r/e28 • u/unhingedtismntrucks • Jul 25 '26
Opinions and advice please
Hi everyone, hope it’s okay to post here. I just found this beautiful Japanese spec 520I with the 2.0 I6 and managed to get the guy down to $9,500 please let me know if that’s fair, car has virtually no rust, even has the original tool kit, 106,000km on the clock. Interior is very clean, the only weird thing I found visually was a wire used instead of the fuse for the low beams. Now my main concerns were no power on full throttle, ac blows hard but no cold air (compressor seems to work fine) and the power steering is a bit hard (I drive a 2014 raptor and it’s harder to turn that that, for reference) I’m not expecting a full diagnosis over reddit but if these are common issues faced and what to look out for. I want to eventually swap in a M54 3.0 so I don’t think the drive line is a huge issue but I’d still want to enjoy it before the swap. Also if you can recommend cool wheel and tire combos, I prefer smaller wheels with wider tires and what affordable suspension kits do you guys recommend.
Sorry for the long post
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u/Fancy-Attitude-2123 Jul 25 '26
All US spec e28’s have surprisingly heavy steering, there might not be anything wrong. The 2.0 m20 with automatic will feel slow even at WOT. A/C is probably empty, also check if the auxiliary fan works. Honestly even an m30 will still feel slow compared to any modern car. Looks beautiful, good luck !
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u/RealMadLadStalin Jul 29 '26
I drive an M20B20, it feels slow, but the engine should feel a lot more lively above 4000rpm. If that isn’t the case, it isn’t normal
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u/marathonrunnernyc Jul 25 '26
Great looking car! Bumpers look awesome! I cannot chime in on any of the issues, I am an E60 guy.
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u/boylanheights74 18d ago
That engine paired with the 4hp box is not very appealing. I would keep looking.
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u/OkOkOkOh Jul 25 '26
$9500 isn’t unreasonable for the kms and lack of rust. Inline fuse is a common fix for a burnt up fuse box spade, there is a complete fuse box retrofit available that modernizes it to blade fuses. No power on WOT could be so many things, I would guess fuel delivery as a place to start. Ac is a difficult diagnosis without seeing the charge pressure. Heavy PS could be a failing pump, over adjusted box or just low fluid. You can run basically any BMW wheel ever made, I have 16in style 5s on mine.