I know I could research this with the search function, but im short on time. Can you tell me any M5 specific things I need to look for while checking the car over?
Things I already know are wrong:
Master cylinder is bad and brakes dont work well,
Alternator is bad, needs to be jumped to drive it
fuse for Pwr windows/tach blows every time ignition is turned on
owner doesnt know if A/C compressor works or not "doesnt have a belt running it right now"
thanks
looking at m5 EDIT: bought it: 2791859 is back from the dead
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Retro Rust
- Posts: 353
- Joined: Oct 22, 2009
- Location: Dalton, GA
looking at m5 EDIT: bought it: 2791859 is back from the dead
Last edited by Retro Rust on Jun 05, 2011 9:28 AM, edited 1 time in total.
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Mark 88/M5 Houston
- Posts: 8548
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
- Location: Far North Houston
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Rich Euro M5
- Posts: 6098
- Joined: Mar 10, 2006
- Location: Klein, Texas
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Retro Rust
- Posts: 353
- Joined: Oct 22, 2009
- Location: Dalton, GA
Found on craigslist. 4th owner was a 21 year old who couldnt afford to fix it. Odometer stopped at 144k, but last service record was 126k about 2 years ago, so I figure it has somewhere around 150K. No rips in leather. Numbers matching, mostly good body, some door dings, has been repainted but was done professionally and seems to be one-stage paint. Some overspray onto rubber trim. Mirrors were painted (thats not original is it?). No wrecks that I could tell. Little bit of rust near license plate lights, little rust on inside of right rear door. Motor started and idled well, no noise that I could tell would mean it needed a timing chain. Motor seemed really tight. It ran like a scolded dog. Tranny was really tight. Ride was really nice. Has michelin pilots.
Bad things, probably needs a power steering pump, master cylinder, altenator. Has an electrical gremlin that constatly blows fuse for tach, blower motor, and windows.
Paid $4,400 for it. I had to drive it straight to a repair shop because its unsafe to drive with bad brakes. I suppose I will have about $6-7k in it before it leaves the mechanic.
What do you think? seemed like a good deal to me.
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firefirefire90
- Posts: 253
- Joined: Mar 18, 2011
- Location: San Francisco
All E28 M5 examples had body-color side mirrors. Please add this car to the BMW M Registry.Retro Rust wrote: Mirrors were painted (thats not original is it?)
Best,
RCBMW
Welcome to the M5 crew. Get that work done and join us at 5'erFest in Pittsburgh next month.
There's a good group of enthusiasts in GA N.FL. You'll find plenty of help through this board.
Excellent buy Retro! I paid twice what you did (150k mi) but Jeff had done a lot of work to the car. I've had fun doing more myself. I also recently had valve adjustment/throttle synch done and that improved performance. James Muskopf (Paul's Bro) did it for me and inspected chain/guides at the same time. I feel more confident in the s38 now and one low/no clearance valve was found (problem avoided).
Enjoy the experience and join us at the 5'erFest if you can.
There's a good group of enthusiasts in GA N.FL. You'll find plenty of help through this board.
Excellent buy Retro! I paid twice what you did (150k mi) but Jeff had done a lot of work to the car. I've had fun doing more myself. I also recently had valve adjustment/throttle synch done and that improved performance. James Muskopf (Paul's Bro) did it for me and inspected chain/guides at the same time. I feel more confident in the s38 now and one low/no clearance valve was found (problem avoided).
Enjoy the experience and join us at the 5'erFest if you can.
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Retro Rust
- Posts: 353
- Joined: Oct 22, 2009
- Location: Dalton, GA
Just wanted to give a little update for those who may be interested.
The car had to go to the mechanic imediately after I bought it because I live 4 hours from the PO and the brakes did not work sufficiently enough to drive it home. They determined that it was not the master cylinder, but one caliper that was leaking. I got a set of calipers from a board member and they installed them: brakes now work.
They replaced all fuses: no more fuse popping problem and AC works!
They removed a filter screen from the power steering system: now that works!
They determined rear subframes bushings and dogbones need to be replaced. Im doing those this weekend, along with swaybar linkages.
So I have just under 6 grand in the car now and it runs and drives with A/C.
I also took the stock wheels off and am having them sandblasted and epoxy primed. I will be spraying them with Wurth next week.
After the wheels go back on and it can be driven, I plan on having paintless dent removal done to it. Then it should be a pretty straight car.
So hopefully this car will have gone from slipping down into on the way up!
The car had to go to the mechanic imediately after I bought it because I live 4 hours from the PO and the brakes did not work sufficiently enough to drive it home. They determined that it was not the master cylinder, but one caliper that was leaking. I got a set of calipers from a board member and they installed them: brakes now work.
They replaced all fuses: no more fuse popping problem and AC works!
They removed a filter screen from the power steering system: now that works!
They determined rear subframes bushings and dogbones need to be replaced. Im doing those this weekend, along with swaybar linkages.
So I have just under 6 grand in the car now and it runs and drives with A/C.
I also took the stock wheels off and am having them sandblasted and epoxy primed. I will be spraying them with Wurth next week.
After the wheels go back on and it can be driven, I plan on having paintless dent removal done to it. Then it should be a pretty straight car.
So hopefully this car will have gone from slipping down into on the way up!
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Retro Rust
- Posts: 353
- Joined: Oct 22, 2009
- Location: Dalton, GA
One other thing: nobody commented on the terrible wooden steering wheel the PO put on. 
I do have the original wheel and it actually looks to be in great condition. Why he would take the original off and put that crap on is beyond me. I also have the orginal gear selector knob. Unfortunately, the PO cut the stitching between the leather boot and the original knob.
I do have the original wheel and it actually looks to be in great condition. Why he would take the original off and put that crap on is beyond me. I also have the orginal gear selector knob. Unfortunately, the PO cut the stitching between the leather boot and the original knob.
x2rcbmw wrote:I'm glad to see that you are doing this and keeping the car original/ stock. I'm so tired of seeing M5s totally screwed up and modified. It could not have gone to a better owner.Retro Rust wrote:So hopefully this car will have gone from slipping down into on the way up!
Best,
RCBMW
Good job, stay with it Retro! Hope you can come to 5erFest so I can see it, but if not plan on The Vintage next spring. You'll like the 'stock' M5.