1988 BMW M5 (E28) - Rare & Super-Original

Price: Ask a price!
Condition: Used
Make: BMW
Model: 5-Series
SubModel: M5
Type: Sedan
Trim: M
Year: 1988
Mileage: 999,999
VIN: WBSDC9302J2791560
Color: Black
Engine size: 3.5 L S38B35 M-Series
Number of cylinders: 6
Power options: Cruise Control, Power Locks, Power Windows, Power Seats
Fuel: Gasoline
Transmission: Manual
Drive type: RWD
Interior color: Tan
Drive side: Left-hand drive
Safety options: Anti-Lock Brakes
Options: Leather Seats, Sunroof
Vehicle Title: Clear
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

Description

1988 BMW M5 (E28)
I'm listing this BMW for a longtime friend who doesn't have an eBay account but has owned the car since 2002.
Ebay limits the number of photos to 24, and apparently no longer allows links to photo hosting sites, but I can provide a link to dozens more large, detailed and unretouched images of the car, all taken since late June. I think if you use "Ask seller a question," I should be able to include the link there. Meanwhile, you canwatch a YouTube video of the car running and driving.I tacked most of the photos to the end of the video, too.
This is a super-straight, rust-free, original E28 M5, one of the rarest BMWs,assembled by hand at BMW Motorsport in Garching, Germany, using a variation of the engine from the M1 supercar. In 1988, it was the fastest production sedan in the world.
This one starts easily hot or cold and the engine pulls like a train, with no smoke, rattles, knocks or drama. The car tracks and stops straight. Handling is tight, with no scary drive-train or suspension noises. The brakes have just been gone through by Auto Teknika in Charlottesville, VA and are working perfectly. I really enjoyed taking it out to shoot pictures for the listing. All body panels are original (the factory VIN number appear on the hood, each front fender, all four doors, and the trunk lid, in addition to the B-pillars). I believe the car has resided in Florida and Virginia its entire life except for some time during 1996 - 2001, when it was in Wyoming. There's no evidence of any collision damage, however, the front air dam had suffered parking rash. The cracked air dam is seen in the photos taken on grass in late June; I installed a used air dam that's in better (but not perfect) condition, which can be seen in one of the front-end photos on asphalt. The self-leveling rear suspension has been converted to conventional, like most E28 M5's (from what I'm told). I believe this was done in such a way that it wouldn't prevent one from converting it back to stock if this is important to you. The gearbox was sent to Blanton Transmissions in Kansas City for a complete rebuild in 2003.
According to Hagarty's website (on 8/12/2017), 1988 BMW M5 market values are:

#1 Concours: $93,300
#2 Excellent: $59,700
#3 Good: $39,100
#4 Fair: $15,000

I'm not a BMW expert, but I'll do my very best to convey the things I noted when driving and looking over this car. Please also look closely at the photos in the listing and the video.
Things that keep this from being a #2 or #3 car:

The speedometer works fine, but the odometer stopped working (typical VDO problem) many years ago, and was never repaired properly. Actual mileage when the current owner bought the car was 101,695, and was at 117,283 when the odometer stopped many years ago. The owner works from home, lives in a small town, and has long had multiple vehicles in what has been, for the most part, a one-driver household. For most of that time, this was a secondary. To the best of my knowledge (and the owner's), the actual mileage is estimated to be in the range of 165K - 170K.
The front leather seats clearly need reupholstery, and the driver's seat control plastic panel needs to be addressed.
The dashboard top has several cracks.
A/C has not worked in many years. Heat and fresh air blower work, though.
The paintwork is bright, but has some scratches and a spot on the hood where it's been rubbed through. There's a very small dent near the top of the driver's door (see the photos in the link).
The front air dam (see above) is missing the factory driving lights.
The windshield has two small stone chips. They look to me like the kind that can be repaired in place.
Some oil or power steering fluid leaks are evident on the bottom of the engine, but in the three weeks the car has been in my garage, only one drip has reached the ground. It was about the size of a quarter.
The oil filler cap is cracked. Windshield washer bottle is missing its lid. I noticed some fraying on the throttle cable.
Rear window control buttons are intermittent.
The catalytic converter heat shield rattles -- especially when it's cold. You don't notice it when driving, but it's loud when you start up in the garage. Looking under the car, I noted that someone has used stainless steel hose clamps to try to quieten it.
The rear speaker grilles (on the rear deck) don't seem to want to stay on. A drop of glue would probably keep them in place.
The factory tool kit is mostly populated, but a few items are missing. I forgot to photograph it, but will add a photo to the link when I do.

I believe this car falls somewhere between #4 and #3 in terms of its condition. There’s nothing in the above list to keep you from enjoying the car right now!

Thanks for bidding!

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