200K?!?!?! How many miles can they go?

[heynow]

Hi -

I'm new to these boards so please be kind.

I'm desperately trying to get my hands on an E28 - have always loved these cars - have wanted one since I was in high school.

However, it seems that a lot of the ones I am interested in have roughly 200K miles on them. Never having owned one before I'm naturally a little learly about buying a car with 200K miles on it.

So, here's my question, and I apologize upfront if it's a dumb one, but, if well cared for, how many miles can one expect to get out of a 535 engine? Should I be overly concerned about that 200K mark?

Any input would be most helpful.

Thanks!

gary

[dworthy]

Simple answer: NO

At the 5er fest, the hi milage award went to somebody in the 450k plus area, so while I have about 240k it is just getting broken in. About 50k ago I change the head gasket, so I could use syntech oil, and I could still see the cross hatches from the machining still eched in the cylinder walls. This engine can last a long time, but the weakness is the head. These motors are designed to run at 4k all day long, and I have been stationed in Germany and can tell you that is a fact!

[heynow]

dworthy -

thanks for your input - that's very helpful...

gary

[MatthewakaMatt]

I would look a lot more carefully at how the car was cared for than how many miles it has driven. I would say that a well loved and cared for E28 with 200k miles would be a safer buy than an unmaintained E28 with 150k miles. My car had 273k miles on it before the engine died. From what I can tell, the only reason it died was some serious abuse from the previous owner. Some TLC is bringing it back to roadworthy condition, and as long as I take care of it, this car should serve me for many more years.

[BKCowGod3]

I have around 350k on mine and before me it was not cared for at all. I found loose bolts in the engine, replaced both motor mounts, tranny mount, diff mount, and every piece of suspension. Since that point (with the exception of the upcoming brake bomb) I have only done routine maint.

[Tammer in Philly]

I bought mine at 205k, it's at 254k now (4 years later) and the head has never been off. The key is preventive maintenance: oil changes, plugs, belts, valve adjustments, coolant hoses and every other bit of rubber ... keep that stuff in good shape, and the thing'll go forever. Almost.

-tammer

[Travis R]

I was in your same position about a year ago. I bought my car with 199K. I'm up to 210K now, and it runs like a champ.
Just give whatever car you are considering a thorough inspection and you should be fine.
Everyone that sees or rides in my car is amazed at the mileage. These cars overall hold up VERY well.
Good luck.

[rodpaine]

Hi -
Snip...
So, here's my question, and I apologize upfront if it's a dumb one, but, if well cared for, how many miles can one expect to get out of a 535 engine? Should I be overly concerned about that 200K mark?

Any input would be most helpful.

Thanks!

gary

Gary,
Some years ago I met a gentleman at White Post Restorations, during their last annual car show and facilities tour, who was a retired engineer from BMW involved in their engine designs and implementation. Talking about the M20 engine, he told me it was designed wiith a service life of 250k miles, minimum, given proper maintenance. I would think that this also applies to the M30 engine used in the 535.

I've worked on M20 engines with over 300k on them and never opened except to change their troublesome head gasket. As others have pointed out, good maintenance is the key to longevity and satisfactory condition even with high mileage.
FWIW,
-Rod

[C.R. Krieger]

I bought my first 535is with 212K well-cared-for miles on it. I drove it to over 250K before I found Da Red Dog (with 'only' 167K) and preferred the color. Neither has had the engine opened up for anything other than a valve adjustment or a (leaky) pan gasket. Each runs like a bat outta hell.

[a]

Older cars with their typically short life span have conditioned people to be wary of cars with high mileage. When I was a kid, I used to be given Fords that were 9/10 dead with just 70k on the odometer. My most recent 528e came with 74k on it. I had to fix stuff that resulted from it sitting too long. A 20 yr old car with less than 200k on it is practically a garage queen.

[heynow]

Thanks for all of your helpful comments.

My search continues - I can't wait to get my hands on one of these beauties!

-g.

[Kenny Blankenship]

I would agree with all the above...however it is possible to have a bad example with less than 200k. BMWs will last 300 and 400k if they get the regular maintenece...which many non-enthusiast owners ignore.

I think it is worthwhile to pay the money for an inspection (compression and leakdown, suspension and driveline) especially if you want a good example E28.

[Bonapartist]

A mechanical inspection is typically under a hundred dollars.

That means, in short, that it's TOTALLY WORTH IT.

If you lack the expertise, pay someone who does, and don't settle for a POS 535i when sitting for awhile will turn up a much nicer one.

[Vin Diesel]

my 88 528e has over 360,000 on it right now

[heynow]

excellent info -

anyone have a recommendation on a service that will do a reasonably priced pre-purchase inspection?

carchex - looks like a bullshit deal. i've seen a few others, but if anyone had experience with one and could recommend it - that would be great!

-g.

[Travis R]

Look for a BMW shop/mechanic in your area. Hopefully they'll have enough direct experience with the older cars to know what little quirks to look for.
Good luck!

[Charleston E28]

My e28 had over 600,000 miles on the odometer when I bought it a few months ago, but after some minor repairs I've exorcised all its major demons and it drives great. The condition inside and out is great (after a little work) and seems WAY less than that mileage, and I think it must be somehow incorrect. The last known mileage before now was 65,000 miles in 1989. But of course that was almost twenty years ago, and as far as I know it's been on the road ever since. I've heard of an odometer reading less than actual miles, but more...?

[lawtemple]

I offer a vote for sky's-the-limit with careful maintenance. Bought my 1988 535i 5-spd with I think about 189K on it, and the maintenance records showed it had been meticulously serviced. I now have 235K on the clock. Everything works, it doesn't burn oil nor does it deposit so much as a drop of oil or any other fluid on my garage floor. It roars beautifully and goes like a raped ape. A joy to work on for the most part and the most enjoyable daily driver I have ever had. I am going to redraft my will to instruct my personal representative to bury it with me - and I haven't hit the half-century mark.