On april 22nd i purchased a 1986 BMW E28, 535i 5spd manual.

Delphin Grey over Tan interior.

I need to retire my E46 323i 5spd.

Old school is too cool. While this is not the M5 everyone lusts after i love it just the same.



PS. On april 21st I purchased a set of 17in BBS Style 5s
Waiting for rubber..

 

My pledge trainer in college drove this identical car and it was off the hook! Great buy. Can't wait to see the wheels on it good choice.

 

Congrats! Very stylish.

My dream car in high school (I was 16 in 1986) was a 335i convertible.

I would have given my right nut to have that car.

My dad bought me a Volkswagen Rabbit . . . I love him anyway.

 

Old school BMW's unite!

 

I have my eye on a 1992 E30 318i. Just hope it doesn't become expensive to maintain.

 

Sorry, you are probably better off finding another car.

It's pretty easy to spend 10K on an E30 during the initial first two years of ownership, which is why most of them are in such sorry shape because most people can't afford to keep it running properly.

 

The one that I am looking at is actually pretty clean compared to most that I have seen and doesn't have too many miles(145k). The owner bought it for about $4k and says she has put about another $4k into it to clean it up.

Do you mind if I pm you the link to the car that I'm looking at just to see what you think? Anything in particular that I should be looking for when I check out the car?

-ari

 

Here's the thing. It doesn't matter how clean the car is.

Due to age, at one point during your initial ownership, you will be looking at:

1. Muffler
2. rear half shafts
3. Guibo
4. Control arms (they break)
5. Radiator
6. Power steering pump (not designed very well to being with)
7. Heater core
8. AC
9. All bushings (rubber just don't last 17 years)
10. Master brake cylinder (age)
11. Wheel bearings

And a bunch of little things here and there.

If you are very good at turning wrenches, you might do OK. But realistically, it's hard to get away with less than 10K in the first few years.

 

Thank you very much, I appreciate the info.

-ari

 

Awesome car! My buddy just scrapped his 1980-something 5-series because the tranny blew, but best of luck in maintaining yours! It needs Euro bumpers in a big way to look right though.