E28 BMW M5 1988 E28

Overview

Engines

3.5L inline-six

Came as

• Sedan

On record

1 warning, no recalls

The story

The first M5 was built by hand from late 1984 on the E28 535i, with a modified version of the engine from the M1 supercar, and at its launch it was the fastest production saloon in the world. CarGurus, a published reference

The US got it for 1988 only, with a detuned engine and a catalytic converter, and CarGurus says every US car was black. Its production ran longer than BMW had forecast, and owners in the United States brought a class action that ended in vouchers in 1993. 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

• 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

Years and what changed

1. 1988

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

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.