MyE28.com

Folks,

Hello, I am a new forum member and about to be an M% owner. I am making an offer on a 1988 M5. Before I commit to the final deal I am looking for any info to help me make a good decision. I have driven the car and it has lot of power, feels nice and tight, and the current owner seems knowledgeable about the car. It does have 150K miles on it. From reading the board I am sensing timing chain and crank hub related expenses in my future and perhaps a valve job. Am I correct here? If I am able to arrange a PPI (the car is far from my home) what specific items should be looked at?

Thank you,

Ron
By the way, this is the owners description of the car:

Excellent condition - new clutch, converted AC, all mounts and bushings, Bilstein shocks + H&R springs, Racing Dynamics strut brace, Momo carbon fiber trim steering wheel, carbon fiber shifter and stainless steel pedals, 17" lightweight BBS RK with Conti sports - 225/45/17 + full size spare , 750 bushings, All new pads with 750 front rotors and new M5 rear rotors, calipers and hubs painted high temp black, super blue race fluid, air flow meter, K&N cold air kit, Autothority performance chip, Alpine amber CD player, MB Quartz speakers, Rockford amp. upgraded exhaust bracket, rear muffler, Hella lamps with HID bulbs, HID fogs, major service. Exterior is excellent, Leather is 9 out of ten. Dash is perfect, Carpet is super clean with rare M mats. Everything works. Prime example of a classic.

Sounds like a good car.

Have somebody that knows the old M cars do a leak down test on the engine. Also have someone "that knows" tell you what they think of the transmission.

Once you get it, drop it of at an experienced M shop to have the timing chain, guides, and tensioner replaced. Also install the fahey crank hub at this time. Get the valves done also. The spec says valves should be done every 15k miles. If they aren't set right, they wont fully seat in the head and they wont dissapate the heat.. meaning they burn up and its time for a top-end rebuild.

I'd guess you could get everything i described done for about $2k. Once that's been done, you should have a nice car for a long time (well, until 15k miles when you do the valves again

At least he did all the bling upgrades for you.

-tammer (What Matt said)

get rid of the K/N air filter and go stock, it's a better filter

[Ron,

Take the car to an independent BMW technician with ///M experience and have a prepurchase inspection done. The inspection should concentrate on the engine and drivetrain, these are the expensive pieces in the E28M5. The results of a leakdown and compression test will have a significant influence on the value of an M5.

Everything related to the cam drive should be replaced, chain, sprockets, guides, tensioners, everything. Changing the guide rails and tensioners is a fairly significant job, so it's one of those "Change it while you're in there" types of service. Expect to invest somewhere around $1100 -1600 just for the parts. Add $325 for a Fahey crank hub. Add the cost of labor for an independent with Vintage ///M experience and I'd estimate your in the $2500 range to have the service done correctly.

You should factor the timing chain into offer you make for the car. Basically, with 150k miles the engine is ready for a full timing chain service, possibly more.

Rich

I know of several M owners not that are contemplating the crank hub. I think it is time I got busy finding a machine shop to make these puppies at a reasonable price.

In addition to what has been already said, since the oil pan has to come off to do the timing chain components, consider replacing the oil pump while you are there, not a very expensive part and at 196,000 miles,(when I did mine) I could telll a difference in how quickly the oil light went off.

I've done several and have 3 M engined cars at various stages of engine dissasembly, so let me know if I can be of further help.

Thanks to all of you!

Merry Christmas!

Ron

Gents,

Having seen all this, what would you guys saty this car is worth?

Thanks,

Ron

If I was selling, about 12-14, if I was buying ,about 10. I bought one that fits that description pretty well back in 01/05 with an average interior(meaning the driver seat needed help), the AC had a problem(nothing serious) and felt like I got a great deal as the paint and body was flawless with all new M tech trim, paid 8000 as I recall