Posted by Joel on February 01, 2008 at 19:39:05 from 68.38.143.146
I have to get rid of my 1980 528iA e12 (WBA3997008791885, Safari beige) for what I consider to be a silly reason: It was raining today in Central NJ and I hate to see the rear door sill rust spots increase in size (which they tend to do whenever the car gets wet, I've noticed). I'm basically selling this car because I can't stand to see this car deteriorate. I love this car, but I've decided I need another car as a daily driver.
I would love the car to go to someone who actually cares about e12s and will "rescue" this car from being donated and then being crushed into a landfill. About 8000 528is were sold new in the U.S. in 1980. I don't expect there to be more than 500 1980 e12s running.
I have owned this car for 10 years and put on around 30,000 miles. The odometer reads slightly less than 126,000 miles but I believe it was broken when I bought it at around 100,147 from a dealer. (I later had it repaired after driving the car for about 8,000 miles). The dealer said the odometer was working when they got it. He might be telling the truth. The car could have anywhere between 135,000 miles and 450,000 miles on it for all I know but I'm guessing that the mileage is probably close to 140,000. Besides the broken odometer, I've never had any problems with the car besides normal driving wear and age-related wear (oil changes, wheel balancings, brake pads and rotors, radiator fan, windshield wiper motors, etc.) The only reason it's ever failed inspection is I've occasionally forgotten to replace the wiper blades. I've always had this as a second car and only within the past year have made it my primary and daily driver. It has been garaged during its past 10 years (I cannot speak for the first 18) and I've tried to drive it exclusively in the autumn and spring (until this year when I've had to use it this winter).
(to be continued)