5k: Classy Sedan: 1988 BMW 535i E28
Quick! What cost almost $40k when new in 1988, is worth about $4k today and could be used for the distribution of methamphetamines? If you said a single family residence in Riverside, CA, you would almost be correct, but the answer we were looking for is the E28 BMW 5 Series. Find this 1988 BMW 535i E28 offered for $4,000 in Springfield, MA via craigslist.
The E28 BMW 535i is a great car for running contraband. First, it offers decent performance from the 189 horsepower 3.5 liter inline-6 and 5-speed manual gearbox (bonus: a limited slip diff was a commonly selected option). Futhermore, it is invisible to the local 5-Oh because it isn’t covered with ///M badges or fancy paint and it doesn’t look like something a sociopath might use to haul body parts (ahem…any van with curtains….). To the average Joe, the E28 BMW is just another car and if you happen to mention that it is a BMW, Joe will automatically (and likely incorrectly) assume you are moderately wealthy.
In the 1980s BMW did not build an interior like Mercedes, but junkyards are full of potential donor parts and your local upholstery shop can do custom work to bring back the seats. The ergonomics of the E28 are suprisingly modern and you will have a hard time remembering you are driving a 25 year old car.
See another E28 for cheap? tips@dailyturismo.com
that's a winner right there – service records, reasonable miles, minor issues, podunk pricing – check for rust, drive it home… too bad it's in belgium or wherever
Fly and drive – take her home. Loved my '85 528, even with the auto-box. Driving to it's new home would just be icing on the cake. YEEHAW, indeed. And i'd buy one of those shirts too…
So I'm kind of tied up with this Earth-to-Mars transit simulation for another 14 months. In a salt dome 800 meters below the New Mexico desert. Got my wheat grass, power bars, recycled water, treadmill, sea monkeys and FiOS. Maybe you heard about it. Pretty good gig.
Say, Vince, if you get those shirts made, would you see if Mission Control will shoot me one down the vacuum tube? Thx.