RE: M5 buying advice

[Jeffrey C Cannon <JCCannon@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mike,
It's not a pure M car.  What you have come across is indeed a Euro spec car,
but it is the Euro version of the 535i.  What BMW did was take the Euro car
(rated at 218hp, not the M's 256/286 USvsEuro) and modified it a bit with
cosmetic M stuff and parts from the M suspension.  Run out and get yourself
a BMW Buyers Guide and you will find it there.  Essentially it is a
glorified 535i.  That said, it is a bit more valuable than the US 535i and
the 218hp motor is better than the US spec.  Engine differences:  US 535 is
3430cc, M535i (what you're looking at) is 3453cc, it uses the M block but
only a single cam. M5 is 3453cc with twin cam.
You should not pay more than a thousand more than a stock 535 for the car.
Jeff Cannon
'81 M535i Euro
'80 Hartge H5SP
'85 745i
'88 325ix Euro
'82 Alfa GTV6


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LAD

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