RE: BMW restores rare 530 MLE to former glory

[Leins]

The original M car. In some ways, everything that followed pales in comparison

I wonder what an M3 or M5 built to the same ethos these days would be like

[sutts]

[trouser tent]

[tomic]

BMW's of thiis era are so cool.

[Itsallicanafford]

But sheepish to post up pictures of our 1979 635csi as it’s a production car and not a homologation special but there’s so much shared detailing, might be of interest...maybe it’s just that it’s white with the same wheels!









[url]

[Cotty]

Looks fantastic, mine next please

[theholygrail]

paulyv said:

Loving the velour. Back in the day it was often a more expensive option than leather. Those were the days.

Haha my first thought too. LOVE those velour seats. They look proper comfy

Great story.

[Leins]

Some more pics showing the weight saving measures of these cars, although couldn’t find one of the drilled pedal hinges:






Wonder if they’ll next restore an M88-engined E23 745i

Edited by Leins on Saturday 12th October 13:25

[Lowtimer]

2Btoo said:

SidewaysSi said:

Why is it I find this infinitely more desirable than a new M5?

Possibly because it is infinitely more desirable than a new M5!

100% agreement with both of you

[jet_noise]

Sniff test fail:
197hp... ...9.3-second 0-62 time

Otherwise interesting article

[runnerbean 14]

The European market E12 M535i used the M90 engine and was a better car.

[Itsallicanafford]

jet_noise said:

Sniff test fail:
197hp... ...9.3-second 0-62 time

Otherwise interesting article

Chap, think more of the quality of performance, not the quantity.

[aston addict]

Utterly fantastic. And that interior - still on point today.

And loved a previous poster’s 635. Those were indeed the best days of BMW.

For me, e28 M5 in dolphin grey with dark red leather seats & shadowline trim would be the ultimate. And e30 m3 as a companion!

[Dave Hedgehog]

2Btoo said:

SidewaysSi said:

Why is it I find this infinitely more desirable than a new M5?

Possibly because it is infinitely more desirable than a new M5!

My first thought, wow the design is so much better than the modern bmw cars

[jet_noise]

Itsallicanafford said:

jet_noise said:

Sniff test fail:
197hp... ...9.3-second 0-62 time

Otherwise interesting article

Chap, think more of the quality of performance, not the quantity.

If this was a barge-weighted auto box'd, er, barge perhaps. But for a lightened E12 with all but 3hp shy of 200? My spidey senses say it's a typo. I know it's a dogleg 1st but I say that's at least two seconds out.

[g3org3y]

Leins said:

Wonder if they’ll next restore an M88-engined E23 745i

I didn't know about this model, South Africa exclusive it seems (as the 745i I'm familiar with is a turbo charged 6 cylinder).

[Leins]

g3org3y said:

Leins said:

Wonder if they’ll next restore an M88-engined E23 745i

I didn't know about this model, South Africa exclusive it seems (as the 745i I'm familiar with is a turbo charged 6 cylinder).

Yes, they produced some great models out there. Most of these 745s were automatic, but a manual one especially I’d say would be a fantastic thing to have

[Mexman]

Looks like they let Stevie Wonder loose with the drill bits on the weight saving exercise.
Dreadful workmanship.

[mark.c]

Lovely car, its great to see these old stagers getting some love and attention. Fantastic looking e24 too. This is my M535i that is currently undergoing a suspension refresh although not at a particularly fast pace!

[g3org3y]

Leins said:

Yes, they produced some great models out there. Most of these 745s were automatic, but a manual one especially I’d say would be a fantastic thing to have

I have vague recollections of a BMWCar Magazine article regarding the South African E30 333i.

More details of that model here.

[mark.c]