Discussion
Any of these about here? I sold my E61 530d and Audi urS4 a few months ago before heading to Malaysia to live/work. So been hunting for something different and have been directed to a very very cleanE28 M535i is 99% the vehicle for me. Now i dont know a lot about them other than a night of internet reading. I will be using it for a daily but would like to be able to go for a wee hoon if needed, or should i just like it for what it is?
Any scarty expensive bits you cant get a hold of now? tweaks to suspension/brakes/engine that make it so much better? Words of wisdom welcome
Any scarty expensive bits you cant get a hold of now? tweaks to suspension/brakes/engine that make it so much better? Words of wisdom welcome
First thing to establish is whether "M535" over there means the same as it does over here: if it does, then what you're looking at isn't really an M-car.
The M535 over here ran the ordinary 3.5 litre 218bhp M30 12v engine. Same as the one in my 635csi. A lovely engine with plenty of torque and swift enough to be enjoyable. But it was a different beast to the proper M5, with the 286bhp S38 24v engine, shared with the M635csi.
Confusingly, BMW badged the M version of the e28 "M5" but the M version of the e24 "M635" (although they were called M6 in the US).
Clear as mud so far??
This website will help - loads of info, things to look out for etc etc: http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/bmw.html
Parts availability in the UK for my 635 is excellent. But some bits are very expensive. Rust in the front wings is a killer, with new wings costing a fortune. Most of the oily bits seem to be available at a reasonable price. And there are loads being broken for parts.
In terms of handling, by 6er is a bit of a boat but I understand the 5ers are better, due to being a bit smaller and a bit lighter. And the handling can be improved with uprated suspension, ARBs, strut braces etc.
Look out for wheel wobble at 55ish mpg. Probably worn suspension bushes.
And rust. Front wings, inner and outer, rear wings, sills, etc etc.
The M535 over here ran the ordinary 3.5 litre 218bhp M30 12v engine. Same as the one in my 635csi. A lovely engine with plenty of torque and swift enough to be enjoyable. But it was a different beast to the proper M5, with the 286bhp S38 24v engine, shared with the M635csi.
Confusingly, BMW badged the M version of the e28 "M5" but the M version of the e24 "M635" (although they were called M6 in the US).
Clear as mud so far??
This website will help - loads of info, things to look out for etc etc: http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/bmw.html
Parts availability in the UK for my 635 is excellent. But some bits are very expensive. Rust in the front wings is a killer, with new wings costing a fortune. Most of the oily bits seem to be available at a reasonable price. And there are loads being broken for parts.
In terms of handling, by 6er is a bit of a boat but I understand the 5ers are better, due to being a bit smaller and a bit lighter. And the handling can be improved with uprated suspension, ARBs, strut braces etc.
Look out for wheel wobble at 55ish mpg. Probably worn suspension bushes.
And rust. Front wings, inner and outer, rear wings, sills, etc etc.
Edited by Gruber on Wednesday 11th May 15:58
With any E28 you are buying on condition as they like to rust - check the sills, inner wings (if poss) and rear subframe mounts, as they tend to go. If the subframe mounts have gone it can be uneconomical to repair.
The M535i came with either an auto box, standard H pattern box or a dogleg box. The dogleg boxes are the most fragile of the lot, so make sure it shifts smoothly and doesn't jump out of gear. You can replace the dogleg with a standard H if it dies, as replacement doglegs are getting pricey (and rare).
Unless it has been done recently, you'll need to budget for a complete suspension refresh. The bushes like to wear on these, giving the common steering wobble around 55mph, but also being pretty vague. It's a steering box, not rack, and it doesn't provide the best feel, particularly around the straight ahead. There's only limited adjustment in it, too.
Mods will depend on what you want from it, and what you use it for - you can uprate the suspension easily enough using Bilstein B6 or B8s and a set of springs (Faulkner make some great custom ones in the UK). Brakes can be upgraded with E34 M5 fronts mated to E34 540i rears. A Fritz backbox will give you all the sound you need, too.
I wouldn't bother with engine tuning - I've seen people spend lots on cams, maps, induction etc to see very little gain. If you want more from the M30 your best bet is a turbo conversion - single or twin - and there's plenty of info around on this.
So, go for it I say - check it over carefully for rust, then check it again. There WILL be some somewhere. Get a good one and you'll enjoy it
The M535i came with either an auto box, standard H pattern box or a dogleg box. The dogleg boxes are the most fragile of the lot, so make sure it shifts smoothly and doesn't jump out of gear. You can replace the dogleg with a standard H if it dies, as replacement doglegs are getting pricey (and rare).
Unless it has been done recently, you'll need to budget for a complete suspension refresh. The bushes like to wear on these, giving the common steering wobble around 55mph, but also being pretty vague. It's a steering box, not rack, and it doesn't provide the best feel, particularly around the straight ahead. There's only limited adjustment in it, too.
Mods will depend on what you want from it, and what you use it for - you can uprate the suspension easily enough using Bilstein B6 or B8s and a set of springs (Faulkner make some great custom ones in the UK). Brakes can be upgraded with E34 M5 fronts mated to E34 540i rears. A Fritz backbox will give you all the sound you need, too.
I wouldn't bother with engine tuning - I've seen people spend lots on cams, maps, induction etc to see very little gain. If you want more from the M30 your best bet is a turbo conversion - single or twin - and there's plenty of info around on this.
So, go for it I say - check it over carefully for rust, then check it again. There WILL be some somewhere. Get a good one and you'll enjoy it
great stuff!
Forgot about john burns site, my E30 mates always pointed me there. The car in question has the M30 and is the same as the M535i at home (UK). Ok its not technically an M car but a bit of an oddity of the era, apologies if i have posted in teh wrong section. I have always loved the e24 but they are a bit out of my budget at the moment, fellow PHer here in Malaysia has an E24 which is very nice indeed, and directed me towards this E28. It is in great nick going by the photos, concours i believe but will wait and see. I am in Malaysia so generally speaking there are a lot of classics here without tinworm. So i am hoping this one is as good as it looks.
Suspension noted, i was half expecting a refresh. i have had quite a few old quattros and all have shagged bushes, replaced with polys, new inserts brush up, POR15 and new springs. ARBs still available for these, the novelty of getting parts for a car older than 15 years appeals.
The car in question is an auto, i will be using this for my daily 7km commute mainly in traffic then the odd weekend blast. Auto suits KL as you are stop starting a lot and i think my leg would fall off using a clutch daily. Are they easy to convert to manual as such? are the auto boxes strong?
check! Will get a picture up when i go see it soon.
Forgot about john burns site, my E30 mates always pointed me there. The car in question has the M30 and is the same as the M535i at home (UK). Ok its not technically an M car but a bit of an oddity of the era, apologies if i have posted in teh wrong section. I have always loved the e24 but they are a bit out of my budget at the moment, fellow PHer here in Malaysia has an E24 which is very nice indeed, and directed me towards this E28. It is in great nick going by the photos, concours i believe but will wait and see. I am in Malaysia so generally speaking there are a lot of classics here without tinworm. So i am hoping this one is as good as it looks.
Suspension noted, i was half expecting a refresh. i have had quite a few old quattros and all have shagged bushes, replaced with polys, new inserts brush up, POR15 and new springs. ARBs still available for these, the novelty of getting parts for a car older than 15 years appeals.
The car in question is an auto, i will be using this for my daily 7km commute mainly in traffic then the odd weekend blast. Auto suits KL as you are stop starting a lot and i think my leg would fall off using a clutch daily. Are they easy to convert to manual as such? are the auto boxes strong?
check! Will get a picture up when i go see it soon.
I'm guessing the autobox is the same as my 6er, but don't know for sure. If it is, then top is nice and long for very relaxed cruising.
If it's like mine, the gearbox has three settings: E, S and 1-2-3. The Economy setting is the every day mode. Sport locks out 4th until something silly like 100mph, it holds the lower gears for longer and kicks down more readily. 1-2-3 seems to work like economy mode but locks out 4th altogether and I guess is handy for long downhill stretches but I've hardly ever used it. Make sure it all works as it should, especially the Sport mode and kick down.
On the move, the box should change smoothly and without thumps. But don't expect Mercedes W124 levels of silky smoothness. I've just had the oil and filter changed in mine, which has improved things, but still not as seamless as the old Merc. Doesn't mean there's anything wrong with it - probably more an indication of just how good the old Merc boxes were.
And I don't know whether the M535s came with an LSD as standard. My current 6 has one and my old one didn't - it makes a noticeable difference out of corners!
As I'm sure you know, the service intervals for BMWs are: Oil - Inspection I - Oil - Inpection II. Diff oil and gearbox filter and oil are changed as part of Insp II, so if it hasn't had one for a while, it's probably worth doing!
Good luck!!
If it's like mine, the gearbox has three settings: E, S and 1-2-3. The Economy setting is the every day mode. Sport locks out 4th until something silly like 100mph, it holds the lower gears for longer and kicks down more readily. 1-2-3 seems to work like economy mode but locks out 4th altogether and I guess is handy for long downhill stretches but I've hardly ever used it. Make sure it all works as it should, especially the Sport mode and kick down.
On the move, the box should change smoothly and without thumps. But don't expect Mercedes W124 levels of silky smoothness. I've just had the oil and filter changed in mine, which has improved things, but still not as seamless as the old Merc. Doesn't mean there's anything wrong with it - probably more an indication of just how good the old Merc boxes were.
And I don't know whether the M535s came with an LSD as standard. My current 6 has one and my old one didn't - it makes a noticeable difference out of corners!
As I'm sure you know, the service intervals for BMWs are: Oil - Inspection I - Oil - Inpection II. Diff oil and gearbox filter and oil are changed as part of Insp II, so if it hasn't had one for a while, it's probably worth doing!
Good luck!!
I've had 6, or 7 . Fantastic cars, although the auto is dire compared to the manual. They were available with standard sport box, but very rare. The dog box will need bearings at some point, you used to be able to get spares from BMW and a bit of patience made the re build fairly easy. All work is easy to carry out, viscous and thermostats fail, i converted most of mine to leccy fan. This was the last i had, would love to have it back.
Had a look round the car today, looks great in the flesh. Owner is away in China working and back next week, so I will take it for a drive to see if it goes like it looks. Interior is cream M interior looks immaculate. the big 1 sticker on the rear window was 1st in BMW Malaysia concours, i eventually fouind a tiny bit of bubble by the front window and that took me ages to find.
This one is an auto but i dont mind as a clutch in the middle of KL traffic will be hard going. Will see how it drives next week, and report back. I had plans in my head to make a track monster in time but its in such good nick it feels wrong to do that.
Thanks for the feedback so far, will keep you posted when i take it for a run. I dont think i have ever walked away from a car i went to look at...
oh aye it looks like this
This one is an auto but i dont mind as a clutch in the middle of KL traffic will be hard going. Will see how it drives next week, and report back. I had plans in my head to make a track monster in time but its in such good nick it feels wrong to do that.
Thanks for the feedback so far, will keep you posted when i take it for a run. I dont think i have ever walked away from a car i went to look at...
oh aye it looks like this
Wowzers! That looks very tidy indeed.
And its in the best colour!
A few other things that might be worth checking once you get behind the wheel... As above, check for the wheel wobble at 55ish mph. Check the inner wings for rot. If it has the electric seats, check they work. Check there's no overly loud clicking from the camshaft on start up, and erm... Buy it and enjoy!!
A very good find!
And its in the best colour!
A few other things that might be worth checking once you get behind the wheel... As above, check for the wheel wobble at 55ish mph. Check the inner wings for rot. If it has the electric seats, check they work. Check there's no overly loud clicking from the camshaft on start up, and erm... Buy it and enjoy!!
A very good find!
Istoo the E24 isn't 'very nice' at the moment, her indoors hit it twice on the weekend getting out og the car park, one on each side. So her 944 comes back today after she bust it and the 6'r gets picked up and taken in. 6'r not two sick but I'm making out its bad as I got the bill for the Pheoniix on monday and her two bumps have given me the high ground.
M3John said:
So would i but they are extremely rare ! Check out my fantasy garage on here - i've had one of those in there for a good while !
It's good garage, nice to see the E12. Keep an eye out there seems to be a few for sale now & again. I understand a very good one when for £5k not long ago. I went all over Germany in one, a 525(carb) auto in a dire light greeny metallic, it was sold with 300,000kms on it or maybe more, never had any issues from what I recall but wouldn't be interesed in one again, a nice refined cruiser but dead slow.
Johnboy Mac said:
M3John said:
So would i but they are extremely rare ! Check out my fantasy garage on here - i've had one of those in there for a good while !
It's good garage, nice to see the E12. Keep an eye out there seems to be a few for sale now & again. I understand a very good one when for £5k not long ago. I went all over Germany in one, a 525(carb) auto in a dire light greeny metallic, it was sold with 300,000kms on it or maybe more, never had any issues from what I recall but wouldn't be interesed in one again, a nice refined cruiser but dead slow.
There was one very recently for sale at £13k. Probably the best out there if i'm honest.
Edit; Linky - http://www.tonybmw.co.uk/pages/sale/Justin/Justin....
M3John said:
Cheers !
There was one very recently for sale at £13k. Probably the best out there if i'm honest.
Edit; Linky - http://www.tonybmw.co.uk/pages/sale/Justin/Justin....
Honestly, I would consider that car if I didn't have an itch to scratch with something else. There was one very recently for sale at £13k. Probably the best out there if i'm honest.
Edit; Linky - http://www.tonybmw.co.uk/pages/sale/Justin/Justin....
Edit: Advert could do with more detail and extra photos.
Edited by Johnboy Mac on Wednesday 18th May 21:08
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