BMW E28
Encyclopedia
The BMW E28 BMW 5-Series was made between 1981 and 1988. It replaced the BMW E12
in 1981 and was replaced by the BMW E34
in 1989.
E28 Production started in July 1981 and ended in December 1987. The E28 was still sold in North America as a 1988 Model Year car while Europe received the E34 towards the end of 1987.
A 3-speed automatic was offered in the 528e in 1982-1983. It was also offered in the `83 533i. By 1984, the 4-speed version was introduced to both models. In 1986, the EH version was available in the 535i. It featured a 3-mode switch: E, S, 3-2-1.
Automatic transmission and limited-slip differential were optional on all models except the M5 and 524td. The 524td was only imported with an automatic transmission, and the M5 was only imported with a manual transmission.
Heated seats were optional in Canada and available in the USA only as an option on the M5. Consequently, few if any M5s were delivered without heated seats.
Leather upholstery and an on-board trip computer were optional on the 528e and 524td.
From 1985 All E28s sold in North America had ABS Brakes as standard. Some `85 535i's were equipped with power seats.
From 1986 All E28s sold in North America had power-adjustable front seats as standard as well as an upgraded stereo.
Heated driver door lock were available for outside cold temperature.
, a 12 valve SOHC inline six cylinder design. It had seven main bearings and seven cam shaft bearings, a rocker arm type valvetrain driven by a composite rubber timing belt. US market M20s came with cast aluminum acoustically tuned, common plenum intake manifolds and a single throttle body. This engine was first available in the European market for model year 1976 in a 2.0 L carbureted version. It later grew to 2.3 L in the E21 323i, then 2.5 L in the E30 325i and also 2.7 L in the 325e and 528e models. It is also very similar to the later 24 valve engines as in the E36 and E46 3 series models, with the same basic block dimensions.Top speed is 111 mph (automatic models).
The big six engine found in the 528i, 533i and 535i/is models is known as the M30
. The M30 is also a 12 valve SOHC inline six cylinder design. It has seven main bearings, four camshaft bearings and a rocker arm type valvetrain. US M30's also came equipped with cast aluminum acoustically tuned common plenum intake manifolds and single throttle bodies. Unlike the M20 it has a chain-driven valvetrain. Its larger dimensions allow for a longer stroke and larger bore, which makes for almost 3.5 L displacement in later engines.
Both 533i and 535i M30 intake manifold from 1982-1988 had a "3.2/3.5" casting. During the new intake manifold's development a 3.2 L version existed in Europe and the US, and a 3.5 L in Europe. When the 3.4 L versions came out a year later in Europe, the casting was not changed. The 3.4 L was introduced to the US in 1985. 1988, was the last year this manifold casting was used in the E28 535i and 535is. A new style intake manifold was designed for the new 3.4 L. The casting read "3.5", but it was still 3.4 L (3430 cc). For the US, the 735i and the 635 csi were the first to receive the new M30 in 1988.
The M535i was introduced as a sporty version of the regular 535i, although the M535i does not feature any unique BMW Motorsport-designed drivetrain components it is, however, equipped with an M-Technic suspension, wheels and body panels not found on the standard 535i. Combined, these items distinguish the M535i from the regular 535i. The E28 M535i was introduced at the 1984 Paris Auto Salon. Unlike the hand-built E28 M5, the E28 M535i was assembled on the standard E28 assembly line in Dingolfing, outside of Munich. An additional batch of cars was built at BMW's Rosslyn, South Africa factory using Complete Knock-Down kits supplied from Germany. BMW did not import the E28 M535i to North America for two reasons: 1# the M brand had not yet been established in North America at the time and thus held little equity with the consumer and 2# the cost of adapting the M-Technic body panels to fit the contours of the government-mandated bumpers was highly prohibitive. Instead, BMW of North America created the 535is, essentially a standard 535i equipped with front and rear spoilers, sport suspension and sport seats, which was sold exclusively in the U.S. and Canada. Total M535i production: 10335 cars
The M5 came with a big six engine known as the S38. This engine is similar to the M30, but has a 24 valve cylinder head, duplex timing chain, dual overhead cam layout and shim and bucket style valvetrain. In addition to the top end revisions, the S38 also had six individual throttle bodies and intake trumpets fed by a cast aluminum intake plenum. This engine was designed for high power and durability at very high engine speeds. In the E28 chassis it was one of the fastest sedans in the world for its time, and it remains legendary among enthusiasts today.
The E28 received the first BMW diesel engine ever, the M21
, in the 524td (85 KW; 115 HP). It was the fastest and most silent diesel car at the time. Later, a 524d version (63 KW; 85 HP), stripped of its turbo, was introduced.
BMW E12
The BMW E12 BMW 5-Series was made between 1972 and 1981. The E12 was the first series to bear the 5 Series name: the '5' denoting BMW's fifth 'New Class' platform. Designed as a replacement for the popular BMW New Class mid-size sedan, the E12 5-Series models were smaller than the large BMW E3...
in 1981 and was replaced by the BMW E34
BMW E34
The BMW E34 is the version of the BMW 5 Series automobile built from February 1988 to 1995 with the Touring model ending June 1996. It replaced the BMW E28 in 1988 and was replaced by the E39 in 1996....
in 1989.
E28 Production started in July 1981 and ended in December 1987. The E28 was still sold in North America as a 1988 Model Year car while Europe received the E34 towards the end of 1987.
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European model range
- 518 M10B18 carbureted engine, produced through 9/84
- 518i M10B18 fuel-injected engine, 1984 to 1987
- 520i M20B20BMW M20The M20 is an inline-6 piston engine by BMW.Initially designated M60, the 12-valve, belt driven SOHC design was introduced in the 1977 BMW 520/6 and 320/6 as an entirely new design. With displacements ranging from 2.0 to 2.7 liters, it was the "little brother" to the larger BMW M30 engine. It had ...
early, fuel-injected engine, 1981–1985 - 520i M20B20BMW M20The M20 is an inline-6 piston engine by BMW.Initially designated M60, the 12-valve, belt driven SOHC design was introduced in the 1977 BMW 520/6 and 320/6 as an entirely new design. With displacements ranging from 2.0 to 2.7 liters, it was the "little brother" to the larger BMW M30 engine. It had ...
late, fuel-injected engine, 1985–1987 - 524d M21D24BMW M21The BMW M21 was a 2.4 L diesel straight-6 engine.It was introduced in 1983 with the BMW M20 design as its basis. It was available with a turbocharger....
diesel 2.4 L engine, 1983–1988 - 524td M21D24 turbocharged diesel 2.4 L engine, 1983–1987
- 525i M30B25BMW M30The BMW M30 is an inline-6 cylinder engine built by BMW and was used in many different models since 1968. It was originally developed in the late 1960s as an extended 2.5-liter version of the robust inline four-cylinder BMW M10 first used in the 'Neue Klasse' BMW 1500, with which it shares a...
fuel-injected (Motronic) 2.5 L engine, 1981–1987 - 525e M20B27 fuel-injected (Motronic) 2.7 L high efficiency engine, 1983–1988
- 528i M30B28BMW M30The BMW M30 is an inline-6 cylinder engine built by BMW and was used in many different models since 1968. It was originally developed in the late 1960s as an extended 2.5-liter version of the robust inline four-cylinder BMW M10 first used in the 'Neue Klasse' BMW 1500, with which it shares a...
fuel-injected (LE-Jetronic) 2.8 L engine, 1981–1987 - 535i M30B34 fuel-injected (Motronic) 3.4 L engine.
- M535i M30B34 fuel-injected (Motronic) 3.4 L engine, with M-Technic aerodynamic kit, sport seats and unique 390 mm alloy wheels, 1985–1988
- M5 S38BMW M88The BMW M88/3 is an in line 6 cylinder piston engine. It was based on the M88/1 that was used in the BMW M1's street version, with double overhead cam and four valves per cylinder. The M88/1 was in turn based on the M49 engine which was used in the BMW 3.0CSi...
fuel injected 3.5 L engine, 1985–1988
North American E28 range
All North American specification E28s (`82-`88) were comprehensively equipped. Power windows, central locking, air conditioning, power sunroof, cruise control, alloy wheels and fog lights were standard. In addition the 533i, 535i, 535is and M5 came standard with leather upholstery and on-board trip computer.Automatic transmission and limited-slip differential were optional on all models except the M5 and 524td. The 524td was only imported with an automatic transmission, and the M5 was only imported with a manual transmission.
Heated seats were optional in Canada and available in the USA only as an option on the M5. Consequently, few if any M5s were delivered without heated seats.
Leather upholstery and an on-board trip computer were optional on the 528e and 524td.
From 1985 All E28s sold in North America had ABS Brakes as standard. Some `85 535i's were equipped with power seats.
From 1986 All E28s sold in North America had power-adjustable front seats as standard as well as an upgraded stereo.
- 524td: M21 2.4 L Straight-6Straight-6The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
Turbodiesel engine, 114 hp. Imported from 1985-1986.
- 528e: Sold from 1982-1988. Equipped with a 2.7L "High Efficiency" M20 6-Cylinder engine that produced 121 hp but 171 lbft of torque. The engine uses the small port "200" casting cylinder head from the 2.0 L M20 with a special low duration cam to improve low rpm power and maximize efficiency. This engine is known as the "ETA" engine. For the 1988 model year, the engine was revised to produce 127 hp, by using the cylinder head casting from the "i" motor installed on the "e" engine block with special pistons. The revised ETA engine is now known as the "super eta".
- 533i: A North American only model sold from 1983-1984 in limited quantities in response to customer complaints that the 528e had lower performance figures than the 1981 528i that it replaced. Equipped with a 181 hp 3.2 L M30 6-cylinder engine as fitted to the larger 633csi and 733i, it produced 195 lbft. torque. The compression ratio was 8.8:1. Top Speed was 134 mph (manual). The 533i was the fastest sedan sold in the USA in 1983.
- 535i: Replaced the 533i in 1985 and sold through 1988. The 535i featured a slightly larger 3.4L M30 6-Cylinder engine with 182 hp and greater torque. Compression was down to 8.0:1. Top speed also dropped to 131 mph (manual).
- 535is: Straight-6 with a sport suspension and interior and exterior modifications - 182 hp (135 kW). The 535is was available from 1987-1988. It incorporated M5 styling cues: front air-dam, rear spoiler, and sport seats.
- M5: A 1988 Model-Year only car equipped with a 24-Valve DOHC 256 hp 3.5L S38 engine. Limited in production the M5 was built from 11/86-11/87. The M5 was hand-assembled at BMW Motorsport in Garching, Germany. The M5 was available in America in Jet Black with Natur (Light Saddle) leather. A very small number of US spec M5s were built with black interiors. These are the most rare with a rumored 29 being built. The M5 also had leather door panels, lower dash and center console. Canadian-specification M5s were available with the option of a black leather interior. The M5 was equipped with its very own 7.5 x 16" BBS Wheels (not found on any other model)
Heated driver door lock were available for outside cold temperature.
Engines
The "baby six" engine found in the 520i, 525e and 528e models is known as the M20BMW M20
The M20 is an inline-6 piston engine by BMW.Initially designated M60, the 12-valve, belt driven SOHC design was introduced in the 1977 BMW 520/6 and 320/6 as an entirely new design. With displacements ranging from 2.0 to 2.7 liters, it was the "little brother" to the larger BMW M30 engine. It had ...
, a 12 valve SOHC inline six cylinder design. It had seven main bearings and seven cam shaft bearings, a rocker arm type valvetrain driven by a composite rubber timing belt. US market M20s came with cast aluminum acoustically tuned, common plenum intake manifolds and a single throttle body. This engine was first available in the European market for model year 1976 in a 2.0 L carbureted version. It later grew to 2.3 L in the E21 323i, then 2.5 L in the E30 325i and also 2.7 L in the 325e and 528e models. It is also very similar to the later 24 valve engines as in the E36 and E46 3 series models, with the same basic block dimensions.Top speed is 111 mph (automatic models).
The big six engine found in the 528i, 533i and 535i/is models is known as the M30
BMW M30
The BMW M30 is an inline-6 cylinder engine built by BMW and was used in many different models since 1968. It was originally developed in the late 1960s as an extended 2.5-liter version of the robust inline four-cylinder BMW M10 first used in the 'Neue Klasse' BMW 1500, with which it shares a...
. The M30 is also a 12 valve SOHC inline six cylinder design. It has seven main bearings, four camshaft bearings and a rocker arm type valvetrain. US M30's also came equipped with cast aluminum acoustically tuned common plenum intake manifolds and single throttle bodies. Unlike the M20 it has a chain-driven valvetrain. Its larger dimensions allow for a longer stroke and larger bore, which makes for almost 3.5 L displacement in later engines.
Both 533i and 535i M30 intake manifold from 1982-1988 had a "3.2/3.5" casting. During the new intake manifold's development a 3.2 L version existed in Europe and the US, and a 3.5 L in Europe. When the 3.4 L versions came out a year later in Europe, the casting was not changed. The 3.4 L was introduced to the US in 1985. 1988, was the last year this manifold casting was used in the E28 535i and 535is. A new style intake manifold was designed for the new 3.4 L. The casting read "3.5", but it was still 3.4 L (3430 cc). For the US, the 735i and the 635 csi were the first to receive the new M30 in 1988.
The M5 came with a big six engine known as the S38. This engine is similar to the M30, but has a 24 valve cylinder head, duplex timing chain, dual overhead cam layout and shim and bucket style valvetrain. In addition to the top end revisions, the S38 also had six individual throttle bodies and intake trumpets fed by a cast aluminum intake plenum. This engine was designed for high power and durability at very high engine speeds. In the E28 chassis it was one of the fastest sedans in the world for its time, and it remains legendary among enthusiasts today.
The E28 received the first BMW diesel engine ever, the M21
BMW M21
The BMW M21 was a 2.4 L diesel straight-6 engine.It was introduced in 1983 with the BMW M20 design as its basis. It was available with a turbocharger....
, in the 524td (85 KW; 115 HP). It was the fastest and most silent diesel car at the time. Later, a 524d version (63 KW; 85 HP), stripped of its turbo, was introduced.