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BMW M535i

1981 · 103,000 miles · Manual · White

£47,500

Listed today at Wizard Sports & Classics, Mobberley. Last checked today.

Key facts

Year: 1981
Mileage: 103,000 miles
Gearbox: Manual
Engine: 3.5-litre straight-six
Power: 218 bhp
Fuel: Petrol
Drive: RWD
Body: Saloon
Colour: White
Doors: 4
Generation: E12

About this car

The E12 M535i is the car that set the template for the M5, arriving several years before it. It pairs BMW's 3.5-litre straight-six with a close-ratio five-speed dogleg manual, a limited-slip differential and uprated sports suspension. It was built in small numbers and is now rated among the most significant BMWs of its era.

This 1981 car, finished in white with a grey interior, shows 103,000 miles. It has just had a two-year restoration to original factory specification, costing around £80,000, which is well above the asking price.

Specialist Riverside Engineering carried out major engine work, including crankshaft, rod and piston assembly, cylinder head machining and pressure testing, new valve guides and seals, and recut valve seats. The original Getrag 265/5 dogleg gearbox and the limited-slip differential were rebuilt by JC Racing. A photographic record of the work and the supporting invoices are available to view.

Written by Vertar from Wizard Sports & Classics’s listing. Check the details with the dealer before you buy.

Performance

The maker’s official figures for this model, not measurements of this car (BMW factory figures for the E12 M535i: 218 PS (converted to 215 bhp) and 222 km/h (138 mph). BMW published only a 0-100 km/h time, so 0-60 is null. Kerb weight not confidently known.).

Top speed: 138 mph
Engine: 3,453 cc, 6 cylinders
Engine position: Front-engined
Induction: Naturally aspirated