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Pics: South African red E28 M5

49K views 51 replies 22 participants last post by  mx5freak2 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)


G'day from Melbourne Gustav, and thanks for the update. Here are some pix of my own M5 ... South African built, number five of the 96 built with serial
number 001017 etched on all the glass, henna red with light grey "full
leather" (even the dash top) interior, 1987 build, imported to Australia
privately in 1996 (this model was not officially imported by BMW Australia),
45000 kms (28000 miles) to date from new.
It's Ok to put this on the site if you wish.

Kind regards, Stewart XXXX





 
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#27 ·
Interesting comments on number of RHD cars. I have seen 177, 184 and 187 quoted in various books and enthusiast Press articles. Looking up each VIN in turn on ETK, all numbers up to 1679187 are recognised as valid but 188 is not.

The last GB RHD car was built for Paul Layzell, then MD of BMW GB. The story goes that he had an M5 as his company car and that this was written-off in an accident. He wanted a replacement but by this time E28 M5 production had ceased and consequently a car was built from parts specially for him.

Whilst this might sound slightly improbable, if SA RHD assembly (from CKD kits) continued after the end of Motorsport assembly then maybe this car could have been built at Motorsport using a set of parts originally intended for SA. The car concerned definitely has the VIN WBS....187 so it was assembled in Germany.

My own car (113) is to GB spec but was originally supplied to the Isle of Man, which means that its first registration fell outside the GB system. On coming to the mainland in 1993 it was therefore registered as an imported car.

RHD cars supplied to the Republic of Ireland - if any - would presumably also be to GB spec and again would fall outside the GB registration system. I am not sure of the import/concession arrangements applicable to the Republic and if BMW GB has (or had) a role in the supply chain.

The above issues might help explain why there are some variations in numbers quoted but the existence of a car with the VIN WBS....187 and the ETK information strongly suggests that the figure of 187 RHD cars actually assembled at Motorsport is the correct one. Where they all went is a different matter!

After I bought my car about 5 years ago I wrote to BMW GB to enquire if they had any details. They wrote back on 14 February 2000 and in a detailed letter (that listed the correct Isle of Man registration date for my car but quoting the 1993 GB-issue registration mark as the original mark) stated that there were 154 (one five four) right hand drive E28 M5's produced. I have never challenged that but believe it not to be correct.

The letter did helpfully add that in November 1986 the colours available in GB on E28 M5 were:

(Solid colours)

Black
Gazelle beige
Zinnober red
Alpine white
Carmine red
Lapis blue
Saturn blue

(Metallic colours)

Bronze
Diamond black
Emerald green
Dolphin grey
Cirrus blue
Royal blue
Burgundy
Lachs silver
Mink brown
Luxor beige
Malachite green

Interiors were listed as

(Cloth)

Pacific; Nutria; Pearl beige; Pine green

(Leather)

Anthracite (Buffalo); Black; Pacific; Pearl beige; Llama beige; Cardinal red.

Some of the above must be 7-series colours, anyone care to elaborate?

That's it for now....

Regards to all

Mfiver
 
#28 ·
Hi Mfiver, good stuff! My car is henna red with white / v.light grey depending on how you look at it!) full leather spec interior. I agree there are varying build numbers ... do you think Mobile Tradition might have the exact figures? One or two either way probably doesn't matter that much as we have very rare and desirable cars. It amazes me how devalued they are in the UK given their rarity when other, less able cars seem to fetch higher values. It's hard to value the car here as there is no market, perhaps AUD55-60k (say UKL21-22k?). Kind regards, Stewart

Mfiver said:
Interesting comments on number of RHD cars. I have seen 177, 184 and 187 quoted in various books and enthusiast Press articles. Looking up each VIN in turn on ETK, all numbers up to 1679187 are recognised as valid but 188 is not.

The last GB RHD car was built for Paul Layzell, then MD of BMW GB. The story goes that he had an M5 as his company car and that this was written-off in an accident. He wanted a replacement but by this time E28 M5 production had ceased and consequently a car was built from parts specially for him.

Whilst this might sound slightly improbable, if SA RHD assembly (from CKD kits) continued after the end of Motorsport assembly then maybe this car could have been built at Motorsport using a set of parts originally intended for SA. The car concerned definitely has the VIN WBS....187 so it was assembled in Germany.

My own car (113) is to GB spec but was originally supplied to the Isle of Man, which means that its first registration fell outside the GB system. On coming to the mainland in 1993 it was therefore registered as an imported car.

RHD cars supplied to the Republic of Ireland - if any - would presumably also be to GB spec and again would fall outside the GB registration system. I am not sure of the import/concession arrangements applicable to the Republic and if BMW GB has (or had) a role in the supply chain.

The above issues might help explain why there are some variations in numbers quoted but the existence of a car with the VIN WBS....187 and the ETK information strongly suggests that the figure of 187 RHD cars actually assembled at Motorsport is the correct one. Where they all went is a different matter!

After I bought my car about 5 years ago I wrote to BMW GB to enquire if they had any details. They wrote back on 14 February 2000 and in a detailed letter (that listed the correct Isle of Man registration date for my car but quoting the 1993 GB-issue registration mark as the original mark) stated that there were 154 (one five four) right hand drive E28 M5's produced. I have never challenged that but believe it not to be correct.

The letter did helpfully add that in November 1986 the colours available in GB on E28 M5 were:

(Solid colours)

Black
Gazelle beige
Zinnober red
Alpine white
Carmine red
Lapis blue
Saturn blue

(Metallic colours)

Bronze
Diamond black
Emerald green
Dolphin grey
Cirrus blue
Royal blue
Burgundy
Lachs silver
Mink brown
Luxor beige
Malachite green

Interiors were listed as

(Cloth)

Pacific; Nutria; Pearl beige; Pine green

(Leather)

Anthracite (Buffalo); Black; Pacific; Pearl beige; Llama beige; Cardinal red.

Some of the above must be 7-series colours, anyone care to elaborate?

That's it for now....

Regards to all

Mfiver
 
#29 ·
I'm surprised that you say it's Henna red, from the pictures it looks more like Zinnober (Henna being a more orange shade which I thought was last used on '84 model year cars), Zinnober is certainly listed in the GB colour charts I have for 1985 and 86 whereas Henna is not. I don't know if bodyshells were painted in SA but if so then the colour shades may have differed from German built cars. German build cars have the colour code on a label on the RH front strut tower, does yours?

As far as the interior goes, the images don't really show enough - if a light coloured interior, I'd have said pearl beige but if it looks white/grey then probably not, even though pearl beige fades! In 87/88 (?) the 6-series was available with a Lotus white (I think that's what they called it) interior colour - incredibly impractical, as it looks dirty so quickly but very in-period stylish when clean and probably a lot better than a dark interior in a warm climate.

If grey, then maybe like the interior in GB WBS....187. For comparison, see "BMW 5-series - the complete story" by James Taylor published 1999 (ISBN 1 86126 178 0) - there's a colour picture of an E28 grey full leather interior complete with leather dash top and console (an auto, so not an M5, possibly an M535i as it shows sports seats). There's also an illustration of a SA built M5: it is red but with dark coloured interior.

Someone, somewhere will have a SA market M5 sales brochure - I can't believe they wouldn't have made one. A GB market brochure in good condition will be around £15 to £20, they are not too difficult to get hold of.

On numbers, I guess Mobile Tradition probably do have the numbers. Maybe I'll get round to e-mailing them eventually....

As you say, here in the UK the values are relatively low, at least compared with the US. There are a very few (maybe 2 or 3?) ultra low mileage cars and the value of these is anyone's guess, though one was advertised at £30k last year. Otherwise a good car with reasonable mileage and service history is considerably less - I looked at about 10 cars over a period of about 18 months before eventually finding mine just a few miles from my home! Most have done lots of miles - as they were designed to do - and are getting a bit rough round the edges. They are not common (it would be good to know how may are left in GB) and even at the annual BMW Car Club GB show it's unusual to see more than 4 or 5.

Kind regards

Mfiver
 
#30 ·
Yep, definitely henna red as per the sticker in the engine room. In the sunlight, the car is almost tangerine coloured. A good friend of mine had a zinnobar E28 M535i which looked quite dowdy next to mine, as lovely as it was. I'll get some photos of the interior. If there is a sales brochure available for the car (anyone listening??!!) I will pay good money to give it a home. Obviously this stuff is unheard of here and BMW Australia can't assist as it isn't one of their imports. It would be a rare sight here to see a single M5, let alone four or five together! Cheers Stewart

Mfiver said:
I'm surprised that you say it's Henna red, from the pictures it looks more like Zinnober (Henna being a more orange shade which I thought was last used on '84 model year cars), Zinnober is certainly listed in the GB colour charts I have for 1985 and 86 whereas Henna is not. I don't know if bodyshells were painted in SA but if so then the colour shades may have differed from German built cars. German build cars have the colour code on a label on the RH front strut tower, does yours?

As far as the interior goes, the images don't really show enough - if a light coloured interior, I'd have said pearl beige but if it looks white/grey then probably not, even though pearl beige fades! In 87/88 (?) the 6-series was available with a Lotus white (I think that's what they called it) interior colour - incredibly impractical, as it looks dirty so quickly but very in-period stylish when clean and probably a lot better than a dark interior in a warm climate.

If grey, then maybe like the interior in GB WBS....187. For comparison, see "BMW 5-series - the complete story" by James Taylor published 1999 (ISBN 1 86126 178 0) - there's a colour picture of an E28 grey full leather interior complete with leather dash top and console (an auto, so not an M5, possibly an M535i as it shows sports seats). There's also an illustration of a SA built M5: it is red but with dark coloured interior.

Someone, somewhere will have a SA market M5 sales brochure - I can't believe they wouldn't have made one. A GB market brochure in good condition will be around £15 to £20, they are not too difficult to get hold of.

On numbers, I guess Mobile Tradition probably do have the numbers. Maybe I'll get round to e-mailing them eventually....

As you say, here in the UK the values are relatively low, at least compared with the US. There are a very few (maybe 2 or 3?) ultra low mileage cars and the value of these is anyone's guess, though one was advertised at £30k last year. Otherwise a good car with reasonable mileage and service history is considerably less - I looked at about 10 cars over a period of about 18 months before eventually finding mine just a few miles from my home! Most have done lots of miles - as they were designed to do - and are getting a bit rough round the edges. They are not common (it would be good to know how may are left in GB) and even at the annual BMW Car Club GB show it's unusual to see more than 4 or 5.

Kind regards

Mfiver
 
#31 · (Edited by Moderator)
Stewart Garmey said:
It would be a rare sight here to see a single M5, let alone four or five together! Cheers Stewart
During the Oldtimer Grand Prix in August 2002, there where about 10 E28 ///M5's of which 5 or 6 are shown on the attached picture. (Picture courtesy: Jeroen @bmwe21.net)
 

Attachments

#35 ·
<embed width="430" height="355" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://s6.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid6.photobucket.com/albums/y201/OZSammy/Trinity%20Show%20and%20Shine%2019th%20Nov%2006/L1190359.flv"></embed>




The Car's looking good Stewart :)

Cheers,
Sam.
 
#37 ·
How fast is a South African M5?

BTW, Which is the official max speed of the south african E28 M5?
I'm asking it because all the 96 units of the SA M5 were produced with the M bodykit fitted and in the case of the M535i this aerodinamic package let it go 5 Km/h faster than the mechanically identical 535i.
 
#38 ·
raymond woertman said:
Steward,


BTW: Attached you find a picture of my car that I shot yesterday evening at ~9.00PM.
Raymond,
are your BBS wheels the originals that came with your car?
They look like they have a deeper dish and the diameter looks like they may be 17"s.
I wouldn't mind a larger diameter wheel, sometimes the sixteen's look too small especially for the rears. :santasmile2:
 
#39 ·
toys r' us said:
Raymond,
are your BBS wheels the originals that came with your car?
They look like they have a deeper dish and the diameter looks like they may be 17"s.
I wouldn't mind a larger diameter wheel, sometimes the sixteen's look too small especially for the rears. :santasmile2:
The rims on my car are not the original style 5 rims, but the BBS RZ323 and RZ324 instead. The fronts measures 7.5J*16ET20, the rears measure 8.5J*16ET22.
 
#40 ·
The general consensus appears to be to stick with the 16" wheels as larger sizes may upset the balance of the car.......

p.s. I can't believe how tidy that Red M5 looks ......definitely gives a yardstick to work towards !
 
#41 · (Edited)
Right thats it DAMMIT!!!!

First Davidoli hits me with the thread about him buying and E28 M5 and now Stewarts car. All this within 5 minutes!!!!

As I said on Davidoli's thread I had talked my way out of buying one, now you guys have ruined everything and Im going to have to buy one.

I just hope you guys are happy now and if I end up divorced im blaming you two!!!!!

Damn that car is brilliant!!!!!!! hiha

And by the way Gustav you are also to blame for this highly addictive board!!!!

I will be passing all of your e-mail addresses to my wife..... ON YOUR HEADS BE IT.....

PS I want an E28 M5 like my old one PLEEAAAAAAAASSSSSEEEEE Santa!!!!
 
#42 ·
I exported to aus a gloss black e28 M5 about 18 months ago. I think the car ended up in sydney ?. It had the bodykit, full beige / natural leather inc doors,consoles etc, period blaupunkt new york with stalk equalizer and factory moonroof.
I bought it london as a straight but slightly tired 1 owner car and refurbished it including timing chain etc. Where is it now ?, i didn't realize there were so few in aus. I also have an m635 in my folks garage in perth, but thats another story.
 
#44 ·
Really? That was a no cost option I suppose from BMW M :dunno:

svargas said:
BTW, Which is the official max speed of the south african E28 M5?
I'm asking it because all the 96 units of the SA M5 were produced with the M bodykit fitted and in the case of the M535i this aerodinamic package let it go 5 Km/h faster than the mechanically identical 535i.
 
#45 ·
Davidoli. I am an independant BMW specialist, when not fixing customers cars i buy and sell a few 'oddballs'. The M5 in question was an arrow straight one owner car from the coventry area. I done all the work to the car myself except some paintwork. I fitted a genuine new o/s/f wing and bonnet because of minor rust damage. The o/s/f jacking point was the only structural rust on the car. I fitted all stock parts when replacing the timing chain, i don't know anyone who has done a duplex 'conversion' and i wasn't going to be the guinea pig !.
Incidentally when Bernard had ecu problems a while ago,i supplied him the good used one that is now in your car !. I have dismantled a couple of M5s so have quite a few parts available including a complete moonroof kit.
 
#46 ·
Gustav said:
Really? That was a no cost option I suppose from BMW M :dunno:
The drag coefficient of the E28 improved with this M package and yes, all the south african M5 were equipped with the M-Technic body panels that could be ordered as an option in some markets.

<O:p</O:pAs a curiosity, in the case of the M535i, BMW South Africa went in the opposite direction as no any of the SA M535i were fitted with the M-Technic body panels.

<O:p</O:pOnly 27 units of the E28 M5 were officially imported to Spain (with spanish language on the trip computer and check control) all of them with the M aerodynamics package. Mine was first came to Spain in January 1986. Unit 296.

<O:p</O:pOfficial max speed for European M5 is 245 Km/h, no M kit, I guess. I just wondered if there was a different addenda with different data performance for SA home-made M5.
Maybe Stewart Garmey can tell...

Mouthwatering henna red car ;)
<O:p</O:p
 
#52 ·
I really like SA 745i's. Too bad though that although this car is only 5K Euro's roughly buying-price, that it'll get multiplied by x.x for shipping and import-costs, it'll be a RHD as well as most likely at automatic, like most were, making this quite an expensive toy :sad3:

Not to mention if you'd want to view it there, or the costs for an event. intermediate (I'd know someone eventually should someone be SERIOUSLY interested. Good address but commercial), and not taking into account any added costs for work required on it.
 
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