slownrusty

Gang - I actually stopped to test drive this '93 M5 that was sitting at a dealer a few miles from my office...

The M5 (E34 model) - 286hp 3.5L 24V. The car is very nice white but you can tell several panels have been re-painted. The mileage is 166,000 which scares me as there are no service records. Electrically everything works. Clutch feels OK, seems to be a fair bit of valvetrain clatter (I do not know what is normal for a M5), but I would assume they should purrr being a silky 24V straight 6. Grey leather is pretty beat especially driver's side...no rips just alot of cracking. Power is very good and drives very well, excellent throttle response with those 6ITBs! and excellent handler too, the car has been lowered and felt pretty tight. Price is negotiable at $10K

As I was walking back to my car I noticed the same dealer has a 32V 1986 928 tucked in the corner!! I could not believe it! Trust me this is very rare for Diesel Pick-Up Truck Colorado Springs! The car is also nice only 66K! Auto. Car started Ok but was very rough, exhaust leak for sure but as I drove it more and more the roughness smoothed out - I figure it needs a good tune-up at minimum. Car banged pretty hard between shifts so I assume the linkage needs adjustment. Power was lazy-ish in first gear but VERY good in the other gears. VERY peppy and felt just as solid as the M5, very stable and nice driving...in fact I got hooked! I loved the way the car drove actually. Electrically evrything worked fine on this car as well. Carfax on it is clean and the car has not been messed with at all still has the factory Blaupunkt. If were a 5speed car I would have bought it right there...price is $9500 negotiable. The color is pretty neat.

So what do you guys think?

Here are the pics.

M5:





928:





Yasin

Abby Normal

NO side moldings! Auto or 5 speed?

EDIT: auto.

pmotts

Easy choice, the Shark.

hacker-pschorr

I've often thought about picking up an early M5 as a people hauler when needed. I would never sell one of my sharks for one though.

Airflite40

was the last four digits of the 86 higher than 1000? If so then it is an 86.5! S4 brakes and suspension. BUY IT!

Bill Coleman

Agree. The M5 is a really great car, but it's not a 928. I could see one as a companion, but not a replacement.

I almost bought one a few years back - probably should have for that matter. I could have flipped it for a few thou. But I'm not sure I could have sold it - that'a one sweet car. But the 928 is even better!

DANdeMAN

I think you allready now this, it's a dealer so negotiate negotiate negotiate, bring that price down.

No contest, the shark is the winner...it (95%)will not rust, not sure about the BMW

jyoon

for $9500, i'd rather get an S4 auto than an 86.

Mark

Isn't this post like putting a Presidential Election Poll on Either the Dem or Rep National committee website???

Don't let that autobox fool you. They DO shift aggressively and can be driven manually. My little '85 Auto has SPANKED some M5's on a numberof Autox and DE courses!!

And then there's the looks of the shark....(sigh...)

Mark

But if turns out to be an 86.5 - and at $9500 (negotiable!) AND...YOU GET AN ACCEPTABLE PPI!

H2

Getting a PPI from a reputable Porsche mechanic WHO KNOWS AND WORKS ON 928S is essential...or you can get taken bad.

Harvey

slownrusty

Thanks for all your replies guys - mucho appreciated.

I'm still pondering, so we'll see. The M5 has too many miles for my liking especially with zero records. I do not *need* a 4 door car, but the M5 is pretty sexxxy. I have seen well maintained M5 with 230K on the clock with 175psi on all cylinders, so high mileage cars with the proper care are still great machines (like the 928).

My bias is still a 5speed 928....so we'll see and yes I agree a PPI is essential for sure.

I'll let you guys know.

Thanks for the advice and the heads-up
Yasin

Kore928

Another vote for a shark. If not this one, maybe another better example. I've worked on and driven a few Beemers and I have a lot of respect for them, but "ultimate driving machine"? I don't think so. Nothing compares to the cheezing on my face when I'm in my shark.

SwayBar

Just on mileage alone, I would go with the 928, but you would still have homework to do such as the PPI, and check it's records if available.

However, I would pose the same question to the M5 guys and see what they say about a high mileage, no-records M5; as you stated, it may still be a good car. It certainly looks nice.

fabric

I was just about to say the same thing, but you can get a next gen 540i for not much more, and they have basically the same horsepower. Plus you could get a wagon, although apparently you can't get a manual on those.

It appears that owning an automatic 928 has made me soft, my desire for a manual diminishes every day.