Alright, so i have been looking at buying a 3 series because of my budget, but my friend is selling his m series and i may be able to afford it.

i havent had a chance to look at it yet.. and there was some confusion as to what model exactly it was.. (hes not very big on cars..) but it is an M series.

from what i found out from KBB (narrowing it down because its 4 door), its an m5 either 1992 or 1993

Since i havent had a chance to really look at the Ms, can someone tell me the basic differences?

all i know is that the M is the motorsport edition, and it usually costs more to buy and for maintainence, and its faster than the 3s.

are the more/less reliable, and in what areas? (im mostly concerned about the engine/transmission)

any information is very helpful!

thanks in advance

hmmmm

92-93 m5??? beastie is the one to talk to about these things....

i hope it is for your sake... IIRC beastie sold his E34 M5 for 10K???

hope u can pick it up ... cuz im sure someone else on this board will if u dont.... LOL

don't forget it could be an M3 sedan. it dosn't have to be a 5 series.

not a 92-93...comn nate

i thought he didn't know what year she was, he was guessin'

possible... post more info... the vin and all the info should be in the driver door jam

E34 M5 1991 - 1995

http://www.mwerks.com/gallery/generated/BMW/5-Series%20and%206-Series/5%20Series%20(E34)/M5/001__scaled_600.jpg

E28 M5 1988 - Only came in black over tan in the US

http://www.dlamarhawkins.com/images/e28m5/e28m5_bckgnd.jpg

E36 M3/4 1997 - 1998?

http://www.geocities.com/bmw_1999_m3/m3b4d.jpg

If the M5 motor doesn't look like this with the individual throttle bodies (the 6 things above the BMW M Power lettering) it is not a M5.

http://www.e-24.ru/files/1518/e24mpower_02.jpg

... no one could just say go to the A$$ end of the car and look at the trunk?

Alright, so i have been looking at buying a 3 series because of my budget, but my friend is selling his m series and i may be able to afford it.

i havent had a chance to look at it yet.. and there was some confusion as to what model exactly it was.. (hes not very big on cars..) but it is an M series.

from what i found out from KBB (narrowing it down because its 4 door), its an m5 either 1992 or 1993

Since i havent had a chance to really look at the Ms, can someone tell me the basic differences?

all i know is that the M is the motorsport edition, and it usually costs more to buy and for maintainence, and its faster than the 3s.

are the more/less reliable, and in what areas? (im mostly concerned about the engine/transmission)

any information is very helpful!

thanks in advance
You'll need to pinpoint what car it is before anyone can tell you the strong points and weak points.

The M5s have very strong motors and have lots of top end hp, but torque can be lacking for some people that are used to a small block Ford or Chevy. The S38 motors are relatively bulletproof, but will require $$$ when it gets up there in mileage.

Beastie, I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure E28 M5's could also be had with black interior in the US, though they are very rare.

Beastie, I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure E28 M5's could also be had with black interior in the US, though they are very rare.
US M5 were all black on tan. Canadian M5s were black on black. There is supposedly a couple Canadian models in the US.

Beastie's right on this one. There was rumor that US dealers could special order a black interior, but that has been debunked by M5 enthusiasts who did some research on the subject. The only way a black interiored E28 M5 has made it to the US is across the Canadian border. That said, there are several Euro M5's that have been imported here over the years (check November roundel, 1986 Euro E28 M5, Dinan Turboed 500 hp, Black with Buffalo leather interior and 23K miles for $50K!!).
If you/anyone has questions about E28 M5's I'd be happy to provide more info.

wiggafly better do some homework before you seal the deal. these are not cheap cars to own by any stretch unless you just plan to run it into the ground. and then you get the mod bug...

mmmmm.. i LIKE the mod bug.. but its taken over my life... LOL

If you/anyone has questions about E28 M5's I'd be happy to provide more info.

Oh, Ive done quite a bit of research on them, not enough obviously. I just want one really badly:D

Oh, Ive done quite a bit of research on them, not enough obviously. I just want one really badly:D
Join the club!

k thanks for the info guys

when i go check it out ill write down the VIN and anything else i can find

he was gonna sell it for like $5000, but decided on $4500.
he is going to get a new infiniti from his parents (theyre obviously rich) so he decided to sell for like $3500.

i dont think i would care too much about mods (i love the back lights stock, am not interested in lowering or skirts, the only thing i *may* be interested in is headlights)
but that might change if i do get one

Hmmm...$3,500 for an M?
Either he is a very good friend, and really doesn't need the money, in which case he should give you the car.
Or there is something(s) rather costly to repair on this car.
Or it's not really an M.

take pics. let me know if you don't want the car. :D

In retrospect, I wonder if this is the fake E34 M5 that was on Craislist?

i doubt it

he hasnt started looking to sell really yet

hes rich, his parents are gonna buy him a NEW infiniti

got a little bit more info, its a 92 or 93 m series, blue exterior, tan interior
ill see if i can get some pictures

If you want, I can look at the car with you.

If you want, I can look at the car with you.
:devillook :shifty :devillook

Info on car or ban!!!........I got $8000 laying around for another car, after my turbo project is done.:devillook

Oh, Ive done quite a bit of research on them, not enough obviously. I just want one really badly

Yeah, sorry, not saying you don't know jack about them. Just offering firsthand experience as I've owned an E28 M5 off and on since 2000 and have some original documentation etc...

Oh and she's not for sale....at least not until I leave the islands which won't be for a few years.

Yeah, sorry, not saying you don't know jack about them. Just offering firsthand experience as I've owned an E28 M5 off and on since 2000 and have some original documentation etc...

Oh and she's not for sale....at least not until I leave the islands which won't be for a few years.

Cool, I can wait! :D

he was originally going to sell it for about 5 k, but was gonna let it go for like $4500

but he wants to sell it fast, so he lowered to $3500.

ill give you guys all the details when i see it
hes not very sure on the details of it because hes not that into cars, and he didnt buy it himself

:devillook :shifty :devillook
Nah, not really interested. Just trying to keep the new guy grounded. A cheap M5 can end up being a very expensive M5.

Rear shocks - $500+ a pop
Eliminate self adjusting rear shocks - $1000 +/-
tranny rebuild - $3500
motor rebuild - sell a kidney?

Beastie, I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure E28 M5's could also be had with black interior in the US, though they are very rare.
I believe ALL US spec cars had tan interiors, I have heard that Canada got E28 M5's with black interiors. I read (can't remember where) that the number of cars with black interiors was less than 10. Both E28 M5's I have owned had tan interiors.

I would have to convert mine to black interior if I ever got one, as I cannot stand tan.

I would have to convert mine to black interior if I ever got one, as I cannot stand tan.

I agree that the tan DOES NOT hold up over time either. My driver's side bolster is also shot and needs re-welded. Not sure if I am going to Leatherique the interior (seen good results) and get an upholsteror on-island to fix the seat frame or just bite the bullet and buy some recaro SRD's. Suggestions?

Nah, not really interested. Just trying to keep the new guy grounded. A cheap M5 can end up being a very expensive M5.

Rear shocks - $500+ a pop
Eliminate self adjusting rear shocks - $1000 +/-
tranny rebuild - $3500
motor rebuild - sell a kidney?

Cooling system maintenance is common on these and you are generally looking at $2K + if a radiator is involved. Cheapest E28 M5 radiator I've seen is still $400.

Timing chain/tensioner replacement is obligatory at 100K miles and you are looking at $3.5K there.

Plus mechanics always "find" extra crap wrong when they're doing other maintenance on these cars...goes with the territory I guess.

Cooling system maintenance is common on these and you are generally looking at $2K + if a radiator is involved. Cheapest E28 M5 radiator I've seen is still $400.

Timing chain/tensioner replacement is obligatory at 100K miles and you are looking at $3.5K there.

Plus mechanics always "find" extra crap wrong when they're doing other maintenance on these cars...goes with the territory I guess.
Yup, like I said, a cheap M5 can end up being an expen$ive M5 realfast!

Hmmm...,M car, 3 series, 4door, $3500. M-azda 323? He might me asking a little too much for that year, but they do get great gas mileage! The DOHC models did pretty well in G-Stock, though.

haha

hes not that bad at cars..

i hope.. haha

ill try and get some pics and the VIN when i check it out

Hmmm...,M car, 3 series, 4door, $3500. M-azda 323? He might me asking a little too much for that year, but they do get great gas mileage! The DOHC models did pretty well in G-Stock, though.
mauka - What you doing in kea'au? It's pretty boring up there.

mauka - What you doing in kea'au? It's pretty boring up there.

That's why I'm posting silly shi* like this on a saturday night. It's my off night at the meth lab. We moved out here since baby arrived to get some elbow room. Oahu was getting kinda crazy for us. Now we can actually afford to stay home with the little one for a while.
Wish I had some of my old cars here, though - lots of smooth, empty, twisty blacktop!

Info on car or ban!!!........I got $8000 laying around for another car, after my turbo project is done.:devillook


hows that going? I wanna do the same thing down the road.

That's why I'm posting silly shi* like this on a saturday night. It's my off night at the meth lab. We moved out here since baby arrived to get some elbow room. Oahu was getting kinda crazy for us. Now we can actually afford to stay home with the little one for a while.
Wish I had some of my old cars here, though - lots of smooth, empty, twisty blacktop!
Yup, that bypass road is only a few years old and I think it takes you out to Pahoa. I can't remember as I was last up there 3 years ago. My aunt's house is down the road from Keaau Elementary and Intermediate. My uncle's gas station used to be on the corner until he sold out to the Kitagawas.

alright i got the VIN
WBACB4319NFF86687

I think that its a 92 325i..
my friend probably thought it was a M series because it has the M series wheels and Dinan exhaust
im not too sure what else
it does not have the knobs above the lettering on the engine or even say M on the engine


anythign else i could do to be sure what kind of 3 series it is?



***
oh, and although some free VIN checks say its an automatic, it is manual.

Well in that case that thing is probably not worth any more than say $2k or so **note this is a wild @$$ guess, you should probably check www.kbb.com **

FYI, all BMW M GmbH VIN's begin with WBS... that is your other litmus test as to whether you have an authentic ///M. Oh and there's no such thing as a 318 tiM though I have seen many running around...(yes, there was a club sport version)

yeah i know its not a M

It's an auto 325i produced 10/91. That's good as you don't have to deal with that pesky VANOS going bad. Chips are easy to find as are wheels, exhausts and other mods.

$4k is a decent price for the car, but you can get it cheaper. Everything depends on the condition of the car and miles. Go to KBB and get the trade in value and use that as an indicator of price.

It's an auto 325i produced 10/91. That's good as you don't have to deal with that pesky VANOS going bad. Chips are easy to find as are wheels, exhausts and other mods.

$4k is a decent price for the car, but you can get it cheaper. Everything depends on the condition of the car and miles. Go to KBB and get the trade in value and use that as an indicator of price.

does the VIN for sure tell you what kind of car it is?
because the car is manual, i saw it today.. perhaps a auto/manual swap?

how can you tell if the engine is 4 cyl or 6?
i just glanced at it and couldnt tell, but of course, i dont know much about engines anyway
that will tell me if its a 1992 318i or 325i


kbb is 4000 for good condition
but it also has sideskirts i think =\, exhaust, and m rims

hes asking $3200
the exterior is in great condition, no dents, couldnt see any scratches (but it was kind of dirty so i couldnt really tell)
the leather inside is in alright condition - no tears, but its a little dirty and is starting to crack

I used the BMW VIN decoder. Google it.

325i motor will look like this. It has 6 intake runners.

http://www.theeurodepot.com/grantm509.jpg

318i motor will look like this.

http://host.jwcinc.net/2285538/newparts/318i/engine1.JPG

yeah so did i
this is what i got

WBACB4319NFF86687
Germany
BMW Germany
Passenger Car
318i, 325i, 328i 4 door (92-96) or M3 4 door sedan (97-98)
325i (92-95)
323i, 325i, 382i
Passenger vehicle
Manual belt with driver air bag
1992
Munich, Germany

i dont really know how to interpret which model it is
im guessing 1992 325i because thats the three parts about models have in common

ok looking at those engines im pretty sure it was a 6 cyl, so 325i

not hundred percent sure, but thats what im thinking

the thing im thinking about now is that the VIN says auto, but its a manual.

325i is mostly black. The 318i is mostly silver.

Sounds like it had a tranny swap!

BTW - that 4 cyl. is fugly! Looks to be an M44!

if you need some help with looking at the car and try to get a decent estimate of the value... let me know, or some other people on the board know.. i have gone to extensive ends to find out as much as I can about the E36's. I like knowing my car inside and out, and learning whatever I dont know. I know the main points to look for and could help if any problems arise.... let me know

I used to have a 92 325i and I love that car until I found an M3/4 I cant refuse to buy!:D I sold my car for only $4800 last year and it was in excellant condition and I took very good care of my cars. I left some good parts on it like the OEM M3 kit, ac wing , dinan chip, bilsteins with H&R race spring and some other goodies. The only reason why I sold it cheap is because of the mileage was 140,000 but still running strong. Here is a picture of my old 325i when I sold it.:)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b352/rdreuro/bmwsale1.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b352/rdreuro/bmwsale4.jpg

wow that was super clean.... its unfortunate to see it go soo cheap

woweee thats a nice one

im looking at ones that are earlier e36s, like 92-94 mostly because or price

i dont mind a few small dings and scratches, but it has to be mechanically sound and the ac has to work
the interior doesnt have to be great either


that was a super nice car man

Thanks!:) When I sold my car everything works including the cold A/C. I had alot of calls for it when I posted it in the Island Previews and sold it that same day.