1984 BMW 5 Series 528i review from Australia and New Zealand
"Exceeded my expectations, will be with me for a long time"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Only issues;
Tailshaft center support bearing "clunking" due to being loose; easy to fix.
Bonnet gas struts shot.
General comments?
Bought this as a daily driver to keep my heavily modified Volvo 740 Turbo safely out of traffic.
The BMW's seats aren't quite as comfy as the 740s, but they're not that bad at all. Much better than an equivalent Australian car's seats.
Having said that, everything else about the car is perfect; starts instantly, is smooth as silk even when cold, has plenty of torque for loping around town & in traffic, the interior is absolutely gorgeous - I couldn't be happier with my choice.
What really surprised my is the amount of power in the engine once the revs pass the 3500rpm mark. Definitely exceeded my expectations - doesn't use as much fuel as expected either, so I'm happy.
Love the simple engineering, it's just like working on a 1980s Volvo but with a little less space in the engine bay.
Overall, great stuff; but I don't think I'd recommend one to a person who doesn't take care of machinery properly. A perfect car for anyone who loves old European cars and wants a nice slusher to cruise around in, and is ready & able to do by-the-book maintenance.
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| 1983 - 5 Series 528i Motorsport 2.8L I6 petrol EFi Why polish a turd when you can start with a gem |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1984 |
| Year of manufacture | 1984 |
| First year of ownership | 2008 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.8L Six Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 10 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 177500 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 178000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Volvo 740 |
| Date of Entry | 6th August, 2008 |