Good morning! For our final single-make pairing of the week, we’re looking at two classic six-cylinder BMW sedans. They’re both north of 300,000 miles, but they’re both ready to drive off, according to the sellers.
Yesterday was all about Chevy, and I admit I kind of stacked the deck in favor of that Cavalier. I wanted to see it win, and win it did, by a landslide. That crossover whatever-it-is might as well be a toaster oven or a washing machine. I’m sure it’s fine, but honestly, it was hard to even find things to say about it. If I’m still here doing this in twenty years, we’ll check in on another Captiva (is that what it was called? I forget) and see if it’s aged any better by then.
A lot of you complained about the lack of an overdrive in the Cavalier’s transmission, but honestly, I don’t remember the TH125C being that bad on the highway. It has a lockup torque converter, which helps a lot, and you can cruise along at 70-75 all day with it. It’s just not as serene as it would be with a fourth gear.
Used BMWs have a terrible reputation here in the US. They’re complicated, high-maintenance, leak-prone, and misunderstood by American mechanics – and yet, here we have two very high-mileage examples that basically run and drive fine. Are they the outliers? Or is it just that they’re older models from before BMW started using six parts where one would do? Let’s take a look and find out.
1989 BMW 735i – $1,700
Engine/drivetrain: 3.5-liter overhead cam inline 6, four-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Portland, OR
Odometer reading: 300,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The BMW 7 Series is the “boss’s car.” No junior executives or associates roll up to the office in a 7er. This car makes a statement; it tells everyone that you’ve arrived. Or at least, a new one does; a used 7 Series is ironically sometimes cheaper than the smaller ones. When my dad lived in Germany, he drove a 1990 730i, because it was so much cheaper than any 5 Series he could find for sale. I drove it when I visited him; it was a wonderful car to drive. By the time they get this cheap, they’re not going to impress anyone, but they’re still damn nice cars.
Lots of engines were available in the 7 Series over the years, but the simplest ways are sometimes the best ways, and I think that’s the case here. The 735 is powered by BMW’s tried-and-true M30 inline six, displacing 3.5 liters. It was available with a manual transmission behind it, but I think I’ve seen maybe two over the years so equipped. This one has the far more common four-speed automatic. It has crossed the 300,000-mile mark, and it still runs and drives well, according to the seller.
It’s a bit of a Ship of Theseus; the previous owner swapped out most of the tan interior with black. I think I would have liked the tan better. It’s in OK shape, but not great. For the price, you can’t complain too much, I suppose.
The outside is a bit piecemeal as well; two doors and one fender are from a different car, and they’re dark blue instead of black. I would imagine that means it was in a minor wreck, but it wasn’t enough to cause any title problems, fortunately. You could repaint it all to match, I suppose.
1998 BMW 528i – $1,900
Engine/drivetrain: 2.8-liter dual overhead cam inline 6, five-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Fremont, CA
Odometer reading: 329,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well except for a hard 1-2 shift
Jumping forward a generation and down a model, we find this E39-chassis 528i. This is either the last “good” one or the first “bad” one, depending on how you feel about some of its technological advances. It’s certainly a more complicated car than the earlier models, but nowhere near as byzantine as current BMWs.
This one is an inline six as well, but it’s the more complex twin-cam M52, with BMW’s VANOS variable valve timing system. It also marks the start of BMW’s cooling system woes, with the plastic water pump impellers and self-destructing overflow tanks. This one has reached an impressive 329,000 miles, which means someone has taken care of the typical problems. It’s backed by a five-speed automatic, made by GM, usually a pretty reliable transmission. This one has a bit of an issue: it shifts hard into second gear, but otherwise drives fine. That could be low or dirty fluid, or it could be something more serious like a bad shift solenoid. You’d have to dig into it to find out.
It looks really good inside for the mileage. Someone took care of it. Normally I’d say that points to a one-owner car, but the ad doesn’t read that way. I get the impression the seller hasn’t had it very long. In any event, it looks like one of those cars that was rarely driven with more than one person in the car; there’s wear on the driver’s seat, but nowhere near as much on the other seats.
It’s hard to tell the exact condition of the exterior, because the photos are terrible and the car is dirty. But I don’t see anything obvious, just a couple of minor dents and some clear-coat failure on the rear bumper. I bet it cleans up nicely, though; I always liked this dark green that BMW used back then.
So there they are: two BMW sedans with well over 600,000 miles between them. One runs well but isn’t the greatest cosmetically, and the other looks better but might need a little mechanical work. They both feel like decent deals, though. Which one are you more willing to gamble on?
I’d take the 7 series if it were from the next E38 generation, but E39 5 series gets the W for me this round.
Why the 1989 is better? One reason. The grill. BMW aesthetics changed forever in about 1990 when the classic grill went from sloping forward, to vertical then to sloping rearward. They have never looked right to me since.
The e39 all the way. You can still get parts for it in many Pick-n-pull yards. You never see the older 7 series in there. Plus many e39 running parts are on the 3-series cars as well. Combine that with the mismatched body panels, the terrible hood and the rough seats on the e32, and the e39 is a no-brainer.
I wanted to want the 7 – but the dark interior and mixed body panels throw me off.
It’s the 5 for me.
I had an E34 535i which was basically the short version of that seven series. It was glorious. I’d have another tomorrow if the prices hadn’t gone up 2000% since I bought mine.
At the same time as I did a faultless 1000 mile drive to do some laps round the Nurburgring in my E34 a friend was having wiring nightmares with his E39 528.
Seven series please, despite the matte black bonnet and crash damage, and the wrong gearbox.
At first glance the old 7 series looks better, but the 5 series is still old enough to be “not over-styled.” I lean towards the 7 series since it might be easier to keep running and doesn’t appear to have any transmission issues, but either one could grenade any moment with those miles.
I would’ve gone with the 7er but the sketchy panels don’t inspire me confidence.
Also the 5er presents better, drives better and there is a bigger online parts bin to choose from. I might add some transmission additive and see if it improves the hard shift situation and hope for the best, as none of these are worth putting 4 figure repairs into.
Wouldn’t actually buy either, but my preference is the 7 series. Even with mismatched parts, it looks like a BMW from across the road.
No thank you.
I would be less likely to take the Beemer with Vanos. Also I kind of like the 7 series looks better. Though I know a few 7 series fanatics and they always seem to have issue with the rear axle with miles.
I don’t know, I would never buy either to be honest, but they would make good Hoopties for some youtuber to try to drive back tot eh Midwest and then spend tons of money fixing I suppose.
If I am getting a cheap one, then give me the 7 series because I can keep it on the road for less money (I think). I am in the camp that the e39 was one of the last great BMWs but make mine a 540i with the 6spd.
As a previous e39 owner (2001 540i sport) I can say with confidence it’s the right choice for an Autopian. Chassis dynamics is night and day between these. The e39 is arguably one of the best handling BMW chassis ever and still quiet and comfortable on the highway.
I picked the older car because it should be simpler than the newer one, but it’s stupid to replace a tan interior with black because black interiors are fucking boring.
I have never heard anyone say black is more boring than Tan….hmm
Neither, thank you very much. Maybe a teen would buy one of these as a first car, but an adult would spend a bit more and get something with less than 200,000 miles and a more promising future as a transportation device.
An enterprising person might want to buy one or both and part them out on Ebay, and double or triple their money. Both are just about ready to get photographed by Murilee Martin.
That really is the issue with these. I feel for the sellers. they only people likely willing to even look at one is going to be quite shady or cheap. or both.
I disagree! The people I know who buy old weird beaters generally have other cars they can daily drive. Not everyone can afford to restore a classic, but something like the 735i can give you retro fun without breaking the bank. It would be a neat car to take to a cars and coffee, or loan to gearhead friends visiting town.
I’ll take the Captiva from yesterday please, but it’s not an option so the newer 5 series gets my vote. I think they look neat.
Tough choice, the 7 is a great car and I like them a lot, but the E39 in the Gone in Sixty Seconds remake got me hooked on how those cars look. Boy howdy I’d be a little scared to buy either in real life, but I’d spent pretend dollars on either I think.
Picking the 7 because of the black interior. BMW tan should be called always dirty, they never look clean no matter how much time you spend cleaning them.
Picking that 7 series based on the front grill alone but wouldn’t mind either at those prices. I really need to own something like this sometime in my life.
I had to go with the one with OBD II
So you have about 1000 more opportunities for the CEL to be lit up?
If I had an old BMW with no CEL I’d worry it was burned out
That’s usually my mode too (OBD II>>OBD I) but I’m willing to put that aside for the looks of the 7-series. At that price I’d probably just junk it if I can’t figure out how to fix it.