1988 BMW 5-Series

535is Sedan

6 Cylinder 3.4 Liter

Manual

wbadc7403j1717979

Gasoline

This is a very nice example of a nearly vintage BMW that you will rarely see online....and hardly ever in this condition. Please look at all of the pictures provided, to see the paint is very glossy (roof is the only exception) and that the interior is clean and sorted. Nearly everything on this car works!! Below is a list of the good and bads: Good: -I am only the 3rd owner! This is not one of those basket cases that has been passed around......all of the owners have kept it for years and have all cared for it equally as well. -Paint is excellent, especially for the age of the vehicle 8/10 condition. -A/C works and blows VERY cold....it was 95deg today, and it had no problem making the cabin frigid.....big plus right now. Heater also works very well in the winter months. Tires are BFGoodrich KDW's...nearly 200$ a piece on 15" BBS basketweaves in great condition. They are my summer set, and a set of barely used Bridgestone blizzacks on 15" borbet c's are included (priceless when the snow is out!) Mileage is original and correct @ 181,xxx miles. Engine is very clean, and detailed out. Oil changed regularly. Engine had a vacuum leak at the intake manifold, and at that time, the intake, valve cover and various other top end components were removed, cleaned and painted while the service work was being performed. The engine bay now looks stellar. During the previous stated service work, a compression test was done on all cylinders just as a test, and all were shockingly within 2psi of each other which is absolutely amazing for a motor with this mileage. I can do the test for any potential buyers if necessary. So needless to say the engine is healthy. The Driveline has been gone through as well, with a custom DSSR UUC EVO III short shifter and linkage kit, and new guibo and center bearing done within the last 6-7K miles. This really made a big difference from how i bought the car with the sloppy stock shifter. For those of you who know short shift setups, UUC is second to none in quality, using sealed ball bearings on pivot points for super smooth, super precise shifting that won't get sloppy over time. The differential LSD lube was replaced with Mobil 1 LSD lube, and a tube of friction modifier. misc. spare parts will be included with the car including a new power steering pump (the current one leaks slightly, but never got any worse like i thought it would) as well as all of the accessory belts, and some spare relays for those "just in case" moments. The bad: She sometimes starts a little hard if the A/C is running full blast, and just seems to not fire to life in a couple hits, more like 3 seconds of cranking and then she fires. Never had it not start a single time since i've owned it. The trunk seal leaks, so the trunk often has moisture in it after a rain, or a carwash. I believe a new seal would fix the prob, but it's up the next owner whether this bothers you enough. A few small rust spots, but only in inconspicuous areas near the windshield and rear window weatherstrip, and down on the back D.S. rear valence. Very minor, and could be fixed reasonably if you would be so inclined. I treated the spots with rust treatment so that they would not grow, and was waiting until i did a full paintjob to fix them permanently.....the car was just too nice to justify repainting, so never did. The D.S. rear brake light is out, and the bulb is good. I believe there is a bad ground at those bulb sockets, as the previous owner looks to have soldered some extra ground wires, which have since worked loose. I will probably have this fixed anyways for legal reasons, but wanted to mention it anyways, in case the problem is not solved. The roof paint is dull, could use a repaint on the roof.....but is not noticeable when looking at the car as a whole, as the rest is quite beautiful. This is obviously a 22+ year old car, so there may be other little quirks that i may be forgetting, but overall, i have owned MANY old E30 and e28 BMW's, and this is one of the most sorted drivers ive owned, and was used by myself to commute 90 miles round trip in Vintage BMW Style!! It got too expensive on gas (20mpg), so i got a 40mpg honda.....and the new baby in my family and my 5 cars have forced me to let a few go, this being one of them. I want this to find a GOOD HOME! this is truly a great car. Feel free to send me a message and i will give you my phone number so we can discuss details of the car, or negotiate a sale. The car is located at Zip 47933 if you are trying to calculate travel time. I would be happy to meet someone within a reasonable distance, say 100 mile radius. I have the car for sale on craigslist as well, so if i have no offers on ebay, and get a good one on craigslist, it is possible i will end the auction early......so if you are interested, please contact me!