E30 Zone

I have been offered a e28 m5 but I'm not really sure what I'm looking out for, £10,000 worth of reciepts in the last 2 years though.

First of all, it isnt so often you are able to get your hands in a E28 M5 who was the first M5 ever made dude.
You should look if its have any modifications?
Next is rust (like an E30)
So is the drive line, and service history.
The engine should sound nice, look for any oil leaks and also that you have correct oil pressure.
Its an old BMW, so just see it as an old E30 & look for faults in generally...

Its also handbuilt.

Rust to the bodywork & chassis?
What nick is the suspension in?
What state is the exhaust system in
Engine, good history? Timing chain replacement - when is that next due?

The above are the main source of financial nighmares.

What does it look like? Does it have a kit, just shadowline or is it a nice chrome sleeper?

I am waiting for pictures now, I've been offered it by a chap I met at Le Mans.

main points are:

boot floor, rear axle and rear inner wings
sills are really bad if it has the kit (not all did)
steering box (m5 specific and rare £1200 at dealers!)and front bush set up (expensive and hard to get right!)
the front wings rott from the inside out so bubbles on the outside normally indicate is rotten
front strut towers not uncommon to be plated at this age
timing chanes can break as they are not a double chain like later s38's allthough very rare tensioner is a must if not been done in recent history as can prevent, they are oil fed and better swapped with a spring e36 type.

engines are very strong head rebuild after 200k is the norm but can get away with longer.

if steering box has been adjusted too much they can lock while in motion not good if your doing 110mph round a bend on the track! so get assurance that this is not the case as the quick fix adjustment is fine but will lead to steering box failure at some point.

with it been an m5 will be looked after the above is a short list of what i found wrong with a "mint" m535i a year or so ago, but still applys with all e28's the rear really is the place to look for the rust as it can be really bad and hidden.

hope it helps and if it's rotten just buy a few ///M badges and stick them on rott should fix it! (past thread debate over sports and ///m badge "digg!")

£10k receipts sounds like the car has been looked after.

Let me know reg number and I'll see if i can get the full spec for you

See £10k of reciepts worries me. If its needed that much money now, how much is it going to need in the next 5 years

They are quite a cool car, i've been out in track in one, only a passenger sadly. The thing that amazed mee was the ability to rev, it was happily going to a smidge over 7000rpm. Pretty impressive for a 'lazy' tuned m30.

It didn't handle amazingly, but it wasn't bad and because its linear power, there was no brown trouser moments the whole time. Very little opposite lock needed. Anyhow, i'm sure this is all irrelevant, most people don't track an e28 m5.


Cool car, but I wouldn't own one.

i love the e28 M5, an absolute monster of a car, old skool!

my dads mate had one sold it and bought it back off the guy he sold it too cos he missed it too much!

Pretty much what 320ise said.

Rust - everywhere - but in my experience not as bad as E30s - is the main thing. Check the M5 specific stuff - engine, box, diff, steering box, shocks, springs, discs, calipers, radiator and exhaust. They are all dear. Pretty much everything else is standard E28 and reasonable.

There are only 187 RHD so it's a rare car.

I think it handles very well indeed for a car of its size and is IMHO a far better, more useable car than the E30 M3. On a road, it'll get you there much quicker and more relaxed. Supremely capable classic car.

The one below is reluctantly for sale. PM me for info.

hers a pic of my e28 m5 at le mans track this year,poly bush kit and heavier springs,then they do handle !

another fella on here has one, it cost him nearly 2.5k to get the timing chain replaced

it is, however, an absolutely STUNNING car

yeah mine has been done along with a new crank as the end of it sheared off due to the crank pulley bolt being so tight
for its age its still a super quick car