BMW M5 BMW M5 (E28)
BMW M5 (BMW M5 (E28)) was built from 1984 to 1988, as a 4-door saloon. Powertrain: 3.5 L M88/3 or S38 I6. Layout: Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive. Weight: 1410 kg.
Composed from the specifications below, so it states nothing the specs do not. Photograph: Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons), from this generation's own encyclopedia entry.
Overview
The first BMW M5, based on the E28 5 Series, was manufactured from October 1984 to June 1988. It made its debut at the Amsterdam Motor Show in February 1985. It was based on the 535i chassis with various mechanical changes, most notably the M88/3 engine (shared with the E24 M635CSi grand tourer coupé) which was an updated version of the engine used in the M1 sports car. At its launch, the E28 M5 was the fastest production saloon in the world. The official markets for the E28 M5 were Europe, Great Britain, the United States, Canada, and South Africa. The European and South African cars used the M88/3 engine which has a power output of 210 kW.
Source: the English Wikipedia article on this model, CC BY-SA 4.0. Text may be shortened; read the full article for the complete text.
Not yet sourced for this model. Used prices swing with year, mileage, grade and country, so we publish a market range only when it comes with a named source and a date, and never an estimate. For a live figure, use the landed-cost tool with the price on the auction sheet.
Against the other sedan models in this database (57 with this body type). Computed from the dimensions in the specifications, so it changes as the database grows.
- 111 mm below the median of 1,810 mm, and narrower than 92% of the 40 other sedan models in this database.
- 45 mm below the median of 1,460 mm, and lower than 88% of the 34 other sedan models in this database.
- 225 mm below the median of 2,850 mm, and shorter than 95% of the 38 other sedan models in this database.
Who it suits
- Executive and chauffeur use: the saloon body prioritises rear-seat comfort and a quiet cabin.
Check before you buy
- Inspect for corrosion at sills, floor, subframes and suspension mounts, and replace perishable rubber (hoses, bushes, boots) at import.
- Read the auction sheet grade and notes, and verify the odometer against service and inspection records. How to read an auction sheet
- Run a history check (accidents, flood, mileage) before you bid. History check guide
- Import age rules: this generation already qualifies in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia. Confirm the rule for your exact vehicle with customs before buying. Landed-cost calculator
General guidance for this type of vehicle, worked out from its body, powertrain and age. It is not a finding about this particular model; use an inspection and the auction sheet for the car you are actually buying.
Worked out from this generation's production years and each country's age rule. Rules also depend on vehicle type and the month of manufacture, so confirm with customs before you buy.
Other generations of the M5
- BMW M5 (E34) · 1988-1995
- BMW M5 (E39) · 1998-2003
- BMW M5 (E60/E61) · 2004-2010
- BMW M5 (F10) · 2011-2016
- BMW M5 (F90) · 2017-2023
- BMW M5 (G90/G99) · 2024-present
More from BMW · all BMW models
Can I import a BMW M5 (BMW M5 (E28)) from Japan?
By production year alone, BMW M5 (BMW M5 (E28)) is inside the age window for United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia. Rules depend on vehicle type and the month of manufacture, so confirm with customs before you buy.
What powers the BMW M5 (BMW M5 (E28))?
Per its encyclopedia infobox, engine: 3.5 L M88/3 or S38 I6.
Answered from this page's own data, not from outside claims. See the sources below.
- en.wikipedia.org (retrieved 2026-10-19)
Confidence: single-source (Wikipedia infobox). Specifications differ by market, trim and model year; the auction sheet or the vehicle's registration document is the final word on a particular car.
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