The BMW E28 BMW 5-Series was made between 1981 and 1988. It replaced the
BMW E12 in 1981 and was replaced by the BMW E34 in 1989. E28 Production started
in July 1981 and ended in December 1987. The E28 was still sold in North America
as a 1988 Model Year car while Europe received the E34 in early 1988. A
limited edition model was also sold in South Africa from mid-1987 to the end of
1988. European model range
North American E28 range All North American specification E28s
were comprehensively equipped. Power windows, central locking, air
conditioning, power sunroof, cruise control, alloy wheels and fog lights
were standard. In addition the 533i, 535i, 535is and M5 came standard with
leather upholstery and on-board trip computer.
A 3-speed automatic was offered in the 528e in 1982–1983. It was also offered
in the 1983 533i. By 1984, the 4-speed version was introduced to both models.
In 1986, the EH version was available in the 535i. It featured a 3-mode switch:
E, S, 3-2-1. Automatic transmission and limited-slip
differential were optional on all models except the M5 and 524td. The 524td was
only imported with an automatic transmission, and the M5 was only
imported with a manual transmission. Heated seats were optional in Canada and
available in the USA only as an option on the M5. Consequently, few if any M5s
were delivered without heated seats. Leather upholstery and an on-board trip
computer were optional on the 528e and 524td.
From 1985 All E28s sold in North America had ABS Brakes as standard. Some 1985
535i's were equipped with power seats. From 1986 All E28s sold in North America
had power-adjustable front seats as standard as well as an upgraded stereo.
524td: M21 2.4 L Straight-6 Turbodiesel engine, 114 hp. Imported from 1985 to
1986. 528e: Sold from 1982 to 1988. Equipped
with a 2.7L "High Efficiency" M20 6-Cylinder engine that produced 121 hp
but 171 lb·ft of torque. The engine uses the small port "200" casting cylinder
head from the 2.0 L M20 with a special low duration cam to improve low rpm
power and maximize efficiency. This engine is known as the "ETA" engine. For
the 1988 model year, the engine was revised to produce 127 hp, by using the
cylinder head casting from the "i" motor installed on the "e" engine block with
special pistons. The revised ETA engine is now known as the "super eta".
533i: A North American only model sold from 1983 to 1984 in limited quantities
in response to customer complaints that the 528e had lower performance figures
than the 1981 528i that it replaced. Equipped with a 181 hp 3.2 L M30
6-cylinder engine as fitted to the larger 633csi and 733i, it produced 195
lb·ft. torque. The compression ratio was 8.8:1. Top Speed was 134 mph. The 533i
was the fastest sedan sold in the USA in 1983.
535i: Replaced the 533i in 1985 and sold through 1988. The 535i featured a
slightly larger 3.4L M30 6-Cylinder engine with 182 hp and greater torque.
Compression was down to 8.0:1. Top speed also dropped to 131 mph.
535is: Straight-6 with a sport suspension and interior and exterior
modifications. The 535is was available from 1987 to 1988. It incorporated M5
styling cues: front air-dam, rear spoiler, and sport seats.
M5: A 1988 Model-Year only car equipped with a 24-Valve DOHC 256 hp 3.5L S38
engine. Limited in production the M5 was built from 1187. The M5 was
hand-assembled at BMW Motorsport in Garching, Germany. The M5 was available
in America in Jet Black with Natur leather. A very small number of US spec
M5s were built with black interiors. These are the most rare with a rumored
29 being built. The M5 also had leather door panels, lower dash and center
console. Canadian-specification M5s were available with the option of a black
leather interior. The M5 was equipped with its very own 7.5 x 16" BBS Wheels
Heated driver door lock were available for outside cold temperature.
Engines The "baby six" engine found in the 520i,
525e and 528e models is known as the M20, a 12-valve SOHC inline six-cylinder
design. It had seven main bearings and seven cam shaft bearings, a rocker arm
type valvetrain driven by a composite rubber timing belt. US market M20s came
with cast aluminum acoustically tuned, common plenum intake manifolds and a
single throttle body. This engine was first available in the European market
for model year 1976 in a 2.0 L carbureted version. It later grew to 2.3
L in the E21 323i, then 2.5 L in the E30 325i and also 2.7 L in the 325e and 528e
models. It is also very similar to the later 24-valve engines as in the E36 and
E46 3 series models, with the same basic block dimensions.Top speed is 111 mph.
The big six engine found in the 528i, 533i and 535i/is models is known as the
M30. The M30 is also a 12-valve SOHC inline six-cylinder design. It has seven
main bearings, four camshaft bearings and a rocker arm type valvetrain. US
M30's also came equipped with cast aluminum acoustically tuned common
plenum intake manifolds and single throttle bodies. Unlike the M20 it has a
chain-driven valvetrain. Its larger dimensions allow for a longer stroke and
larger bore, which makes for almost 3.5 L displacement in later engines.
Both 533i and 535i M30 intake manifold from 1982 to 1988 had a "3.2/3.5"
casting. During the new intake manifold's development a 3.2 L version
existed in Europe and the US, and a 3.5 L in Europe. When the 3.4 L versions
came out a year later in Europe, the casting was not changed. The 3.4 L was
introduced to the US in 1985. 1988, was the last year this manifold casting was
used in the E28 535i and 535is. A new style intake manifold was designed for
the new 3.4 L. The casting read "3.5", but it was still 3.4 L. For the US, the
735i and the 635 csi were the first to receive the new M30 in 1988.
The M535i was introduced as a sporty version of the regular 535i, although
the M535i does not feature any unique BMW Motorsport-designed drivetrain
components it is, however, equipped with an M-Technic suspension, wheels and body
panels not found on the standard 535i. Combined, these items distinguish the
M535i from the regular 535i. The E28 M535i was introduced at the 1984 Paris
Auto Salon. Unlike the hand-built E28 M5, the E28 M535i was assembled on the
standard E28 assembly line in Dingolfing, outside of Munich. An
additional batch of cars was built at BMW's Rosslyn, South Africa factory
using Complete Knock-Down kits supplied from Germany. BMW did not import the E28
M535i to North America for two reasons: 1# the M brand had not yet been
established in North America at the time and thus held little equity with the
consumer and 2# the cost of adapting the M-Technic body panels to fit the
contours of the government-mandated bumpers was highly prohibitive. Instead,
BMW of North America created the 535is, essentially a standard 535i equipped
with front and rear spoilers, sport suspension and sport seats, which was
sold exclusively in the U.S. and Canada. Total M535i production: 10335 cars
The M5 came with a big six engine known as the S38. This engine is similar to
the M30, but has a 24-valve cylinder head, duplex timing chain, dual overhead
cam layout and shim and bucket style valvetrain. In addition to the top end
revisions, the S38 also had six individual throttle bodies and intake
trumpets fed by a cast aluminum intake plenum. This engine was designed for
high power and durability at very high engine speeds. In the E28 chassis it was
one of the fastest sedans in the world for its time, and it remains legendary
among enthusiasts today. The E28 received the first BMW diesel
engine ever, the M21, in the 524td 115 PS. It was the fastest and most silent
diesel car at the time. The 524td entered production in late 1982, when
100 pre-series cars were built. At the 1986 Geneva Motor Show a 524d version
with 86 PS, stripped of its turbo, was introduced. Its top speed of 164 km/h
and 0–100 km/h time of 18.1 seconds perhaps did not live up to BMW's
sporting pretensions and it was only available in a few select markets.
References ^ Oswald, Werner. Deutsche Autos
1945–1990, Band 4, 1. Auflage. Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN
3-613-02131-5. ^ "M5 E28".
http:www.africanmusclecars.com. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
^ Büschi, Hans-Ulrich, ed.. "Automobil Revue '82" 77. Berne, Switzerland:
Hallwag, AG. p. 211. ISBN 3-444-06062-9. ^ Heitz, Rudolf, ed.. Auto Katalog 1984
27. Stuttgart: Vereinigte Motor-Verlage GmbH & Co. KG. p. 242.
^ Büschi, Hans-Ulrich, ed.. Automobil Revue 1987 82. Berne, Switzerland:
Hallwag AG. pp. 188, 190. ISBN 3-444-00458-3.
^ Automobil Revue 1987, p. 191 External links
BMW 5 Series History by Edmunds.com