e28 5-series

[NiceCupOfTea]

I've long had a penchant for old school BMWs, especially the bigger ones (always liked the original 6-series, and e34 M5s are coming down in price too!).

Just read an article in this month's Retro Cars on the e28 5-series (sharknose) and it looks a fantastic car. Even better is that apparently a minter M535 can be had for 2 grand!

I have been doing a little trawling on the web as I am intrigued by the idea of a 535 / M535 / Alpina B10, but haven't seen a single one for sale (autotrader, PH classifieds) - even ebay only yields a mouldy old 528i...

Anybody got any interesting stories about these old barges?

[apache]

you obviously haven't tried here yet

www.thealpinaregister.com/displaycars.php?forsale=1

[NiceCupOfTea]

Correct, I haven't

Not nuts about them in white, lovely black one in the Retro Cars article with the M sport bodykit, and dechromed, very nice

[Marquis_Rex]

I'm moving to Germany next year and am looking for an appropriate chariot, have been looking out for cars at a german website and am considering either an E12 Alpina (the model/shape BEFORE the E28) or more likely an E24 M635 CSi or even an E9 "CSL-shape" BMW coupe.

I have fond memories of an E28 M535i my friend bought some years back for only £750. This guy knew how to drive and pushed this thing so hard, it ALWAYS remained composed, and I was amazed at how small and agile the car felt.
When the rear end slid, it never lurched and went the other way on opposite lock and always seemed totally controllable. Despite all this it was quite softly sprung...

[r988]

Theres a few on fleabay I think, quite a few autos about, avoid them if possible, the autoboxes only last half as long as a manual box. M30 engines go on forever if looked after, solid as a rock, and fairly cheap to maintain compared to the M88 (m5) engine. They are at the bottom of their depreciation curve at the moment and are still good enough for the daily drive, certainly an excellent buy. Also much lighter than the later model 5 series (e34 onwards)

Collection of useful info here
http://member.rivernet.com.au/btaylor

M535i came 5th(!) in a group test of all //M models, lots of people didn't like that result but there you go. reproduction article on link below.
http://humano.ya.com/santivargas/

[derin100]

I owned an E28 M535i for about 4 years...at the time a much under-rated and often maligned car. Mine had the dog-leg five-speed manual gearbox which made all the difference. I sold it three years ago for £1900...it was a really good one and I struggled to get that at the time...now I notice prices creeping up a little for good ones...and so they should! It was a damned fine car...In terms of 'bang for bucks' very little could touch it!

Don't know who it was that said they were considering an E9 CSL?...But you're a braver man than me! I also owned an E9 3.0CS for 13 years!(not CSL but a manual car with carbs ie not injection)...You have to seriously know what you are doing if you're buying an E9! These cars defined the meaning of rust! I don't mean superficial namby-pampy cosmetic rust...I mean serious structural rot that can see a car literally bend in half!...If you don't believe me or just want further advice e-mail me!

[sharkfan]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Correct, I haven't Not nuts about them in white, lovely black one in the Retro Cars article with the M sport bodykit, and dechromed, very nice

Have a look on the Car Club's website - they've had quite a few E28 Alpina B9's, M535's and M5's recently. They're also more likely to have been cherished by Club member owners...

www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk/rm/adverts.asp?section=M%20Power%20Cars

>> Edited by sharkfan on Tuesday 8th November 10:43

[mustard]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1987-BMW-535I-SE-AUTO-GREY_W0Q