M5 World
E28 M5 (1982-1988)
The first M5, which is based on the E28 5-Series, made its debut at the 1984 Amsterdam Motor Show. It was the product of demand for an automobile with the carrying capacity of a saloon (sedan), but the overall performance of a Sports Car. It utilised the 535i chassis, and an evolution of the engine from the BMW M1. The M5 was handbuilt by Motorsport technicians and was the fastest production saloon (sedan) in the world.
The M5 was offered in four different versions. The first version was the Left Hand Drive (LHD) European spec M5. The second version was the right-hand drive (RHD) British spec M5. The third version was the North American spec (NA or so-called 1988) M5. The fourth version was the South African (ZA) spec M5. It is worth noting that production of the M5 continued until November 1988, well after production of the E28 chassis ended in Germany in December 1987.
The LHD and RHD Euro specifications M5s, and the ZA specifications M5s had the M88/3 Powerplant which delivered 210 kW (286 PS; 282 BHP), whereas the North American 1988 M5 was equipped with the S38 6-cylinder engine that had a Catylic Converter, which reduced the power output to 191 kW (260 PS; 256 bhp). The S38 differed from the M88/3 in that it had 9.8:1 compression versus the M88/3's 10.5:1. The S38 also used a dual-row timing chain, where the M88/1 used a single-row chain. Initially 500 were to be made for the US Market, BMW later increased production to as many as 1,370 units for the US and Canadian markets, although the generally accepted figure is 1,244 units sold.
The North American spec models are unique, in that technically they were all finished in Schwarz (Black) with Natur (Tan) interiors. The otherwise virtually identical Canadian spec M5s were also available with Black interiors as an option, however a limited number of US Models were also equipped with Black interiors
United States Vehicle Identification Number (VINs) range from 2791000-2792000 and 2875000-2875320. Car # 2791000 is not known to have been built, and not all VINs are known to have been used. The first few cars built in November and December 1986 were issued Federal compliance labels showing a 1/87 build date. As has been speculated earlier, physical confirmation of the VIN of the United States M5 kept in BMW North America's Mobile Tradition collection
While every North American spec E28 M5 was a 1988 Model Year car, production of North American specification M5s commenced in November 1986 and ended in November 1987. Excepting 96 units that were assembled in kit form at BMW's Plant in Rosslyn, South Africa, all E28 M5s were assembled by hand at BMW Motorsport in Garching, Germany.
With a total production of 2,191 the E28 M5 remains among the rarest regular production BMW Motorsport cars - after the BMW M1 (456 units), BMW E34 M5 Touring (891 units), and the BMW 850CSi (1510 units).
At the time of sale, BMW quoted the following 0-60 times to give the impression that the E28 M5 did not outperform the more expensive, heavier and top-of-the-range E24 M635csi (BMW M6).
The M5 was offered in four different versions. The first version was the Left Hand Drive (LHD) European spec M5. The second version was the right-hand drive (RHD) British spec M5. The third version was the North American spec (NA or so-called 1988) M5. The fourth version was the South African (ZA) spec M5. It is worth noting that production of the M5 continued until November 1988, well after production of the E28 chassis ended in Germany in December 1987.
The LHD and RHD Euro specifications M5s, and the ZA specifications M5s had the M88/3 Powerplant which delivered 210 kW (286 PS; 282 BHP), whereas the North American 1988 M5 was equipped with the S38 6-cylinder engine that had a Catylic Converter, which reduced the power output to 191 kW (260 PS; 256 bhp). The S38 differed from the M88/3 in that it had 9.8:1 compression versus the M88/3's 10.5:1. The S38 also used a dual-row timing chain, where the M88/1 used a single-row chain. Initially 500 were to be made for the US Market, BMW later increased production to as many as 1,370 units for the US and Canadian markets, although the generally accepted figure is 1,244 units sold.
The North American spec models are unique, in that technically they were all finished in Schwarz (Black) with Natur (Tan) interiors. The otherwise virtually identical Canadian spec M5s were also available with Black interiors as an option, however a limited number of US Models were also equipped with Black interiors
United States Vehicle Identification Number (VINs) range from 2791000-2792000 and 2875000-2875320. Car # 2791000 is not known to have been built, and not all VINs are known to have been used. The first few cars built in November and December 1986 were issued Federal compliance labels showing a 1/87 build date. As has been speculated earlier, physical confirmation of the VIN of the United States M5 kept in BMW North America's Mobile Tradition collection
While every North American spec E28 M5 was a 1988 Model Year car, production of North American specification M5s commenced in November 1986 and ended in November 1987. Excepting 96 units that were assembled in kit form at BMW's Plant in Rosslyn, South Africa, all E28 M5s were assembled by hand at BMW Motorsport in Garching, Germany.
With a total production of 2,191 the E28 M5 remains among the rarest regular production BMW Motorsport cars - after the BMW M1 (456 units), BMW E34 M5 Touring (891 units), and the BMW 850CSi (1510 units).
At the time of sale, BMW quoted the following 0-60 times to give the impression that the E28 M5 did not outperform the more expensive, heavier and top-of-the-range E24 M635csi (BMW M6).
- (Euro) - 210 kW (286 PS; 282 bhp) 0-60 mph - 6.2 seconds. Top Speed: 246 km/h (153 mph)
- (USA) - 191 kW (260 PS; 256 bhp) 0-60 mph - 6.5 seconds. Top Speed: 238 km/h (148 mph)
- Whilst BMW Motorsport did not build any special versions of the E28 M5, the German tuner Hartge produced the Hartge H35S-24, a 330 PS (243 kW; 325 bhp) version of the E28 M5. Main modifications over and above the standard E28 M5 were revised cams, a modified exhaust, modified Bosch Motronic ECU programming, and a revised (and lowered) suspension setup.
- Alpina limited their tuning efforts to the older M30 engine powered models. The Alpina B7 Turbo produced 250 kW (340 PS; 335 bhp) with 0-60 mph times of 4.7 sec and a top speed of 270 km/h (168 mph).
