BMW 5-series (pre-1988)

please skip this first bit to be able to read the review with capital letters intact. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. a. ...  Read the complete review

The 1980's BMW 5-series (known as the E28) is currently down at the real banger end of the market. It is surely only a matter of time that the standard models pick up classic kudos like the M5 and M535i have. I bought my 528i, with 150k miles, in April 2002 from an advert on the BMW Car Club website. At £650 I probably paid a little over the odds which gives you a real idea of the low values these cars currently command. However, the car was in excellent condition with a long MOT and full service history. It also features some unusual options such as a Getrag close-ratio manual gearbox, M-Tec sports suspension, sports front seats and a limited slip ...  Read the complete review

I bought my 1987 D-reg 518i almost a year ago for £350. Since then, I have covered 12,000 miles in it and its mileage is fast approaching 200,000...and still going strong. Its MOT last year cost about £100 and since then all I've needed is a service, a new starter motor (£15 from a scrapyard), a pair of front discs & pads (£175), and a windscreen (kindly paid for by my insurance company). Fuel economy can touch 35mpg on a long journey if I behave myself, but an average of 25-30mpg should be expected. Because I was only 21 when I bought the car, the insurance was pricey to say the least... about £700 3rd party fire & theft, though only ...  Read the complete review

The two E28 525e's I own prove these beemers to be solidly built and quite reliable in their pensioned years. Now you can pick them up for monopoly money, but is it worth it? Yes, but I would say that. The 'eta' engine is high compression high torque-similar principle to a diesel's-it's rev limit is just over 4,500rpm. I can average on motorways and trunk roads over 45mpg, yet on mountain roads this drops to 25mpg.But it's the cars overtaking ability which impresses most, 50-70mph often stuns boy racers trying to keep up, and they get truly left behind after that.And all very civilised except for that wicked engine note which you just ...  Read the complete review