1987 BMW 5 Series M535i review from UK and Ireland

Not a lot really. The viscose coupling from the fan to the water pump went, which in turn caused the water pump to seize, but this was all caused by a "friend" who over tightened the fan belt by a long way!!

The battery went and a couple of the electric windows were a bit sticky due to gunk in the door, and the rev counter stuck, but it was stored outside for a while before I bought it, these things will happen if you don't look after them right!

Really and truly, nothing major went wrong, but if it had been taken care of earlier it wouldn't have gone wrong at all.

Its your classic BMW tale, it won't go wrong, but when it does it'll cost you.

The water pump and coupling affair ended up costing me £270, which stung a bit for a "small job", should have done it myself!!

The "one off" Avon tyres were £140 each, and that was the cheapest quote.

It has the same fuel economy as a B-52, but you do get everywhere a lot quicker so there is an economy of sorts!

But the best bit is, you ready for this, I paid £400 for this car, a good deal for sure, but you can pick them up all the time for @ £1000, super cheap super-car? Not quite maybe, but fun with a capital F.

This car was great to drive, I loved it! BMW know how to make cars. With the sports mode engaged on the gearbox acceleration was simply awesome. Off the mark it wasn't the fastest, but that was due to the auto box (manuals are said to be good for 0-60 in @7 seconds) but for overtaking the gearbox would drop two gears (in sports mode) and man, wow, did it go!! Big grins all round!!

And the real beauty was that unlike little GTi's and other sporting saloons that flounder when any more than a 17 year old boy is sat in the car, you could fill this thing up to the gunnel with people and stuff, and it would still tear up strips of tarmac! Brilliant!!

Just be careful in the wet!