e28 (535i) Buying advice....

[Pearson-Franks Family <pearsonf@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi, Charles.

Just a random aside as I cut-and-paste your e-mail addresses:
Why two?  Don't you trust your Juno account.  Just curious . . .

On to questions:  please pardon my memory (I had a _real_
good time in the '70's!); did I send you my 3 part epic on E28's?
If not, let me know privately and I'll let fly.

Another question:  you mention BMW dealers being able to just roll
back odometers as if it is a common phenomenon.  Is that your
experience?  Do you have a story to share there?  I would love
to hear it.  It is _my_ experience that it takes an odometer
shop dissassembling the beastie to set it back - I have been
into a number of them for the frequent tripmeter gear failure,
and setting the odo back would be a physical pain.  One could
easily swap speedo/odo assy's to put in another mileage, but
where do you get low-mile odo's?

Couple observations:

1)  The car tells the tale; _not_ the odometer, and certainly
    not the salesperson (gag!).  Look closely at the finish,
    windshield glass, seat bolsters, pedal pads, heel wear
    under the gas pedal, driver's inside door pull, etc. for
    signs of lots of wear.  Almost all of these items are
    replaceable, but they collectively give clues better than
    the odometer as to how long and hard the car was used.
2)  I have purchased the majority of my used Bimmers from dealers
    of one flavor or another.  They are certainly no worse in
    my experience than an individual who either doesn't know
    jack, or the one who _does_ know about defects in their
    car and doesn't tell you.
3)  A pre-inspection is worth gold.  Have it done by an E28-
    savvy third party, and get written details - the more the
    better.  I can send you my own checklist, harvested from
    several local ones and my own experiences, as a private Word
    file attachment.  (Just ignor the Volvo-specific lines!).
4)  My local (Seattle-area) dealers offer guaranteed, pre-owned
    cars, but not as old as E28's.  Your local dealers may vary.
5)  Re:  your #2:  the only PM I can envision for a head gasket
    is frequent coolant changes with non-phosphate coolant.  Some
    may retorque heads, but opinions vary.
6)  Bad bushings drive bad, but won't leave you at the side of
    the road, unless you lose control braking hard at high speed
    as your first test (hint:  don't do this).

Have fun, Larry F.

>Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1999 23:36:17 -0800
>From: charles_de_jesus@domain.elided (Charles S De Jesus)
>Subject: e28 (535i)  Buying advice....
>
>I just wanted to thank all the folks for responding for my request for
>information regarding an e28 (535i)  in email.
>
>I am currently trying to be very patient in searching for a  535i 5spd.
>
>1.  Would you folks purchase from a pre-owned non BMW dealer (usedcar)
>knowing they can just turn the odometer back?  Does BMW have a used car
>safety inspection program and is it really worth the money?
>
>2.  Quick Maintenance question:  How do you perform preventive
>maintenance on your headgasket? To avoid coolant and oil mixture which I
>have been reading recently on digest?
>
>3.  Regarding bushings. If these fail / disentegrate does this mean
>catastropic failure and a tow to the shop?
>
>**New future e28 / 535i owner...eyeing my neighbors pristine 535i e28***
>
> Charles_De_Jesus@domain.elided
>

Larry Franks
Issaquah, Washington
'86 535i x 2
'83 245 GLT (Swedish iron)

------------------------------

End of bmw-digest V9 #811
*************************