M5 Prices

[buzby]

I plan to do the engine work myself. The car has original paint, etc, no accidents or rust, etc, but drivers seat worn.
So should I offer less? What is real value if only a parts car? I just purchased a driveable rust free 1989 E30 325is with body damage for its 5 speed, engine, windshield and other parts for $800? Car will be used to convert my son's 325is from auto to manual. Sounds like that was to much?
Thanks for input.

[photopark]

Blown engine and a ratty interior... I wouldn't pay over $1500 for it.

Natur is not my favorite color, I would find a complete black interior out of an 535is, search craigslist and this forum, it shouldn't cost you more then $800.

Also good long blocks can be found. I paid $3500 for an S38 long block with only 73k miles on it last year, it was in exceptional condition.

Doug

[buzby]

Thanks for the info. on S38 engines, this might be way to go.
OK, I did purchase the car yesterday. Body, front air dam, wheels and paint in great shape. Only interior issues are dash (cracked) and drivers seat.
I know these are dumb questions but I am fairly new to understanding all the BMW M5 technicalities:
1. Is the M30 crank the same as the S38 crank, technical journals seem to say it is? Understand that pistons and con-rods are different.
2. Just to get the car on the road can you drop an M30 535i engine in to an E28 M5. I can then rebuild engine when time and $$ allow?

[1st 5er]

OK, I did purchase the car yesterday. Body, front air dam, wheels and paint in great shape. Only interior issues are dash (cracked) and drivers seat.

Welcome and

[buzby]

Thanks for the welcome, I am sure I will be bugging you guys all the time for information!

I will post pics next week when I get it home.

Question-can it be towed on dolly or is it best to trailer?

If on a dolly does the drive shaft have to be removed?

Distance about 300 miles.

[1st 5er]

Thanks for the welcome, I am sure I will be bugging you guys all the time for information!

I will post pics next week when I get it home.

Question-can it be towed on dolly or is it best to trailer?

If on a dolly does the drive shaft have to be removed?

Distance about 300 miles.

Tow with front wheels on the ground and you'll be OK.
Actually since it's a manual, I think either way will be OK.
Rear wheels on the ground for an autotragic is bad.

[M5BB]

Busby,
Congratulations
Now that you purchased the car you might want to start a new thread for questions as this thread should be for prices.
You'll also get more answers to your questions because this thread is also a sticky and remains at the top of the page and people don't notice new posts as easily.
I would not use a tow dolly for my M5 for that many miles.
Put it on a flatbed or tow with front wheels on the ground as suggested.
What is wrong with the engine?
I've never heard that an M30 crank is the same.
Similar maybe.

[rustwrks]

I bought mine in San Jose a year and a half ago from a great owner. Paid 13k and no regrets. Engine - 9/10, body 8/10 interior 7/10 - getting it ready for euro front treatment and bumpers. Such a fun car - I 've learned a ton from all of you at the forum. It was worth every penny.

[buzby]

Paid $2800 for my recent M5. I was looking at auto and 5-speed 535is's for $2000-2500 and this M5 came along so decided this was the car for me. Some of the 535is's were OK but would have needed $$ to get them to my standards. I probably paid to much but if I did not decide to rebuild engine I could always break it up for parts. Even though engine has run a big-end bearing it will not take much to get it operating again.
Mileage 150K. Paint very good except for odd parking scratches, etc. No rust or accident damage what so ever. Interior not perfect but once drivers seat redone will be 7 out of 10. Dash is cracked. Tires have half tread. Have all records including original window sticker. Original southern car, no aftermarket accessories fitted.

[dcdubs]

i just bought this one for 5200.00
250k, bilsteins, all panels have stickers, tool kit and owners manual, some service records not very comprehensive.also gave me a glass sunroof/moonroof

assed out driver seat/pass seat cracking
worn shifter bushings and related parts
needs both front lower arms
paint cracking a little in some places
one P/O removed the decklid spoiler
broken grill fasteners
misc interior bulbs out
needs C.V. joints
overall not bad at all wish the miles were lower but it runs strong and i've already fixed some stuff, i love it and when i'm not driving it i want to be


By skivw67, shot with X100,D540Z,C310Z at 2009-04-04

By skivw67, shot with X100,D540Z,C310Z at 2009-04-04

[Machtig]

I just bought a very clean US spec M5 (#740), all original save the alarm system, recovered front seats, recent timing chain et al, all service records, probably 9/10 condition overall, 113k miles. I paid $13k. A few months ago the seller had it in Roundel for $16.9k. I found it on autotrader.com listed at $13.9k. I asked if he'd take $13k and he said yes. I think I got a good deal. I'll post photos when I go pick it up next week.

[Rich in Tupelo]

Bought one over the holiday weekend. Good body(normal road rash from 21 years but easily fixed, no rust), good interior (replacement driver seat was done, minor dash crack at front vent, will need a redye). Motor has compression loss in two cylinders (30% in one and 33% in another). Spoke with the shop that had done the work on the car for the past several years. They had boroscoped the engine and did not see any head damage, just in the block. Picked up a known good block with pistons and crank when I got the car. Currently in it for $3,100. Will pull the motor this winter and see what needs to be done in addition to the block. Worse case, source a good used S38.

Car does need other minor odds and ends, but no major items. Figure I will sort the minor stuff out as time and $$ permits this fall.

Car came with a stack of records covering many years. It is a great project car in my opinion.




http://www.cardomain.com/ride/353952/20

[Speedmaster]

and that could have been a shill. It has over 200,000 miles.

Another one is currently at $2500 and it has less than 200,000 miles.

Not bashing but it looks like it supports the argument of high mileage is a significant influencer of price.

[GHasley]

Just picked up a 1 owner e28 M5 with 42,000 miles. They were asking $22,000....I didn't pay that but......

[RonP]

Just picked up a 1 owner e28 M5 with 42,000 miles. They were asking $22,000....I didn't pay that but......

Was that car in your area? Did you run a CarFax on it? I had a client looking at a car in the Desert and he ran a CarFax on it and the car (this year!) had over 90,000 on it. I hope that isn't the same car. If it is, that is fraud!

[GHasley]

Ron, same car and excellent observation. The car was located in Indian Wells, CA and I am local.

The 90k on carfax was incorrect especially in light of the fact that BMW Palm Springs always serviced the car and they worked on it just 2 months prior at 41k miles..hard to cover 50k miles in 2 months with the owner not among the living..I spoke to Paul, the service writer at BMW Palm Springs where I have my cars serviced, he made the mistake and typed a 9 instead of a 4. I have all the receipts so luckily no fraud. If that caused your client to pause, I am ever so grateful as I wouldv'e missed out.

Warm regards,

[wkohler]

I was thinking it was most-likely a typo. Haha. I had a similar thing happen at the emissions testing stations here in Phoenix.

[m-racer]

I closed today on the sale of my 1985 Euro M5. It sold at the asking price of 38.5k. Ron P did a terrific job on the cosmetics and the mechanicals were carefully restored/ improved over the last 3 yrs. of my ownership. The car is going to St. Paul to it's new owner who I am am satisfied will give it the right home. Many thanks for the help and advice I have received from the M5 enthusiasts on this over the yrs. Tim Jones

[funfunfer]

Bought mine in Connecticut for $5k to keep it from going to the crusher as a trade in. Probably should have paid $3k more for a much better car that showed up on CL in Houston the day I got home.

[grbbenny]

Just purchased US version. Approximately 88,000 miles, no accidents, no paintwork, no rust. Highlights include:
-timing chain done
-Euro headlights
-SLS delete with Bilstein Sports and MTechnic springs
-Fahey crank hub and cam gear
-New radiator, water pump, etc.
-Dinan chip
-New windshield, leather dash and door caps
-Rear sun blind
-Euro headers and Fahey track pipe

Car sound familiar to anyone?

$22K

[cfalco]

I bought mine in Feb of '08. Paid $9,000 with 167,000 miles. After driving my '88 528e for 9 years and 115,000 miles and always wishing for a bit more power/handling was in the market for a Boxster s when I saw an ad for the m5 only 40 miles away in Huntington Beach. I drove it, loved it, went back the next day and bought it. It replaced the 528e as my daily driver and now has 183,000 miles. I have spent around $5,000 on : diff mount, valve adj,tune up, new front end, new a/c system, fuel pump, trunk and tail light seals, Dinan chip and cam sprocket, window tint,tires, and a set of the original bbs wheels to replace the Fittipaldis. The car was originally purchased in Orange County and spent it's whole 21 years in So Cal. I'm still enjoying the car and plan to have the seats redone eventually. Additionally, it has the complete tool kit - even the blue snot rag.

[funfunfer]

BTW,
That car I missed in Houston turns out to be a Black on Black US Spec model in great shape. "Well bought" as they say on the car auction broadcasts!

Good job, Jose!

[1st 5er]

BTW,
That car I missed in Houston turns out to be a Black on Black US Spec model in great shape. "Well bought" as they say on the car auction broadcasts!

Good job, Jose!

Yes, a beautiful example, at an even better price.

Here's hoping he'll find this thread and post pics and details.

[MShimon]

I don't think I ever contributed to this thread. I purchased my M5 in PA around July 2007 for $9,100 sight unseen on ebay. As far as I'm concerned I rescued it and it hasn't let me down once.

[jamestr]

Just purchased US version. Approximately 88,000 miles, no accidents, no paintwork, no rust. Highlights include:
-timing chain done
-Euro headlights
-SLS delete with Bilstein Sports and MTechnic springs
-Fahey crank hub and cam gear
-New radiator, water pump, etc.
-Dinan chip
-New windshield, leather dash and door caps
-Rear sun blind
-Euro headers and Fahey track pipe

Car sound familiar to anyone?

$22K

Yes, indeed. I was lucky enough to do the pre-purchase inspection on this car and it is the nicest example I've ever seen. Drive's like a brand new car! Nice buy Graham.

[junkyard_sal]

Just purchased US version. Approximately 88,000 miles, no accidents, no paintwork, no rust. Highlights include:
-timing chain done
-Euro headlights
-SLS delete with Bilstein Sports and MTechnic springs
-Fahey crank hub and cam gear
-New radiator, water pump, etc.
-Dinan chip
-New windshield, leather dash and door caps
-Rear sun blind
-Euro headers and Fahey track pipe

Car sound familiar to anyone?

$22K

Yes, indeed. I was lucky enough to do the pre-purchase inspection on this car and it is the nicest example I've ever seen. Drive's like a brand new car! Nice buy Graham.

I was a day late on buying this car. Well bought. Congratulations.

[Cory]

Just bought Mike's for $14,000 plus shipping. It's quite stellar with 164,000+ miles. I've checked out several, but just didn't get a warm fuzzy even though they all had less mileage; much less in some cases.
This one's already set up exactly how I'd like it thereby saving lots of dollars. The maintenance record is spectacular.
Generally stock with Koni's up front, Dinan Cam Gear and software, BBS RX's/Bridgestone RE050A PP's, Nak CD-400/Blaupunkt speakers on the rear deck, Optima red top battery, alternator bushings and all maintenance up-to-date/Castrol GTX 20W50.
The only discrepancies are a potential AC problem, a door lock issue and a leaky trunk gasket. I'll be replacing the air filter and fuel filter and taking a look at the distr. cap/rotor/wires, gear fluids and brakes.
I couldn't ask for more cosmetically both inside and out. I'm grateful for the find and might have it in about a week or so.

Just a quick update:
The following happened recently just to get 100% sorted out:
- air filter
- Bilsteins/Dinan Springs (rear only) - shocks supplied by Mike
- rebuild front brakes/flush system
- right side engine mount
- rear subframe mounts
- fuel filter
- distributor cap/rotor/wires - not really necessary, but supplied by Mike
- full body lube (got rid of 95% of the creaks)
- clutch/resurface flywheel/pilot bearing
- transmission bolt something or other
- trunk gasket refit
- exhaust fixed up a bit
- valve cover & rear head cover gaskets
- transmission and rear differential fluid
- AC - I never use it so I'll just leave that alone
- door lock issue was resolved by cleaning a connection under a panel by the driver's left foot
- Valvoline VR1 20W50 Racing Oil
- Bridgestone RE760's - eventually, but not for awhile
- Fahey Crank Hub - maybe/maybe not

[KRsM5]

Paid $6,800 for mine in late '07 with just over 150K miles on it. Body 8/10, engine 8.5/10, interior 6.5/10 (wear & tear - bolster/e-brake handle, dash cracks). I love the car every time I think of it still, tho I've dumped a bit of cash into it (which was expected). I've learned a lot about minor fixes, wished I had the time/space/skill for more major fixes, wonder 'what's next' every time I drive it...BUT my heart still sings every time I get a chance to dip into the power. The sound of that engine, the exhaust, the occasional thumbs-up from another admirer, even the smells...think of the Rush song Red Barchetta:
shifting and drifting/mechanical music/adrenaline surge...well-weathered leather/hot metal and oil (sure, you'll get no "sunlight on chrome" with these beauties

[bibaboon]

Hello..
Does repainting a faded M5 or any e28 for that matter bring the value down on whats it worth? Just curious thoughts on subject?

Best
Walter

[KRsM5]

I haven't heard good stories about resprays. Surely it could affect value but very few of these are concours-quality cars and I imagine the ones that are, would've had to gotten a really good (sheetmetal off) repaint job. Seems like there's so few e28 M5s out there in the offing, so a lot will depend on how desperate the buyers are in the area it's offered and the timing of when a car goes up for sale. You can see from this thread that pricing varies wildly.

Wondering if, in another 10, 20, 30 years, we'll see these things up on auction at a Mecum or BJ auction. By then, there will surely only be a handful left in pristine condition. (mine will not be one of them!)