CONDITION WHEN DISCOVERED
When found, the car showed no body rust, but had minor hood paint damage from a gravel truck. The leather, carpets and trunk upholstery were close to perfect, and the dash had multiple cracks. Overall, it showed in remarkably good rust-free condition for its 245,961 miles. The PO had installed oversize E31 850csi front rotors and calipers and had the front lowered by 1/2" with oversized front (28mm) and rear (20mm) adjustable sway bars. The self leveling system had been removed and Bilsteins installed.
A pre-purchase inspection revealed that there was no rust anywhere in the rocker, door, trunk or quarter panels, the floor pan, spare wheel well or battery box. In fact, having been garaged its entire life, the body showed bumper-to-bumper rust-free. From the excellent condition of the leather, the engine bay and and the body overall, it was apparent that the PO had taken extremely good care of this car.
The PO had also installed a 300W ten speaker (Boston Acoustics) sound system with two trunk mounted 15" Fosgate speakers, which have now been replaced with new 15" units and a set of crossovers.
Never smoked in, the ashtrays are pristine, and the front ash tray was replaced by the PO with three gauges – oil pressure, temperature and battery.
DISCOVERY & RECOVERY
This 1988 BMW M5 is one of 1,340 examples produced for the North American market and was purchased new in March 1987 for $51,470 from Stevens Creek BMW of Cupertino, California. Two years later, it was sold and was driven around the San Francisco Bay Area until 2004, when it was parked and left in a windowless garage, showing 245,961 miles.
This remarkably well-preserved car was pulled out of the garage and transported to a restoration shop in Monterey. The complete service records show that the oil and the oil filter had been changed in April 2003 at 242,443 miles. The cylinders were soaked, and the engine was properly hand turned and brought back to life with two oil changes, fresh plugs and wires, cap and rotor, all new filters, new injectors, new battery, new tires, etc. The gas tank was emptied and flushed. The car was then driven 250 miles to its new home.
ESSENTIALS
Features include power-adjustable and heated sport seats, an electric sunroof with a new seal, and a previously installed 10 speaker stereo system, M5-specific front and rear spoilers, Hella H4 European headlamps and new integrated front fog lights. The leather upholstery is in nearly perfect original condition with no wear spots, wrinkles, tears or holes. The dash has been reupholstered with new French stitched German vinyl.
The rear parcel shelf has been newly reupholstered in Palomino (5113) carpet and has the original OEM speakers, which are disconnected.
We have the service records up to 2004. They show that just before the car was parked in 2004, it got a new in-tank fuel pump and pump relays, all new water and air hoses, new power steering hoses, a new prop shaft, new clutch and flywheel, rear main seal, and a new starter motor. The prior year the parts replacement included the front control arm bushings, rear sub frame mounts and new motor, transmission and differential mounts.
RESTORATION
The third owner (a former classic restoration shop owner and Pebble Beach Concours judge) has taken the car through a complete cosmetic restoration. Now showing 246k miles, the car has been newly painted in factory black (Schwarz 086) over nearly pristine original Natur leather and is powered by a 3.5-liter S38 inline-six paired with a five-speed manual transmission. The service records up to 2004 show a solid maintenance history at BMW dealers with regular service and normal repairs with OEM parts. The CarFax report is clean up through 2003 with no accidents or damage.
This remarkably preserved car is now auction ready. It will be a solid driver for the M5 enthusiast, needing perhaps – sometime in the future – piston rings and big end bearings. Meanwhile, it can be driven and enjoyed. The current owner has put about 2,000 miles on it and now understands the tremendous fun of driving a properly sorted M5.
MECHANICALS
Just before the car was parked in 2004, it got a new in-tank fuel pump and pump relays, all new water and air hoses, new power steering hoses, a new prop shaft, new flywheel, rear main seal, and a new starter motor. The prior year the parts replacement included the front control arm bushings, rear sub frame mounts and new motor, transmission and differential mounts.
When the valve cover and plenum were removed for painting and the valve adjustment, they and the valve tray and cams, the trumpets and throttles were pristine – totally free of old oil shellac. That, and the compression numbers may indicate that the head was rebuilt before the car was stored.
ENGINE, ETC....
The engine bay has a strut tower brace, all new stickers, all new hood sound insulation and various other new parts and is free of rust. The valve cover and intake plenum have been repainted with the proper black crinkle paint. The fuse box has been updated with the Holy Grail Labs blade fuse kit. The on-board computer has a new LED light bar. The center console sports three previously installed VDO gauges in place of the center ash tray – oil pressure, temperature and battery.
Hot compression & leak down test at operating temperature, throttles open: 210psi-15% loss, 210psi-8% loss, 205psi-45% loss, 185psi-70% loss, 195psi-60% loss, 215psi-6% loss.
PAINT
The complete paint job included the removal of all body trim, bumpers, all four doors, hood and trunk lid and sunroof, windshield and rear glass – revealing that all window and body pinch and sheet metal welds were rust free. The bumpers and other trim pieces were sent to media blasting. The paint system was sourced from Germany and the entire body was brought through primer by hand. A new tinted windshield and the rear glass are mounted in new BMW rubber and all tail lamp and marker lights have new gaskets.
FINAL PREP & DETAILING
The car was sent to Bavarian Professionals in Berkeley CA for the installation of the front and rear glass, installation of the newly upholstered dash, valve adjustment and a compression check, new belts, the correction of a few electrical gremlins, and suspension, steering, and other various minor repairs. The undercarriage was dry-ice blasted revealing no rust in the sheet metal. The only surface corrosion is where it is expected on the exhaust system and the sway bars. These guys at BavPros are consummate professionals and the work they do is outstanding.
WHEELS, BRAKES & SUSPENSION
The car has E31 850csi spec front calipers and rotors and the front end has been lowered by half an inch with oversized adjustable front and rear sway bars. The self-leveling system has been removed and replaced with Bilsteins. The factory BBS 16″ basket weave wheels are newly restored with Wurth factory silver and new BMW center badges, and are mounted with new 225/50 Continental Extreme Contact Sport tires. A matching BBS spare with an older tire is stowed beneath the trunk floor.
SOUND SYSTEM
The previously installed sound system has a new Continental radio (TR7412UB-OR) with USB and orange display that matches the dash decor. It drives a new Massive Audio EQ9 equalizer mated with a trunk-mounted ADS 300W amplifier and ADS crossover, and two new replacement 15” Fosgate speakers. All 8 other speakers have been upgraded to Boston Acoustics. The OEM rear shelf speakers are disconnected.
1988 BMW M5 – Bring a Trailer Auction begins Saturday mornin
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