1988 BMW 5-Series

Sedan

3.5L Gasoline I6 EFI

Automatic

WBADC8404J3261288

Clear

Gasoline

Up for auction is a beautiful and rare 1988 535i automatic. The last year of the E28's, this car is an absolute beauty and a joy to drive. It is dependable, quiet, and with a comfortable, luxurious ride. The car in very good condition, with only a couple of dings and no accidents. Like any old car it needs a little bit of attention to turn it into a true period classic. Even in its current state it will turn heads and get complements from complete strangers wherever you go. I bought this car in March of 2011 from a private seller in Los Angeles, CA. I drove it to Las Vegas, NV, where it has lived a pampered life, being only taken out for pleasure trips. I have taken it out when going to sushi so many times that it earned a nickname of "Sushimobile" amongst my friends. Before that it lived all of its life in Southern California. You will not find any rust on the body (there is some light corrosion in the engine bay around the battery). Here's what you can expect when buying this car: Engine bay: A strong 3.5 liter engine, with nice, smooth power delivery throughout the entire power bandNo odd noises, performance issues, or leaks (there are some drips) Steady, non-racing idleNo overheatingAn all original, factory exhaust with all the heat shields still present A nice, deep exhaust note under accelerationNo emission issues - passed the smog check in California and Las Vegas on the first try Transmission:ZF 4HP22 electronic transmission with Sport modeIn winter, has a slight hesitation shifting from 1->2 gear (replaced ATF fluid & filter but no change). The issue is not present in summer months, and it runs through the gears smoothly in either sport or economy modeExterior Factory original Schwartz paint with a deep shine There are a few light scratches on the hood and roof panels. They are in the clear coat and are only visible at certain angles. The entire trunk panel has cracked clear coat (aka webbing). The webbing is not present on the panels immediately around the trunk (rear fenders or bottom of the rear window), so it appears to be a factory defect. Sprinkler water spots on the passenger side that should come off with some buffing or clay bar treatment There is a small ding on the back of the roof and a tiny raised bump on the hoodThe bumper surrounds are wavy at the rear of the car and have pitting on the driver's front cornerInterior Aftermarket stereo with stealthily upgraded speakers and a subwoofer box in trunkThe steering wheel leather is shiny and soft The steering wheel's height adjustment works fullyAll power windows & sunroof work consistently & reliablyAn original Perl Beige leather interior with comfort power seats that still smells like newAll power seat functions work, but the headrests sometimes act out and do not raise/lower, which is typical on these cars Driver's seat cushion is in need of attention, and there are small cracks on the driver's armrest Passenger seat is in near perfect shape, except for a scuff across the front of the seat cushionRear bench seat leather is soft & supple, but there is a tear in the back cushion on the passenger's side The stitching of the rear seat back is coming apart at the top There is a tear in the headliner near the back window on the driver's sideThere are small holes in the tint film at the top of the rear windowThere are a couple of slats missing on the right side of the center consoleDashboard is cracked in multiple spotsAir conditioning does not work, as there appears to be a leak in the system. It was never converted to R134, so you still have a choice of keeping it stock with R12 or converting to R134. Wheels & SuspensionFactory original 15" rims (not TRX) Tires will need to be replaced if you wish to keep these period rims on the car A comfort spec suspension. Shocks and springs appear original, but the ride is still very smooth and plush when going over bumpsNo shimmy during braking from freeway speeds or on the roadNo warped brake rotors with plenty of brake pad material left Here are the things that were repaired or replaced in the last 1000 miles, which corresponds to the last few years of ownership:New spark plugsNew distributor cap & rotorNew valve cover gasket & valve adjustmentNew fuel injector o-ringsNew fuel hoses (feed, return & cold start valve) New freeze plug, stopping a small coolant leak on the side of the blockFlushed cooling system & filled with new coolant New thermostat to T-connection coolant hoseNew heater control valveNew expansion tank cap New water pumpNew fan clutchNew air intake bootsNew air filter New vacuum hosesNew low pressure power steering hoses (to pump and return from the steering box) to fix a significant leakNew Meyle HD upper control arm bushings Transmission oil, filter & gasket change (Castrol Dexron III/Mercon formula)Oil change (5w30 Valvoline premium conventional oil used). Mahle oil filter installed at the same time. Oil should be good until 153184 miles Lots of photos available here: http://s1135.photobucket.com/user/yredovic/library/1988_BMW_535i Please be sure to check out all the photos and let me know if you have any questions prior to bidding. Good luck!