An e12 - how much??

Sadly this is the difference between classic car
shows in the U.K and everywhere else. At the end of
the day most cars are just a tool for a job. BMW 520,
Chevette, Allegro - all cars that nobody really lusted
over when they were new. So what's changed?
You will not see many 520's at a classic car meet
(BMW or otherwise) in ze Fatherland. We regarded
them as being a Munich taxi, nothing more. If every
E12 520 was crushed, the world would not mourn
them.

I would not cross the road to look at a Chevette, or
the Opel Kadett equivalent of Ze Germans. Sorry. I
remember them from my early days in U.K...or do I?

You don't have to buy an E Type or a 300SL Gullwing
to enjoy a classic car. An E12 M535i is STILL a very
quick car. A 6 Series is a classic car yet still
comparatively cheap to buy. Every time I see one, I
turn and look. "That's a really pretty car". An Opel
Monza Coupe is a very striking car, very desirable
when new, worth next to nothing now. You can buy a
Mercedes SEC, a stunning looking car style by Bruno
Sacco for a couple of thousand in decent order. My
colleague has a perfect condition 1969 2 door
MG1300 (remember those :-)). I use it to pop to the
bank. It amazes me how modern it feels. 70 bhp with
750 kg and close ratio gears. To think that 40 years
ago you were making cheap cars with disc brakes,
independent hydraulic suspension, FWD and so
much interior room when VW were selling crappy
Beetles to ignorant Americans and most Brits were
buying even worse Fords.

Guys, raise your Horizons a little. If a car was crap
when it was new, it's crap now. Nothing has
changed.
I would not give 10 pence for that Bronze one, it's just
an old cooker to me.

The older model cars in the BMW range have a certain character and poise about them that the models thrown off the production line now will sadly never have. OK the oldies might get a bit rusty and may not have the get up and go that people want nowadays but they will always have a place in the hearts of those who love and cherish them. When I finally got my 635CSi I hoped I could get her back into a good condition but alas this was not to be, for a variety of reasons. But given the choice of a new car or a classic oldie, I would plumb for the classic oldie everytime.

Compared to later offerings from BMW and other performance manufacturers, the E12 M535i is inferior. At the time its creation in 1979/80, it was however one of the quickest and best handling 4 door saloon cars available. As with the majority of classic cars it is easy to comment retrospectively in 2005 that a particular make / model was a bad car. With the benefit of hindsight you can pick holes (no rust puns please!) in most previous car designs. If a car was perfect, why update / replace the model?

The reason that most of us here choose to own older BMWs is not to rival the driving characteristics of the lastest 3, 5 or 7 series, but to drive something we that we enjoy and gain pleasure from keeping examples of older models on the road and in good condition - so that new generations of BMW drivers can still get to see the marque's heritage. My E21 Baur and E12 M535i evoke momories of cars I wanted to own as a child in the late 1970's and that I now have! I still own and drive modern cars and appreciate their improved refinement, improved passive and active safety, etc. However, given the choice for pleasure driving I will always take one of my older BMWs. They create a sense of driving enjoyment that most new cars cannot achieve.

As always this is an individual choice and there will only be so many people who want to take on the responsibility of older / classic BMW ownership. If car ownership needs to be entirely practical and efficient, a 25 year old car - of any make - is probably not going to be top of the shopping list......

 

 

My dad's 520 e12 was a good car drove very well and I allways got exsited about going for a run in it. Sham we part xed it for a Rover Montgo. You are so right Doive, I love all classic cars wether thay were good or not ther all fun to drive, People put a lot of time and effort in to there cars wether it's BMW or a Allegro and people just take the **** for it. it is not right, Well dun to you all.

Edited, please follow the language guidelines

Edited by Nigel

The E12 was not hand built, it was churned out
along with all the other E12's. It was a 528 with
635CSi running gear.

As for there not being many E12 520's left - well
thank Christ for that. What a god awful car they were.

If I recall correctly there was also an e12 533i available in the US with the 633csi engine.

M3AG wrote: but it was the first of the specific M versions, which in turn paved the way for the M derived cars.

Andy, my braintree mech had two E12 M535's last time I called in. he loves them. pop round and buy one! I seem to recall one of them has a blueprinted engine, said to be VERY tasty.

Was it you who said that before the official E12 M535 was launched, the M Power Division built some high power E12's to individual order for very special German customers. were they BMW racing drivers perhaps?

 

Dergside wrote: Philip There wasn't an M5 in the E12 range.  Top of the range was the M535i built in very limited numbers in rhd around 80/81.

you are correct Mr Derg, its my annoying habit to call the E12 M535 an M5. its a true hand built M car and deserves to be called an M5 IMO. I think they are just stunning. hardly any left now.

Philip

There wasn't an M5 in the E12 range.  Top of the range was the M535i built in very limited numbers in rhd around 80/81.

Nick wrote: I'm looking for a really tidy E28 if anybody knows of one.. not so worried about the spec.. just that it has to be in tip top shape. Nick

Andy G has an Alpina B9 which may be FS.

My 528i SE may be up for sale, but I won't sell for peanuts.

plenty of E28's on fleabay but please be aware most of them will have rust in the sills/floors/jacking points. these cars are often abused/neglected by uncaring skinflints who buy tham as a cheap fast bangers