Milord
Part of things
Posts: 156
|
|
Nov 16, 2016 14:30:17 GMT
|
Because of some recent changes in my car park I'm currently looking for a new car for my (semi)daily transportation. I didn't really know what to buy 'till my colleague suggested a E28 5-series. Although this is very tempting I have the feeling I might be overlooking something else. On the other hand I've come to like the E28 massively in the past few weeks, so any suggestions or tips for buying these are greatly appreciated ass well!
My recommendations-list consists of the following; - €3000 max - pre 1991 (no road tax in Belgium) - I need to be able to drive it on a semi-daily basis (+- 15.000k/Year) - it should be considered 'practical' (seat 4 relatively comfortable and be used for the weekly shopping-trip) - doesn't cost me an arm and a leg every time it needs a service or something breaks
Thanks ahead!
|
|
Currently: BMW E46 320i Touring BMW E34 525TDS Touring VW T3 panel van 1.6d Opel Kadett C1 Caravan 1.2 Fiat 411R
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 16, 2016 14:37:56 GMT
|
What about a W124 Mercedes
|
|
1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
|
|
|
|
Nov 16, 2016 16:12:42 GMT
|
I bought a 1985 E28 535i last fall and I like it so much more than I thought I would. Comfortable, quiet, good handling and reasonably quick for its age. Even on lower and stiffer suspension it will drive hundreds of miles without fatiguing me. A proper sport sedan. Please forgive the terrible US spec bumpers. The cars themselves really do everything well.
|
|
|
|
|
E28 (alternative) advicedeanflowers
@deanflowers
Club Retro Rides Member 81
|
Nov 16, 2016 17:54:17 GMT
|
E23 BMW E32 BMW E12 BMW W124 mercedes W140 Mercedes
I do like an audi 80 coupe thoughif you fancy something to throw around a bit more
I love the e28 myself and will be looking for another soon
|
|
'The reason i have pulled you over is to say how incredible and absolutely awesome that is'
Mercedes W109, Mercedes W140 S280 SWB & S320 LWB, W201 cosworth kitted, clk230 Kompressor, w109 300sel, Lincoln Continental 1964, BMW E30 Tech II tourer, MK1 Golf Clipper, BMW E31 840ci sport, JAGUAR XJ40 3.6, Kangoo van, Volvo 740GLE estate, Maserati Quattroporte GTS
|
|
andyborris
Posted a lot
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,214
|
|
Nov 16, 2016 18:14:17 GMT
|
Can't beat a E28, I really miss mine and it's been gone for 15 years (or more). Sadly, prices have climbed beyond what I can pay for a 4th car!
|
|
|
|
Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,784
Club RR Member Number: 34
|
E28 (alternative) adviceDez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
|
Nov 16, 2016 19:00:44 GMT
|
Buy an e28. They're really great cars, with good looks and good engines. Great parts backup too.
For me the only other cars in the same size/class that would get my attention as much as a e28 are a w123 Merc or a Nissan laurel or cedric.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 16, 2016 23:21:18 GMT
|
An E28 with a 6 cylinder engine does sound very desirable.
Some other options you could consider: -Alfa 75, actaully more a BMW E30 3-series competitor -Honda Accord (CB7), these were nicely styled out and inside with good engineering. -Peugeot 405/605, I recon an early 605 with a v6 could be a bit of a surprise. In general better equipped than BMW.
|
|
Click picture for more
|
|
|
|
|
Any engine is ok, the m10 1.8 is a decent little unit too.
Just buy an e28. It fits all the bill. Or an early e34 or e32 as suggested. Not an e23 as they are hard to get parts for.
I've used a couple of e28s daily and they've been faultless.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
nice book if youre looking at e28
bmw 5 and 6 series e12 e 24 e 28 e34
restoration tips and techniques
by andrew everett
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I wouldn't say don't get an e28 as I also lust after them, but my Alfa 75 was a semi-daily for two years without being too much to keep up.
With Bilstein shocks, stiffer springs, fancy tires & poly bushings, it's the best handling car I've ever driven or owned. The Dedion style suspension & rear transaxle combo is awesome to just crawl under the car and look at, let alone drive.
The styling grew on me quite a bit after driving it. I was after a gtv6 when I found it, and I couldn't turn it down for 2k USD.
I suspect an e28 is a better car overall, but the comparative fun factor of the 75 is huge.
Happy hunting to you!
|
|
|
|
|
Milord
Part of things
Posts: 156
|
|
|
Thanks for all the tips guys!
I did consider a W124 Mercedes, but they don't look as nice in my opinion and it seems to be harder to find a nice one out here.
Thanks to all the replies I'm now confident an E28 is they way to go. I will be looking at a nice 520i on Saturday the 26th. Do any of you have experience in buying E28's and know where I should be looking at or paying attention to?
If this doesn't fit the bill I'll be looking at a E30 2 door sedan the next day. To me this is less appealing because it's a smaller (less practical) car, but being an E30, with only 2 doors and in the famous Zinnoberrot colour I consider it an option as prices of these things can only go up.
|
|
Currently: BMW E46 320i Touring BMW E34 525TDS Touring VW T3 panel van 1.6d Opel Kadett C1 Caravan 1.2 Fiat 411R
|
|
|
|
Nov 17, 2016 11:59:42 GMT
|
E30s are rising in price fast here. Don't know about the continent but surely must be going that way too.
E28s rust at both ends of the sills, and on the rear panel at the bottom and top. Also front wings rot at the corners. They do rust in other places, but I would say that if there is rust anywhere besides these normal places, it will be a restoration project and not suited for you. Electrics tend to be OK, but check the central locking isn't going funny, and the instrument cluster is common for failing as the batteries give up and start leaking. Get them changed no matter what, even if it works. Bumpers rust from the inside out and are hard to get now. Drivetrain is very reliable. Not much to say there. Check the front suspension bottom cups in case they are rusty.
|
|
|
|
Milord
Part of things
Posts: 156
|
|
Nov 17, 2016 14:24:14 GMT
|
Very helpful! Thanks!
I will report back after I've seen the car!
|
|
Currently: BMW E46 320i Touring BMW E34 525TDS Touring VW T3 panel van 1.6d Opel Kadett C1 Caravan 1.2 Fiat 411R
|
|
Milord
Part of things
Posts: 156
|
|
Nov 27, 2016 13:44:07 GMT
|
So, I went and looked at a few E28's in the past week. First, on Thursday I went and looked at a E28 524d. Diesel was not my first choice, but it was significantly cheaper, and very nicely advertised. Sadly, almost immediately upon arrival we could see this would not be my next car. It had almost everything wrong with it, rust, badly "repaired" rust, water in the boot, scruffy interior, cracked dash, broken power steering pump, all four brakes needed replacing... Actually only the engine was in pretty good shape, so we left. I don't have pictures of this as I forgot to take any/was to baffled by the shape of the damn thing and the fact it somehow passed inspection only a few months ago... Yesterday we drove to the Netherlands, we looked at 2 E28's in the Amersfoort neighbourhood. First this one: Looked quite nice from about 10 feet, sadly it wasn't in that good of shape either, it'd had standing water in it, smelled of wet dog, rusty sills, rust in the boot, about 4 shades of red, gearbox was worthless, engine was good though and it pulled and braked very nicely. Sadly, because the seller wanted premium price for it, we left. Then we drove on to this one: With this one, everything just seemed right, very tidy interior, VERY nice shell (!!!), we looked and looked and looked, but could not find ANY rust at all! Never been welded, BMW-original waxing in all cavity's and sills, no sunroof, thus no water in the sills, originally delivered in the south of France, thus preserved very nicely. We drove around in it a bit, came back and noticed the one thing missing with it: a little bit of coolant in the oil, resulting in some mayo-like substance on the oil filler cap, and slightly brown coolant. Even though this is something to take into consideration, I still bought the car as I rather fix a head gasket and have a superb shell than have a great engine and a rusty shell. I don't like rust. A price was agreed and we set off to the nearest office where I could start the procedure for exporting the car out of the Netherlands. I drove the car home and it drove the 250km superbly. I didn't dare to push it to the limit as I'm not too confident about it with the head gasket issue. Even though I must say it didn't use any coolant on the 250km drive! I did find out a few things that need fixing whilst driving it, but nothing major. Seats are bad though, I'll update those to something better ASAP! Now onwards to importing the car in Belgium (yay, paperwork...) Hopefully I'll have it on the road within two weeks and then I can start making plans for it! I'll open a build thread once I get started!
|
|
Currently: BMW E46 320i Touring BMW E34 525TDS Touring VW T3 panel van 1.6d Opel Kadett C1 Caravan 1.2 Fiat 411R
|
|
Neil
Part of things
Posts: 599
|
|
Nov 27, 2016 14:18:38 GMT
|
Superb choice. I absolutely love mine. Out of all the cars I've had, I've had this one the longest. Just can't see me selling it. Here it is on my wedding day. Mine is only a (pretty rare actually) M10B18 518 carburettor model. I've fitted bike carbs for a bit of extra punch. Good luck with yours it looks a good one!
|
|
|
|
andyborris
Posted a lot
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,214
|
|
Nov 27, 2016 17:06:37 GMT
|
May not be a head gasket, just condensation from standing....if you're lucky. But a nice find all the same.
|
|
|
|
Milord
Part of things
Posts: 156
|
|
Nov 27, 2016 17:48:56 GMT
|
Suspect the head gasket because of following symptoms: - mayo-like substance on the oil filler cap - brown-ish color of the coolant - significant pressure on the coolant pipes after a drive
also, the car has done 5000km in the last 9 months, so hasn't really been standing still.. Any way I can be sure though? Pressure-test? What can actually go wrong when I keep driving it?
@ Neil, Yours looks stunning!! I had my eye on a 518 as well, but it was located nearly 350km from where I live so it obviously wasn't my first choice. White really suits it! What brand is that front splitter from? Looks different from the (Alpina?) ones I've seen before...
|
|
Last Edit: Nov 27, 2016 18:06:05 GMT by Milord
Currently: BMW E46 320i Touring BMW E34 525TDS Touring VW T3 panel van 1.6d Opel Kadett C1 Caravan 1.2 Fiat 411R
|
|
jamesd1972
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,908
Club RR Member Number: 40
|
E28 (alternative) advicejamesd1972
@jamesd1972
Club Retro Rides Member 40
|
|
I think you can do a check for combustion gases in the coolant to get a definite answer.
Hot car will have a lot of pressure anyway. If it uses no coolant I'd be tempted to change the oil and coolant and see what happens.
Nice car I still remember an M5 version drifting round me in my mini in maximum attack mode on a big rounderbout...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I would love another E28 but I want an Auto - I may keep my eye open for a tidy 525e early next year. When you start a thread, link me to it please so I can bookmark it.
|
|
96 E320 W210 Wafter - on 18" split Mono's - Sold :-( 10 Kia Ceed Sportwagon - Our new daily 03 Import Forester STi - Sold 98 W140 CL500 AMG - Brutal weekend bruiser! Sold :-( 99 E240 S210 Barge - Now sold 02 Accord 2.0SE - wife's old daily - gone in PX 88 P100 2.9efi Custom - Sold
|
|
|
|
|
Yes start a build thread. What engine is it?
|
|
|
|
|