I Bought The 5th Best BMW Ever Made AND You've Probably Never Heard Of It!

[@coryeasterling1073]

The E28 is one of the most beautiful cars ever made in my opinion. I remember watching Chris Harris driving his M5 here on youtube before he was on Top Gear. Someday.

[@archygrey9093]

One of the reasons 256hp is a lot for an 80's car is because most 80's cars were actually very lightweight compared modern cars. The e28 typically weighed about 1,300 kg, in comparison a modern BMW 5 series or Ford Mustang weigh about 1,750 kg, that's a 350 kg difference or the weight of 4 full grown adults. 256hp feels a lot faster in a small 80's car than a modern one.

[@gomatthewvi69]

Cool video - I personally have an E28 M5 with 260k+ miles. Love it. I think values for a 100k mile example would probably be double the $30-40k range. Some sell for well over $120k now. 535is/M535i is an amazing deal for the E28 driving experience, but the S38 engine is truly on another level - if you get a chance to ride in one, do it, because it is truly a monster.

[@idonotcomplyrevolution]

i have an incredible soft spot for vintage Beemers and this E28 5 series ticks all the boxes for me, truly stunning design.

[@ambirmin]

Just for viewers here in the US, but this model cam with many engine configs. This one is probably the DC51 (seeing if my memory is right on that code), which is cataylst and had a lower compression engine. The DC71 was also imported in the grey market, which is what was available in Europe, with a 10:1 compression and 218 bhp. I have the later, and its a hoot over the standard US spec 5er. The M30 is probably one of the most reliable engines I have owned (for 37 years).

[@BMWQC]

Great video Tommy! I have worked with BMW for 34 years. Rarely am I impressed with car reviews but you did a great job! The video brought back great memories for me as I worked on E-28’s a lot when I was a young technician or mechanic as I like to say. The E-28 535i is one of my all time favorites!!! I would love to talk BMW’s with you on the phone sometime.

[@anthonyc1883]

A model 2002 would be perfect for Tommy. I could see him being a perfect match for that car. I'd love to see one on the channel. One of my favorite cars.

[@davidbee9563]

The predecessor to the M5 was the e12 M535i which came with the 635Csi engine. Usually the top model was the 528i. What may have forced BMW to make the M5 was the Alpina B7/B7s which was available in both the e12 and e28 models. It had 300+hp and went up to 160mph. So in order to compete they put the M1/M635Csi engine in the 5 series. Little known fact is that the euro M5,the body kit was optional in some markets, but was standard on the M535i. Also both models came with either 16" or TRX rims. Nice find.

[@smokeymotorsport]

I had an E28 525e when I was 19, which was a bit of a strange beast. I couldn't afford to insure the M535i but back then (2003) there were loads of them in the UK. I drove a couple and quite liked it, but was never convinced it felt very fast. Weirdly I drove an E34 525i which felt much faster to me - I now have an E34 535i and again, it doesn't feel very fast! Hope you can find the M5 parts to upgrade, as there is some mystical magic about proper M cars which just makes them so much better than their counterparts

[@craigsg01]

I had an e28 M535i in 2000, then an e34 M535i in 2004. Both fab cars - loved the looks. Wanted an M5 but couldn't afford back then. I did get an E39 M5 eventually ( sold long ago). As you say NONE of them felt particularly fast, but all great in their own way.

[@kevinbarry71]

Those awful bumpers we used to be afflicted with had nothing to do with crash safety. They had everything to do with reducing repair cost for minor collisions

[@damieg82]

Yup, insurance companies lobbied the government to enact laws that would reduce repair costs for fender benders. Something tells me premiums never took a corresponding dip, to pass some of the savings unto customers

[@kevinbarry71]

@@damieg82 probably not. But those stupid laws were repealed

[@christianzumfelde9686]

My Dad owned one of these, but it was without Cat. So it startet with 211bhp. A friend was the local BMW dealer and they added a new camshaft, manifold and air filter made by Hartje. It was the absolute dream. Our garage is in the house and when it was running all the windows were wiggling. 250-260 bhp they told me. On the German Autobahn he was the King. Only Porsche Turbo, 500E or the real M5 could beat him.

[@christianzumfelde9686]

960 km or 600 miles in 6,5 hours stops included. Holiday in Berchtesgaden!

[@GoldenCroc]

Yep, these days autobahn is too crowded :(

[@zpua9162]

I had M535i in Ukraine from 1996 to 2006 in the same color in a very similar configuration but on metric wheels and without an air conditioner. but sold it because I needed the money. Bought for $ 5300, and sold 10 years later for $ 4500. At the time of sale, the mileage was 285000 km. Despite the fact that I now have two interesting BMWs, I still regret that I had to sell the M535i.

[@BrandanM94]

As a BMW guy I’m super excited to see more content on this car! Great buy! 🤘🏻

[@fhm5384]

I had a '83 528e which was underpowered for sure but drove like a dream and was super reliable. By far my favorite BME body style for the sedan.

[@Jackmerius_Tacktheretrix]

Check out the M106 engine. Its a turbocharged version of the M30 found in the e23 745i. Simple mods and you go from 8psi to 15-16psi and 252hp to around 400hp with just a modified wastegate, flashed chip and cartech rising rate fuel pressure regulator. 16psi is the absolute limit on the stock m106 fuel system, so tonrun that much boost your fuel system has to be in tip top shape. Running a fuel pump from an 83 chevy vega for the in tank pre pump helps. Oringing the head gasket helps as well. This engine was 9nky offered in the 80s 745i, which wasnt officially sold in the US, but were imported under the grey market. They had features like water Buffalo leather seats, power reclining rear seats, in the back some had a radio and set of seat controls to control the radio and passenger side front seat. They also had memory seats as well as the on board computer. They came with a 2.91 lsd rear but it was a "big diff" like in the M5 but with a much higher 2.91:1 ratio. Ive owned 3 of them and they were great. Loved the reaction of mustang and camaro drivers faces back then when they saw that thing take off. Back in 2001 i roasted my sales managers stick lancer evo on the highway. These things really had some legs on them.

[@GoldenCroc]

Good idea.

[@Anirossa]

I own two 1988 E34s. My favorite BMW's are the E34 M20 / M30, The E28s, the E23/24, E9 and the E30 is also pretty cool. They made good cars back then.

[@markweber5297]

I had a 1985 M535i when I lived there in Denver. I bought from a guy in San Diego and sold it to a guy in Los Angles 9 years later. By far the most fun I ever had in a BMW, and I've owned 9 of them.

[@willjam465]

Love it! Big fan of these classic 5 Series. Nice addition.

[@malcolmscott4150]

E28 my favourite BMW ever - enjoy as they are becoming very rare - M535i was very popular in Australia as when we switched to unleaded fuel in ‘86 525e and 535i were the engines offered with the 3.5 coping well with the e28 chassis

[@travisp11]

Watching this video brings back memories of my old 1983 320i that I drove back in the 90's. It was a great car but I always wanted a 323i which wasn't imported legally to the US back then unless you found a 323 that had been modified into a Baur cabrio.

[@fredv7487]

If you loved the 323is then you will also love the 325is. My dad had both. Since he couldn't bring back 323is he bought a 325is.

[@travisp11]

@@fredv7487 yeah, the 318i and 325is were also a few personal favorites along with the original M3.

[@bmuns6445]

At 16 yrs old I got a job at a BMW dealership in Chicago suburbs where my brother worked. I was learning to drive stick on my dads 85 Renault Alliance, but when I went to work I got to drive the 88 M5. My boss really liked and trusted me so I would take his M5 from our dealership to a special tuner in Glenview, IL and got to drive the car a lot blaring Bob Marley music. It was mint. Leather was perfect. It had upgraded Racing Dynamics silver mag wheels. When my boss went out of town I stayed at his house. And banged my girlfriend on the hood of his M5. She was hot. The car was hot. I love this car. So many great memories.

[@talpha126]

Great choice. E28 is a great platform. Once own 2 528e's and a 535is all manuals.

[@farouqiamin7894]

Honestly in the right body 256hp can feel like a champ, heck I once had my 95 240sx pushing out 280hp and the damn thing felt like a rocket, its all about the driving experience for me

[@pramosfernandes]

M5 E39 should be top 3 😋

[@BretM]

I'd argue the E28 is the best platform BMW ever made.

[@dougterhune9364]

I loved that car! My boss had the 535 csi when they were new. I was working my way thru college. He told me to take it to the car wash. I was 19 and in heaven! On the way back, a trucks oil plug came out and hit the windshield and smashed it. Then all that oil spilled all over the front of the car, lots of oil! I never got to drive it again! 😱😱😱

[@DirtE30]

Nothing got better BMW wise after about ‘91. Love love loved my E30’s!

[@BretM]

Your engine oil sensor may not actually be bad. It's very picky and wants oil filled to the top mark on the dipstick. Even a little under that will trigger the warning light.

[@TFLclassics]

I appreciate that! I’ll take a look

[@chicomaxima1]

Good to see more videos of the e28 was just driving my e28 M5

[@Rouxenator]

These are so rare over here in South Africa - but yes we did get them. I have seen a few on the road.

[@lukes-uf4bc]

I have a 528i M, 1984 (euro spec) and alpina 5 gears in the same color ,BMW😍🤩🥰

[@bosley629]

4:49 that Osaka sticker is so cool! 👍👍👍

[@JL-dz8sj]

I swooped up an 84 533i factory 5mt for $2k this year, such an amazing bimmer

[@e28forever30]

Absolutely love the E28. I own a Euro 525i, superb car, a lot of smiles per mile..😋

[@vwlukas]

The best BMW of the era and one of the best BMW designs ever made is E24, the shark nose :) E28 and E30 are fantastic as well of course, not as refined though :)

[@e28forever30]

E24 and E28 share the same suspension and engines. No difference in refinement to me..

[@marcodm]

I love my 88 Hennarot e30 M3. Great video! 👌

[@93455Driver]

Where would find a car like this? Hemings, Autotrader, eBay motors?

[@aronbennett4760]

I had a chance to buy an original M5 for $8500 back in 01'... Damn.

[@avnostlga]

Not true. I'm 2nd owner of a 1987 535is, and it came from dealership with an M-badge grille. This is a US market car. It also came with the M-Technic steering wheel.

[@jeromep3182]

See now this is what I’m talking about I have that same engine in my 1991 E32 bmw 735iL and I love it I loveee that he choose that classic bmw I love classic bmw design and build quality

[@alexnagel1580]

I have a 518i e28, it is awesome !! what a beautiful sedan.

[@marcoblv]

6th best--I CANNOT believe you did not mention the E39 530/M5. Serious credibility hit...

[@federicomolina6745]

I just noticed your E28 still has the LHD low beam lenses.

[@talloneny1977]

What would you say is the worth of a e28 m5 with mid 50k miles?

[@jonalexanderson5273]

Great videoTommy! Reminded me how much I miss my 1988 535is 5 Spd. (diamond shwartz/black). Agreed its the best 5 series ever (did also have a 2000 540i 6 Spd.). Let me know when I can come pick it up!?

[@georgevavoulis4758]

BMW 6 Serires with inline straight 3.0 litre 6 cylinder was the best ever made so reliable

[@ckmrkf]

GREAT video Tommy!

[@classiccarssp]

This car reminds me to the updated E46 330CI M Sport manual 6 speed.. not an E46 M3 but still a great real "M" car 🙌

[@Jackmerius_Tacktheretrix]

Parents had an 87 528e. Great car.

[@pellepp9628]

182 HP? In sweden 204 HP. Trying to get my 528im on the road this year

[@TaTanka362]

For my money, the best looking M5 is the E39, but a good example of those is $50k and up now.

[@jpadicecoffee9812]

Nice job on the video. I rarely see this car on the road these days.

[@ExTrumpet]

e28 535is looks exactly like this, only with the ginormous bumbers.

[@kevinburroughs6583]

Would love to see this race the Porsche you got and the original mini

[@aislingmairead4939]

Y'know, thinking about it, this kind of car is only going to become a more special one as the years go on, especially with those beaver teeth cars they're making now. The Germans have Das Reinheitsgebot for beer, and I betcha they've got some kind of purity law for this gem, too. Keep her OE, guys! She's perfect!

[@Tully3674]

Hmm...even though the car was not sold in the US, to be certified for the US, wouldn't it still need to be equipped with a 3rd (center) brake light? Cars made after 1985 must have the third brake light to be road worthy.

[@fredturner4447]

No, no mods needed to import a vehicle 25 years or older.

[@amazingjason455]

I’d love to see you review a BMW 2002.

[@hanielnasheed7189]

Currently restoring my Red M535, the M5's are a myth and the M535 is getting rearer by the day!

[@Volvo8Fifty4Life]

Nice looking car, the e28.

[@RandomGuyDan]

Great acquisition, I loved my '87 535i, even with the slushbox. I believe your car has more than just a transmission swap. The M30 engine found in US market 535/635/735 cars were SOHC 12 valves. I know this from working on my buddy's '86 635CSI and because I had to replace the head on my 535i due to cam wear when the banjo bolt that feeds oil to the head loosened up (a known issue with this engine) causing some oil starvation issues. As far as I can find, the M535i used the standard SOHC M30 engine but the M5 body mods, suspension, and interior. The DOHC 24v engine in your car was only available in the M5 and M6. So it looks to me like your car already has an M5 engine swap in it. The question is the engine the Euro M88 or the US market L38. I would guess the former since this was a Japanese market car.

[@TFLclassics]

Unfortunately it is a standard M30. The S38 and M38 had individual intake manifolds for each cylinder which made them stand out from an M30

[@RandomGuyDan]

@@TFLclassics Ah, thanks. I was mostly listening because I was driving to work and so at one point saw the DOHC M engine but when you showed the actual engine in your car I wasn't looking and didn't see that it was the same engine that was in my 535i.

[@104jewels.]

Beautiful😎

[@fredv7487]

BMW didn't want to ruin the m5 motor with all that smog crap. That's an export model. You'll probably also find out the transmission gear ratios are different. And I didn't see the 635csi in your list.

[@TheGuerillapatriot]

great engine.

[@toyotaholics1644]

I want to see you drive it, Tommy!

[@qx4n9e1xp]

I love BMWs. Thanks for making this video, Tom///My! :)

[@OnTourWithPattiSmith]

BMW 507 BMW 3.0csi BMW 633csi BMW 850csi This car is very far down the list of the best BMW’s ever made.

[@rickyloganjr.2362]

Hi Tommy 🙂, I absolutely love when you do these TFLClassics episodes. Do you wear contacts now? Though I have gotten so use to you with glasses, you still look great without glasses 👍.

[@atmartens]

He got lasik done before Christmas. He talks about it on other videos.

[@rickyloganjr.2362]

@@atmartens thank you.

[@rlscustoms]

Just swap in an M60 and call it a day, more power and torque and probably lighter too, those S38’s are huge heavy engines, hard to come by, expensive to maintain and mod and not that powerful…cool af sure but not really practical imo but hey to each their own!

[@rahimi4762]

Great ole Skool BMW.

[@sneakersonfeet9045]

Cool car

[@tymwalt]

Cool car!

[@16v15]

NO it's not. There was a few thousand E12 535i, also generally a RoW car, with a few imported gray market to the US. I know because I owned one.

[@TFLclassics]

Yeah I talked about the E12, did you watch that part?

[@16v15]

@@TFLclassics I'll rewatch, I didn't hear anything about it.

[@16v15]

@@TFLclassics Rewatched and did catch half a sentence mention about the e12. What are you defining as a "true" M car? The e12 M535 was a true M car, 3.5 M30, recaros, dogleg, lsd, etc. No mention at all about the SA e12 530MLE which was out in '76/'77 a couple of years before the M1? That was truly the first "unofficial" m5.

[@GoldenCroc]

@@16v15 They are using the "normie" definition of "M car". Most people havent heard about those cars, and thats who they are making these videos for.

[@nathan.heinrich]

So great!!! “Ever” made? 😏👍

[@deanj846]

M635csi...You bought the sixth best...

[@donharlacher2196]

Why doesn't this Japanese version have right hand drive?

[@anthonyc1883]

He explains it in the video.

[@donharlacher2196]

Sorry, I got my answer.

[@peterjanvanbijnen226]

sorry but we say in holland bmw , bij mercedes weggegooid , in english trown awag by mercedes it is not so good quality as an mercedes w123

[@DayoftheJakeL]

the euro cars had218hp not 182

[@TFLclassics]

This is a Japanese car

[@AnontheGOAT]

Best looking 5 series ever made? No no no. That would be the E39 kiddo.

[@jdselig1]

Wrong! Obviously not an enthusiast.

[@marksphotoperry356]

The BMW cars or and 535i or its older brother 533i is a nice car to look at ! Driving it is a different story...Every thing will come apart years ahead of its time ! So if you want to own any BMW including the 5 series make sure you also own a Honda,Toyota,Subaru in order to drive you around while the BMW is in SERVICE !!! You will also know every mechanic in your city or town by his first and last name because you will see them at least every second week.Yes you can not depend on a BMW At any time. BMW is every owners dream that turns in to nightmare even during BMW guarantee ! I been there and i know 2 times with 5 series and 3 series.Stay away from these overrated junk cars !

[@franzvanjulio5523]

Tommy, this is akin to us bumping into each other at the club and I’m looking at your girl. That thing is gorgeous.

[@Breckjay08]

No one cars about M badges, find me an Alpina and then while talk.....Also it go E46,E30,E31 for beat bimmers

[@Worldfamous888]

you missed the z8 so its the 6th

[@ncountrytexas2862]

How come you dont do any american made classics? Some of us still love the american classics. I do understand you folks are all about imports.

[@TFLclassics]

Have you seen our ‘65 Ford F100?

[@jamesbeaman6337]

I’m pretty sure.a classic Mustang is on Tommy’s list to buy when the right deal come around. He also owned an IH Scout and a Jeep XJ.

[@ncountrytexas2862]

Well I have a true classic 1976 Lincoln Continental with only 9600 actual miles. And yes i did say 9600 miles. It looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor. EVERYTHING is original execp for the battery. nothing modified and the AC even blows cold. Sorry to insult everyone so as I post this one and my friends follow we will all unscribe.

[@TechTokOffical]

Then u have people who put m badges on their m cars cuz they put every m esthetic aspect on their non m car and think they have an m car now...but no s in the vin

[@r.a.9072]

More😃

[@iantelford3930]

bmw never made a good car still can't to this day

[@martinsvensson6884]

Haha always been among the best.

[@iantelford3930]

@@martinsvensson6884 you've fallen fowl to the brain washing they do have you ever tried to work on one then get ripped off for price and find out what you get is rubbish and brakes two months down the line

[@martinsvensson6884]

@@iantelford3930 Haha :) Of course they are complex cars nowadays.

[@GoldenCroc]

Imagine seriously thinking this.... wow. Even better: Writing it so everybody can see it. Double wow.