Greetings.

I just came across a really nice looking '92 535i 5-speed for $3500, with a salvage title due to vandalism in the dealer lot in '93. The seller says "recent tune up, tranny and diff. fluids flushed...many service records" and I'm sending him an eMail to ask out service history. The biggest draw back I can see so far is that it has 205k on it, which I'm asking him about. Looking around I saw that valves become a problem at this milage, so I'm asking about about that too. I tried to read the checklist at the top but the link doesn't seem to work. Obviously I'm going to check this car out in person but I just wanted to get some opinions before I do so or anything I should know.

Basically, this is going to be a new ride for my lady and possibly something to help me with real estate since materialistic people suck and judge you based on what you drive. I already have a project car so I'm hoping to keep this as stock as possible...but, it'll probably need more power to make me happy. I saw it said in another topic that at this price it'd be worth it just for parting out so I might buy it regardless.

Here are some, creatively typed, links to pictures.

img dot photobucket dot com / albums / v641 /

nikesweetness/535i001 dot jpg
nikesweetness/535i005 dot jpg
nikesweetness/535006 dot jpg

(the DVD player's an extra $400 and I may or may not get it...don't really need it.)

In case you'ven't noticed, the wheels don't match. It also looks lowered, and the rear camber looks a bit excessive (but you should ask somebody who's actually lowered theirs). If the car's been taken care of, the mileage isn't too high. Valves need to be adjusted every so often, but I've never heard of them becoming an issue at 200k.

Didn't 1992 models have a passenger airbag?

In the shot of the rear of the car (picture 3, I think), it looks like both front seats are twisted. Also, the front console was reassembled crooked. Other than that, it looks clean.

Looks nice, but only buy it if your never looking to resale.

There's a stock wheel on the pass. front in one of the pictures but he said that was his spare and he's since replaced the flat tire. Or are the M3 rims mismatched?

Valve adjustments are no problem, once I get past the BMW learning curve, so that's a good thing to hear.

He said that one of the front ball joints is going out ($45 part?). Honda's have wishbone suspensions but I'm don't have a clue about BMWs, I can build engines so about how difficult is this going to be? He also said that the clutch has 55k miles on it, about time to be changed?

I also noticed that the interior panels looked a little crooked but thought it might be an age thing. I take it you plugged in the other picture numbers to see the rear camber? Good call, I didn't catch that.

Not looking to resell, hopefully. I've been a commissioned salesman in the past so I know the deal.

Thanks for the help guys. I'm a total bimmer n00b but not a car n00b. And thank you for posting those pictures for me. *smile*

The interior panels are indeed crooked. More crooked than on my older 535i, whose dashboard has been disassembled twice. The M3 rims look fine, but the top picture looks like there's a tad too much rear camber. Don't take my word for it, though.

Replacing a ball joint, IIRC, runs roughly 200 at a shop. Never having done it myself, I imagine if you're good enough to build engines, it'd be a short afternoon with a repair manual. Clutch life depends a lot on how it was driven. I don't remember when it was replaced, but I believe my car with 165k is on its second clutch.

My first car was a 95 Accord. The 535i is vastly superior in most respects and overall.

Good deal. Thank you very much.

I replied to his email and asked if he'd be willing to take it in for a full inspection. I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy this car. I just need to see it in person and drive it.

I agree with JustinP95 unless you keeping it forever its not worth it. IME the only thing harder to sell then a salvage titled car is a TMU one. I'd keep looking.

Tmu?

Tmu?

True Mileage Unknown

Gotcha. Yeah, I'm not really so concerned about the salvage title as I am the reason why it was salvaged. It doesn't take much damage for a dealer to declare a brand new car unsellable and file and insurance claim on it.

Still waiting for dude to get back to me, though.

The seller originally had this listed for $4,900 a week or so ago and must have dropped the price when he didn't get any bites. You can probably get him to go lower due to the title issue. Personally, I think you could do better, especially given the mileage.

Gotcha. Yeah, I'm not really so concerned about the salvage title as I am the reason why it was salvaged. It doesn't take much damage for a dealer to declare a brand new car unsellable and file and insurance claim on it.

Still waiting for dude to get back to me, though.

Scratch that idea. The seller's a tard. He got offended that I asked him to have it inspected and then told me that I don't know anything about cars, so he's selling to somebody else. Of course, I had to eMail him back and ask him what was up since he didn't get back to me. He also got attitude about how much the car's worth. I told him that with the salvage title the only reason the car has any worth at all is the wheels and DVD player. Oh well, the search continues.

You know, in the last 13 years I've never had as much of a problem buyer a car as when I decided to buy a BMW.

lol, it just wasnt meant to be.

You probably just saved yourself from a huge headache.

No doubt...hahaha.

This is outstanding. The guy who can't seem to put his console in properly says he works as a tech for one of the biggest Audi dealerships in Sacramento and is a UTI graduate. Dear lord the quality standards must have gone straight down hill. Probably the best thing was that he told me I was poor for even thinking about buying the car he currently owns. I have money because I'm thrifty and save it when and where ever possible. I told him he was a dumbass and sent him to my spam folder. Hahaha.

He did spark my interest in these cars though. I found a really clean one in Santa Cruz, but with how clean it is it's probably sold already. We shall see.

No doubt...hahaha.

I found a really clean one in Santa Cruz, but with how clean it is it's probably sold already.

If it's the one going for $5,900.00 with the seller claiming it has $9000.00 in mods it's way over priced as well.

Aye, that's the one. I'm thinking closer to $5k, maybe in the $4.5-5k range?

Yeah, I'd look for mostly stock cars if I were you. I got lucky with mine, but most modified cars that I see are not always quite what they appear in pictures.

I was very lucky in my purchase, although I had been searching for almost a year. Wait until you find one with minimal mods and decent mileage. I thought my search for a 535iM was over, but then the day after I gave up on an e30 (which was gonna be my alternative, good thing I decided not to get it), 2 535iM's were on craigslist. One in San Diego and one in Orange County. Just keep looking man, the one will come.

Aye, that's the one. I'm thinking closer to $5k, maybe in the $4.5-5k range?


The seller's listed it twice already without lowering the price. I'd take off $2000 his asking price just because he says the "upgrade and designer" mods were professionally done by HarKoos FCA Designs. No such tuner exists that I'm aware of.

If it's the one going for $5,900.00 with the seller claiming it has $9000.00 in mods it's way over priced as well.

Noticed that one too, indeed a bit pricey. I think proper maintenance does more to a resale value than mods. The car already has 186K.... There's another E34 535i in norcal, calypso, that apparently only has 134K... Also way too pricey though. http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/car/270503602.html

^^^^^ This one is has a slushbox. I think he is looking for a manual, but could be wrong. There is a 90' 535im in the City going for $2,150 that needs some love. Seller sounds desparate though and is taking offers. He has been trying to sell it for awhile. http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/car/272078662.html

lol, noticed that one too. It reads abused all over it. Still he needs to sell soon. Maybe offer $1200-1500, spend the rest on fixing it up. Oh the wheels... seriously..

Oh the wheels... seriously..

:lol
it'd be worth more without those wheels! I was looking at CL yesterday, and he did drop his price!
mike

Well, I called the HarKoos dude in Santa Cruz and offered him $4500. He said he was unwilling to lose much more money on the car than he already is. I may call him back and offer him $5000 but just from the feeler I got from him I don't think he'll take less than $5500. I like the way the car looks and I really won't have to do anything else to it. I'm not sure I want to spend quite that much when I found an absolutely beautiful 5-speed '97 M3 sedan I can buy on Sunday for $7800.

I've looked at that perfect city beater a few times but I'd need to fix that tie rod before I could bring it home. That looks like the kind of car that was owned by someone who couldn't afford the maintenance. Not quite what I want.

Alrighty. Dude in Santa Cruz said he'll take $5400. Provided I like the way this car looks and drives, it's already got the maintenance, it's already got some mods which should make it fast enough (on paper) for me, and I like the wheels. I can sell the subs and the amp for a few hundred and I really won't have to "project" on anything with it. My Civic keeps me, and my wallet, more than entertained with projects and once that's done I'm building a dirt oval mini-stock race car. I think this is one case where I just might take bought over built.

What do you more experienced folk think?