1992 BMW 5 Series review from Slovenia

I bought the car in poor condition with a broken engine head, warped because the previous owner neglected the cooling system of the car and didn't replace the water pump at the listed service interval and also did not check the state of the viscous coupling which regulates radiator fan speed.

Suspension work was needed, this is normal for a car with 240k miles on it. The front control arm bushings were replaced and rear subframe bushings are also waiting to be replaced.

The driver`s seat has worn and need reupholstering.

Rust is visible on the bottom of some doors and on one rear wheel arch.

A few tail bulbs and some bulbs in the instrument cluster needed replacement - cheap.

Hood and boot struts are beginning to wear out, normal for this age.

This is more of a project car than a daily driver, but I like it more and more and it will probably replace my daily driver when I get it fixed and upgraded in the way I would like it to be.

First, the outside looks. When clean and waxed it looks like an aggressive shark that is waiting to strike its victim. Very sharp lines, it only looks a little dated from the front, but with a few modifications it can be upgraded to look younger. But when dirty and neglected it can look like an old smuggler`s or drug dealer`s ride, in my country a lot of gypsies drive beaten BMWs so my neighbours aren't very fond of this car.

Now, we go inside. When you open and then close the door and hear that sound which resembles a vault closing, you do realize this car means business. You sit down and feel the many ways adjustable seat which fits your body very well, but also isn't as soft as a sofa, it doesn't want to spoil you. The cockpit is late 80s German style, all switches and the steering wheel, shifter stick and pedals are very ergonomically set and fit perfectly, it reminds you of being a pilot in and old WW II plane. Everything is made like for the army, no niggly thin plastic, no nonsense anywhere, they meant it when they built this car.

Sitting in the rear is very comfortable, but there is not plenty of leg room for a taller adult if there`s also a large person sitting in front, seems weird for such a big car.

The cabin is spacious, but not as big as in cars of similar size, I think it is because of the big engine bay which needs to accommodate a straight six engine and there`s also rear wheel drive which steals space in the rear.

And I forgot to tell you about the engine. It`s a 2.5 litre straight six diesel with 12 valves, a turbo and an inter-cooler. If you have the windows or door open when you start it up and then listen to the idle, you`ll think it`s a tractor, it reminds you you bought a diesel. The turbo has a bit of lag and kicks in at 1800rpm, but when it spools up you sure do know it. The engine and exhaust note under full throttle make you forget you are driving a diesel engine, it pulls like a train up to 5200rpm and while it does, it sounds almost like a petrol V8. Yes the engine is only 140HP, but it can be chip-tuned and the exhaust can be made less restrictive, so as much as 200HP can be achieved and that is what I am aiming for. Fuel economy is anywhere from 5.5l/100km when driving very slowly on the highway up to 10l when racing like a maniac (from 50 to 28mpg).

While driving it behaves like a BMW should. The driving experience is better than in most new cars, the car provides a lot of feedback to the driver. Brakes are more than excellent, the suspension dampens potholes and uneven surface, is very quiet and stable, it just cuts through the air at go-to-prison speeds while the superb AC cools and relaxes the passengers. My car has the sports suspension option and takes curves like a breeze, it really is a joy to drive the twists in such a big car.

There is also a bad side to it. It`s very hard to find one in an excellent shape and with these cars there is a million mile difference between an excellent one and a neglected beater. If for instance the suspension is in a bad shape and if it was in a bigger accident, it will drive like crap and you`ll hear all sorts of noises when driving. And it costs a fortune to get it back to good condition. But if you get a very good one and when needed do the work yourself or at a specialist and get parts from the Internet or some quality after-market store, there is a big chance you will be a very happy BMW driver.

I will update this review with time, if you have any questions be free to email me at primus_@email.si.

Happy and safe driving to you all, no matter what car you drive.