1981 Euro E12 BMW M535i Motorsport car with Alpina accessories

[John1180]

Hey I drove that car last year! Pulled like a train! It's been on CL a few times. High miles on an old very expensive car to fix, interior was pretty tired and paint was alligatored. And hey, he seemed young to me!

He lives in Issaquah. Its an old man and he thinks its just an old car that no one really wants.

[SpecM]

Nope. E12 was the first 5'er.

yep

e23 = 7er

[rThor432]

We quoted a guy the cost of an S38 engine rebuild and he didnt believe the cost. A month or so later he came back and told us that some guy had "rebuilt" the engine for $1300, everything was new :roll:.

That engine sounds so bad. Ha, the engine builder told him it would be noisy like that for 5,000 miles during the "break in" process.

[2002maniac]

Id buy that M5 and put the S38 in storage. Drop in a boosted M30 and drive the shit out of it. Then put the S38 back in when the time comes to sell it.

[kronus]

So, can you humor me and explain what is involved in an S38 rebuild that costs that much? Not being facetious, just curious why it's that expensive... NLA parts? Special machinist skills required?

[structured]

That e21 is so hot.

As for the M5, I believe the price. I went to look at an 88 M5 in jersey a little while ago that I was sure would be a scam. 140k on the working clock for $3500 with a well maintained maint history. When I showed up, there was actually a car. Rough around the edges with rust in the wheel wells but I drove it for a half hour and it ran strong.

Buy them both, sissy.

[SpecM]

So, can you humor me and explain what is involved in an S38 rebuild that costs that much? Not being facetious, just curious why it's that expensive... NLA parts? Special machinist skills required?

its mostly in the timing settup, the tensioners and guides are horrendusly expensive

[eurohick.]

still, 6500 is cheep for a car that seems to be all there. m5's are actually rarer than m6's of the same era, but not worth as much. Shame.

[TDE30]

Any S38 rebuild will run you well into $10k (rapidly approaching $15k depending on the work performed.)

Below is an example of a normal S38B36 rebuild with mild overbore:





I wouldn't advise bargain hunting on any S38-equipped M car, you may a little now but there is a damn good chance you'll be paying a lot later.

I thought posting up Craigslist/eBay deals was discouraged on here. Someone may have found a car that has gone somewhat unnoticed, but now it's posted up all over an E30 board.

[Nicademus]

I thought posting up Craigslist/eBay deals was discouraged on here. Someone may have found a car that has gone somewhat unnoticed, but now it's posted up all over an E30 board.

I would never post a car up here that was a super good deal because that would suck to have it snatched out from under someone. The M5 I was flip flopping about posting and then just went for it because its been for sale for a while.

[cactusjacks1]

I would never post a car up here that was a super good deal because that would suck to have it snatched out from under someone. The M5 I was flip flopping about posting and then just went for it because its been for sale for a while.

The M5 has been for sale off & on for @ 6 months, in at least 5 different media. A great one will usually never be advertised as it will sell long before. That community is SO SO small, a guy in CA will know by word of mouth, that a car in PA might be for sale, 30 min. after the owner is told by the "trophy" wife, "it's either the car or me, one's going".

Eric is spreading awareness of special car/cars for sale - that's all - I think he's doing a great thing for the community - if anyone buys it because of this heads up, you probably, at least, owe him a lot of "at a boy's". Thanks for your posting!!

[G-Man]

That's Frank Haas's sweet E12, I bought a 81 Euro Spec E12 528i from him a few months ago. One of many he has in his collection.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=124772

As you can by the cars in the background, he's a real automotive enthusiast. I bought his least desired car, an automatic E12 but I'm currently gathering parts for a 5 speed conversion. I have since replaced the stock steel wheels with 15" E34 style 5 wheels, also installed Hella H1/H4's. A new cat and 02 sensor was installed in order to pass CA smog.

G-Man

[vlad]

Nope. E12 was the first 5'er.

I think technically the Bavaria E3 was teh first 5'er :D

That's Frank Haas's sweet E12, I bought a 81 Euro Spec E12 528i from him a few months ago.

I love teh E12 !

Here is one I took a pic of in Watkins Glen in Sept 2007

[G-Man]

I think technically the Bavaria E3 was teh first 5'er :D



I love teh E12 !

Here is one I took a pic of in Watkins Glen in Sept 2007

The E3 was not the first five, The E3 and E12 were sold side by side in the show room. E3 production was from 68-76 and the E23 (7 series replaced the E3). E12 production ran from 72-81 and the E28 replaced the E12. The E12 replaced the Neu Klasse (NK, 4 door small sedan's with a 4 cyl). The E12 was truly the first five.

G-Man
85 525e Euro spec
81 528i Euro spec
70 E3 2800 Euro spec
74 2002tii
3 E30's and a 4Runner parts hauler.