I'm getting a strong pull towards an 80s vintage BMW but want to know if I'm just chasing some sort of money pit. I won't bother you with available budget as I'll be buying in Australia and all decent cars are about 10x the price in the UK.

So, the cars that tickle me are
E30 325i
E28 M535i
E24 635CSi - can't afford the M
E34 535i
E34 M5 poss in range

No attraction to the E36 and a 5 series must be a 3.5, not bothered by 528.

I know they're all different size cars and have different running costs, but thats not a bother. All are at least 22 yo and all will have done around 200,000kms or more. The car will be a second car that will do around 8000km/y with a mix of urban, rural and mway.

So what do we think - good stuff, or only for the brave?

Love the E28 personally.

That's the one that tickles the most but it's also the one like to have the highest purchase price

As others have noted, rust isn't much of a problem here but are these things really good for 200,000+ kms? I know it's all down to maintenance and buying by condition. What about the M5 - on to a hiding with that? Or is it just more of the same with potentially higher maintenance costs?

Not the plain E34 535i?

Should also mention that whatever it is it will have a manual box.

A 535i Sport maybe, but if a M5 is on the cards then probably just go for that, budget allowing.

Fair enough - can only see these as getting harder to find too

I reckon I've seen that silver one before - kms and service history all look like one that was being hawked by a one man band early this year, and I know he's friends with CTS. Price has gone up about $6k.

^^^

That's a good call, not sure how many have made it down to Oz though, might be very hard to find and there's the LHD issue unless the OP is in Western Australia.

I do think 635's are pretty cheap for what they are.
They are a great looking car, and I can only see the prices rising for good ones.

E30 325, but I'm biased.

Thought I'd update this - I know it can be a bit frustrating answering someone's question, then not knowing whether they took a blind bit of notice...

Anyway, had a look at the silver 635 posted above - I'm fairly certain it is the one I looked at some months ago, or a very close copy. Good nick all round, but a bit above my budget, and the seller isn't interested in coming to my level.

Have found a 325iS that I'm trying to find the time to view, and also a E34 M5 with just under 300,000kms that's quite close - will be sure to leave the brave pills at home for that one, no point getting too carried away...