25 Years of the M5.

Sarc · 03-09-2011, 10:15 AM

Nice article in Evo. I know which one I'd go for:

25 years of the BMW M5 review and pictures by evo

EarlyPorsche · 03-09-2011, 10:28 AM

Really? You'd go for that thing over the V10 monster?

Sarc · 03-09-2011, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EarlyPorsche

Really? You'd go for that thing over the V10 monster?

In a heartbeat. With the E34 a close second.

pavulon · 03-09-2011, 11:12 AM

I have an e34 M5 and lust for E28 euros.

pavulon · 03-09-2011, 02:45 PM

exhibit B

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

I love Bavarian Buicks!

esp. the older ones...

pavulon · 03-09-2011, 04:00 PM

exhibit E60 (H)

jyl · jyl's Garage

I've always admired E28s, both the M and the regular flavour. Questions for you who know them -

- are they pretty wrenchable, parts available, well made, fundamentally non-self destructing - sort of like a 911?
- what sort of performance from the different levels of E28 5 series, I don't mean specifically acceleration
- would you get a 528/535

jyl · jyl's Garage

I've always admired E28s, both the M and the regular flavour. Questions for you who know them -

- are they pretty wrenchable, parts available, well made, fundamentally non-self destructing - sort of like a 911?
- what sort of performance from the different levels of E28 5 series, I don't mean specifically 0-60, but turning, stopping, ride, etc
- what sort of go-fast options if you live in a state that merely sniffs the tailpipe?
- would you get a 528/535 and apply the go-fast, or a M?

gtc · gtc's Garage

*insert obligatory E39 worship here*

gprsh924 · 03-09-2011, 06:26 PM

E39 ftw

89911 · 06:47 PM

E39 M3's were my first choice before I bought a short lived e60 M5. The fact that they need clutch replacements about every time you need a set of tires made me pass. Seemed almost any I looked into needed recently had it replaced or it needed one. One test drive I took, the tach started reving when I was going up hill under load, like I was hitting the gas. I had to break it to the guy he needed to spend a couple grand to get it fixed. The M5 was a car that I had a hard time finding a home. Too big for an all out sports car. Too much of a performance car to just to drive 10 minutes to work. Too fast to not double the speed limits. Not knocking them and I still love they way they look. Just felt like I was using about 25% of the cars potential about 95% of the time. The other 5% I was risking having my license revoked or jail time.

pavulon · 03-09-2011, 06:52 PM

Were these SMG or 6-speed manual clutches?

89911 · 03-09-2011, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pavulon

Were these SMG or 6-speed manual clutches?

The e60 came with the SMG as the only option. This also has some major drawbacks but one of them wasn't the clutch problems with the e39's. I actually hated the smg and was one of the problems I had driving around "normally". They did come out with a 6 speed in the e60 after a couple of years from buyers demands. Not sure how those cars faired.

LWJ · 03-09-2011, 08:19 PM

I have a buddy with a crapped out e28 535. It is supposed to be a rocket ship. I never cared for the look of the e28 but I gotta say that the later bodies really work for me. I would not be surprised to find a hot rod 5 series in the garage some day.

McLovin · 03-09-2011, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyl

I've always admired E28s, both the M and the regular flavour. Questions for you who know them -

- are they pretty wrenchable, parts available, well made, fundamentally non-self destructing - sort of like a 911?
- what sort of performance from the different levels of E28 5 series, I don't mean specifically 0-60, but turning, stopping, ride, etc
- what sort of go-fast options if you live in a state that merely sniffs the tailpipe?
- would you get a 528/535 and apply the go-fast, or a M?

I've had a couple of E28s, including an 88 535is. They are very well made and generally nondestructing.

Skip the 528e. 120 hp just doesn't cut it, and the 535 isn't much more $$ these days.

Even the 535 isn't fast. Mine was a 5 speed with a Conforti chip, which supposedly gives 25 or so more hp. It isn't a rocketship by any means.

It uses Motronic injection like a Carrera, and the "go fast" options are similar. i.e., not much. A chip is really about it (and IMO not worth much).

Here's the biggest issue with any E28. They are now old. And while they don't completely destruct, they do wear more than a 911, IMO. Particularly the suspension. There's a lot more bushings etc on an E28 than a 911, and they wear more. The steering system, too.

Almost every E28 on the road is very "loose" now. Worn suspension bushings, driveshaft components, steering system components (idler arms, etc), control arms, rear console bushings, shocks, brake rotors, etc. These worn parts SERIOUSLY degrade from the goodness of the car. General vagueness, shimmies, loose feeling, etc.

To put one really "right" would cost a good % of the market value.

I put a lot of miles in E28, and really loved the cars, though. I sold my last one because, while it still looked great and drove nicely, it needed a full suspension going through to really be put right, and I just couldn't justify the cost.

slow&rusty · 03-10-2011, 04:39 AM

E28 M5 warms thy soul! In Euro dress....288hp 6 throttle bodies bouncing the rev limiter off 7,000rpm..yes please

GeorgeK · 03-10-2011, 04:53 AM

Exhibit E34 M5T:

onewhippedpuppy · 03-10-2011, 04:56 AM

The issues listed above notwithstanding, I'd love to find a nice E28 M5. One of the early reviews that I read referred to it as a 4 door 911.

I've driven an E39 M5 and wasn't impressed, it felt like a slightly faster 540i. I've been much more impressed by my old XJR and the E55 that I drove.

klaus · klaus's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyl

I've always admired E28s, both the M and the regular flavour. Questions for you who know them -

- are they pretty wrenchable, parts available, well made, fundamentally non-self destructing - sort of like a 911?
- what sort of performance from the different levels of E28 5 series, I don't mean specifically 0-60, but turning, stopping, ride, etc
- what sort of go-fast options if you live in a state that merely sniffs the tailpipe?
- would you get a 528/535 and apply the go-fast, or a M?

- Are they wrecnchable (good made up word)? Yes. The basic mechanical elements of the car are easy to work on, suspension, engine, drive line, and have a lot of parts available. And I would say they are very well made, but most have been neglected, even my very well cared for car needs constant attention. Much like a 911 if you take care of the car the car will take care of you.

- Go fast options? if you are talking about the eta cars, the go fast option is to swap in another motor. For the M30 cars (535) the basic bolt on parts don't do much. I have an exhaust on mine, but that is for the sound, not for the speed. If you feel like spending money you can put a turbo on it (or swap in a turbo 7 series motor from the same era). But for the most part the basic mods (chips, MAFs, intakes, and exhausts) don't do a whole lot in terms of raw power.

- As fast as an M? 528 - No, 535 - No, unless you throw buckets of money at it.

And just because, here is my daily driver 535is.