1987 BMW 5 Series M535i from UK and Ireland - Comments

7th Jan 2007, 06:26

"A truly great car"

What things have gone wrong with the car?

New water pump last summer.

Minor welding needed at last MOT.

General comments?

I've always fancied one of these cars and took the plunge on one last March (2006). It had been stored for a couple of years, yet managed the 180 mile journey home without any issues at all.

I love the character of the car, its not massively quick by modern standards, but by no means embarrasses itself against newer cars. The dog-leg manual sports box takes some getting used to and to be honest I think its not needed with the thumping torque of the 3.5 six. Ah yes. The BMW M30 straight six. What a glorious engine! It's a truly wonderful "heart" of the car, with its effortless pull and muted growl. You find yourself just blipping the throttle at the lights to hear it bark!

Interior is comfortable, and wearing well. Heater valve has packed up, but you can still get the cabin nice and warm by adjusting the vents. Dash instruments have also died, but that's a common e28 fault.

Bad points? The most obvious is the the fuel consumption! I'm getting around 21mpg, which ain't great. Also, some rust is beginning to show throw underneath the car. If I decide to keep her, I'll spend the money and get it sorted.


8th Jan 2007, 12:41

Congratulations on your purchase. The E28 is a fabulous car. I've owned an `84 533i (limited production) for the past 9 years. It is quite unique where I live. The car has such character and personality. My mechanic's 533i odometer read 400,000 miles. eight years ago. Refer to my review, regarding maintenance and tips. Good Luck!

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