Should I continue my restoration of 1987 BMW 535is or sell it off?

Question

Hello fellow motorists...I did a complete exterior restoration on my 87 535is and with the exception of a couple minor imperfections the thing is mint and garaged/out of the elements. It needs about $500 to become roadworthy again but I am debating whether or not to sell it and keep the proceeds. It has a great deal of sentimental value to me and I have put quite a bit of cash into it. Also it'll be a classic car soon...I am looking to do a Leatherique interior restoration and replace fading/tarnished chrome, it looks good as it is though. Any fellow E28 drivers have suggestions? Is it worth keeping as a potential "play-car" for the future (I already own another vehicle for daily use) or do you think I'd be better off just selling the auto? Thx!

Answer 1

Ahh My favorite car the 535i.  (1983 to 1988)  Finish it up sounds like your almost there.  SOrry to hear you had to do all that work there are a lot of nice 535's out there that never needed that much work done to them.  

\If you had to do restoration work the car must have been abused pretty good.  There are still many many 535's on the road in great condition.  When I get a 535is that needs as much work as you say you did and still have to do, I would have stripped the few items that make it a "IS" off and a very few other things and gone back to my pile of 535's that don't need any work (maybe a few things but the list was or is small" and bolted the "IS" things on all you have to do to make it a full "IS" is to add the wires for the leg support motors in the Recaros.  

Answer 2

go ahead finish it off.. you still can sell then if you want and may get even more out of it.

Answer 3

BMWs produced in the 80's were among the very best cars BMW AG ever produced.  I have owned various models going back to a '73 2002, a '74 E9, an '86 E24, '88 E28, and the modern versions including E39s, and the wife's current '08 E60, which are very technologically advanced.  My favorites were the E24 and E28 in part because they seem to be of higher quality and their M30 engines, given a reasonable level of care, will run forever.  If you have no critical rust issues I would say continue with your restoration and keep the car.  If your car is a manual tranny, even better.  Feeling the pressure from Japanese automakers, BMW has had to react with features not important to traditional dyed-in-the wool BMW drivers, i.e., I-drive, Ipod hook-ups, cupholders, tire pressure monitors, etc.  BMWs from the 80's are closer to "the truth".

Answer 4

keep it.

you've put a lot of work into it.

you don't mention needing money or space, so enjoy your car.

take it to shows and let everyone admire it