1988 BMW M5

Sedan

3.5L 3453CC l6 GAS DOHC Naturally Aspirated

Manual

WBSDC9300J2791525

Clear

Gasoline

Early BMW Motorsports cars are among the most sought after modern classics, and with good reason. E28 M5s were hand-assembled in the BMW Motorsports Garching, Bavaria facility. Just 1,340 of these 256 hp, M1-powered super sedans were built for the North American market, the vast majority, in black (Schwarz) with tan (Natur) leather. E30 M3s are downright common by comparison, with over 5,000 sent to the U.S. I bought this car recently from a long-term owner and spent $3,000 performing necessary maintenance to make it my daily driver, including new Dunlop Direzza Z-rated tires in the proper 225/50/16 size, new lower control arms, rebuilt calipers, pads and rotors plus a four-wheel alignment and an oil service. The file from the previous owner contains reams of receipts including a new clutch and short shifter kit about 15,000 miles ago. A compression test was performed at that time and showed an even 150 psi in cylinders 2-6 and 145 psi in number one. The car runs strong with no smoke (even on cold starts) or funny noises. Almost everything functions properly including the hilariously complicated power seat controls that make an early i-Drive system look simple. The sunroof and power windows work fine and the A/C blew cold on a 90 degree day when I tested it. The only exceptions to this generally happy situation that I can see are the on-board computer (LCD display for the dash multi-function unit is out, the LED diagnostic above the rearview mirror seems OK) and the BMW-branded power antenna only retracts halfway. The tool kit appears mostly complete, E28 geeks I’m sure will be able to spot and source what’s missing. The current radio is a profoundly unattractive and needlessly complicated modern CD unit. The proper BMW cassette radio WITH CODES and radio manual come with the car. I sincerely hope that the next owner re-installs it and smashes the current unit to bits with a sledge hammer or drives over it with a Hummer H2. I'm no fan of cars with stories like rust, poor bodywork, indifferent resprays and modifications. Other than the aforementioned radio, I can’t find anything that raises a red flag on this car. I don’t see any evidence of rust, paint work, blends, or tape lines. The car was originally sold in Western New York State, but according to the Carfax, mercifully, it didn’t seem to spend much time there, living mainly in Texas, Arizona and Washington State. It comes with a clean Carfax in the file that the previous owner purchased when she bought the car in 2006. The paint appears to be original and in nice shape for its age. There are various minor scrapes, some checking (on the hood) and scratches here and there and a few dings (a good PDR guy could likely take care of those) but it’s shiny, straight and presents quite well for thirty year-old paint. I wouldn’t touch it. The rubber and soft trim is very nice and pliable and the original BBS wheels are undamaged. The engine compartment is clean with all factory decals in place. It's not fluffed and buffed, it just reflects good care. The car has a Bavarian Motorsports front strut brace. The interiors of these cars are mostly covered in leather which didn’t seem to wear well, suffering from shrinkage, seam splits and cracking. None of that is present here. The rear seats look virtually unused and the fronts remain soft, with light patina. The correct M badges are in place on the seat backs. The dash has one minor 2” crack near the front. You have to look at it from the outside through the windshield to really see it. The door panels appear to have been re-dyed at some point and could stand it again, the dye is worn and stained in places. The factory owner’s manual is in the glovebox in the original pouch along with the spare key. The original key comes on a period Motorsports key chain. I had intended to keep the car and sell my near perfect E30 convertible, unaware of the fact that I would thereby cause a mutiny among my family who adore that car and don’t remotely get the appeal of the fixed roof, four-door, boxy M5. Nor do they seem to care about the fact that the upside of the M5 dwarfs that of the E30 convertible. C’est la vie. I’ll miss the black beast and I’m pretty certain that I’ll never be able to afford another. Happy bidding on this really special car. Bidders with unexplained negative feedback, feedback under 10 and non-US bidders, please email me before bidding or face bid cancellation. The car is for sale AS IS/WHERE IS with a clear Michigan title in my name. On Jul-12-16 at 15:11:50 PDT, seller added the following information: An E28 expert has suggested that the wheels on this car are a slightly wider, stronger, period-correct BBS accessory wheel. The lips are machined rather than painted. In looking at some of the period M5 literature that I have, it seems to bear out this person's observation.