Matt P
04-01-2008, 09:14 PM
I made a trial inquiry here a month ago, and have been tied up since. Hopefully this post is ok with the moderators.
I'm selling my 535i 5-speed due to ankle issues with driving a manual.
Click on any of the photos here to see a larger version. I've put up a gallery of full-size photos (82) at this link (http://tinyurl.com/2ptwlz). The photos were taken on Saturday, March 29th, with overcast skies and the car still drying off from being washed off.
http://www.biginthesky.com/users/matt/535i/Size640/Exterior_05_640.jpg (http://www.biginthesky.com/users/matt/535i/Exterior_05.jpg)
For sale:
1990 BMW 535i 5-speed
VIN # WBAHD1314LBF10023
Black/Tan,
253,062 Miles
In excellent mechanical condition, runs and drives excellent
Impressively maintained, Full Records kept
Yours for $3,500
The car is currently located at Classic BMW in Plano, TX.
Inquiries, questions and offers for this car should be sent to bmw@biginthesky.com
Interested parties can visit Classic BMW to not only inspect and drive the car, but to discuss its service history with Pat Arnold, the dealership's Dinan rep and M Car specialist, who has been the exclusive service advisor for this car at Classic. Prior to Classic BMW, this car was maintained exclusively by BMS in Watauga (North of Ft. Worth), TX.
http://www.biginthesky.com/users/matt/535i/Size640/Exterior_01_640.jpg (http://www.biginthesky.com/users/matt/535i/Exterior_01.jpg)
Description of Car: (Summary)
What's not stock/OEM about this 535i:
1) New Jim Blanton 5-Speed manual transmission (installed at 180K miles), Redline MTL used exclusively.
2) Dinan Performance Engine Chip, 222 peak HP, 236 peak lb/ft, have original chip also.
3) BMW Stereo replaced with 60 GB Empeg AM/FM/MP3 head unit, 500 watt Alpine Amp, MB Quart speakers (all) ($3k)
4) Sunroof Headliner is not OEM material, but matches very well.
5) Driver's side wiper arm converted to later E34 style (arm over top style)
http://www.biginthesky.com/users/matt/535i/Size640/Center_Console_640.jpg (http://www.biginthesky.com/users/matt/535i/Center_Console.jpg)
Notable Maintenance History Items (short version):
@ 252K miles: Inspection 2 service, wiper arm conversion
@ 237K miles: New Radiator Hoses (3), T-stat+ housing, level sensor, new PS hoses
@ 234K miles: New tires (Michelin), including spare, new window switch block
@ 228K miles: A/C System overhaul. new evaporator, dryer, expansion valve, heater control valve
@ 225K miles: New headlight LKM module
@ 217K miles: Rebuilt front suspension. New tie rod center & ends, tension struts, bushings, sway bar links
@ 217K miles: New A/C blower motor & A/C fuse terminals. New battery. Sunroof motor serviced
@ 216K miles: New check control module, new PS hoses (reservoir to cooler to rack & back)
@ 214K miles: New steering lock cylinder & housing
@ 201K miles: New muffler & resonator. New upper radiator hose & coolant reservoir
@ 199K miles: New water pump
@ 196K miles: New windshield & trim
@ 180K miles: New transmission, clutch, driveshaft. New brakes.
@ 170K miles: New fuel gauge sending unit
@ 165K miles: New rear shocks
@ 160K miles: New front shocks
@ 155K miles: I acquire the 535i from it original owner. Some prior maintence records come with car.
Regular Oil Services, usually done at twice the specified intervals (once at 2-3 green bars, again when zero green bars)
Inspection Services have been done faithfully.
http://www.biginthesky.com/users/matt/535i/Size640/Engine_5_640.jpg (http://www.biginthesky.com/users/matt/535i/Engine_5.jpg)
What could be better about this car: (being brutally honest here)
1) The sunroof panel paint is oxidized, unlike the remainder of the exterior.
2) The interior door panels are starting to delaminate, rears have encountered small children.
3) The leather on the driver's seat is starting to wear through in spots.
4) The driver's seat heating coils are mostly broken, passenger seat heater mostly works
5) The car has a few small scrapes on the bumper strips, etc, but is overall very straight and clean. (see pics)
All the little things work. All the power seat adjustments, window switches, the OBC, gauges, mirrors, etc. I've kept after them and kept them properly maintained. All the door seals, hoses and other rubber I've kept up with and are all in good condition. The HVAC has been well maintained and is like new in performance. The suspension and driving feel is very good and tight.
The Rio Car / Empeg stereo is worth noting. The removable head unit contains 2 laptop 30gb hard drives (can be expanded to 240gb), 16Mb or RAM and is Linux powered. This head unit is one of the final revision Mark IIa units. The empeg connects to your network for updating and can even serve up MP3s via an embedded webserver while attached. It was the premium car stereo of its day and still has a very strong user community. See www.riocar.org and www.empegbbs.com for more info on the empeg car stereo. The MB Quart speakers and Alpine amp were picked for clarity of sound over raw power. There is no subwoofer, and the system honestly doesn't need one.
The 535i has been a Texas car all of it's life in the USA. My understanding is that it was a US-spec German delivery to a Major in the US Army stationed in Germany, and came to Houston when she returned to the USA. I purchased it from her in Houston in 1999 and it has resided in the Dallas area since. The car was ordered/delivered with the trunk lid badge delete option.
In summary, this car is not a show car. It's a driver's car, and is best seen as a daily driver that will give its new owner very little grief and a lot of enjoyment over the next few years for a very modest amount of money.
I'm selling my 535i 5-speed due to ankle issues with driving a manual.
Click on any of the photos here to see a larger version. I've put up a gallery of full-size photos (82) at this link (http://tinyurl.com/2ptwlz). The photos were taken on Saturday, March 29th, with overcast skies and the car still drying off from being washed off.
http://www.biginthesky.com/users/matt/535i/Size640/Exterior_05_640.jpg (http://www.biginthesky.com/users/matt/535i/Exterior_05.jpg)
For sale:
1990 BMW 535i 5-speed
VIN # WBAHD1314LBF10023
Black/Tan,
253,062 Miles
In excellent mechanical condition, runs and drives excellent
Impressively maintained, Full Records kept
Yours for $3,500
The car is currently located at Classic BMW in Plano, TX.
Inquiries, questions and offers for this car should be sent to bmw@biginthesky.com
Interested parties can visit Classic BMW to not only inspect and drive the car, but to discuss its service history with Pat Arnold, the dealership's Dinan rep and M Car specialist, who has been the exclusive service advisor for this car at Classic. Prior to Classic BMW, this car was maintained exclusively by BMS in Watauga (North of Ft. Worth), TX.
http://www.biginthesky.com/users/matt/535i/Size640/Exterior_01_640.jpg (http://www.biginthesky.com/users/matt/535i/Exterior_01.jpg)
Description of Car: (Summary)
What's not stock/OEM about this 535i:
1) New Jim Blanton 5-Speed manual transmission (installed at 180K miles), Redline MTL used exclusively.
2) Dinan Performance Engine Chip, 222 peak HP, 236 peak lb/ft, have original chip also.
3) BMW Stereo replaced with 60 GB Empeg AM/FM/MP3 head unit, 500 watt Alpine Amp, MB Quart speakers (all) ($3k)
4) Sunroof Headliner is not OEM material, but matches very well.
5) Driver's side wiper arm converted to later E34 style (arm over top style)
http://www.biginthesky.com/users/matt/535i/Size640/Center_Console_640.jpg (http://www.biginthesky.com/users/matt/535i/Center_Console.jpg)
Notable Maintenance History Items (short version):
@ 252K miles: Inspection 2 service, wiper arm conversion
@ 237K miles: New Radiator Hoses (3), T-stat+ housing, level sensor, new PS hoses
@ 234K miles: New tires (Michelin), including spare, new window switch block
@ 228K miles: A/C System overhaul. new evaporator, dryer, expansion valve, heater control valve
@ 225K miles: New headlight LKM module
@ 217K miles: Rebuilt front suspension. New tie rod center & ends, tension struts, bushings, sway bar links
@ 217K miles: New A/C blower motor & A/C fuse terminals. New battery. Sunroof motor serviced
@ 216K miles: New check control module, new PS hoses (reservoir to cooler to rack & back)
@ 214K miles: New steering lock cylinder & housing
@ 201K miles: New muffler & resonator. New upper radiator hose & coolant reservoir
@ 199K miles: New water pump
@ 196K miles: New windshield & trim
@ 180K miles: New transmission, clutch, driveshaft. New brakes.
@ 170K miles: New fuel gauge sending unit
@ 165K miles: New rear shocks
@ 160K miles: New front shocks
@ 155K miles: I acquire the 535i from it original owner. Some prior maintence records come with car.
Regular Oil Services, usually done at twice the specified intervals (once at 2-3 green bars, again when zero green bars)
Inspection Services have been done faithfully.
http://www.biginthesky.com/users/matt/535i/Size640/Engine_5_640.jpg (http://www.biginthesky.com/users/matt/535i/Engine_5.jpg)
What could be better about this car: (being brutally honest here)
1) The sunroof panel paint is oxidized, unlike the remainder of the exterior.
2) The interior door panels are starting to delaminate, rears have encountered small children.
3) The leather on the driver's seat is starting to wear through in spots.
4) The driver's seat heating coils are mostly broken, passenger seat heater mostly works
5) The car has a few small scrapes on the bumper strips, etc, but is overall very straight and clean. (see pics)
All the little things work. All the power seat adjustments, window switches, the OBC, gauges, mirrors, etc. I've kept after them and kept them properly maintained. All the door seals, hoses and other rubber I've kept up with and are all in good condition. The HVAC has been well maintained and is like new in performance. The suspension and driving feel is very good and tight.
The Rio Car / Empeg stereo is worth noting. The removable head unit contains 2 laptop 30gb hard drives (can be expanded to 240gb), 16Mb or RAM and is Linux powered. This head unit is one of the final revision Mark IIa units. The empeg connects to your network for updating and can even serve up MP3s via an embedded webserver while attached. It was the premium car stereo of its day and still has a very strong user community. See www.riocar.org and www.empegbbs.com for more info on the empeg car stereo. The MB Quart speakers and Alpine amp were picked for clarity of sound over raw power. There is no subwoofer, and the system honestly doesn't need one.
The 535i has been a Texas car all of it's life in the USA. My understanding is that it was a US-spec German delivery to a Major in the US Army stationed in Germany, and came to Houston when she returned to the USA. I purchased it from her in Houston in 1999 and it has resided in the Dallas area since. The car was ordered/delivered with the trunk lid badge delete option.
In summary, this car is not a show car. It's a driver's car, and is best seen as a daily driver that will give its new owner very little grief and a lot of enjoyment over the next few years for a very modest amount of money.