Why are 1989---> BMW 535i's so cheap

Shaun @ Tru6 · 04:44 AM

I'm on constant CL lookout for a diamond in the rough pre-89 535i. The searches bring up the next generation 535's and they are dirt cheap, typically $1500 to $2500 for what looks like a decent used car with 150K miles.

Anyone know why something like a 92 535 is a $2K car?

Examples like this 1990 and 1995 are very common:

http://worcester.craigslist.org/cto/1314068996.html

http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/1346010825.html

javadog · 09-01-2009, 04:54 AM

Two things come to mind. People that sell on Craigslist seem to just about give everything away. Cheap bastards, to put it nicely. Also, every one of these I have seen up close has been a pile, largely because the owner (or owners, there are usually several of them) let the car go a long time ago and the list of problems is longer than your arm. Somehow, this list seldom makes it into the ad. Again, cheap bastards....

JR

Rot 911 · 09-01-2009, 05:02 AM

The 5 series BMW's have never been hugely popular after they pass thru the first buyer. Once a BMW is over 5 or so years old, the 3 series for the same year will sell for more money. The prices you are seeing is just what they sell for.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 09-01-2009, 05:05 AM

ok, makes sense.

Here is my dream car, though unfortunately an automatic. if it were a 5-speed, I'd probably sell a set of deep 6's to get this thing.

http://westernmass.craigslist.org/cto/1347480296.html

onewhippedpuppy · 09-01-2009, 05:39 AM

Why? Years of neglect maybe? You'll notice that the nice, well maintained E28 and E34 535i still go in the $4-8k range depending on how nice they are. Especially the manual transmission E34 535i and the E28 535is. Personally I'd love a nice E28 535is.

javadog · 09-01-2009, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Why? Years of neglect maybe?

Two words. Idiot owners.
The earlier cars appealed to BMW enthusiasts. As time has marched on, BMWs were increasingly bought by people who would have been just as happy with any other car, so long as it had a "prestigious" badge on the front. The car became an appliance, was bought because of status, and leased.

JR

HardDrive · 09-01-2009, 09:33 AM

Shaun, I looked at this very same thing earlier this year. Some guy had a 535 for sale for like $1500. The car ran and drove well, but it had some electrical issues. I leaned against it because its seemed like the car was not particularly well suited to DIY work, with lots of electrical gizmos and some really expensive tools required for certain work (removing cam shafts for one....)

Sarc · 09-01-2009, 09:43 AM

What I wouldn't give for an ultra clean, unmolested E34 535 in any color (and without a gray interior). I don't think such a creature exists.
Just located a E32 with 28,000 miles on the clock....but it's saddled with an automatic.

Talewinds · Talewinds's Garage

"Why are 1989---> BMW 535i's so cheap"
That's the E34 89-96?
Because they're just old cars now, nothing more.

The E28, 82-88, however, have attained a collector status and are revered by the enthusiasts.

McLovin · 09-01-2009, 10:46 AM

The E28 is kind of the end of the era, swan song, last of the "mechanical" BMWs.

It is also the last of the "old school" interior and exterior styling that is so "60s/70s/80s" Euro.

They are also older cars.

Also, and this is a big one, the "Big 6" (3.2 and 3.5 liter "i" cars) E28s sold in relatively very small numbers. I remember reading that the 528e sold at roughly a 10-1 ratio against the 535i. As a new car, the 535i cost substantially more than the 528e, even though the cars looked the same.

So, when you look at the pool of E28s, the largest number, by far is automatic 528e, which no enthusiast wants, and goes dirt cheap.

The number of E28 535i stick shifts was always very low. Most are dead by now. The current number of surviving ones, in good shape, is pretty darn low.

Talewinds · Talewinds's Garage

What is this??? Had an M6 badge on the back....

Shaun @ Tru6 · 09-01-2009, 11:24 AM

Question for the E28 super-knowledgeable: are there any major (suspension and engine notably) differences between 82 and 88?

McLovin · 11:52 AM

Talewinds . . . that would be an, ummm, M6. Looks like a US version 1988 or 1989.

E28 - suspensions remained pretty much the same through the years. No major changes.

Engines: There was a slight change to the 528e "eta" "Small 6" engine towards the later years (I think around midyear 1987), gave a couple more hp (I think 5-7). The eta is a low revving, 122-128 or so hp fuel efficiency engine, not an "enthusiast" engine.

The "Big 6" engine went from 3.2 to 3.5 in 1985. Name change from 533i to 535i (so the 83 and 84 Big 6 are called 533i, the 85-88 are 535i). The bigger 535i engine has more torque.

Other than that, the cars really didn't change all that much. Slight differences in some little things, like steering wheels.

The biggest "change" for enthusiasts was the introduction of the 535is model in 1987. The '87 and '88 "is" model has really nice sports seats, sport steering wheel, front and rear spoilers which (IMO) improve the looks of the car dramatically, a minorly revised sport suspension, and a few other things.

Stick shift 87-88 "is" models are the most coveted of the non-M E28s.

GG Allin · GG Allin's Garage

I had an 89 535i for a while. I actually converted it from auto to manual. Out of the 4 BMW's I've owned this one was the biggest piece of *****. Low on power and full of problems.

pavulon · 09-01-2009, 05:22 PM

Is there some reason that E28/E34 M's are not being considered?

I have a '91 M5 garage queen that I can't bring myself to sell...I don't know why I can't....but I can't do it. M5's (especially euro E28s) are great cars!!

javadog · 09-01-2009, 05:38 PM

Probably because they are vastly more expensive than the cars in the original post. Maybe as much as 10 times as much.

JR

Sarc · 09-01-2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pavulon

M5's (especially euro E28s) are great cars!!

I'll drink to that.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by javadog

Probably because they are vastly more expensive than the cars in the original post. Maybe as much as 10 times as much.

JR

yes, pretty much.

this is what I'm looking for (link below), but again, would like a 5 speed. From what I understand I can do a 5 speed conversion for under $500 in used parts, but I'd really like to find something that is what I want when I get it. Time (and money) is better spent going into the 911s...labor day weekend the new T gets a suspension refresh (19/26s, adj. spring plates, Bilsteins and S calipers), lowered and maybe running/driving (need to locate and fix a fuel leak). Definitely time well spent.

http://providence.craigslist.org/cto/1349882508.html

javadog · 09-01-2009, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

From what I understand I can do a 5 speed conversion for under $500 in used parts

Good luck with that. When you get finished, I need my house painted. I'd go $500 for that, no problem...

JR

Shaun @ Tru6 · 09-01-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by javadog

Good luck with that. When you get finished, I need my house painted. I'd go $500 for that, no problem...

JR

There are a lot of parts cars around here...front suspension mounts rust out. There's a decent '88 535is in northern NH for $1K that has bad frame rails. Dead, complete, running but rusted out E28s are plentiful in the $500 range.

this guy here has a ton of old BMWs he's parting out:

http://nh.craigslist.org/pts/1340712673.html

What color were you thinking of?