut and the track rods had different bolts in them on either side.

Never again.


This might be of some interest to you.

http://www.scrappycrow.com/e28wheelstires/e28wheel...

Edited by Slowly Slowly on Friday 25th May 16:22

[fridaypassion]

one word to describe this

Cool.

[m3evo2]

Congrats looks great, good decision.

I want one.

[bob1179]

Cheers M3John! I won't swap it just yet... (unless you have an E28 M5 knocking about!)

Thanks for the linky Slowly Slowly. What sort of '02 do you have? I've always loved them, especially the tii's.

[bob1179]

m3evo2 said:

Congrats looks great, good decision.

I want one.

Go on, buy a nice one to keep the M3 company!

I think I did well considering I bought it sight unseen, it was my sis that sorted it all out for me as I was away. I can't wait to get back in it again, though I have to wait for my next rotation (July) so until then it's sat in my garage though a mechanic mate of mine is looking after it for me making sure it's turned over and run up once a week.

[Slowly Slowly]

bob1179 said:

Cheers M3John! I won't swap it just yet... (unless you have an E28 M5 knocking about!)

Thanks for the linky Slowly Slowly. What sort of '02 do you have? I've always loved them, especially the tii's.

This photo was taken overlooking Bolton last year, my son is now using the car he is 28 years old and the insurance is £150 fully comp (5000 miles) and no road tax, it now resides in Saffron Walden with him.

[Top pup]

Very nice, my brother had one of those back around 91 lovely cars. Has yours got the O/D gear box or the Dog Leg? Oh and i remember he got a mate of his to recut the tread on the TDX's, if i remember right you can cut the tread pattern 3-4mm deeper when it starts to get low.

[Mr MoJo]

Always loved the old M5/535, I remember travelling from South Wales to Scotland in the back of a car almost identical to this when I was about 13 that belonged to a mate of my Dad. Always fancied one since then.

[bob1179]

Slowly Slowly said:

bob1179 said:

Cheers M3John! I won't swap it just yet... (unless you have an E28 M5 knocking about!)

Thanks for the linky Slowly Slowly. What sort of '02 do you have? I've always loved them, especially the tii's.

This photo was taken overlooking Bolton last year, my son is now using the car he is 28 years old and the insurance is £150 fully comp (5000 miles) and no road tax, it now resides in Saffron Walden with him.

Ooooo, that's nice. I like the early cars with the chrome grille and round rear lights. I'm 27 and have mine on a 4000 mile PA limited mileage policy. Still costs me the more than 550 quid fully comp though! The first quotes I got were more than a thousand pounds, even with more than five years NCB!