Posted by Don Daynes on May 18, 2001 at 00:03:13:
If you can believe what you read.
Interesting if not somewhat conflicting info. Anyone else have weight specs? Where were they published?
Road&Track on '79 e12 - curb weight 3440
Road&Track on '79 Alpina B7 - curb weight 3275
BWM 5 Series by James Taylor:
'80 - '81 M535i - curb weight 3230
'77 - '81 e12 - unladden 3197 - 3274 depending on spec
'75 - '78 530i - curb weight 3368
Car and Driver on '80 e12 - curb weight 3180
also in the article...in addition to the new 5 speed transmission. "The engineers also managed to trim 110 lbs from last years car by carfully squeezing ounces out of everything from radiator hoses to door glass."
I don't know about rad hoses and door glass, but between '79 and '80 the air box went from steel to aluminum and I'm sure the seat brackets are lighter. The door and glove box hinges changed and look lighter. Bet you the seatbelts are lighter too.
BTW "BMW 5 Series Gold Portfolio 1981-1987" lists the F/R weight dist as 65/35 for both the late e12 and early e28. That just has to be wrong as the rest of the articles I have list it around 56/44.