1986 BMW M5 E28 – Classified of the Week

Do you want to powerslide around Paris, while avoid a pursuant assassin on a motorcycle? Do you want to employ a tactical handbrake turn so you can slide your E28 BMW M5 down some stairs backwards so as to avoid damaging the steering and suspension? YOU DO? Well, you should probably go and watch Mission: Impossible – Fallout. If you’d like to experience a similar energy, but without assassins, you could buy this utterly stunning 1986 BMW M5. One of the first (literally, it’s chassis number 002) E28 M5s in the UK, this is a very, very special car. Ethan Hunt would gladly use it as a getaway car.

This car is arguably, in motoring terms at least, more famous than the movie car. It was first used by MIRA as a high-speed test car, it was in a whole host of car magazines over the years, even appearing on the cover more than once, and thanks to being such an early example it very well known in automotive circles. It’s a bit of a legend, frankly. And like any legend should be, it’s been treated right. The odometer might be nudging 160,000 miles, but the car doesn’t look like it’s done half that. This beauty in Zinnobar Red was resprayed in recent years, and is in outstanding condition as a result. No rust, damage or dings. We wish we could have said the same after 36 years.

The story continues on the inside. The rich, black leather sports seats are incredible and every bit as comfortable as they were when new. Sure, there’s a bit of fading, and the seats have signs of life, but that just makes leather more comfortable. The dash is mint, the carpets too. The rear seats are great, the headlining, the boot and the boot floor too and the tool kit is present, complete and correct. This BMW M5 still has the original Blaupunkt tape deck even. Delightful.

But what about what’s in the shark-nosed power barn? Under here, you won’t find a tired old smoker. Oh no. Instead, you’re greeted by a sight more akin to a 1986 showroom than 2022. Fresh, clean and cared for, the engine with its ‘M Power’ valve cover is every bit as aesthetically pleasing as the car itself. It’s not all show though; there is still ample go. 286bhp awaits, sent to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. The engine, a 3.5 litre straight-six, was fully rebuilt in recent years. New timing chain, new tensioners, everything was cleaned and replaced as required. The old parts have been retained as proof. This BMW M5 is fighting fit. Make no mistake.

Have a look at the advert and you’ll be blown away by the condition of this BMW M5. It really is a once in a lifetime kind of car, as whoever buys it is surely never going to let it go. Would you? As you look at the advert, you might also notice a different layout. This is part of our new Verified Listing platform, through which you can list your classified sale while taking advantage of our secure Escrow facility, ensuring every transaction is legitimate, safe and secure. Nobody else offers that.

Back to the BMW M5, we have the big question: how much is it? Well, sit down, because it’s £74,995. That’s a lot of money, but don’t forget, it’s also a lot of car. This is chassis number 002, it has a fascinating history that other BMWs can only dream of, it has been maintained with finite, unending detail and it’s a full UK specification E28 BMW M5. That’s a rare, rare car. And when you look at it like that, it’s a bit of a bargain, really.

If you missed out on this one but answered yes to the questions at the start of this article, here’s where you can find a BMW M5 for sale.