Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
I very much like BMW’s Style 32s, especially as an OEM+ retrofit on E28s. Today’s 533i is pretty far on the looks-over-function side of the scale, but it does it pretty well when it’s not grinding on the ground. With rally lights and roof rack rounding out the hipster look, it’s dedicated to style but seems like the owner has taken time to make it a good runner too. If I were a couple years younger and a few Bay Area towns hipper, I’d be very into this 5er.
My E28 predilections clearly tend towards the special-edition, but I’m down with exceptional examples of pretty much any 80s BMW – even the most basic. Here we have a 1983 528e that is in the “sweet-spot” of just over 100k miles. This seems to be the mileage where a lot of owners who lovingly cared for their old cars decide it’s time to pass it on. A tan on tan ETA-engined BMW could be taken as bland, but I see it more as a lovely time capsule that highlights the outstanding simplicity of the E28.
So you like the E55 wagon we featured yesterday but need something a bit more practical to deal with harsh winters? This BMW 535xi Touring would be a nice substitute and gives the serious driver the added benefit of a third pedal. Yes, this 2006 example for sale in Tennessee is one of a few that came with the 6-speed manual mated to the 3.0 liter inline-6.
A while back I wrote up a very interesting Taiga Green 535is that had a lot of miles but was still an eye-catcher. Today we have a similar situation – a passed-down E28 with a lot of miles but also a lot of love, resprayed in an attractive viridescent hue. It’s a little scary when you look underneath, but if you keep your eyes up you’ll find a clean E28 that looks great in a unique color with shadowline trim and a black interior. If you believe the seller’s history and are ready to continue stewardship (i.e. fixing endless little issues) on this classic, it could be a good looker for the money.
I think it’s safe to say that the E39 M5 might be viewed in the coming decades as a high water mark for BMW. This car had the right stuff. A powerful V8, tuned chassis and any transmission you wanted as long as it was a 6-speed manual. With the quest for fuel economy and ever tightening emissions standards, it seems a formula like this is endangered. For the power hungry, however, now is a great time to pick up one of these modern classics. Those on a quest for a like new example will be intrigued by this example for sale in Pennsylvania.