Rare Car Archive

Makes › BMW Germany › M5 › M5 (E28) · Rare specification · 1984–1987 Rare

BMW
M5 (E28)

First M5: hand-assembled M88-engined E28 saloon from BMW Motorsport GmbH.

BMW M5 (E28) (Wikimedia Commons: Category:BMW M5 (E28))
BMW M5 (E28) (Wikimedia Commons: Category:BMW M5 (E28))
Photo: HLW · CC BY-SA 3.0
2,241BuiltFactory reported
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
2,241 Built
Years
1984–1987
Engine
Inline six-cylinder · 3,453 cc / 3.5 LFactory: 3,453 cc
Power
210 kW / 286 PSFactory: 286 PS
Top speed
245 km/hFactory: 245 km/h
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The first M5, developed by BMW Motorsport GmbH as a separate model on the 5 Series for demanding customers who wanted high performance with an exclusive finish. It differs visually from standard 5 Series cars only in discreet details.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityRare 2,241 · Built1
Specification rarityNot yet assessed Production figure not yet verified.
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Total model productionM5 (E28) units, October 1984 to June 1988, per BMW Group Archiv "Einheiten" 2,2411 Factory production Factory reported

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

The M5 was built from October 1984 to June 1988, according to the BMW Group archive, which gives 2,241 units. It took the high-performance engine of the BMW M635CSi.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard M5 (E28).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeS382 Registry reported
LayoutInline six-cylinder1
Displacement 3,453 cc / 3.5 LFactory: 3,453 cc1
Bore 93.4 mmFactory: 93.4 mm1
Stroke 84 mmFactory: 84 mm1
Compression ratio10.5:11
ValvetrainFour valves per cylinder, V-shaped, hanging1
Fuel systemDigital engine electronics (Bosch Motronic)1
Power 210 kW / 286 PSFactory: 286 PS1Rating: manufacturer
Power at 6,500 rpm1
TorqueNot yet verified

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxManual, five-speed sports gearbox1
Gears51
Gear ratiosI 3.51; II 2.08; III 1.35; IV 1.00; V 0.81; reverse 3.711
Final drive3.73:11
Driven wheelsRear2 Registry reported

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisNot yet verified
Front suspensionIndependent, double-joint strut axle, coil springs, anti-roll bar1
Rear suspensionIndependent, double-joint strut axle, coil springs, anti-roll bar1
BrakesDiscs all round: internally ventilated 300 mm front, 284 mm rear1
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionSelf-supporting all-steel body1
Wheelbase 2,625 mmFactory: 2,625 mm1
Length 4,620 mmFactory: 4,620 mm1
Width 1,700 mmFactory: 1,700 mm1
Height 1,400 mmFactory: 1,400 mm1
Front track 1,430 mmFactory: 1,430 mm1
Rear track 1,465 mmFactory: 1,465 mm1
Kerb weight 1,430 kgFactory: 1,430 kg1
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 245 km/hFactory: 245 km/h1
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The registry lists the E28 M5 under three production codes: DC91 (left-hand drive, Europe), DC92 (listed as M 5 RL, right-hand drive, Europe) and DC93 (left-hand drive, USA). All three are sedans with the S38 engine and rear-wheel drive. A genuine car should therefore carry one of these production codes rather than a 5 Series code such as DC11 (535i).

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    BMW M5 (E28) Level A BMW Group Archiv, via Wayback Machine
    • Einheiten 2.241
    • 6-Zylinder-Reihenmotor
    • Hubraum 3453 ccm
    • Bohrung 93,4 mm
    • Hub 84,0 mm
    • Verdichtung 10,5:1
    • Ventile 4, V-förmig hängend
    • Digitale Motorelektronik (Bosch Motronic)
    • Leistung 210 kW/286 PS bei 6500 U/min
    • 286 PS bei 6500 U/min
    • Fünfgang-Sportgetriebe
    • Getriebeübersetzungen I 3,51; II 2,08; III 1,35; IV 1,00; V 0,81
    • Antriebsübersetzung 3,73:1
    • Doppelgelenk-Federbeinachse, mit Schraubenfedern
    • Hinterradaufhängung Einzelradaufhängung mit Doppelgelenk-Federbeinachse
    • Bremsendurchmesser vorn 300 mm ... hinten 284 mm
    • Selbsttragende Ganzstahlkarosserie
    • Radstand 2625 mm
    • Länge 4620 mm
    • Breite 1700 mm
    • Höhe 1400 mm
    • Spur vorn 1430 mm
    • Spur hinten 1465 mm
    • Leergewicht 1430 kg
    • Höchstgeschwindigkeit 245 km/h
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  2. 2
    BMW E28 development code page, production codes Level B bimmerarchive.org (Model Archive for BMW models)
    • M5 | Sedan | S38
    • S38 | Rear-Wheel Drive
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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