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Tag: e28

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BMW M5 Double Take: “New” v. “Old” – 2001 or 1988?

Published June 3, 2014 by Carter

Well, this one has been brewing for a bit in my head. As I’ve watched E28 and E34 M5 prices climbing and the plateau after falling of E39 prices, the two are in general available for about the same amount of money. One is a well-acknowledged classic – the original super sedan, a well balanced combination of 4-door versatility with a race-bred high-revving inline-6. The second nearly never happened, and seemingly was an afterthought compared to the earlier examples – but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t well thought out. The E39 is one of the best performance bargains going not only amongst BMWs, but in cars in general – with 400 horsepower from a thundering V8, it took the M5 to a new level of performance and demanded the same of its competitors. So, here we have M5 v. M5; a generation gap, a performance gap, but both as performance icons of their respective times and generally accepted as collectable going forward. Which is the one you’d choose? Let’s start with the original:

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1988 BMW M5 with S54 Swap

Published May 17, 2014 by Carter

Not many people would dare to accuse the E28 M5 of having faults, but I will. First, the engine was turned down for the U.S. market. That’s a reality of the 1970s and 1980s, I know, but it’s still a gripe. Second, it only came in black to U.S. shores. And that too is a shame, because the E24 M6 really shows what a little color does to those classic lines. Third, on top of the black-only stance, it had bumpers that easily double as benches – for Americans, even. Fourth, though wide 16″ wheels were pretty advanced for the day, the reality is that there are increasingly limited good options for filling out those rims. Fifth has to be the interior. My dad has an 88 M5, and it’s a very nice car – but the seats are well worn and look nearly double the mileage they actually are. It’s often the case when I look at an E28 M5 that the seats either look completely redone or wrecked. Sixth has to do with the engine again – because the reality is that 25 plus years on, keeping the S38s running in top condition can be an expensive proposition. Okay, so maybe I’m overstating my gripes a bit, but it just goes to show that there’s at least room for improvement with the U.S. spec M5. How do you fix my list of gripes? Well, buying this car would be a pretty good start:

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Low-mileage 1988 BMW 528e

Published May 13, 2014 by Nate

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The long, low and mean add-ons of the 535is and M5 are what initially drew me to the E28, but after having spent so much time with it admiring the unique lines I find myself caught by even the most bunk examples. Yesterday a car in my mirror caught my eye, a car that came out of the factory exactly like this one. As it passed, I was a little sad that the paint was entirely sun-damaged, but still sent the owner some “I like that you drive an E28!” vibes.

While that car showed a hard life left in the sun, this car has no such history. Inside and out, this tan-on-tan base model 5er looks like we’re still waiting for the 90s to arise (or sink in, rather…). It’s yet another example of how nice it can be to soak in a completely original and well cared-for 80s car even when it’s not the rarest or fastest. This is certainly neither of those things, with the efficiency-before-power Eta engine and a slush box, but it would still be a joy to drive and own.

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1984 BMW 533i 3.5 Dinan Turbo

Published May 10, 2014 by Carter

When I was a younger lad, my father was looking for an upgrade to his BMW 635CSi for a track car, and we were scouting out E28 M5s. He finally picked one up, and we headed to the track – these were the days when, short of a modified 930, there wasn’t much faster on track than an E28 M5. We were at Lime Rock park, and I excitedly waited for him to come blowing down the front straight, decimating his competition in a wave of speed, power and sound. Yet, when he did appear on the front straight, his arm was out the window – pointing by what appeared to be a fairly unassuming 535i. My 15 year old self couldn’t really contemplate what had happened; how could a 535i possibly be faster than an M5? The answer was under the hood, where a Dinan Turbo kit subtly hid; with a reported 400 horsepower on tap at full boost, the M5 was no match for this supercar slayer. That power figure may well have been exaggerated by the owner, but it was no slouch, so I was excited to see a similar 533i 3.5 Dinan Turbo pop up in our Self-Service Classifieds:

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1988 BMW M5

Published April 27, 2014 by Carter

Hopefully, Nate’s E28 M5 ownership inspired you and you’re ready to jump into the M5 market. Bad news; you missed the cheap E28 M5 train. They bottomed out a few years ago, when is was briefly possible to get a pretty clean example under $15,000. Well, they’re back on the rise, in some cases outpacing their arguably more desirable brother the M6. However, if like Nate you’re willing to take a bit more of an adventure in ownership; if you’re willing to accept that you don’t need a perfect example; if you like your car with a bit more character in its lines, then there are still options available. Today’s 1988 M5 is one just such example:

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