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FS: 1984 euro 520i 5spd - Seattle

Buy, sell or trade whole vehicles.
dreeves
Posts: 36
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Seattle
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FS: 1984 euro 520i 5spd - Seattle

Post by dreeves »

I'm selling my '84 520i. It's a basic, no-frills european spec car with its original bumpers, headlights, manual windows and locks. I imported it from canada 14 months ago, and it's never missed a beat in about 10,000 entertaining miles, including daily commuting and a fun romp through the mountains of British Columbia in the Spring Thaw classic car tour.

Some of you may have seen this car at 5er fest west 2010 in Portland.

$2100 or best offer. Located in Seattle. Contact me at 646 257 3820 or e28 at g93 dot net


It's powered by a two liter M20 six-cylinder. Not the fastest car I've owned, but with a 4.10 diff and weight roughly equivalent to a us-spec 3-series (E30) of the same vintage, it acquits itself nicely on the road.

White exterior, and a pine green interior. Better than it sounds. As far as I can tell, the only options are the sunroof, and a factory tow hitch. Not sure how much one can tow with two liters and 129 horsepower.

Everything is manual. Seats, sunroof, locks and windows. If you've ever owned a German car of this vintage, you'll understand the upside: much less to go wrong.

Lots of neat little euro features like bumpers, city lights, a factory fire extinguisher mounted under the driver's seat, a rear fog light and a tow hitch.

Never federalized -- it was imported under the NHTSA's exemption for cars 25 years old, which requires no changes from original spec. Have title and all importation paperwork.

Recent work, all in April of this year (not including regular oil changes):

1. Refreshed front brake calipers, discs and pads. New brake fluid.
2. All new fuel lines.

Issues:

Straight, but cosmetically imperfect. A touch of northwest top-down rust at the base of the rear window and under the sunroof panel, and a few dings here and there. There's also a minor crease just ahead of the rear taillight on the passenger side.

Gauge cluster is largely inoperative. The temp sensor works; everything else is either inaccurate or inoperative, including the odometer and speedometer. The tachometer looks like it isn't original, and must have come from an eta car. Odometer reads 166,000km.

Original Bavaria stereo doesn't work, and the antenna is missing.

Cracked dash.

One tiny tear in the driver's seat.

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Last edited by dreeves on Nov 21, 2011 8:30 PM, edited 4 times in total.
Coldswede
Posts: 6859
Joined: Oct 10, 2008 1:48 PM
Location: Back U.P. North,. Where the water's blue, the wind is free and seasons four.

Post by Coldswede »

What neat car! I would think this thing is an excellent commuter car! Especially if the commute has curves!
SD45T-2

Post by SD45T-2 »

Your car never had a Tach when it left the factory,It had a Analog clock in place,Thats why theres a plastic obc delete,where the obc is.
dreeves
Posts: 36
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Seattle
Contact:

Post by dreeves »

Yes, I suspected that. I actually do have the clock; just never got around to swapping it.
tavern gnome
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Location: Tacoma, WA
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Post by tavern gnome »

I love it! I've always wanted a really basic euro e28. You're waaaaay too close!
SD45T-2

Post by SD45T-2 »

tavern gnome wrote:I love it! I've always wanted a really basic euro e28. You're waaaaay too close!
b35 swap! :cool:

But it be a shame to do it to such a low mile car.
austin8753
Posts: 1505
Joined: May 16, 2010 1:37 AM
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA

Post by austin8753 »

Hmmm. Do want. I really like this car and you're pretty close to me.
Tim in N FL
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Post by Tim in N FL »

Very cool and rare e28 for these shores. Priced well too. Why are cars like this almost always on the Left Coast? Personally, I don't feel there would be any shame in an m30 swap. Aren't these non-High-Line models a bit lighter than the typical m30-powered versions? Good luck with the sale.

:beer:
Tim
dreeves
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Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Seattle
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Post by dreeves »

Thanks, all!

Regarding weight: it does weigh a fair bit less; I've never weighed it, but a little internet research suggests 1260kg, or around 2780 pounds. Some of that difference is probably due to a lighter motor; but the lack of a/c, different bumpers, seats, and lack of reinforced door beams should also contribute to it.

The other thing I didn't note in the ad is that the center console is totally different in non-a/c cars.
Rich Euro M5
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Joined: Mar 10, 2006 6:20 AM
Location: Klein, Texas

Post by Rich Euro M5 »

A true stripper would have rear drum brakes, rear disk brakes were an option on the 520i.
dreeves
Posts: 36
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Seattle
Contact:

Post by dreeves »

Rich Euro M5 wrote:A true stripper would have rear drum brakes, rear disk brakes were an option on the 520i.
Indeed. My car has rear drums.
Enchanter
Posts: 249
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM

Tach

Post by Enchanter »

I had the same car in Greece. It came with a tach. I had no OBC, No Sunroof, No Power Windows, No AC, No Stereo, Pine Green Cloth, BUT had a tachometer. I think the clock was more of a 518 thing. All of the 520s that I saw in Greece had tachs.
dreeves
Posts: 36
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Seattle
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Post by dreeves »

Also for negotiation -- I have some 16x7 Team Dynamics anthracite wheels that will fit perfectly and look great on this car. Just need to add tires.

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dreeves
Posts: 36
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Location: Seattle
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Post by dreeves »

Still for sale.
likethejetsons
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Joined: Oct 28, 2011 3:17 AM
Location: brenthood
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Post by likethejetsons »

i'd pick it up if you still had it in jan 2012!!
shagrath
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Joined: Jun 15, 2009 12:21 PM
Location: pLace

Post by shagrath »

I. WANT. IT. NOW!

But I have to wait until March. I'm saving some cash up from parting my e30. Maybe you can take $500-$600 down as a deposit to hold it?

:banana:

Now that is a worthy reliable car to shoot for. Titling and registration shouldn't be an issue, right?
dreeves
Posts: 36
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Seattle
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Post by dreeves »

Titling and registration shouldn't be an issue. I have a current Washington State title, as well as the paperwork issued by customs when the car crossed the border.

Honestly I'd rather sell the car sooner than next year, as I've already purchased its replacement (a german-spec '84 911 carrera). That said, it needs to find a good home, and I'm open to considering it. Let's talk.
Sam 84, 533i
Posts: 776
Joined: Nov 26, 2010 7:23 PM
Location: Seattle Washington

Post by Sam 84, 533i »

Very nice car I considered it for awhile but my hands are full with my 533
shagrath
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Post by shagrath »

:brickwall:
mooseheadm5
Beamter
Beamter
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Post by mooseheadm5 »

I saw one of these at 5erFest this year. L-jet, tiny radiator, clock instead of tach I think, and lots of stuff under the hood is different compared to a US eta. I think it has a small case diff, too.
Patrick McHugh
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Location: Richmond, VA

Post by Patrick McHugh »

Bump for a cool car I would have already bought if it weren't so far away
dreeves
Posts: 36
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Seattle
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Post by dreeves »

Thanks for the kind words and bumps!
It's time for this car to go. Anyone interested in making an offer?
dreeves
Posts: 36
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Seattle
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Post by dreeves »

Dropped price to $2100. Time to go.
Patrick McHugh
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Location: Richmond, VA

Post by Patrick McHugh »

More photos of the rust and damage? Full disclosure if you will.
SD45T-2

Post by SD45T-2 »

dreeves wrote:Dropped price to $2100. Time to go.
Ok here we go Lets see how long it lasts. :rofl:
dreeves
Posts: 36
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Seattle
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Post by dreeves »

Sure. In general, All the rust I've seen is from the top down; the underside of the car is very clean. Sunroof panel really should be replaced; however, nothing has really spread from there.

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Last edited by dreeves on Dec 02, 2011 1:55 PM, edited 1 time in total.
BATESY
Posts: 428
Joined: Jul 06, 2008 8:42 PM
Location: Renton, WA

Post by BATESY »

just posted a link of your car on my facebook. really neat car. I hope you have some good luck with the sale. I wouldnt expect to have it for sale to long.
dreeves
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Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Seattle
Contact:

Post by dreeves »

Sale pending.
shagrath
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Location: pLace

Post by shagrath »

My wife and I were discussing options to come and get the car or have it shipped yesterday. She really likes it!

GLWS, but we'll be keeping an eye out.
grundlexhorse
Posts: 5
Joined: Oct 16, 2011 3:01 PM

Post by grundlexhorse »

Have you sold this car yet? I'm still very interested and would like to fly out there to bring this home.

Thanks.
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