Posted by John in Simi Valley on January 29, 2003 at 23:38:23 from 64.175.105.63
I noticed an ad for a 528i, asking $1, (one dollar) obo. (Not affiliated, yada, yada, . . .)
The Ad reads:
"1981 BMW 528i inline 6 cylinder, fuel injection, 5 spd. manual trans., leather interior, new cylinder head, needs engine work, make an offer."
Phone: (661) 533-0751
I saw this car today.
Bad stuff first:
1. Motor is shot. Owner’s son admitted they ran it out of oil, many times. When we tried starting it, it protested with a LOUD KNOCK. It never fired up. I could have tried to get it running, but with obvious damage already done, it didn’t seem to accomplish anything useful. You’ll need a car dolly or tow.
2. Driver’s side door does not open from the outside. Have to reach in from elsewhere to lift the inner door handle.
3. Paint is Anthracite grey repaint over original paint without clear coat. Color is the same, but blistering on hood and roof. Other minor blemishes in paint exist, primarily occational delamination or blister.
The GOOD STUFF
1. This car looks great inside and out. Save for the paint peeling on the top, the body is straight, no dents, and no scrapes/scratches. Glass is clear with no cracks or blemishes.
2. Interior is black leather. The front seats are just awesome, always been covered with sheepskins. I tried to buy just the seats, but they refused saying it’s all or nothing. (Weird since they are asking a buck, and I’m offering decades more than that, and I offered to bolt in my fair condition seats, so they wouldn’t go seatless.) Whoever owned it 5 years ago tried to take good care of it. The wood trim was stripped, sanded, stained, varnished and looks very sharp. Carpets are clean with little wear with original BMW mats. Dash has the usual but unfortunate cracks.
3. The cylinder head was rebuilt in May 2002. Job cost the owner $1500. Car still burned massive oil; too bad they didn’t just do the entire motor. Why the mechanics didn’t check for cylinder block scoring (especially with the head off) is unknown.
4. New catalytic converter was installed last year. They said they didn’t think the car was burning oil because it didn’t smoke. It’s likely the CAT was doing most of the work in cleaning the exhaust, hence no smoke and CAT failure.
5. Original e12 wheels. This may not matter to many, but I like them.
6. Oh yea, it's a 5 speed.