This Is The Kind Of Understated Class Modern BMWs Forgot

If the idea of driving a classic BMW with vintage charm and low miles gets your attention more than the latest tech-heavy sedans, you might want to keep reading. While a brand-new BMW 5-Series will set you back around $60,000 in the States, there’s another option if you’re working with a more modest budget and have a soft spot for one of the most beloved generations of the 5er. This particular E28 528i could be just the ticket.

Read: 2027 BMW 5-Series Looks To Join The Neue Klasse Era

Admittedly, a 43-year-old 528i isn’t really comparable to a modern car, but hey, at least you could tell your friends you own a real 5-Series. And, unlike most cars of this age, this one has only been driven around 15,000 km (9,300 miles) since new and presents in excellent condition. It’s also available at no reserve with a clean Idaho title.

A Well-Traveled Euro Import

This very 528i originally lived in France before moving to a collection in the Netherlands. It was then imported into the United States in 2022 and was first sold on Bring a Trailer for $23,000 in May last year. Since then, the car’s Polaris Metallic paint has been corrected and detailed, and it’s now up for sale once again.

As a Euro model, this E28 5-Series features the slimmer, more elegant bumpers and headlights, avoiding the ungainly, protruding units slapped onto North American cars to satisfy safety regs.

Given how well the exterior has been preserved, it’s no surprise the interior matches its condition. The seats are trimmed in the original blue cloth upholstery, as are the door panels and carpets. While there is some minor staining on the C-pillar, everything else looks good. The car used to have aftermarket Kenwood speakers, but OEM BMW units have since replaced them.

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Power comes from a 2.8-liter naturally-aspirated inline-six that produces 181 hp and 177 lb-ft (239 Nm) of torque. This engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels.

Given how little the car has been driven since rolling out of the BMW factory all those years ago, it’s unlikely the next owner will drive it much either, likely wanting to protect their investment. However, if maintained and serviced correctly, this 528i could serve as an excellent daily driver and perhaps serve as the perfect antidote to the tech-filled cars of 2025.

The car is currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer with no reserve. If you’re interested in this low-mileage, shark-nosed slice of BMW history, you can check out the full listing here.

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