Old Top Gear 1991 - Second Hand BMW 5 Series

They look at buying a cheap second hand BMW 5 series, and looks at the models to get, and the ones to avoid. Taken from season 14, episode 14.
hubpages.com/hub/Black-ops-det...

[@collynmarsh8348]

This sounds like actual consumer advice. Not the top gear I'm familiar with.

[@PeaveyPV20]

Thats why i likes it back then, a car show with even good coverage of second hand cars before it became about middle aged blokes loafing about

[@robertmarsh3588]

I really loved the E34 when it came out but the more time goes by the more I think what an utter classic the E28 was (as was the E30).

[@BrandonIsOriginal]

My '85 535i is just over 320,000 miles and doesn't skip a beat. No diff or cam problems either.

[@calebpotter9922]

Ha! Same with i 88 528

[@johnny318is]

Haha, I used to own the 535i in this video (D280 DCR) until some little twat crashed his Golf GTi into the back of it!

[@carfella7994]

Sorry to hear that

[@shaggz20022002]

BMW - Black Mans Wheels! Gold!!

[@Alanphuphalee]

Black Mans Willy

[@colmaniac]

We used to say Black man's willy

[@nopy99]

I bet main dealers loved Quitntein when he ran these second hand/money saving features on classic top gear.

[@bilalahmed2123]

Just bought a 2001 BMW 530i E39 for a fraction of the price of new and I am very happy. It drives better than the new ones do !

[@cockshield]

It really does! The f10 feels like a fucking lifeless boat.

[@bilalahmed2123]

Red Pill Intelligence seriously ? I was hoping to get one of those down the future.

[@cockshield]

Bilal Ahmed In fairness, I did drive the 520d so it might not be the fairest comparison. If you like the luxury and build quality of your e39, the f10 is a lovely thing to be in (which the e60 wasn't). The best thing to do would be to try out a pre-fl 528i, because that's probably the closest thing to our 530s.

[@bed9706]

Worked in a garage when was younger and had the best fun of my life taking a 1998 528 out on the road. Its an all round amazing car.

[@karlosbricks2413]

Couldn't agree more, my '99 528i (V reg) being one of the last pre-facelift ones, but still feels nice and tight to drive with everything still working.

[@rotarychainsaw]

That car dealer needs new shocks.

[@becomematrix]

BJ McCormick jep

[@TD-il6ju]

BJ McCormick has to find something negative to say right ?

[@TD-il6ju]

BJ McCormick bet your ass you wouldn’t say that if the circumstances were different

[@Alexander_l322]

Sacoo Blitz what circumstances? He does have a suspension issue going on by the looks of it.

[@loopedmess]

Shocks front springs and swaybar bushings

[@ManosS40]

The big brother of my beloved E30. I miss the 80s BMWs... Oh! And happy new year!

[@TheStwat]

I had an 87 528i in the mid 90's. It was fooking fantastic

[@Cafferssss]

"one bmw service deal said he would "put your lights out for a tenner"" Probably wanted to re-arrange Quentin's face not sort his owld e24 out.

[@rumdonkey7826]

Funny how big of a leap the 5-series took from the E28 to the E34. The E28 looks ancient where as the E34 still looks very sharp 25 years later.

[@karlosbricks2413]

Actually, when I first read that, I was tempted to say you should change that out for E34-> E39, but looking at some nice condition stock ones (ie not lowered with ugly wheels) they do actually look pretty sharp still, though I'd say my '99 E39 528i can still fit in next to an F10 or E90, if it weren't for all the stone chips I keep procrastinating fixing properly

It took a huge leap in weight as well.

[@alexw1875]

BMW should have built the E28 until 1991.

[@aidenp5768]

Ossi Muurinen Same from E39 to the E60

[@KingCast65]

Actually I'll take my E28 over an E34 any fucking day. Every fucking day.

[@alexanderwingeskog758]

Put my lights out for a tenner... That sounded abkt thuggish...

[@64bakes]

That was the point!

[@coolay11]

owned 528i in 1982 brand new blue/blue full options, accedent 212/km on a long curve rollover hit a tree from roof side, only 60k km on odometer... Plus am on a weelchair since that ugly day feb 1988 ;0'p "still i looove looking @ that gentle man.. with such a handsum face round lights"

[@easy4440]

:(

[@IceFish.]

+Subah AL-Rashed I was waiting for a victim of the old bmw's lol my dad said they were deadly (and fun) back then

[@coolay11]

***** your Father is absolutely right... deadly cars but truly FUN INDEED ;0')) go there to my car pls(( www.flickr.com/photos/73119547@N06/ ))

[@IceFish.]

***** I'm paraplegic and have a m235i we shud make a club lol

[@coolay11]

***** LOL

[@sebastianm.8383]

I loved the E28 - especially as the first M5 - my second car was a 520i E28, excellent engine !

[@Anoush13]

My dad used to have a white 525i model of this, and now we have an E39 530i. Honestly, BMW's are just the best cars. I'll never stop buying them.

[@DutchManticore]

3:22 Imagine having to beat of 16 people at a time to be able to sell your classic BMW. That's hard work.

[@jonathanmiller2932]

Proud owner of an E28 M5

[@ottofischer9574]

Jonathan Miller proud owner of a e28 518

[@miawallace2785]

Proud owner of a faster more powerful E34 M5

[@killavids1]

@@miawallace2785 Proud owner of a faster more powerful E39 M5

[@bombndbruiserbombndbruiser6899]

Proud owner of fuck all

[@skinnedknuckles2444]

Proud owner of a slightly slower accelerating E38 740

[@Thom4zz]

bought an 528i from 1983, after 2years i still love it..despite the mechanical probs (cooling and eaten cam)

[@PeaveyPV20]

Bmw dealers taking your eyes out for parts, some things never change

[@Csuarezftw]

proud owner of an E39 sports pack 530i. Timeless design the last of the great 5 series! BMW > Everything. Great fucking company.

[@lewis72]

+Christian Suarez I had an E39 528i but replaced it with an E60 530i .... and an E39 M5.

[@Csuarezftw]

+Lewis72 did you like the E39 M5 better

[@lewis72]

Christian Suarez Better than what ?

[@Csuarezftw]

+Lewis72 which m5 did u like better ?? E39 or e60

[@lewis72]

Christian Suarez Ah, I think you may have misread, my E60 is a (manual) 530i, not an M5.

[@1D0N]

Gotta love those old clips. When 195/50-15 were ultra low profile tyres...

[@unixnerd23]

Had a 525e and an //M535i, both brilliant.

[@banshee511]

I like how they actually gave you buying advice.

[@Parknest]

The E28s are desirable these days (along with the E30). My E36 runs like a dream. You don't "get it" with a BMW until you've owned one. They are indeed "the ultimate driving machine". I'm now hankering after an E39. This is how Top Gear started out before the Holy Trinity (Clarkson, Hammond & May) turned it into something completely different.

[@MsDeliaStreams]

My first car was an 87 E28 535iS. I miss that car soo much. My dream is to buy another, or an 88 M5. That shadowline trim... delicious!

[@soundseeker63]

1:18....lol THAT HAIR!!? I bought an E34 520i for a few hundred quid and it was a superb car. Drove like new even with 185k on the clock. Newer ones are more luxurious but also have a lot more electronics to go wrong.

[@karlosbricks2413]

yeah, My E39 528i has given me no trouble, although it is on the more electrical end of things, it is still a good fun car to drive.

[@stilltherealvicz]

Did 95000 miles from new in my 2002 E39 525i and the only repair needed was a new heater hedgehog...

[@dbowbow]

Now I know where Alan Partridge gets his presenting style from 🤣 On another note, I used to have an E28 M535i and loved that car. Had so much road presence.

[@h1gashi]

Beating off eager buyers in groups of 16

[@asimrahaman4218]

lol

[@MOS6582]

Not on the car!

[@trajanaugustus8783]

Mint E28 M5's are now running around 25,000 to 50,000 Euro's. Even seen one at 75,000 Euro's insane!

[@areyouavinalaff]

my first beemer was Alpine weiss E28 with M20 B20 engine. fine car!

[@ALKUKES]

Service light now days by jump wire

[@timmorodgers4271]

It's the Merry Hill centre, Dudley with it's MONORAIL! (RIP)

[@Solder-Flowz]

Special tools for inspection lamp.. it takes a bit of wire and 2 minutes..

[@unixnerd23]

Best wheels are used 16" cross spokes from an E38 seven series but fitted with 225/50/16 tyres, perfect :-)

[@MrNamegame]

It would be nice to own a BMW in good shape down here in Canada, but the only issue with that is when the parts do break down...even the bargain-bin parts as mentioned in the video are still very expensive nowadays, and not just here in Canada either.

[@olskoolnewpaint]

2:59 If you take away the inner beams, it kind of looks like an old Saab 99

[@No.Handle31]

I'm loving 90's prices!

[@tenti1524]

I own a 87 525e as my weekend show car and it drives and rides better than a lot of modern cars , when did we come obsessed with handling

[@geforce5700fx]

E28 and E34 look so mean ! :3 Timeless design =)

[@aidenp5768]

Now an E28 can go over $40k with over 100k miles (M5)

[@pantera6343]

Wow! Did you see the size of that steering wheel at 3:51 truck wheel

[@Brendan.Sellers]

3:15 - well put, Quentin.

[@randomeddy]

Bit wrong there Mr Wilson regarding the service lights,the lights going out is what you want to avoid,when they have been re-set all the lights are on.

[@dandyfireman]

Cracking vid. I'm after one of these, so thanks for posting.

[@Eatinbritches]

My first BMW was a ratty old 528e project car. Despite the rust and the unreliability due to neglect, it was a solid car. I still want a good condition example, great daily drivers.

[@Eatinbritches]

ferkemall What? Of course it can.

[@steveh975]

First car 1985 535i. Oh my god, 4 cars later, and I still have wet dreams about it.

[@kernals12]

@skylinerintegra I meant, can you buy one in this price range?

[@AizzaHD]

I recently done 120mph in a now 26 year old original m20 engined 320i, was still saying sorry to it though after lol

[@darrenwilson8042]

I take it low profile tyre's weren't fitted to the old black '83 model

[@MaestroTJS]

I somewhat regret not getting one of these as a first car. But here in Canada, Bimmers are quite expensive to fix and their reliability was (and is) questionable. Still, the design looked really dated even at the time (I mean, the '88 looks like it is from a different world) but there was something cool about it.

[@karlosbricks2413]

My take is the E28 looks sort of good in a classic sort of way, whereas the E34 and E39s look more modern and could pretty much fit in perfectly in the expensive areas of wherever you live

[@MagicBoyUK76]

@julianbell90 For some reason he's using the Grandstand theme!

[@SimpleCarGuy]

It was a 2.3 with leather, power everything, alloy wheels etc. It had a small problem (why I got it so cheap) which cost me $150 to fix. btw, I am originally from Europe, so I know the difference in car prices and sometimes it is ridiculous for what cars go.

[@searchthetruth1981]

I would like to know if that aftermarket shop still exists nowadays or is it already gone???🤔🤔

[@owndapwn]

198k on my 86 535i and my LSD is fully functional, and my cam offers no problems. Injectors are noisy af though.

[@tourettetruthserum]

When he said at 4:21 that the dealer can put somebody's lights out for a tenner, did he mean what I think he did ??

[@kernals12]

@RSLMecha what does that have to do with my question?

[@MichaelRoma91]

3:48 why does that fuel gauge annoy me so much?

[@mrsquishyboots]

234k on my 86 528e and still humming along

[@1D0N]

£300 for a SI reset tool? And that in 1991? Wow that is astronomical expensive! And it can be done by bridging 2 pins.

[@georgemorley1029]

1D0N or buy yourself for £34 he went on to say. BMW always stick it on

[@Dragsteryourself]

@ev1Lbw0614 "Time After Time" by Miles Davis (originally made by Cyndi Lauper)

[@julianbell90]

what's that song in the intro of all your topgear videos with the blue screen and yellow writing?

[@pegcity4eva]

that is awesome, i have an e39, I love it

[@w.m.aslam-author]

When Top Gear provided realistic car buying advice, and not high octane supercar reviews for footballers and "celebrities".

[@Ruhailzy]

that guy reviewing the bmw couldnt of said it better, and its still true till this day

[@dixy2k]

I still like it today.

[@BrutalMutilatoR]

Can't find episode about e34

[@alexandrikson]

I prefer old 3ers. Just easier to maintain and more fun in the twisties, more availability of parts, bigger community, etc. Simply fantastic looking cars and nothing drives quite like them.

[@EgoShredder]

I once heard that in Japan they replace their cars on average every three years!

[@craig9843]

Love those cars still.

[@Google_Does_Evil_Now]

4:42 that engine sounds like it's gone.

[@RWL2012]

the young lad lol "1200... 12,000 sorry"

[@KasparOnTube]

ticking from the engine... 25 years later, still ticking, but working :D

[@AviAvikesh]

1:28 First ever black man on top gear !

[@robertk9753]

First and last

[@76SRV190]

Love mine, 1985 Dinan E28.

[@fillipo1972]

A whole different era of motoring has descended upon us. Characterless cars, uninteresting, the fun is largely gone from the vehicles and the roads are a chore.

[@adamw2911]

This was when a second hand 5 series was not a cheap buy but there was a reason for that.

[@unixnerd23]

They only eat cams if you run them REALLY low on oil. Never seen one eat a diff.

[@atsernov]

And you probably never will, that's why it's a "reputation." They're just "common" failure points based on many numbers. All the vehicles I've owned had a reputation for some fault or another. None of them ever gave me troubles though. Well, except the Subaru crank position sensor.

[@schwanzelstock1071]

Rich people buy new cars or a real classic it's one of the reasons why luxury cars expensive cars in general lose their value so quickly compared to family cars.

[@Mr.Pips77]

“Black mans wheels” Brothers motor wheels” haha coolest guy on car review.....ever!

[@ev1Lbw0614]

Whats the name of the song at 0:18?

[@ClubsportEvoluzione]

Them old Bimmers were something different... they don’t make em like that anymore. Everything that’s good and works becomes obsolete.

[@cj92akl]

Personally, I prefer the look of an E28 to an E34, although, if it were me, I'd probably go for an E30; they're a bit smaller and, presumably, easier to drive in town as a result. A 5-Series with 1.8 engine (like C803 FVP) must have been remarkably slow, though!

[@kernals12]

forgive me for asking, what about an M5?

[@norskjeger1976]

My friend bought one of these for $580, and is now trading it for a 98 3 series hard top convertible. The 5 series can’t start.

[@michaelkennedy8573]

That one BMW service manager wasn't taking any shit that day...

[@RickP2012]

Compared to modern wheels it looks like these cars were run on Smarties.

[@KK-ol5ov]

What would I give for one of these now for that price 😊👍

[@EgoShredder]

01:30 BMW - Black Mans Willy, or that is what they were often called in the UK.

[@CoffeeOn]

What is the intro song?Forget what it was. Does anyone know?

[@stevedickson5853]

Grandstand .

[@SullySadface]

Can confirm, I bought a used 93 525i, had to beat off 15 dudes.

[@garysimpson3900]

Classis Top Gear. When it was about cars & was not a "Vehicle" for the egos of its presenters.

[@phant0m385]

*despite having 5 years under its belt* ... 5 years for these cars is considered as good as new ..... i have a BMW e34 1988 ( 25 years under its belt) and still runs damn fine ..not to mention looks great.

[@grantmcgowan8399]

Not many left now, which is a real shame.... I had four of them.... wish I had kept them.... those that do survive are worth good money!

[@herrbela84]

The prestige tarnished a bit after this...

[@SimpleCarGuy]

my first car was a 1993 Mercedes 190e for which I paid $800 in 2006.

[@FrightfulAccountant]

Ow I just love the old BMW styling. And I hate the new one...

[@verliebt3465]

these new ones are actually rebadged renaults, made in romania. every piece of those cars is designed by renault, the badge is just as a way to sell cheaper cars and not tarnish whatever reputation renault as a brand might have.

[@boss12]

I love 5 series