tires and wheels Your Expertise is needed: In your opinion, is this 5er a fai

[Guest Anonymous]

URL: https://home.comcast.net/~hteam/BMW/p2090007.jpg

Gonna test drive this car on Saturday I think, it seems like his car is fairly priced, but it's hard to tell on older cars. I would love some of your opinions. Here's the form email he sent and the pics.

We're up here in seattle by the way.

The email:

This is a form letter I am going to attach some photos of this car to. I

hope to answer a slew of questions, and hope that it satisfies all who

are intrested.

This is an original paint, original interior, no rust, no cracks in the

dash, no cracks in the windshield five speed 1988 535is.

The car has 125,000 documented, well cared for three owner miles. I

bought it from a friend of mine, something I never do, only because it is

really a great car in great shape.

It has aftermarket wheels with recent Dunlop Sport A2 tires, it has a

wonderfull stereo. It all works, except for the the air (which is there,

but not working, needs service? Dunno, don't care).

Everything else works, the electrical system is fine, the cooling system

is fine, the heating system is fine, the wipers work fine, the washer

works fine, the cruise control works fine, the lights all work, the

signals work, the locks work, the alarm works, the auto door locks work,

the air dam is intact, the bumpers have no pitting. All body rubber is

excellent, the sun roof works, the windows all work, the guages all

function, the "check" light works (it goes off when you hit the brakes),

and it lets you know if a light is out. The brakes work fine, the trunk

mat is clean, the antenna works (although I have it in the up position, I

just can't handle hearing an antenna go up and down every time I get in a

car), the carpets are fine, the floor mats are fine, the headliner is

perfect, the tinted glass is fine, the rear window defrost works fine,

the side mirrors work correctly. This car has the original clutch, and

has been driven only by adult drivers.

If you are serious, then contact me. If you want to waste my time,

please stay away.

Sorry about that last bit, but I am not in this for shooting the breeze.

This is an excellent, well kept 535is worth what I am asking for it, so

don't come bother me with a peanuts offer, I won't accept and you will be

shown the door, post haste.

[Guest Anonymous]

(nt)

[Guest Anonymous]

I sold one of these in excellent shape about 2 years ago for 3,000.00. Mine looked a bit nicer, but had 169,000mi. Hope that helps. jm

[Guest Anonymous]

what is the asking price?? (didn't see it).

I understand what he's trying to convey, but he really comes off sounding like an asshole. The part about him "not able to handle the sound of the antenna going up and down" is sort of odd- I'd much rather have the antenna retract so it doesn't get damaged when the car is parked, than have it extended all the time.

E28's are great cars, most of the problem areas are well documented, there's not really anything that can go wrong with them that can't be fixed for a reasonable price (unless you have to take it to the dealer for everything!!).

Bret.

[Guest Anonymous]

I knew with all the work I put into that post I would forget something important

[Guest Anonymous]

i emailed him about the car too and got the same form letter. to be honest, the car is overpriced, and the guy really does come off like an asshole. thats probably a $4500 car, but he thinks it the finest e28 around.

[Guest Anonymous]

(nt)

[Guest Anonymous]

Is this all pretty recent? Are you up here in Seattle too?

[Guest Anonymous]

That only makes it harder to make sure you get your moneys worth.

[Guest Anonymous]

Just my opinion, but unless he has done alot of work on the engine etc. 6000 seems a bit high. My car was a nice one and I sold it cheap, but mine was worth maybe 4500 at the most.jm

[Guest Anonymous]

One last thing: If you do drive it check out the idle; it should be rock solid= I spent some major$ getting mine to idle right; however once that problem was fixed it was a very nice car to drive and lots of power-only other problem I ever had was driving it in an ice storm; not fun at all. Still I think its worth about 4500 as mentioned above.

[Guest Anonymous]

continue to drop and I see plenty of 535ises go for less than 3k in similar condition. So everything is fine according to him, but he doesn't mention the normal E28 trouble-spots. When were the upper control-arm bushings replaced, and with what? What about the driveshaft, as it's about 475 exchange? What's the condition of the steering attachement to the frame? Brake-rotors warp easily, so what about them? Ever check the crank-nut buddy? Or the PS filter? Ask him what plugs are in it. If they ain't Bosch Silber something's wrong. What about the kitty-CAT? Has it passed smog if required? Will it pass smog for the buyer? How's the idle? Don't tell us trivialities that work, tell us about the problems one will have to face. All the tools in the trunklid? IS Bilsteins are not warranteed by Bilstein, so how are the shocks? How are the rear-subframe bushings? 1500 bucks with the info supplied as it tells you nothing. Stereos aren't worth a nickle in resale. Did I say how are all the bushings?

[Guest Anonymous]

The e28 shoul sell no more thant $3k.

[Guest Anonymous]

(nt)

[Guest Anonymous]

the mechanicals as F1 points out. 125K is bad time to buy. Time to do front end suspension and control arms , rear suspension especially subframe busings ($300-500), if origninal shocks, probably time to replace, power steering lines, blah, blah..., mine had all this done and at 178k sold for 3500 with tinted windows, eclipse head unit, ads amp and infinity speakers, short shifter, 16'milla miliga rims

no cracks in dash or leather. But then again it depends on how much you wnat the car and if resale is an issue