I guess the owner of this nicely-kept 535i really likes white. Well, so do I, but I sure wouldn’t have considered putting whitewalls on my white W124 300E. It’s a free country, and to each their own, but this is a bit jarring. At least it hasn’t been donked. The 535i has some significant meaning to me, as it was the top alternative choice to the 300E when I was getting ready to pull the new-car trigger in 1985.
After only offering the low-output 528e when the E28 (CC here) arrived in 1979, BMW finally saw the error of its ways and again offered a sporting six starting in 1983, with the 533i. And in 1985, they upped the ante with the 182 hp 535i; finally the 5-Series was back on the track it started out to be with the original E12. (of course, Europe also got four-cylinder 5s, but that’s not another story).
As much as the dynamics of the E28 appealed, it was just too boxy and old-school for me. Which, if you know me, may sound a bit dissonant, but, hey; I was young once too. And in 1985, the very aerodynamic (and also roomier) W124 was simply way too modern and compelling. Its story is coming soon.
BMW was in a rather odd period of its life during this time, with very conservative design. The E28 was really just a refresh of the E12, which first regaled us with its fine dynamic qualities in 1972. By the mid-eighties, the same basic car was looking mighty out -of date, especially compared to the slick Audi 100/5000, and of course the Mercedes W124.
The 535i had a bigger motor and more torque than the W124, but couldn’t top it for top speed, due to being an aerodynamic brick. But it undoubtedly could out accelerate it. Its semi-trailing arm rear suspension could be, ah, entertaining under all-too common circumstances, but that’s classic old-school BMW behavior.
Now the E28 is a classic period piece, and one that actually has gotten more appealing looking compared to the generally overwrought 5 Series of more recent vintages. And the compact and boxy body offers superb visibility, and a nice interior. And for the most part, these are well-built and reasonably reliable cars, although it always pays to know them well, or know a good mechanic to pay well.
And the whitewalls: In Europe, they just never caught on in the postwar era like in the states. If one saw them at all, it was most likely on US-brand German cars, like a Ford Taunus or so. But that was pretty rare, and short-lived. There may have been a few other exceptions, but when I think whitewalls, I think American, not BMW. Unless of course it’s one like this 1961 3200 “Barock Engel” above. But even on them, they were the exception, and hardly common.
I know I should get kicked in the head for this…but I think it looks good with whitewalls.
Me too
Me three.
I’ll get in line with y’all. I think it looks good, too. Just about any car looks good with whitewalls. (Flame suit on…)
Me five. Whitewalls look great.
I just may join you guys.
Just adding my voice to the chorus.
As Paul mentioned whitewalls are an oddity this side of the Atlantic, which is perhaps why I’ve no strong feelings on them either way as a rule. That said I think they work really well on this old bimmer.
Another whitewall fan here. Part of me wants to put them on my wife’s Fusion when it needs new skins.
I threatened my wife that I was going to put them on her Grand Prix.
She said she would start driving my Firehawk to work.
The conversation ended there…
The 2nd US market M5 had alloy wheels that looked like “turbine wheel cover” plus white walls …
http://eurosportimports.com/admin/images/vechichles244/90M533.JPG
I agree as well. With that said, remember back in those days, the tire specs for the BMWs were rather small so finding a whitewall in a size that does not diminish performance is not all that difficult. You might have to special order it, but its doable. I think it is something like 195/70/14 which is exactly what I have on my 1993 Buick Century Station Wagon in white wall.
Of course you got to love those razor blade bumpers…
Reminds me that in 1956 my Grandfather purchased a new black, red interior VW bug….. with full white wall tires. That same year my Grandmother got a new 56 Cadillac with black wall tires…. go figure.
Mine has no whitewalls and a red interior.
I’m not usually an E28 fan, but the wheels and the tints make yours look mighty fine.
Tires on this car still have some sidewall height, so whitewalls look good.
Heck, whitewalls look good on white vehicles, period.
My parents bought new Volvos on European delivery … a PV544 in 1960, and a 122S wagon in 1964. Both picked up in the UK and shipped to the US after we drove them around Europe. Both had whitewalls, medium wide. I seem to remember quite a few Beetles and Mercedes with whitewalls in the ’60’s. More recently, I’ve seen them on later-model Euro cars, but always as part of a low-rider setup with skinny small-diameter wheels, most notably on a Porsche 924 I used to see regularly about 10 years ago in the Bay Area.
Can anyone tell me what that switch next to the gearbox lever is? Used to have a 525(E28) euro-spec and I dont recall anything like that on it.
It’s an early prototype of iDrive.
That’s the mode selector for the automatic, which offered Economy, Sport and Manual modes. That feature was offered later in the E28’s run and at least on European cars was only available on upper trim series; I don’t think it was included on 518/520/525/525e models.
I learned early that They Do Things Better in Europe. Thus, regarding trim & tires, Black is Beautiful and Goes Faster. And you don’t have to clean blackwalls, either. Downside is, here in the Sunbelt, black trim doesn’t age well.
That old 3200 looks very English.
Yes, they always reminded me of a grown-up Morris Minor.
Well, not all of Europe was immune to the allure of the whitewall…
http://youtu.be/70skQqd7tgM?t=14m
Someone correct me if I’m wrong–and this is so weird that it might be a hallucination–but didn’t the e34 M5 (yes, M5!) come with whitewalls? And something that looked an awful lot like plastic wheelcovers???
Like this!
Not actually whitewalls. I thought that for the longest time too. Just a really ugly wheel design, that was supposed to help cool brakes.
Here’s a better shot where you can see. Those these have been painted white…
I really like those wheels, just not in white.
Actually that outer cover piece can be taken off and the wheel under it looks great.
Actually no, it is the inner part that can be taken out, revealing 5 thin black spokes. The “whitewall” part is actually the edge of the rim. Later version of the E34 M5 had the same wheels but with a different insert (shown below).
In my mind the whitewalls on the subject car trigger an image like the alloys on the silver car. It looks like a wide rim and low profile tire.
I imagine a different style of whitewall with the stripe further from the rim would look odd.
Fascinating… I never looked closely enough to notice that the “white wall” is just the wheel. But now that I know it’s there, I can’t un-see it.
The E28 really does deserve to be called a classic. Apart from the US market bumpers, there isn’t an ugly contour or shutline to be seen anywhere – unlike current BMWs.
It could always be worse, Paul. Just think, it could have cheap raised white letter tires.
Would you walk around wearing white spats on your shoes?
I’ll join the growing chorus of “this actually looks pretty good, somehow” comments. With different wheels and on anything but a white car it would look horrible.
When I was a kid, the people who owned this diner near our house (who were stereotypically Greek) had a series of very awesome black BMWs, and one of them was an extremely rare 1988 M5. I was head over heels for that car and used to ride my bike up there just to drool all over it from time to time. Wish I had thought to take a picture, because I don’t think I’ve ever seen another one. Occasionally I’d see it’s owner leave the diner, hop into it, lay a patch of rubber and wind it up to redline pulling out of the parking lot. He did this every single time I ever saw him and if I owned a car like that, I probably would have too. I’ve been a fan of these ever since, although like most BMWs – it’s a strong admiration, but at a distance. I don’t think I’d ever own one. The E28 M5 was replaced with a only-slightly-less-cool black E34 M5 sometime in the late 90’s. I used to see a black L7 and a white 524td in that same parking lot from time to time, not sure if they belonged to the same family although it’s likely.
That BMW 3200 is a new one for me. Totally weird. I didn’t know they put their V8 engine into that body (I’m assuming this is a 501 derivative). I had always thought it was exclusive to the gorgeous 3200CS coupe from the same era… kind of a letdown to realize that both that car and the one pictured below are riding on the same chassis…
The 3200/3200S was one of the last 501/502 variants, built only in 1961-1963. A very brisk car for the times, especially the 160 hp 3200S.
I’ve always been a HUGE fan of this body style- very 80s, but I think it’s one of the best looking BMWs ever made (save for the white walls). My friend’s Dad had a lowly 528e with an automatic transmission, and let me take it for a test drive. It has to be one of the slowest cars I’ve ever piloted, but damn- I loved every second of it.
I remember these back in the day, but I guess I’m out of the loop here because I hated the way these looked (5 Series). I realize the 325e sedan was smaller and cheaper, but, for me, it looked a lot cooler as a sedan.
1986 BMW 325e:
We didn’t get the E28 until the 1982 model year in the U.S. The previous E12 became the 528i in the U.S. in 1979 and stuck around through 1981.
This particular car would be a great one to buy because chances are whoever put the white wall tires on it didn’t drive it that hard.
Nice find, Paul. E28 535is were not very common in Europe. You saw a lot more 528is (with 184 hp over here). The 535 was offered in two different flavors: the “sporty” M535i (shown below) and the more luxurious “standard” 535i. Both shared the same 218 hp engine.
In an earlier life, I was commuting from Zurich to Geneva every week-end and was looking for a suitable highway car to replace my aging 325i. I ended up buying a very nice E34 535i with manual transmission in gun-metal grey over tan leather. I guess that car pretty much rolled the advantages of the W124 and the E28 535 into one! Anyway, it was a hoot to drive and I only reluctantly let it go when my first child was born.
My 86 which came from Europe had the switch also. She was red with beige interior. Fun car, sad to say in need of someone to love and give her a makeover. Had those darn expensive tires also, we switched to something less expensive and I had to give up my original wheels.
1980 M535i M1 engine,first of the M series sedans, rotting away next to a 97 M5 in a village 9 miles from my home. Daily driver a 740i!. Why do people ;eave these cars to die.
Mark Hobbs,
This is the only whitewalled car I’ve seen in the UK. Very pretty though.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/81749070@N07/8057199048/in/set-72157630446938838
BMW issued its cars with wheels that were porous so original wheels are pretty rare on old ones most went to aftermarket rims to ptevent constant flat tyres, mind you most of these early Beemers got dumped when the headgasket blew and replacement heads became too expensive to source. You made a better choice getting the Benz Paul.
Interested in buiyng BMW 535I M 1986 as saw here a picture color grey metalic. Any news about this are welcome.
Kindly contact through e-mail: alopesrodrigues@gmail.com
Thank you