1989 BMW 535i | Retro Review

The '89 535i was the ultimate test to see if high dollar luxury buyers were more interested in inherent status and performance or the stone cold reliability and trendiness of the fresh Japanese competition.
Show 819 | Originally Recorded 02-02-1989

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[kevinbarry]

Back when they were good looking, handled well, and were well-built. Also when nobody got a cupholder but everybody got an ashtray

[coffeelover]

From back when we can easily justify using the word "handsome" to describe the styling of a BMW model.

[kenxiong]

Back to a time when BMWs were actually the ultimate driving machines

[palebeachbum]

My favorite generation of 5-series. Such a handsome car.

[mervinprone]

Look at that barely any nosedive, 7.7 seconds to 60 from only 203 hp. That was a solid car.

[Blue-moon]

Ah the days when you knew your BMW was a well built, reliable machine. 7.7 sec is quick for back in 88.

[gunsandcars]

I had a 1992 535i 5 speed with 350k miles, everyone loved it, ran like a top.

[stevemc]

Timeless and modern looking, even 30 years on. Remarkable how well the interior holds up.

[ofirs]

This was the very first motorweek episode i watched as a kid in 89.

[dawge]

I miss old BMW. I guess that's why I haven't let go of my '86 325es yet...

[ak]

Everything about this car is still great today. Absolutely timeless.

[bradcollins]

E34 was my first BMW company car (after 3 years working at a BMW dealer, driving all cars available). Still my favorite.

[sergeysmelnik]

My brother bought one of these from an auction but it was a 525i. The thing was so reliable. He sold it to a family friend with over 200k miles. They drove it another 100k miles before their son flipped it and totaled. They said it still drove fine and had no issues before the rollover.

[carexpertandy]

They said that having an airbag meant that the steering wheel had to be in a fixed position. Some cars with a passenger airbag in those days “couldn’t have a glovebox.” Gotta laugh at comments like that today.

[akfifa]

Been waiting for this one, I have seen all of Motor Weeks retro reviews of BMW's.

[ascott]

Its always refreshing to see a BMW in red with tan seats instead of 100 shades of gray & silver 🤢🤮

[ricardocorbie]

I still love this wonderful car, it’s held up well, I especially like the M5 edition! Only bugaboo for me was the red optics, n the cheesy instrumentals!! That 6 cylinder was and still is a gem 💎 ‼️‼️

[netrioter]

I had one of these with a 5 speed and a catalytic converter delete and a cold air intake. It put 240 hp to the wheels. It was a sleeper. Cat delete really opens up that engine

[TJ_]

My mother had a 1994 540i which was pretty similar. Loved that car so much.

[kristianhermann]

Has to be one of BMWs best - a classic