1988 BMW M5 Euro

The first BMW M5, based on theE285 Series, made its debut at Amsterdam Motor Show in February 1984. It was the product of demand for an automobile with the carrying capacity of a saloon (sedan), but the overall appearance of asports car. It utilized the 535xi chassis and an evolution of the bodykit from the M535i. At its launch, the E28 M5 was the fastest production sedan in the world.[1]

The first generation M5 was hand-built in Preussenstrasse/Munich prior to the 1986 Motorsport factory summer vacation. Thereafter, M5 production was moved to Daimlerstrasse in Garching where the remainder were built by hand. Production of the M5 continued until November 1988, well after production of the E28 chassis ended in Germany in December 1987. This continued production would eventually lead to a class action lawsuit that was settled with vouchers being given to car owners.Chicago Clearing Corporationserved as a market maker for these $4,000 vouchers that were officially issued in 1993.[2]

The M5 was produced in four different versions based on intended export locations. These were the left-hand drive (LHD) Euro spec, the right-hand drive (RHD) UK spec, the LHD North American (NA) spec for the United States and Canada, and the RHD South African (ZA) spec.

The European and South African M5s used theM88/3engine which produced 232kW (311hp). North American 1988 models used theS38B35engine which was equipped with acatalytic converterand produced 229kW (307hp).

Production of North American specification M5s commenced in November 1986 and ended in November 1987.[citation needed]Aside from 96 cars which were assembled in kit form at BMW's Plant inRosslyn, South Africa, all E28 M5s were assembled by hand atBMW MotorsportinGarching, Germany.

With a total production of 2,191 units, the E28 M5 remains among the rarest regular production BMW Motorsport cars – after the BMW M1 (456 units), BMW E34 M5 Touring (891 units), and the BMW 850CSi (1510 units).[citation needed]

European modelsEuropean-Spec M5s were available with some options unavailable on USA-Spec M5s, such as Water Buffalo leather and a Glass Moonroof. Left-hand drive (LHD) cars were equipped with 185TR390 metric alloy wheels, while right-hand drive (RHD) cars used 16x7.5 alloy wheels. Very early European-Spec LHD M5s had VINs that started with "WBA" instead of the "WBS" designation to indicate BMW Motorsport. it is estimated that no more than 15 M5s were produced with a "WBA" VIN.

USA/Canada modelsUS-Specification M5s were comprehensively optioned: Leather Door Panels, Leather Center Console, Full Trunk Carpeting, Air Conditioning, Power Windows, Power Sunroof, Power Seats, Cruise Control, On-Board Computer, Central Locking and Shadow-line Trim were standard. The USA/Canada Left-hand drive (LHD) cars were equipped with 16x7.5 alloy wheels. The only option on a US-Specification M5 was electrically heated front seats which were standard equipment on Canadian-Market cars. The only paint colour available was "jet black".