BMW E28 528i - opinions?

[7MA70]

Hey guys, I'm looking at buying a well-looked after 1987 528i in 5 speed manual and am wondering if anyone has any prior experience with this model?
I've driven it and the 525e of the same vintage and can say the 528i is a much more enjoyable drive. Any known problems or any good experiences?
From what I can gather the motor is good for 184hp but I have no torque numbers. Basically want the car as a daily cruiser.

[Calibrator]

I seem to vaguely recall that those models had some issues with the front wishbone mountings causing wheel vibrations or something . The fix was to fit 7 series bushes.

[carnut]

good cars.check it thoroughly though.watch for rust in sunroof drains and under door seals esp.the zf auto trans was worst thing about these cars/best is recaro seats.i have spare parts for this car if reqd.how much is being asked?

[hotgemini]

I may have a well maintained E28 535i for sale soon, leather interior, electric everything.

[7MA70]

carnut - asking price was $4200 for a car with 176 000km which I found quite reasonable, correct me if I'm wrong. Bad thing is, he sold it this morning. Just got the call. Dammit. I'll keep on the lookout though if anyone sees one available for similair money. Manual models only please.

Hotgemini - I take it the 535i is an auto? Not many manuals about in the big motor. Also, what is the bigger motor like on fuel? I found the 525e to be exceptional (the 'e' does stand for 'economy' doesn't it?) I drove it from Byron Bay, up to Surfers, then about 20km worth of running about in and around surfers and for that whole trip it used less than 20L - about 17 actually. The 528i wasn't tested over such a distance, but it seemed to use a bit more, I'd estimate for the same trip it's be more like 22L.

[Calibrator]

I found the 525e to be exceptional (the 'e' does stand for 'economy' doesn't it?)

It does indeed that 2.7l motor has low compression and low drag piston rings and few other tweaks specifically to improve fuel consumption.
The 535I was a performance machine over here in its day and will be a fair bit thirstier than the 525e.

[CXTdreamer]

The E's are shiiiiiiiiiit. There are manual 535's around but they arent hugely heavy cars so shouldnt be toooo bad on fuel in auto anyway

[Madhatr]

Very few manuals around, very rare to find a manual with an M30 period, let alone in australia. M30 is a large ohc 6 cylinder, it is very thirsty if you put the boot in to it, like most early bmw 6's are.

Have to be carefull with the m30's, they are known to suffer from oil starvation and destroy cams, usually due to the oil fittings blocking up at either end of the feed bar. So its a good idea to check for cam wear/damage before purchasing.

Wet boots are usually caused by leaking boot seals or perished tail light gaskets/rust. Need to check along the sils, up under the strut towers and up along the foot wells in the front for signs of rust. Make sure all the electrics work as it can be expensive finding replacement items, the later you can buy the better as they had motronic efi systems rather than the earlier jetronic stuff (not much wrong with it, just chronic idle problems with poor maintained vehicles).