BMW M535i (1979 – 1981) Review

BMW M535i (1979 – 1981) At A Glance

4/5

+Great to drive with limited slip differential and Getrag gearbox, plenty of straight line speed too

-The last of the rampant rusting BMWs

The M535i was the first truly quick 5-Series saloon, unashamedly designed to appeal to well-heeled boy racers who needed room for for and a maximum speed of more than 140mph. Although it wasn't strictly an M5, the BMW Motorsport division’s first sporting 5-Series was a template for the legendary M5 series of cars.

Shoehorning the 635CSi’s fuel-injected straight-six into the compact 5-Series shell, resulted in a seriously rapid sports - and fun - saloon, although thanks to the Alpina-inspired chin spoiler and stripes, the world knew all about it. The M535i was offered with a limited slip differential, and close ratio Getrag gearbox and shared its pin-sharp steering with the rest of the range – making it a driver’s delight.

Project cars can be had for a song, and many ended up being donor cars, so getting very thin on the ground now.

What does a BMW M535i (1979 – 1981) cost?