{"id":84828,"date":"2026-02-10T15:56:54","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T20:56:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=84828"},"modified":"2026-02-10T15:56:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T20:56:54","slug":"bmw-e28-5-series-turns-45-classic-sedan-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=84828","title":{"rendered":"BMW E28 5 Series Turns 45: The Classic Sedan That Changed BMW Forever"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"post-summary-wrap\">\n<h3 class=\"post-summary-title\">Article Summary<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"post-summary-list\">\n<li>The E28 turns 45 this year, debuting in 1981 as the second-generation 5 Series with meaningful upgrades in cabin design, electronics, ABS, and suspension.<\/li>\n<li>It\u2019s more than just the M5: the range spans everything from M10 four-cylinders to the 524td, BMW\u2019s first diesel and the world\u2019s fastest series-produced turbodiesel at its 1983 launch.<\/li>\n<li>The E28 M5 set the template for the modern M sedan, but today the 535i\/M535i are often the enthusiast sweet spot\u2014clean, manual examples are getting harder to find and values reflect it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<p>That\u2019s right: the E28 BMW 5 Series turns 45 years old this year. Its debut in 1981 made it the second generation of the BMW 5 Series, replacing the E12. While the M5 might steal most headlines \u2014 rightly so when you consider its parts-bin partner was the legendary BMW M1 \u2014 there\u2019s still lots to love about every E28 BMW 5 Series, from the four-pot M10-powered models to the diesel models that followed. Today, even the newest E28 is nearly 40 years old. But there\u2019s a reason it remains sought after by collectors and enthusiasts alike.<\/p>\n<h3>E28 BMW 5 Series Debuts<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/1983-528e-E28-vs-2017-540i-G30-21.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-363714\" title=\"1983 528e (E28) vs 2017 540i (G30)-21\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/1983-528e-E28-vs-2017-540i-G30-21-830x554.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"830\" height=\"554\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/1983-528e-E28-vs-2017-540i-G30-21-830x553.jpg 830w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/1983-528e-E28-vs-2017-540i-G30-21-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/1983-528e-E28-vs-2017-540i-G30-21-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/1983-528e-E28-vs-2017-540i-G30-21-1536x1026.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/1983-528e-E28-vs-2017-540i-G30-21-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/1983-528e-E28-vs-2017-540i-G30-21.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>While the first E28 BMW 5 Series arrived as a 1982 model year, production started in April 1981 ahead of the car\u2019s autumn debut. Importantly, it was one of the earliest BMW vehicles to be designed at least partially with the help of a computer. The company only had one computer at the time. So, engineers used it to run calculations when it wasn\u2019t otherwise occupied with parts and payroll tasks. Tweaks from the car\u2019s predecessor were somewhat minor and primarily focused on upgrading the cabin. Notably, the E28 inherited the \u201cdriver-oriented cabin\u201d first established in the 3 Series that came before it. Powertrain updates, more advanced electronics, anti-lock brakes, and suspension changes combined to make the E28 BMW 5 Series a marked improvement over the last 5er.<\/p>\n<p>Four- and six-cylinder models were available at the E28\u2019s launch. However, a slightly less orthodox inclusion came later: the diesel. The 524td, as it was badged, became the fastest series-produced turbodiesel in the world at the time of its launch in 1983. It was the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmwblog.com\/2023\/06\/21\/bmw-launched-its-first-diesel-40-years-ago\/\">first diesel BMW<\/a> to come to market, too. Of course, there was another big first that makes the E28 simply too important to ignore today: the M5.<\/p>\n<h3>The E28 M5: Father of the M Sedan<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/e28-bmw-m5-22.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-488049\" title=\"e28-bmw-m5-22\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/e28-bmw-m5-22-830x553.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"830\" height=\"553\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/e28-bmw-m5-22-830x553.jpg 830w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/e28-bmw-m5-22-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/e28-bmw-m5-22-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/e28-bmw-m5-22-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/e28-bmw-m5-22.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The E28 BMW M5 wasn\u2019t the first M-badged road car. It even came after the E30 M3. But its importance goes much deeper than simply being \u201cfirst.\u201d The E28 M5 was as close as you could get to being a four-door BMW M1. It too touted an M88 inline-six with nearly 288 horsepower. It was also more or less pieced together by hand, like the BMW M1. Subtle exterior design changes made the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmwblog.com\/2024\/10\/19\/bmw-e28-m5-first-high-performance-sedan\/\">E28 M5<\/a> the ultimate wolf in sheep\u2019s clothing. Those who knew, knew; everyone else would wonder. Even though U.S.-market cars got toned down a bit thanks to catalytic converters, the resulting 256 horsepower or so was still more than enough to make the E28 M5 an engaging drive.<\/p>\n<h3>Where the E28 BMW 5 Series is Today<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/e28-bmw-m535i-27.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-487347\" title=\"e28-bmw-m535i-27\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/e28-bmw-m535i-27-830x553.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"830\" height=\"553\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/e28-bmw-m535i-27-830x553.jpg 830w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/e28-bmw-m535i-27-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/e28-bmw-m535i-27-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/e28-bmw-m535i-27-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/e28-bmw-m535i-27.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>BMW made somewhere around 750,000 examples of the E28 BMW 5 Series. So, uncommon the E28 is not. However, finding a good one \u2014 and one with a manual transmission \u2014 is tough 45 years later. While there\u2019s novelty to the diesel model and the M5 is the best-performing of the bunch, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmwblog.com\/2024\/10\/13\/bmw-e28-535i-history-m535i-performance\/\">535i and M535i models<\/a> are arguably the most interesting for enthusiasts that don\u2019t have a ton of money to drop on an M5. Plenty of performance extras cropped up on the range-topping E28 5 Series cars, including a limited-slip differential and M-Technic suspension bits.<\/p>\n<p>In the U.S. a good E28 M5 commands $35,000 and prices climb quickly from there. It\u2019s not unusual to see very nice cars eclipse $50,000 or more. Meanwhile, the absolute nicest 535i models cap out around $40,000 with some exceptions. Of course, you can still have a ton of fun with nearly any E28. The second generation of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmwblog.com\/2016\/12\/30\/bmw-5-series-history-2nd-generation-e28\/\">BMW 5 Series<\/a> may not be as ubiquitous as cars like the 02 Series or even its contemporary, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmwblog.com\/2025\/02\/14\/bmw-e30-3-series-history-review\/\">E30 3 Series<\/a>. But its contributions to the M nameplate \u2014 and BMW\u2019s diesel endeavors \u2014 are irrefutable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Article Summary The E28 turns 45 this year, debuting in 1981 as the second-generation 5 Series with meaningful upgrades in cabin design, electronics, ABS, and suspension. It\u2019s more than just the M5: the range spans everything from M10 four-cylinders to the 524td, BMW\u2019s first diesel and the world\u2019s fastest series-produced turbodiesel at its 1983 launch. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":84829,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84828","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=84828"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84828\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/84829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=84828"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=84828"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=84828"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}