Mfiver

Mike,

That quote is suggesting the M535i is not a true M-car. Fair enough. However, you might consider the way BMW marketed the (E28) M535i. In Germany, France and the UK (at least) a separate brochure was produced for this model.

According to BMW GB there were 2073 RHD M535i's: a contemporary magazine stated that BMW sold 10 M535's for every 535i. In the January '85 GB price list there's a footnote, “a 535i version is also available without M-Technic spoiler equipment”. No separate price was quoted. In the February '86 pricelist the 535i is listed as a separate model at a lower price.

The M535i could be ordered with the close ratio gearbox, the overdrive gearbox or the 4-speed switchable automatic - these were all No Cost Options. This helps explain why over 700 of the RHD M535's were automatics and some have overdrive 'boxes.

Keep on posting! Regards, Mfiver

kees

Hmmm, interesting information. That explains why you don't see many 'normal' 535i cars.

Wonder why most buyers didnt go for a short ratio box if that was a no cost option? Unless you did a lot of motorway driving... autobox is a crime in a car like that...

raymondw

Hello Kees,

Most American's prefer a slushbox over a manual and it is sure that BMW increased it's business with offering a slushbox for the E28 M535i. The M30 engine combined with a slushbox is a very good combination. Our 735i has it, and this car is a great cruiser. Hence, even Alpina (by Sytner) offered automatic's for the B9 and the B10.

Thank GOD however that motorsport did not thought the same and that the E12 ///M535i and untill at least now, all ///M5's where and still are not available with a slushbox.

Take care,

Raymond

Andy G

Did the M535i 's bodykit come as a delete option? say, retain the lower front spoiler and boot spoiler, just do away with the under bumper items and the side skirts?
(Manual would be my choice as well)

Mfiver

Andy,

Sorry for delay in posting a reply to this one - the M-Technic bodykit was standard on the M535i and could not be deleted to my knowledge.

If the body kit wasn't wanted then it would have to be a case of ordering a plain-wrapper 535i/SE and raiding the options list (e.g. the close ratio gearbox was a £577 option on the 535i in 9/86 - the sports seats were a further £391). I am not certain about the front air dam that would be fitted on the 535i/SE but it looks like a standard 528 to me.

On the M535i, the front bumper and air dam is a one-piece moulding that picks up on a standard steel bumper bar. The same is true at the rear while the side skirts also require steel extension pieces to be fitted to the floor behind them to enable the use of a trolley jack or sill-type hoist of the type used in most BMW dealers.

Removing such a body kit would seem to be a lot of effort (many holes to fill and parts to source).

This bodykit was optional on the M5 (though not listed in the "model range" price lists) and in the UK there are a number of cars so fitted, including at least one where this was added by a BMW dealer at a later date. I seem to recall it was about £968 but can't locate the reference right now. This sum would, I am almost certain, have included "de-chroming" ("black satin chrome") which was also an option on other models at £263 (9/86).

All of the (maybe half-a-dozen since '97?) 535's I have seen in the metal have had the M-Technic "flat face" TRX slotted alloy wheels of the type fitted to the M535i. I have seen a couple of 535's advertised and photographed with the "vane type" TRX alloys of the type fitted to certain 6 series. I cannot remember if these cars have the wheelarch extension lips but I suspect they would need them in order to cover the larger tyres. My own M535i actually came with a vane-type spare wheel: I assumed that "my" spare wheel had been mixed up in the past (with hindsight, perhaps at the factory!) and that it was incorrect, so I bought a good secondhand "flat face". I still have the vane-type wheel stored in my garage loft!

Keep on posting...