87' 535is Consideration

[southgabimmer]

I'm looking at a 1987 535is for $400. It has been sitting outside for a year and has some interior water damage from rain coming in an open window. The interior is almost completely shot and will need replaced (seats, carpet, headliner, dash, rear deck, and steering wheel). It has around 200k miles and a blown head gasket, so it does not run.

the good: It's completely original and every part is there. It's Diamondschwarz! Has all the 'is' parts. 5 speed manual. Most all documentation is there. No visible or through rust on the body (need to check the floor boards more throughly though).

So, is it ok to buy at $400? Is it worth more in parts? Might it be worth fixing?

-Thanks!

[RondoAcapriccio]

DS is my FAVORITE color.. so for that reason I would give it consideration..

I would pull the entire interior to make sure the floor boards are not rusted.. try to get it for less than 400..good interior can be had cheap(always being parted on mye28 ).. the engine..m30 are a little tough to find, or would you just swap m50 etc.. ga has a much better bmw selection than miami in terms of oldies.. my bro lives there and I am always looking at the craigslist and there does not seem to be a shortage so that is good for you..

with that being said.. the question is do you want to spend 400 on something you have to put another 2k in to drive.. or do you just want to spend 2k on a running e28.

interior is shot.. what about electronics?

main areas of rust.. the rear bumper shocks, spare wheel well, the area of the door where the drain hose runs...especially if you say open window.. the door might be rusted out.

[southgabimmer]

Ya i really love DS! Unfortunatly 400 is his lowest final price. Funny thing is that i would rather fix an e28 for 3k than buy a decent one for 2k. IDK just something about having done the work yourself. I need to bring a battery to test the electronics, so thanks, good idea. And i will check those areas for rust! Thank you!

So, i should have done a poll but what would yall do? part it or fix it?

-Thanks!

[RondoAcapriccio]

all up to you... I would look around online see if you think you can source your parts fairly easy.. also if you have the funds...i guess why not.

As long as the electronics work and the frame is straight and there are no accidents or considerable rust should be ok.

rust in the spare wheel well usually is not that bad.. just a simple cut and patch. Also the license plate lights can rust out... but as you can see all that for the most part is just minor cosmetic stuff.

[iamsam]

Buy it, strip out the interior, put in a new head gasket, slam it on its nuts, throw a driver's seat in there for good measure, drive the piss out of it.

Also, for $400, you can make your money back as a worst case scenario. Sell the cat for $100, sell some of the desirable iS parts for another $100, sell the car to a scrapper for $200.

[RondoAcapriccio]

pretty much that^ for 400 you really can't go wrong.. worst case scenario you just sell it back to the scrapper and you may or may not lose a few bucks. It really all depends on how much work you are willing to put into it.

[Slow4Door]

Sounds like it would be a nice project car. Consider the m30b35 as a swap also from an e34. If the interior electronics are undamaged it might be a helluva deal!

I just picked up e34 power front seats and an e28 M5 rear seat, all had been recently redyed and I paid $160 IIRC for the whole of it. Carpet is over rated lol

Steering wheels are everywhere at junkyards, so that is not even anything to sweat over.

[e34m50]

For $400, what have you got to lose? Just get her running and deal with the cosmetics as you go along!

[southgabimmer]

Well, with the condition it's in, i am now thinking i am going to part it out and stuff that there m30 into me e21!

[xxx-Lost-Soul-xxx]

I got a Running 535IS for $650. Made $800 IN misc shit then sold it to the Junk yard for $225. Oh ya btw it got me Six months of worry free Driving till the TPS went out.

I Parted it because before the TPS went out i was selling it for $1000 and no one wanted it. Clean rust free body. Prob was the Fact it had no AC in Arizona.

I also forgot to say I kept the suspension of that car for my next project so yes $400 is a great deal. You can sell the Front spoiler for $100 with the bracket,and $75 for the rear. And thats quick sale CASH today.