Is there such a thing as an E34 M535i

[splintheter]

Vin on my car confirms ZA build E28 M535i. Verified by BMW, realoem.com, bmwvin.com.

Ok then I apologize.

But your car is spec'd weirdly then

I can't disagree. The research I did said that the SA version didn't differ aesthetically from a standard 535i. The euro spec one had the M Tech body kit on it. So mine looks like that. It's got a proper M Tech kit on. Stamped and everything.
But the interior is bog standard.

M not M, I dont care it looks hot, and I want it out of my Garage as it makes my cars look ordinary :roflol:

 

[Bugger]

:roflol:

 

[Blue Shirt]

I know the E28 had an M535i (I know this because I have to drool over Buggers car every week)

Not to sound nasty, because by all accounts his car appears like a really nice example, but i dont think his car is an M535i. Its supposed to have sport seats, the full m tech kit (including wheel arch spats), dogleg 5 speed, ugly metric 390mm wheels and m tech suspension with bilstein shocks.

As Peter said - only the e12/8 was badged as an M535i (Like the red one Adi owns).

So no, there is no such a thing as an E34 M535i. If you are lucky the first owner specified sport seats, and if you are extremely lucky, it might have the M Tech body kit.

Vin on my car confirms ZA build E28 M535i. Verified by BMW, realoem.com, bmwvin.com.

From the BMW registry, take note of the second last line with build specifics, mine is DC78:

Production Data

How many versions of the E28 M535i were produced?
Ten different versions of the E28 M535i were produced. Eight were built on the Dingolfing line in Germany: seven to European specfication (in various manual, automatic, left-hand drive, right-hand drive, catalyst and non-catalyst iterations), plus one for Japan (solely in left-hand drive, catalyst, automatic-transmission form). In addition, two more right-hand drive, non-catalyst versions (one manual, one automatic) were assembled at the Rosslyn, South Africa factory from Complete Knock-Down (CKD) kits shipped in from Germany. (Note: An earlier South African version of the M535i that pre-dates the German-built model by several years was also assembled in South Africa. This "4709" model retains the drivetrain, body panels and some interior trim from the earlier E12 5 Series, yet features the E28-style dashboard, instruments and center console. See Speical Versions in the E12 M535i FAQ for more information.)

How many of each version were produced?
DC71 (LHD, non-catalyst, manual): 4,475 produced from 02/1985 through 12/1987
DC72 (RHD, non-catalyst, manual): 1,137 produced from 03/1985 through 10/1987
DC51 (LHD, catalyst, manual): 718 produced from 03/1985 thru 09/1987
DC52 (RHD, catalyst, manual): 224 produced from 10/1985 thru 03/1987 NOTE: Australian market only
DC81 (LHD, non-catalyst, automatic): 861 produced from 03/1985 through 12/1987
DC61 (LHD, catalyst, automatic): 216 produced from 03/1985 through 09/1987
DC82 (RHD, non-catalyst, automatic): 712 produced from 03/1985 through 11/1987
DC89 (LHD catalyst, automatic): 1,140 produced from 03/1985 through 09/1987 NOTE: Japanese market only
DC78 (RHD, non-catalyst, manual): 492 produced from 01/1985 through 04/1988 (assembled in South Africa from CKD kits)
DC88 (RHD, non-catalyst, automatic): 360 produced from 07/1986 through 05/1988 (assembled in South Africa from CKD kits)

Mr Bugger,

Thanks for the detailed info on the E28 M535i's.

The only thing that I find suspect in your list, is the reference to LHD cars built for the Japanese market. Japan is a RHD market like SA and other colonies.

 

[Bugger]

True. The only thing that may explain that is European expats who specifically ordered LHD models. Dunno, just guessing maybe?

 

[anton-sa]

I agree with the non M, but i did read online somewhere many years ago that there are/were some 535i's that had the m badge to denote MANUAL ...something along those lines...

my 528i has a M badge which must come off, it says M528i which i have good reason to believe was actually put on at the factory, my e28 has lsdiff and larger swaybars..all factory fit.

anyway, i do agree, M badge just belongs on m5 and m3.

 

[Budleigh]

I know the E28 had an M535i (I know this because I have to drool over Buggers car every week)

Not to sound nasty, because by all accounts his car appears like a really nice example, but i dont think his car is an M535i. Its supposed to have sport seats, the full m tech kit (including wheel arch spats), dogleg 5 speed, ugly metric 390mm wheels and m tech suspension with bilstein shocks.

As Peter said - only the e12/8 was badged as an M535i (Like the red one Adi owns).

So no, there is no such a thing as an E34 M535i. If you are lucky the first owner specified sport seats, and if you are extremely lucky, it might have the M Tech body kit.

Vin on my car confirms ZA build E28 M535i. Verified by BMW, realoem.com, bmwvin.com.

From the BMW registry, take note of the second last line with build specifics, mine is DC78:

Production Data

How many versions of the E28 M535i were produced?
Ten different versions of the E28 M535i were produced. Eight were built on the Dingolfing line in Germany: seven to European specfication (in various manual, automatic, left-hand drive, right-hand drive, catalyst and non-catalyst iterations), plus one for Japan (solely in left-hand drive, catalyst, automatic-transmission form). In addition, two more right-hand drive, non-catalyst versions (one manual, one automatic) were assembled at the Rosslyn, South Africa factory from Complete Knock-Down (CKD) kits shipped in from Germany. (Note: An earlier South African version of the M535i that pre-dates the German-built model by several years was also assembled in South Africa. This "4709" model retains the drivetrain, body panels and some interior trim from the earlier E12 5 Series, yet features the E28-style dashboard, instruments and center console. See Speical Versions in the E12 M535i FAQ for more information.)

How many of each version were produced?
DC71 (LHD, non-catalyst, manual): 4,475 produced from 02/1985 through 12/1987
DC72 (RHD, non-catalyst, manual): 1,137 produced from 03/1985 through 10/1987
DC51 (LHD, catalyst, manual): 718 produced from 03/1985 thru 09/1987
DC52 (RHD, catalyst, manual): 224 produced from 10/1985 thru 03/1987 NOTE: Australian market only
DC81 (LHD, non-catalyst, automatic): 861 produced from 03/1985 through 12/1987
DC61 (LHD, catalyst, automatic): 216 produced from 03/1985 through 09/1987
DC82 (RHD, non-catalyst, automatic): 712 produced from 03/1985 through 11/1987
DC89 (LHD catalyst, automatic): 1,140 produced from 03/1985 through 09/1987 NOTE: Japanese market only
DC78 (RHD, non-catalyst, manual): 492 produced from 01/1985 through 04/1988 (assembled in South Africa from CKD kits)
DC88 (RHD, non-catalyst, automatic): 360 produced from 07/1986 through 05/1988 (assembled in South Africa from CKD kits)

Mr Bugger,

Thanks for the detailed info on the E28 M535i's.

The only thing that I find suspect in your list, is the reference to LHD cars built for the Japanese market. Japan is a RHD market like SA and other colonies.

Was given to understand that Japanese well-to-do types order Lhd cars because they look more exotic. Might just be regurgitating a Clarksonism, though.

 

[symmat001]

More specifics on the South African m535i - No Mtech kit like the UK, but LSD and meant to have sport seats, and the early one's did come with the M-tech trx alloy. Have seen a set on gumtree and a set on one my Dad owned when I was a laaitie

How is the South African-spec E28 M535i cosmetically different from the European-spec version?


South African-spec E28 M535i models are not fitted with any of the M-Technic body panels and can only be identified by their "M" badges on the grille and trunk lid.. Early examples were also fitted with special M-Technic alloy wheels featuring early-style black center caps, but these were later replaced by regular TRX alloys. Sport front seats in cloth or leather were optional on the South African model.

http://www.bmwmregistry.com/model_faq.php?id=6

 

[E28 Boy]

More specifics on the South African m535i - No Mtech kit like the UK, but LSD and meant to have sport seats, and the early one's did come with the M-tech trx alloy. Have seen a set on gumtree and a set on one my Dad owned when I was a laaitie

How is the South African-spec E28 M535i cosmetically different from the European-spec version?


South African-spec E28 M535i models are not fitted with any of the M-Technic body panels and can only be identified by their "M" badges on the grille and trunk lid.. Early examples were also fitted with special M-Technic alloy wheels featuring early-style black center caps, but these were later replaced by regular TRX alloys. Sport front seats in cloth or leather were optional on the South African model.

http://www.bmwmregistry.com/model_faq.php?id=6

To add: The SA Spec E28 M535i VIN Nr's start with 00965. Production Code DC78 (Manual Version) Only 492 produced.

 

[babyboss]

I had a E28 M535i & the one thing it had over the 535i was the
Dogleg g/box ( gear 1 down ) with close ratios - similar to the 333i ..
that was an awesome g/box , caused bit damage to my shoes but could take hammering , never changed clutch in all the years I owned it .. :=):

 

[anton-sa]

I had a E28 M535i & the one thing it had over the 535i was the
Dogleg g/box ( gear 1 down ) with close ratios - similar to the 333i ..
that was an awesome g/box , caused bit damage to my shoes but could take hammering , never changed clutch in all the years I owned it .. :=):

thats because like i mentioned in Buggers clutch thread, the clutch's are "over-specced".

to give you an idea, the e28 535i and e28 528i, both use a 240mm clutch disc,
my e39 530d uses a 240mm clutch disc, it pushes 410nm or more, the e28's def dont push out that...

if my 530d had the same clutch and pushed say 300nm, it'd also last longer...

 

[DieselFan]

I had a E28 M535i & the one thing it had over the 535i was the
Dogleg g/box ( gear 1 down ) with close ratios - similar to the 333i ..
that was an awesome g/box , caused bit damage to my shoes but could take hammering , never changed clutch in all the years I owned it .. :=):

thats because like i mentioned in Buggers clutch thread, the clutch's are "over-specced".

to give you an idea, the e28 535i and e28 528i, both use a 240mm clutch disc,
my e39 530d uses a 240mm clutch disc, it pushes 410nm or more, the e28's def dont push out that...

if my 530d had the same clutch and pushed say 300nm, it'd also last longer...

I'm sure with clutches it's more about the material used than the size

 

[anton-sa]

I had a E28 M535i & the one thing it had over the 535i was the
Dogleg g/box ( gear 1 down ) with close ratios - similar to the 333i ..
that was an awesome g/box , caused bit damage to my shoes but could take hammering , never changed clutch in all the years I owned it .. :=):

thats because like i mentioned in Buggers clutch thread, the clutch's are "over-specced".

to give you an idea, the e28 535i and e28 528i, both use a 240mm clutch disc,
my e39 530d uses a 240mm clutch disc, it pushes 410nm or more, the e28's def dont push out that...

if my 530d had the same clutch and pushed say 300nm, it'd also last longer...

I'm sure with clutches it's more about the material used than the size

actually its both