1988 BMW M5 E28

Overview

Engines

3.5L inline-six

Came as

• Sedan

On record

1 warning, no recalls

What changed for 1988

• The M5 is sold in the US for its only year. CarGurus, a published reference

Colors

• Black1988

Sources: CarGurus

Specs

Engines

• 3.5L inline-six S38B35 CarGurus, a published reference

  256 hp in US form

Transmissions

• Five-speed manual CarGurus, a published reference

Drivetrains

• Rear-wheel drive CarGurus, a published reference

Body styles

• Sedan CarGurus, a published reference

Figures for the whole E28

• Built: By hand in Germany, first at BMW Motorsport's plant in Munich and later in Garching A published reference
• Production: 2,241 in all, of which a fraction came to the US CarGurus, a published reference
• North American production: From November 1986 to November 1987 A published reference
• 0 to 60 mph: 6.5 seconds, with a top speed of 145 mph CarGurus

Watch out

Faults owners and the press report, and how to spot each one.

• Self-levelling rear suspension All years

  One source so far

  Check: Ask whether the original self-levelling suspension works or has been swapped for conventional parts.

  CarGurus calls the original self-levelling suspension a known problem area, and says many owners replace it with conventional parts. CarGurus

Recalls

No recall is written up here.

Owning

What owners and buyers say

• Sought after

  The original 1988 M5 All years

  One source so far

  CarGurus says purists should look for the first M5, the 1988 car. CarGurus

• Watch for

  A car whose owners skipped maintenance All years

  Less sought after One source so far

  CarGurus calls the E28 a money pit if earlier owners did not keep up its maintenance. CarGurus

Maintenance

No service schedule is added yet.