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After a 5000+ mile road trip in an F350 with a 50-ft trailer, getting to drive my E28 yesterday was a total joy. Low, direct, quick – all of the reasons I bought it become immediately apparent when I climb back in. For those interested in 80s German cars, I highly recommend the E28 for it’s midsize versatility, excellent handling, and clean styling. Today’s 528e brings all of those elements in a commuter-friendly package, rocking an autobox and the efficiency-minded eta 2.7-liter inline-6 in an epically clean package inside and out that belies its 135k miles. And it’s from Tennessee, where I bought my M5. So we got that going for us, which is nice.
I love my E28 and it’s still the generation for me, but the earlier BMW model lineup intrigues me, piqued by the Bavaria down the street I bike by every day and ranging from the 2002 to the E9 and E12. Today’s example of the first BMW midsize sedan to truly be a 5er is impeccable, even after 130k miles thanks to one careful owner. The interior’s leather and wood combo looks fantastic over three decades on. There are a few bumps and dings, reflecting that it is a real car that has seen real use, but overall it shows the kind of love and attention that I wish all classic car owners would give to their autos, from the well-maintained engine bay to the impressively-clean tool tray. With no reserve and a low starting point, this could be a cheap entry into a great mix of classic luxury and sportiness.
When I think of someday branching out beyond cars from 1988, one of the first that comes to mind is the business-class rocket E39 M5. What they lack in rarity they make up for by being one of the best sport sedans ever made, with the total package of comfort, speed, power, and handling. Today we have a low-mileage example with essentially no description, but hints pointing towards it being a loved weekender. I dig the M-stripes on the front spoiler mixing up the otherwise-stealth black on balck. A carbon lip appears to be the only modification, and is a subtly good-looking one at that. I’d like some more info before I bought and you can certainly find E39s cheaper, but less than 70k miles and good care would make this worth close to its asking price.
It seems that few M cars, save for a few later model examples, are escaping the collector craze that is driving prices up. The E30 M3 was the car that started the mayhem, and much like air-cooled 911s, everyone and their brother seem to be clamoring to get into one of these machines. One of my favorites of the early M genre is the E34 M5. While I love the original E28 M5 and the V8 brute that is the E39 M5, the E34 has a really reserved nature about it. It’s as if someone dressed an Olympic athlete up in a Savile Row sourced suit, especially when it comes to a black on black example like this stunning example for sale in Hawaii. The thought of taking a trip out to warmer climates and coming back with a souvenir like this is what I would consider a trip of a lifetime.
How do you like your M car? Loud, like the Dakar Yellow E36 M3 Sedan we featured last week, or perhaps a bit more subdued like this E39 M5 in the rarely seen Oxford Green? This M5 for sale in Connecticut is a three owner car with a tan leather interior that provides a warm look akin to an English drawing room. There’s been a lot of snow late in the season this year (at least for us East Coasters), but it’s never too late to contemplate that little bit of fun you promised yourself for the warmer months.
