MyE28.com

Hey guys,

I'm going to buy an E28 tomorrow and can't decide which one I should choose. Any tips will be appreciated!

I'm most afraid of one thing: rust. I don't have the capabilities to fight it on my own, and the climate here can be harsh, so I look for a well-prepared car. I'm not looking for engines you probably used to - 520 R6 or 518 R4 (uh) is okay for my journey's beginning.

The first car I think of is 520i, light green (a bit weird color, isn't it? Haven't seen it on any other E28):





As you can see, it's a poor-owner version with no optional features, at all (I think). It was bought in 2021, renovated (interior, chassis, engine—I can confirm the interior is new, but I'm unsure about the rest), and has stayed in a museum since then. There are a few unknowns, like the original mileage (a small red flag for a car in the museum, isn't it?)

The second one is 518 (even worse, isn't it?)), but in red. Here's the owner's photo album:
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipN ... JMYUtkV3dR
The car has documents and two owners since 1982, I don't know if the mileage is legit, but it says 197k km.

Please let me know what I should look at. Considering the rust, I know about the corners of the front and rear windows, but what else? What about the interior, chassis, and mechanics?

Do you have any opinions on those cars? And what other info can I provide you?

All the best!

Rust can appear at the corners of he trunk weatherstripping too.

What color do you like best? I think the green is pretty cool as it's not common, but f the motor on the red car was rebuilt that would be a big thing for me. No pics of the red car motor bay or interior so hard to make a really firm suggestion. But congratulations!

520 is clearly full repainted so the color is not original....can't see in engine bay the color code sticker but maybe it is possible to know the original color using the VIN.

What year model are 518 and 520???....

Okay, will check that place too. Thank you!

I've seen the light green in real life already, it's... yeah, quite unique color. Another classic car I have is mint green – while green wasn't ever my color, really In perfect world, I'm would go for silver-light blue 5 series, it was quite popular I presume, but no such car is listed nearby, unfortunately.

I have no knowledge about engine restoration in 518, will ask. And, of course, will check the engine bay as well.

Thank you once again, @gwb72tii!

@Aldo525, that thought came through my mind. I agree doesn't seem to be original, will double check that.
VIN is not listed, I've seen it only on documents. Will check it as well. Thank you!

518 is 1983
520 is 1982

82' color chart on e28 is as follows. No "light green" non metallic....





Re by the model year, the mechanical are (both) K Jetronic injection, mechanical injection which is a good system but more complex (to maintain) than L Jetronic. Not sure if the 518 is "i" or carburated.....

Aldo525 wrote: Dec 03, 2024 3:24 PM 82' color chart on e28 is as follows. No "light green" non metallic....





Re by the model year, the mechanical are (both) K Jetronic injection, mechanical injection which is a good system but more complex (to maintain) than L Jetronic. Not sure if the 518 is "i" or carburated.....

Hey Aldo525, yeah, that light green car is sketchy. I think it's out, then. Thank you for sharing!

I saw the red one today. It's carbureted, 518 without "i", so truly basic engine. Seems to be better choice. Has documented history, 2 owners, just minor scratch on body and healthy chassis. No clear red flags, so I think I will present it on the forum, soon.

Do you know site that could help to double check VIN, perhaps?

Thank you all for help so far. And your warm welcome!

Fujikama wrote: Dec 04, 2024 2:39 PM

Aldo525 wrote: Dec 03, 2024 3:24 PM

Hey Aldo525, yeah, that light green car is sketchy. I think it's out, then. Thank you for sharing!

I saw the red one today. It's carbureted, 518 without "i", so truly basic engine. Seems to be better choice. Has documented history, 2 owners, just minor scratch on body and healthy chassis. No clear red flags, so I think I will present it on the forum, soon.

Do you know site that could help to double check VIN, perhaps?

Thank you all for help so far. And your warm welcome!

I will use these sites to check the VIN, but when I tried to check old and non US BMW's the info is not always avaliable:

www.mdecoder.com
https://bimmer.work/
https://www.bmwfaq.org/threads/vin-decoder.976838/

And use RealOem to check the parts and pieces, using the last VIN 7 digits:

https://www.realoem.com/

Yes, the older models will not be in the database. Seems 84 might be a start point, not sure. Maybe we'll hear back that the OP has found info on one of the older cars he is looking at.

These sites bring up the colors and option list. The option list might still be on a piece of tractor feed paper attached to the frame of the rear seat bottom on the right side of the car. Or if the staple fell out on the floor under the rear seat. Pull the 10mm bolt out center front and lift the seatback to see if it is there and it will show the options the car was built with as it rolled down the production line.

realoem will give the build month and year.

Okay, guys, to keep you up to date and maybe provide some insights on using VIN decoders on older models, hopefully:

I've decided to buy the red one. The car will stay in a dry, warm garage for some weeks until I finish my garage.

Considering VIN decoders...

MDecoder has some things right:
Prod. Date 1983-05-19 /// probable, and that's the year from the car listing
Series E28 (5 Series)
Drive rwd
Colour henna-rot /// as under the hood, of course

...and some things obviously wrong:
Type 518 I /// sic/that's uppercase "i"
Engine M20 /// obviously, it can't be M20, even considering incorrect "type 518i"
Displacement 0
Power 0kw / 0hp

...considering additional equipment, I don't really know what is true. One thing is correct for sure:
S320 Deleted, model lettering

...I'm clueless about this:
S545 Engine speed display, speed indicator km/h, analogue clock, fuel consumption display /// the car has a digital clock on the right of the cluster + tachometer. I have no idea what an "engine speed display" is, and the car doesn't have a fuel consumption display for sure (I assume it means that one below the tacho) - for any further investigation, I attach photo from the car listing:


S205 Automatic transmission /// it's 5-speed!
S270 Wider tyres /// I can only assume those rims are original, and also assume these are in no way wide, haha...

Bimmer.Work stays in loop when I search.
RealOEM identifies the car correctly as 05/1983 E28 M10 518 (without "I")

@Blue Shadow, I will check that place under the rear seat this weekend; thank you so much for this tip. I hope it will be there!

Btw, any idea how much 518 should weigh? 1160 kg as it says here?
https://www.ultimatespecs.com/car-specs ... s-518.html

Fujikama wrote: Dec 05, 2024 2:15 PM S320 Deleted, model lettering
S545 Engine speed display, speed indicator km/h, analogue clock,
S205 Automatic transmission /// it's 5-speed!
S270 Wider tyres /// I can only assume those rims are original, and also assume these are in no way wide, haha...

Btw, any idea how much 518 should weigh? 1160 kg as it says here?
https://www.ultimatespecs.com/car-specs ... s-518.html

weight is probably correct. 1985 518i has 1140kg in the brochure max is 1650kg
From my list which has some thinking involved since numbers have been reused and I had to figure out what the feature was back in the day. Only one here that is thinking is the S270. The two newer meanings are low section tire (which may be correct) or donut spare. We know these cars didn't get donuts but the 70 section tire might be lower section than some but it may be for a modern car. I think I found a car with S270 and the specified wheels/tires to make my list correct for the past use.

S320 model lettering on trunk delete
S545 Tach and digital quartz clock
S205 5-speed gearbox with overdrive
S270 Steel wheels 6.5x14 low profile 205/70 VR14

A truly poverty spec car, making it lightweight and a good vehicle to enjoy and build up your way.

Looks like the service interval indicator has the Inspection lamp lit. Time to reset that or change the rechargeable battery that controls that unit.

the 1140 kg above is for a Japan market car the 1981 UK car has 1160 kg listed.