1988 E28 535is - for sale - Price check and questions

[yosso]

Thinking about getting ride of a motorcycle and back into a fun weekend car (maybe a bit of autocrossing). So while cruising CL, and I found a 1988 528is that caught my eye.

Also wanting a manual transmission vehicle for teaching my teenage daughter how to drive a manual transmission car...probably not the best choice, but it's my choice. :rolleyes

Heck, my first car (in 1984) was a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air with a 350 SB V8 and a Muncie M22 4 speed. No power steering and no power brakes.

This wee little E28 has to be easier to drive than that slow heavy beast. :D

More pertinent facts. Have another vehicle and a smaller motorcycle for riding/commuting.

Just wondering about his asking price, is it realistic or too low, too high? Just right?

Might try to ride up and check out the car in person this weekend and see the car in the flesh.

On to the facts...

Pasted straight from the seller's CL posting.


For sale I have a Very rare and Classic 1988 BMW 535is.
These e28 BMWs are very hard to find in good
condition! Would trade for a motorcycle worth 5k+ strait across
or a less expensive bike and cash on your end.
NEW Paint Job
Its a 5 speed manual transmission
Has M5 front bumper lip
Has New front seats
Valve Adjustment
Seafoam Before/After Valve Adjustment
Spark Plugs
New Injectors
New Mass Air Flow Sensor
MAF Adjusted
New Driveshaft
Has New rear seats
Has New Battery
New Tires (1k miles on them)
New Upgraded Alternator
Aftermarket head unit
Wired for subs
Newer Brakes
M5 Shift knob
New A/C Fuse
Low Profile Tires/Rims
New Tail Lights
New A/C Hose and Fastener
A/C Flush And Charge
New Power Steering Line
Power Steering Flush and Change
Painted Bumpers
M5 Trunk Lip
Oil Change W/ Wix Filter & 15-50w
HANDMADE Roof Rack (Standard CrossBars/Stained Wood/
Wing Nuts/Nylon Locking Bolts)
And much more, ill update ad as i remember.

A lot of work has gone into this car to keep it in the right condition.
Engine Rebuild has 180k, and chassis has 311k.
Clutch Still grabs strong, has approx 40k on it.
I have a mechanic that can vouch for this car 100%, or we can take it to
any mechanic you like.
Engine and transmission need nothing done to it.
The car is metallic blue. I have taken it on trips with no prob.
I have babied and taken care of this car.
Would take no less than $4,950. This is one of the only (and cleanest) e28
within 1,000 Miles!
The price WILL go up as i restore more parts of the car.
Im continually making this car better.
No rush to sell, just putting it out there.

http://springfield.craigslist.org/cto/5307402387.html

Thank you for reading. :)

[alpinacsi]

You can do better for less. So many things wrong with the ad and car that you should continue looking. The seat are not new and even though they are most likely in better condition than what was there: they are not right and the "new" rear seat looks like a ghetto fab. Paint looks like a Maaco special and not one of the presidential jobs. I wonder about rust. Then I wonder about the engine rebuild that has 180k miles. The reference to MAF and mass air flow sensor being new, again makes me wonder what his definition of new is and then I question the other "new" parts. Not to mention it is not a MAF sensor but an AFM which is a completely different item. Hmm...don't really know what to say about this: "This is one of the only (and cleanest) e28 within 1,000 Miles!" I guess the HANDMADE Roof Rack adds a lot to the value.

[yosso]

Appreciate the words of wisdom. I'm not all that familiar with the E28 platform, as most of my research has focused on the E36 platform.

The paint job quality appears to not be present, with wavy panels and such, but the image quality is low so it was hard make any sort of a judgement.

He expressed an interest in a trade, but was wanting too much $ on top. Made a counter offer, but never heard back.

Thanks again for the feedback.

M.

[dworthy]

Those are E-36 seats in that car, and a coupe at that! I would keep looking, but if you want a decent car that needs some help, then this would work.

[south42]

Run from that pile of crap. Interior with those seats is just bad. The engine compartment looks like more crap and the rear bumper is cracked. If he thinks that this is a good example he is smoking to much of his own .......


Andy

[yosso]

Ended up not making the trade, he was wanting too much $$ from me to make the trade, so I passed.

Appreciate the words of wisdom.