Lets start with the last of the E-12s, in particular the M535i powered by the 3.5 litre M-30 power plant producing 218bhp, this was the second of any M car built, the first being the M1, and the last of the the E-12s in terms of new models Made.
(None of the E28 ever received this engine, the 3453cc version of the 3.5 litre M-30)
Click on the link to learn more about the diffrent M-30 variants:
(Note: In South Africa production of the E-12 continued for a year or so,
after the E-12s death knell in other countrys, and in alot of cases with parts
from the E-28s namely the Dashboards and E28 2.8 litre engines with the newer
intake manifold.)
Lots of Info on the E12 here:
The E12 ended Production in Late 1981.
but a New 5 series started
that same year, The E28!
The E28 was introduced in June of 1981, with a restricted 4 Model range.
Many people thought they looked alot like the model they replaced, the
E12. But with slicker lower body styling on slighty shorter wheel base, the
shape did look alot more modern than its older brother.
The Suspension was upgraded from the E12, you can get all the Suspension informaton here on this site here:
The engines in the E28 are listed on this Link Here:
E28 Model guide that mentions US models
A list of E28 Models and power outputs:
NOTE:
There is alot of Discrepicies reguarding the 3.5litre M30 and its power
outputs depending on the country. One of the Major diffrences is the US Market
received some Awful looking bumpers due to US Fedral Law.
Stating that a
car had to withstand an impact at a certain speed. I beleive these bumpers must
have effected sales of the E28 in the US??, which is a shame. The Conspiricy
Theroist in me says that it was to make foreign cars look ugly so citizens would
be more likely to buy US made. But i can not prove this.
All US Versions
of the 535i had Low -compression Engines for them to be able to Run Catalytic
converters properly.
Some Euro Versions had Low compression engines as
well with catalytic converters.
Euro Engines Available:
The 218
bhp, high compression engine
The 182 bhp (185 DIN), low compression
engine
USA Engines Available:
The 182 bhp, low compression
engine
This Link will give you a through explanation of the diffrence
between the 3, E28 3.5litre engines.
E28 M30 3.5 litre Engine difrences
Australia Got the 535i in 1985, the same year as Catalytic converters became
Mandatory for all vehicles here, replacing EGR (Exhaust Gas Re-circulation) that
was used previously. (but not the Thermal Reactors used in the Early US model
533i E12)
It would be safe to say any 535i purchased from a BMW
dealership in Australia are the Low compresion versions. There are however some
that did make it here via private imports from the UK and Japan.
(on a
Side Note: there is also a M528i that was a model you could buy from dealerships
here in Australia prepared by Frank Gardiner Racing, it also has a diffrent
style Body kit...nothing like the M-tech kit, Email me for a photo.)
Good Question.
This has plagued me for a while, as it appears in the
Owners handbook as a specific model yet it can come with all the same
ingredients as a conventional 535i.
It can have a Low compression engine
with a Auto...not exactly Motorsport is it now?
But it does come with
some extra goodies, M-tech Body kit, and a diffrent suspension set-up, Bilsteins
shocks all around andstiffer spring rate in the rear, with thicker "Sports"
sway-bars. (although the sports Swaybars appear to be on nearly all E28s here in
Australia...(see E28 Suspension Guide link above)
In the owners handbook
it is there to mention weight and physical size diffrence as a guide IMHO..as
you could buy all those options from the options catalogue on purchase.
If there ever was a Real M535i in the E28 range it would have the full
euro 218bhp engine, with a 5spd Sports gear box with the Dogleg pattern... 1st
is where second is normally and second is above 3rd the same as the E28 M5.
These cars do excist, and are fantastic, but it may be difficult to figure out
if it is the 218bhp version....look for the lack of a Catlytic converter and
that should give you an idea.
Below is what a M535i should look like:
The E28 received sevreal transmissions:
There are 3 types of Auto:
ZF 3HP-22 (3Speed) (Early model E28s 518, 518i, 520i, 528i and probably
533i US)
ZF 4HP-22 (4Speed) (Mid life E28s, 528i, 533i, and 535i)
ZF 4HP-22eh (4speed Electronically controlled switchable modes) (528i,
533i and 535i)
The Manual Versions of the E28 all used Getrag Manual
gearboxs.
The Models go like this:
Getrag 260/5 5 speed manual,
with 5th gear being an overdrive.
Getrag 265/5 5 speed manual, 5th being
a drivable gear.
Getrag 265/5 5 Speed manual, Close ratio Dog leg box
(1st is where second is) used in some 535i and M5.
(the Ratios can vary,
ie: my 528i has a 260/5 but it is a close ratio model..(no Dog-leg) but it is
mentioned in the VIN decoder...Ratio is 0.61
Diffs: There is a Myriad of
Diff ratios for the E28, and LSD Units. There is also a "Big diff" reldom seen,
the crown wheel is HUGE. but im not sure if they where ever on E28.
Like most series of BMWs the E28 was turned in to an even more potent vehicle from 3 of the big Euro tuning Houses, Alpina, Hartge and Schnitzer.
The Alpina B9 & B10 3.5
Alpina created 3 Alpina E-28s from the M-30 engine, The B9, B10 3.5,
and B7 Turbo.
The B9 was the first of the Alpina cars based on the e-28.
Production started in November 1981 and ended in December 1987. In 1985 the B9
recieved the engine from B6 3,5 and the name was changed to B10 3,5. A total of
577 cars were made.
(the B6 engine is from the E-30 Alpina B6 3.5)
Engine/Gearbox
When the B9 was introduced, the flagship of the
5-series range was 528i. But this engine isn´t based on the 2,8 litre unit, it
is based on BMW´s 3,5 litre six. That engine produces 218 bhp in ordinary form
but after Alpina has modified the cylinder head, fitted special
higher-compression Mahle pistons and a new camshaft and reprogrammed the
Motronic system the engine produces 245 bhp. The torque has increased to 320 Nm.
The B10 version has the same engine as the B6 3,5. Go to the 3-series section to
read more about it. That engine produces 261 bhp without catalyst and 254 with.
The B9 has a 5-speed Getrag gearbox. A automatic gearbox was optional.
Suspension/Brakes/Wheels
To handle the greater power, and
performance, the B9 has new progressive springs and Bilstein gas-pressure
dampers and 16in Alpina wheels with 205/55 tires at front and 225/50 at rear.
The brakes are uprated at front with bigger, ventilated discs(284 mm).
Interior/Exterior
Interior changes include Alpina upholstery,
Recaro sportseats at front, a leather-covered steering-wheel, a new gearknob and
new instruments. To make the car stable at high speeds, Alpina have fitted front
and rear spoiler.
Performance
For the B9, Alpina claims a 0-100
km/h time of 6,7 seconds and a top speed of 240 km/h. In Auto Motor und Sport´s
test the B9 accelerated from 0-100 km/h in 6,9 seconds, 0-160 km/h in 16,0,
0-200 km/h in 27,3 seconds and had a top speed of 244,9 km/h. For the B10 Alpina
claimed a 0-100 km/h time of 6,4 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h.
The Alpina B7 Turbo
The B7 Turbo:
This is the second-generation B7 Turbo, introduced in
April 1984. Once again had a car with the name B7 Turbo the title of being the
fastest 4-door car in the world. The production ended in July 1987 and a total
of 236 cars were built. In August 1986 Alpina introduced the B7 Turbo Kat which
went out of production in December 1987. Only 42 B7 with catalyst were made.
Engine/Gearbox
The engine is based on BMW´s 3,5 litre unit,
which in standard version produces 218 bhp. Alpina have made many changes to the
engine such as a reprogrammed Motronic system, a modified cylinder-head, lighter
mahle-pistons, a new camshaft, a special exhaust manifold and of course a KKK
K27 turbocharger. The engine has higher compression than the old B7 Turbo so
Alpina have decreased the turbo boost to 0,7 bar, because they didn´t want the
B7 to have more than 300 bhp. That´s exacly what it has, 300 bhp and a torque of
501 Nm. The catalyst-version had 320 bhp and a torque of 509 Nm. The gearbox is
a five-speeder from Getrag.
Suspension/Brakes/Wheels
The B7
Turbo has the excellent Alpina-Bilstein suspension with progressive springs and
gas-pressure dampers. The brakes are more powerful thanks to Girling discs
all-around, ventilated at front. The wheels are 16in high with 205/55 tires at
front and 225/50 tires at rear.
Interior/Exterior
The B7 have
all the usual Alpina interior changes such as Recaro seats with Alpina
upholstery, leather steering-wheel, gear knob, new instruments and so on. The
visual changes include a deep front spoiler, rear spoiler and the wheels.
Performance
Depending on what year the car is manufactured
Alpina have claimed different 0-100 km/h times. When Auto Motor und Sport tested
the B7 Turbo Kat it accelerated from 0-100 km/h in 6,1 seconds, 0-160 km/h in
12,8 seconds and had a top speed of 265 km/h. But when the Swedish magazine
Teknikens Värld tested the B7 Turbo it accelerated from 0-100 km/h in an amazing
4,8 seconds, 0-200 km/h in around 17 seconds and had a top speed of 270 km/h.
For some reason the Unofficial Alpina Website no longer functions?
Unofficial Alpina Website (E28 Alpinas)
Hartge's E28
Competitor to the Alpina B9 and BMW's own M535i. It utilized a 240 bhp 3.5
liter engine, and the performance is similar to the M535i and B9. These cars had
packages which were extremely flexible. So long as the documentation is there,
then they can be considered Hartge Factory cars. Otherwise the mods are add-ons,
and the value isn't as much as a "new" Hartge prepared car.
More
information will be added about this Car.
The Schintzer S5
A 528i based car, formally catalogued. Schnitzer used a specially tuned
version of the 3.5 liter engine, producing 245 bhp. The S5 was a complete
conversion includign suspension, brakes, BBS wheels, and other equipment.
Yet to find anymore info than above or even a Photo.......so if any one
has any Info E-mail me please.
I
think there is also another Schnitzer E28 with a Turbo. I have not seen it.
But i have a photo here that is labeled Schnitzer Turbo, is there a
Turbo Schnitzer E28 out there?
It has been said that When Tiff Needal from BBC televisions Top Gear (a TV
show that reveiws Cars) that he wanted to take one home, Ive watched this
footage and he was comparing it to E-30 & E-36 M3s, and E-34 M5s.
And his exact words were: "This is the Bliss"
Also adding: " A
wolf in sheeps clothing"
"and in the 80s there was no Traction Control
and plenty of tail out powersliding" (which i can attest too)
The E28 M5
just like the M1, M6 and E34 M5 is powered by the Handbuilt Double overhead cam,
24valve 3.5 litre in-line six, producing 286bhp (213KWs) (unable to find a
Torque output) and and would have to be one of the greatest engines ever
produced in the world.
And also coupled with BMW MotorSports own
suspension package of Bilstein Shocks and 16" Wheels, this car would have to be
one of the all time greats.
There was just over 2000 of these M5s
produced and only 184 with Right Hand Drive went to England, making the RHD
version second only to the M1 as the Rarest Motorsport Car.
Not all the
M5s had the Mtech body kit either like the Picture above, most of the ones i
have seen in photos just look like a Mormal E-28 except for the Seats Badges,
Wheels and wheel arch mouldings (see photo below)..........the same can be said
now with the current E39 M5 which is only really distingushable by Wheels,
Badges and the Double Exhaust.
M5 Interior:
Some links reguarding the E28 M5:
To get a good understanding of your BMW, get the last 7 digits of the VIN
number be them Numbers or letters and enter them in at this site linked below:
Click here to Decipher your VIN number
This section is and will probably be under construction for a While to come, if you have anything to add or any corrections please E-mail me.
