e28 m5

[E36 Fanatic]

Hey guys - i found an '88 m5 for sale... it looks like it's in mint condition, but...
How reliable are these engines?
If anyone has pics of the int. of an M5 of this year please post.
by the way, it has 112k miles on it and the guy wants 14 grand fer it.
Get back to me
Nick

[Jcb2111]

I would like to know the same thing, are M5 engines reliable?? See my E28 vs. E34 post below

[Jcb2111]

Heres an interior shot on this page:

http://bmwe34m5.com/registry/HTMLFiles/TedMerendino.htm

[ktec28]

Thats alot for an M5 motor. Go to www.metricmechanic.com and check out their engines. But what i've heard that those M5 engines are pretty reliable.

[BMW M Freude]

E36 Fanatic,

As an enthusiastic E28 M5 owner and tech, I would be happy to answer any of your questions in regards to the E28 M5. If you have specific or additional questions you may submit them to me via the Private Messaging feature and I will respond to them as quickly as possible. Also I would recommend that you explore the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) pages on www.bmwmregistry.com to learn more about the M5 and the history behind the car.


When investigating an E28 there are many specific things that you should look out for and undoubtedly a qualified BMW master technician should perform a pre purchase inspection before purchasing. On a whole E28s are very well constructed and generally fair as very reliable automobiles. However the M5 begs to be driven hard and its high running costs sometimes mean forgone maintenance. I absolutely disagree with ktec28. The engines are very strong and will last well past 200,000 miles if the car was properly serviced before and at the 100,000-mile mark. Maintenance records are crucial. Valve noise can be a sign of poor adjustment or worse. My personal inclination is to shy away from any example that has had major engine work or been maintained by a shop that doesn’t have the skills necessary work on a car that demands excellence and precision. At 100,000 miles it is recommended that the engine be refreshed which includes replacement of the cam chain, inspection of the guide rails/ tensioners, and though not necessary it is recommended a superior crank hub from Frank Fahey (www.frankfaheymotorsports.com) is installed, to prevent the crank hub, which holds the harmonic balancer from flexing and loosening and in turn damage the keyway and crankshaft. Addressing these issues also prevents the possibility of slack forming in the chain, causing chain whip, which can break guide rails or let the timing jump, causing considerable damage to the engine. When happens to a car with a ten thousand dollar head the repair bill can exceed that of the car and certainly the 100,000 service. Don’t run from a car that hasn’t had this addressed, though make sure its addressed in negotiating. A compression test should also be performed and while the test is run the plugs should be examined.

The 280 Getrag five speed transmission, is typically strong, though higher mile M5s tend to exhibit some syncro wear. Transmissions and clutches that feel sloppy usually are nothing more than worn linkages and wear and tear, but can be moderately costly to address. The front disks on the M5 are parts that are unique to the E28 M5. The design of the front rotors don’t allow for good heat dissipation and tend to warp at 60,000 miles. These can be replaced with superior and less expensive E32 750 rotors which can be bolted on without much trouble. Throughout the E28/E24 model range front end shake, when breaking is common and can be easily corrected with push strut bushings, from the E32 750il, machined down to fit the E28 5 and E24 6 series. Its also recommended that the idler arms, lower control arms, push struts, and tie rods be replaced to address the shimmy. (For more on the issue see Steve D'Gerolamo’s write up at www.ultimategarage.com) The rear self-leveling suspension tends to be fairly reliable but check to make sure the hydraulic accumulator units are not leaking. In addition to push strut bushings, rear subframe bushings tend wear along with transmission mounts and failure of the right side motor mounts is common. When repaired the mounts are commonly incorrectly repaired with those of the E28 535i. At idle the heat shield between the headers and the A/C compressor tends to rattle and is commonly removed as a fix for the problem. This doesn’t necessarily affect the car, though in warm weather the compressor may over heat and shut off.

On the outside M5s aren’t much different than an E28 535iS, though tidbits that are exclusive to the M5 such as the blacked out brightwork (Shadowline), tail lamps, exhaust tips etc. are extremely hard to find and are NLA from most suppliers, if you can get your hands on them they are definitely expensive. On the inside the M5 is very much different than the rest of the E28 model range. The M5s interior was adorned with Natur leather interior, with hide covering the center console, dash, door panels and door pulls. M5 specific sill plates, tachometer, black headliner and elaborate trunk trimmings, round out the M5s unique interior. These M5 specific parts are rare and are also extremely hard to find. The seats themselves run $4,000 each and its important to make sure that the seats frames aren’t cracked and their electrical components are functioning. The Natur interior is delicate and doesn’t wear well, there is not much that can be done and even low mile M5s suffer from worn interiors.

So is the M5 for you? That’s something only you can decide, the M5s high running costs definitely keeps it far from being a car for everyone. However they are definitely rare and amazing cars.

Cheers,
BMW M Freude

E28 M5 (30k on the clock)
E36 M3

[NoSaabs]

To go along with what BMW M Freude said, i just wanted to add a bit of my personal experience with german performance vehicles.

be prepared to pay for upkeep. this vehicle is not something you can drive and forget about. and by that i mean, it will require a significant amount of maintainance. sometimes little things, sometimes bigger things. this is a fact, don't ignore it. i'm not really sure how old you are, how much money you earn, your living arrangements, etc. but please be prepared to spend some of your $$ to keep it running.

when i was 18, i purchased a 1985 Porsche 944. It was one of the most beautiful cars i've owned, and by far one of the most fun to drive. but it cost me an arm and a leg. i was working so many hours to pay for both my living expenses and my car. most of the time the car was more expensive, but i loved that car so much it was worth it to me. like BMW M Freude said, that is what you must decide. if you have the extra $$ to invest, by all means, do it. if not, look into something that is a bit newer and conservative. i know that's probably not the answer you want to hear, but i kick myself for not being able to keep my Porsche when i didn't have enough money to fix its niggling problems on a regular basis. i have my 95 540i now, and i'm in the same boat as i was with the porsche, but now i'm a bit older, wiser, and financially secure! good luck!

[Kickus]

Is there anything that can be done about those horrible steel bumpers? Did the European ones have them? Also, can the European tail-lights be fitted to it, as they are considerably less ugly and make the car look pretty damn good.

[Cone]

Yeah, the euro bumpers look a lot better, they're pretty hard to come by over here though, I'd think they'd be a little expensive.

[E36 Fanatic]

Hey guys
Thanks for all of your knowledge on the matter. I'm saving some cash for grad school now, so I don't think it is the car for me.
I would kill to get in an e30 M3, but don't feel like shelling out the cash to keep it going right now. Maybe in 2 years when i'm gettin paid like michael jordan. lol just kidding
Thanks again
Nick

[OldSkoolBimmers]

E28 M5's are freakin awesome

Anyone know the performance numbers on those?

[Don Stevens]

This is great information. I have always wanted an M5 or M6 and as I look at them, I will keep these things in mind. I also have a buddy who just bought a 100K mile M6 who I am going to send thus too.

Don