5k: Fuel Saver: 1982 BMW 528e E28

The E28 generation BMW 5-series was available in a few flavors in the US Market, but most buyers chose either the 533i/535i or the 528e.  The 528e was the low-end model, equipped with an engine that gave excellent fuel economy but was slow as a dog. The world has changed a lot since 1982; would you still want to drive one in modern traffic?  Find this 1982 BMW 528e E28 for sale in San Jose, CA for $4,000 via craigslist. Tip from Kaibeezy.

The 528e is powered by a 2.7 liter low compression, low-lift-cam M20 that puts out 121 horsepower and 170 ft-lbs of torque.  The e suffix in the 528e is an abreviation of the greek letter eta, which engineers use to denote efficiency in technical communication.  In real life this means that the 528e was considerably less peppy than the 535i, but many 528e owners report the 2.7 eta six has decent low end torque and makes the car feel peppier than it looks on paper.

Both the exterior and interior looks in great shape and the seller has a long list of recent maintenance, always a plus when dealing with an ’80s BMW.  Simple maintenance can add up quickly, especially if you have to pay someone else to do your greasy work.

The 528e seems like a decent bargain at the current asking price, except when you take a look around and realize that you can easily step into a 533i/535i for the same price, so you need to be a dedicated Captain Slow to pick the eta six.  Nothing wrong with that, just be aware that it will never give you the ulimate driving experience in the same way as an M5 with the pedal floored…but it also won’t average 14 mpg.

See a better E28 for sale? tips@dailyturismo.com