The Beginning of the BMW E28 535i: From Dingolfing to the Open Highway
With all this speak of the primary M5 being launched forty years in the past this 12 months (nicely, it was truly January 1985), the E28 535i and its M535i offshoot appear to have been forgotten. But, in October 1984, the primary European left-hand-drive examples had been being constructed at BMW’s Dingolfing plant, 65 miles northeast of Munich, prepared for an ’85 launch. Given how rapidly ALPINA produced a quick 3.5-liter model of the E28—about six months—it’s shocking how lengthy it took BMW to do one thing related. It’s not as in the event that they hadn’t carried out it earlier than, both.
The Evolution of BMW’s Motorsport: E12 M535i to E28 M535i
In 1980, BMW Motorsport developed and launched the E12 M535i. This was a 528i however with the operating gear from the unique full-fat 635CSi. The 218 bhp 3453 cc engine, close-ratio Getrag gearbox with its distinctive ‘dog-leg’ gearshift sample, limited-slip diff with the additional oil tank, Bilstein dampers with harder springs and sway bars all went in, in addition to 14-inch Mahle lattice alloy wheels with 205-section tires, an M1-style steering wheel, Recaro/Scheel-type entrance seats, and spoilers entrance and rear. Between April 1980 and Could 1981, when E12 manufacturing ended, 960 left-hand-drive automobiles and 450 right-hand-drive ones had been constructed.
ALPINA’s Affect: How the E28 535i Stood Aside
Till late 1984, E28 patrons had a selection between the manufacturing facility 184 bhp 528i, the 245 bhp ALPINA B9, or the 260 bhp B10 launched in late ’84 to complement the B9. ALPINA stuff wasn’t low cost both—in January 1985, when the 535i began to be produced in right-hand-drive type for the UK, a 528iSE price £15,600, and an ALPINA B10 slightly below £23,000.
At £17,900 then, the M535i with 218 bhp was seen as one thing of a snip, nearly. Not low cost, however a bloody quick automobile for the cash. For comparability, Audi needed over £19,250 for its 200 Turbo, which wasn’t as fast however nonetheless a tremendous automobile.
Evaluating the Euro and US-Spec BMW E28 535i Fashions
The 535i vary arrived in Europe with a bang in January 1985 and within the USA a month later—we’ll come to that later. The recipe was as earlier than for the Euro 535i, with a plain 535i model (renamed 535iSE in 1986) and an M535i with plastic sills and bumpers. Mechanically, the 528i’s 184 bhp LE Jetronic engine was changed by the 3430 cc Motronic 1.1 unit from the up to date 635CSi with 218 bhp. Not like the E12, although, a selection of transmissions was provided.
Transmission and Efficiency: The Coronary heart of the E28 535i
The usual unit was the overdrive Getrag 265/6 ‘field with its 0.81 overdriven fifth gear allied to a 3.07-ratio limited-slip differential with a 25% lockup, though a 3.25 ratio may very well be had. These wanting extra acceleration within the higher reaches might order the Getrag 265/5 ‘sport’ transmission, whose ratios had been nearer, with a direct-drive 1:1 fifth gear and the three.25 ratio LSD.
Lastly, you might have a four-speed ZF automated with the switchable EH sport/financial system electronics to change the shift speeds and lock out high gear. That’s okay in the event you like that kind of factor, however actually, the guide ‘field is what you needed. Each differentials had been of the Sort 210 selection, large heavy issues derived from the E23 735i, and automobiles certain for Australia used a 3.46-ratio diff of the smaller Sort 188 variety. I wager they went nicely.
Suspension and Dealing with: A White-Knuckle Experience
The 535i suspension was already in manufacturing and used within the M Technic bundle for the 528i—this included Bilstein dampers, shorter stiffer springs, and barely thicker sway bars. It was excellent and definitely tightened up the E28, but it surely wasn’t reduce from the identical fabric as ALPINA stuff, nor was it nearly as good because the particular suspension BMW Motorsport had developed for the M5. These automobiles used even thicker sway bars however softer dampers by Bilstein (and later, Boge) and had been much better suited to the Michelin TRX tires getting used at that time—by 1986, the M5 had dumped the Michelins and swapped over to way more forgiving Pirellis on a 16-inch wheel.
TRX Tires: The Achilles’ Heel of the BMW E28 535i
Customary 528i brakes with the bizarre hydraulic servo had been used, and so they had been thought-about ok, albeit with commonplace ABS. The wheels had been the distinctive ventilated metric alloys that solely the Euro 535i vary had, shod with Michelin TRX 220/55VR390 tires, which proved to be the automobile’s Achilles’ heel.
As launched, the 535i was obtainable as a typical automobile with chrome bumpers, stainless trim across the home windows, with simply the particular wheels, the 535i boot script (which may very well be deleted), and delicate body-color plastic arch spats to tell apart it from the 528i.
But it was the M535i with the M Technic physique package that proved to be the larger vendor. This model, just like the 535i, was obtainable with all three transmissions in addition to a selection of sport or commonplace entrance seats. You would order your M535i with both chrome window encompass trim or satin black. Frequent choices included air-con and cruise management. From late 1986, the 535i grew to become the 535i SE with the choice of dechroming and body-color metal bumpers—a great-looking automobile.
As a automobile, the 535i may very well be a fair-weather buddy. It was fast—0-100 mph in 18.8 seconds was the mark of a quick automobile again then, and it’s not dangerous at the moment. The overdrive model did it in 19.5, and the M5 in a startling 15.4 due to 286 bhp. The issue, nonetheless, was the wet-weather roadholding.
Michelin makes some nice tires, and on many automobiles, the TRX was distinctive. On the semi-trailing arm BMWs, although, it may very well be a legal responsibility, with sudden and vivid tail slides being its calling card. That, and the sheer price of substitute, meant that in time, many examples had the particular wheels changed by the likes of BBS with extra appropriate tires just like the Pirelli P7 or every other premium imperial tire.
The TRX—on this case, the 220/55VR390—was later changed for the E34 535i and post-’88 635CSi by a wider model, the 240/45VR415 from the M6 with some enchancment, and the E34 specifically had revised rear suspension geometry to impact an enormous enchancment. Early examples of the E28 M5, in addition to the M635CSi (M6 within the US), used the 390 TRX, but it labored higher due to the much-improved roll stiffness. Even so, the M5 had reverted to 225/50VR126 Pirelli imperial tires by 1986.
The US model of the 535i arrived in 1985 in impact-bumper-only type, and no plastic-bumper M535i model was provided. Changing the 533i, the US 535i had a decrease 8.0:1 compression ratio and delivered 180 bhp on unleaded gasoline, or barely lower than a Euro 528i. Working a 3.25-ratio model of the smaller Sort 188 differential, the automobiles additionally used the smaller Michelin TRX wheels and tires from the 528i—the 200/60VR390.
The US 535i additionally used commonplace 528i suspension, with the stiffer M Technic setup from Euro automobiles as an choice. Whereas it was higher than a 528e or 533i, the US 535i was positively not the identical beast because the Euro automobile, though it was higher outfitted as commonplace—cruise management, onboard pc, leather-based trim, and nearly actually air-con, plus, sadly, these dreadful large influence bumpers.
Nevertheless, in 2024, that’s nothing that can not be mounted—skim the top to lift the compression ratio, add Bilstein dampers, some first rate wheels and tires, plus a Euro bumper conversion package, and also you’ve obtained a a lot better probability of discovering an E28 within the US that hasn’t been attacked by the inevitable rust worm.
Why the E28 535i Stays a Beloved Traditional As we speak
In Europe, the 535i was a hit. BMW talked in 1985 about constructing 5,000 a 12 months, and so they most likely did. Adjustments had been few, and the final instance inbuilt December 1987 was a lot the identical as the primary automobiles. The E34 535i marked a brand new period for BMW, and it was undoubtedly a greater all-rounder if heavier and a bit slower.
But, nearly as good as they’re, they don’t have fairly the uncooked enchantment of the E28 model, a white-knuckle trip that can now price you about the identical in kilos or {dollars} because it did round 40 years in the past.
[Images: BMW Classic]
