1988 BMW E28 M5

[dd74]

I'm toying with the idea of obtaining one of these. I really love the M3 of the same year, but an M5 is more practical. To me, it continues to be one of the most attractive four-door sedans ever built, and has more than enough entertainment value in power and handling. I've seen a couple for sale already and they seem reasonable.

Does anyone have any experience or opinion of these cars? Any warnings?

Thanks!

[jorian]

Fastpaste knows these rigs pretty well.

[air-cool-me]

"Does anyone have any experience or opinion of these cars? Any warnings?"

a good friend bought one... pretty sweet when everything working. I dont know much but here goes.

Make sure you get a PPI and check the usual stuff.
(shocks, load level suspension ext)

the only real problems hes had are replacement of the computer when it took a dump$$$ and thust arm bushings?(i think... thrust arm something) He was told the rubber boots on the ITB's can crack and let one cyl go lean an wreck the motor(which i hear isnt cheap to rebuild)

If you dont care about the badge or its a second car. consider a 535I.

I convinced my friend to to a dyno day with a few PNW guys too..

the results are in this thread. group dyno day feb.4.2006 (saturday)

EDIT: i forgot: REALLY tiny rear brakes... like... 518i -ish

[Sarc]

Originally posted by dd74


Does anyone have any experience or opinion of these cars? Any warnings?

Thanks!

DD,

A wealth of information can be found in the M5 section at www.mye28.com.

Beautiful cars. PPI is a must.

[javadog]

They are great cars. Just stay away from any with real high miles or the ones that you think you can get at a good price because they just need a few things....

Plan to pay for the mother of all PPIs if you find a good one, with good history and all the records. Seriously, half a day looking one of these over is time and money well spent. Anything less and you haven't done your homework well.

If you buy one with needs, it will eat you out of house and home. This is one case where I'd recommend buying the nicest one on the planet and, if the price for that car is too high, just walk away from the whole notion...

JR

[Chocaholic]

Or, just buy the one Sarc posted above....wow!

[onewhippedpuppy]

Awesome cars, I've always heard them referred to as a 4 door 911. The experience is supposed to be very similar, raw and direct. Good advice above, buy the best one you can find, a project will eat you out of house and home. M = money, and a motor rebuild on one is on a par with 911 costs. Probably my ultimate weekend fun car.

[Sarc]

As an aside, have you thought about an ultra clean 535is of similar vintage? Of course not as exciting as the M in the driving department, but (much) easier on the wallet to maintain.

[skipdup]

DD- A black E28 M5 is on my short list of favorite cars.

I've always assumed they were impossible to find. A couple of times over the last several years I looked, but could never find anything local-ish (i.e. within 500 miles).

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

- Skip

[many944s]

500 miles???
When I found the E30 I really wanted, I ended up flying to Massachusets (from Indiana) and drove it home I figured if it made it home, it was going to be a great car!


-Nick

[fastpat]

Originally posted by dd74
I'm toying with the idea of obtaining one of these. I really love the M3 of the same year, but an M5 is more practical. To me, it continues to be one of the most attractive four-door sedans ever built, and has more than enough entertainment value in power and handling. I've seen a couple for sale already and they seem reasonable.

Does anyone have any experience or opinion of these cars? Any warnings?

Thanks!

As someone suggested, the mye28.com forum has a wealth of informatin on these cars.

A friend of mine in Berkeley, a professional structural failure analysis engineer, bought one with 200,000 miles on it sight unseen, and drove it to CA from the east coast about 2-3 years ago. He got a great deal on it, less than $4000.00, which it was worth even if he parted it out. He's using it as a daily driver last time we spoke.

There were about 1300 e28 M5's imported, the only year was 1988. All but two had the same dark tan full leather interior, those two were black, all exteriors were black metallic. All had self leveling rear suspension, and most people remove that system because it's troublesome, expensive, and not the best for handling.

Another interesting fact is that although the M6 is considered more attractive by many folks, and it was made through the 1989 model year, it is hundreds of pounds heavier, slower accelerating, and no faster on the top end. M6's were available in a variety of colors, with one of the most common interiors being full leather in white.

I have an '87 535is, similar to the M5 except for the engine, the "is" had the stock single overhead cam engine.

[Sarc]

http://www.bmwmregistry.com/model_faq.php?id=7

[Jays72T]

I had one for a few years, fun car. If the chain ramps on the engine fail it's at least $10K to rebuild, seat motors are prone to failure, brakes are weak, front end bushings wear, SLS needs to be replaced if not done, other then that it's pretty solid. My car was making some tranny noises but it was never a problem in the 20K hard miles I put on it. Paid $7000 for it and sold for $7000 at 175K miles.

[fastpat]

Those appear to be the stock 16 inch wheels, here's one with BMW Style 42 17 inch wheels.

[the]

Nice cars, a 535is is a lot less hassle and looks 99% the same.

Of course it doesn't have power the M has, but with a 5 speed it is pretty good.

The E28 M5 is a great car, my biggest concern would just be the age. They are pushing 20 years old now, and ones that are at "reasonable" prices are more than likely going to have some level of deferred maintenance and repairs.

And stuff just starts wearing out after 20 years of street use. Lots of rubber suspension bushings, brakes, rotors, etc. The car can definately be a money pit if it needs work. Those "little things" that people let go can add up quickly with the M, as many of the normal wear items on an M are lots of ///Money. And there is always a potential of a "big thing" going wrong.

But a fully sorted out, well maintained one would be a great car, I think. An owner who pays to maintain the car, repair it when necessary, etc. is never going to get his money back. That's the best bargain for a buyer.

I think the 2 most impt things with buying an E28 M5 - (1) buy the very best, most maintained example you can find, even if you have to pay more up front, and (2) like mentioned above, the mother of all PPIs by a good shop who knows these cars.