BMW E12 M535i Drive and Walkaround

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  • čas přidán 29. 07. 2024
  • This video is about my 1980 E12 M535i, its restoration history, and my ownership since 2003.
    Here is a link to a video I did on the car over 13 years ago, poor quality camera, but fun to see now.
    • 1980 BMW E12 M535i ret...
    You can read more about the story of building this car on my website www.e12m535i.com.
  • Auta a dopravní prostředky

Komentáře • 88

  • @yerrie1908
    @yerrie1908 Před 2 lety +5

    My mum had it from new, few years later I was old enough to drive it while my brothers already did, we all drove that car like crazy for 12 years, specially early years we beat 911's and 308's, 80's it was no problem at all to drive extremely fast, crazy times. Some details that might be interesting, ours was 1 of 6 in the Netherlands, don't know the production number of ours, I know the striping was a option just as the dogleg gearbox and the car was delivered with the wing not mounted but in the trunk. Ours had also the typical rear subframe issues after years of abuse, that car went trough a lot. In those days nobody knew what it was and people who bought them where mostly in in car business themselves and really drove them hard, many have had good life haha. We had cops racing us and Dutch highway patrol drove 911 Targa's in those days and the M535i killed it 😉, we had later a Alfa e28 M5, Alfa 164Q4 and Volvo T5R and other M's but the E12 is everyone's favorite in our family. I consider it the true last Motorsport for petrol heads before it became with E28 for the bigger market. the strictly German guy was very wrong

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před 2 lety +2

      Thanks for the great info on your history with the E12 M535i. Very good to know!

  • @felixvandiggelen8731
    @felixvandiggelen8731 Před 3 měsíci +1

    I don't think I've ever seen a respectable car get an owner it deserves like this one.

  • @1983dmd
    @1983dmd Před 2 lety +5

    Absolutely incredible !!! What a piece of automotive history !! THE legendary e12 M535i ! And don't forget the M1 steering wheel....Simply wow...Superb restoration. I own a e24 M635CSi imported from Germany to Canada 21 years ago, so no DOT modifications, totally original. If by miracle you decide to sell it one day, let me know !

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před 2 lety +3

      Thanks for the kind words! This car is part of the family, I couldn't sell it.

  • @oldschoolracinggames5729
    @oldschoolracinggames5729 Před 3 lety +8

    the most legendary sedan of all time

  • @andrewwardle-bu9yx
    @andrewwardle-bu9yx Před rokem +1

    nice , looks exactly same as my last e12 which was a ceda green m535i
    i had the m colours painted on the sides and front like yours ,
    my rear spoiler did not have m colours on , same interior apart from
    green cord interior , i loved that dog leg gear box , gave it great pulling
    power , never let me down in the two years i owned , i stripped the
    engine down with my friend at about 110 ,000 miles and changed
    the valve stem oil seals ....
    at the time i owned very few cars could get the better of it...
    that was over 30 years ago , i owned e12 520 then e12 528
    and last the m535i which was a rare care and not many made for
    the uk market ....
    at the time somone stole my m badge of the rear and went to bmw ,
    there they get proof it is a proper m car and you get given the m badges for free.
    they did not allow anyone with a none m car to get them ..
    but in those days they did mot stick m badges on and bmw like today ...
    out of the 29 cars i have owned this was one of the ones i had most fun in
    as well as mk1 golf gti , think you call it the rabbit in usa ...
    first car ford capri mk1 1600 gt which i did not buy , my friend wanted a vcr player
    and i wanted a car ...

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před 9 měsíci

      Thanks for the note. I do like that green and other rare colors on E12 M535i's

  • @Driver599
    @Driver599 Před 3 lety +3

    What gem you have, simply stunning.
    I heard these were widow makers back in the day.
    Many happy miles.

  • @armanopepe1
    @armanopepe1 Před rokem +2

    Great video! Yes I owned a E12 m535 replica back in the early 90’s. I think it was a 528 from memory. It was metallic blue with the pinstripes & silver BBS wheels. It was a headturner back then in New Zealand and I often got stopped by cops because I was only 22 yrs at the time. Great memories!

  • @TiminNFL
    @TiminNFL Před 9 měsíci +1

    Congratulations on achieving such a beautiful and detailed restoration of this glorious e12. I saw it early on in your ownership journey. Thank you for sharing the story here. My favorite anecdote here was about the interior fabric. Kudos! I hope to catch up with you at a future 5er event. I really miss the old east coast 5erFests from the early 2000s. Fortunately, we still have The Vintage in May each year. Cheers, “Tim in N FL” on mye28

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před 9 měsíci

      Thanks Tim, great to hear from you! Yes maybe I'll get this to Vintage sometime.

  • @alebigna
    @alebigna Před rokem +1

    Awesome restoration, gorgeous car. My dad owned a 520i e12 and it was great. This is the top of the top of this serie. Gorgeous.
    Ale

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před rokem

      Thanks, I feel like having owned an E12 528i prior to this (a great car, but not the top of the series of course) and dreaming about a real E12 M535i I'm still in love with this car and appreciate that I get to be her steward through all these years.

  • @pspiegel2
    @pspiegel2 Před 3 lety +3

    Nice job! Mine (-5096) is a sleeper, without the trick air dam and spoiler, and with a Korman/BavPro rebuilt engine, Schrick cams, Stahl headers, Dinan suspension. They're great cars! Have you spoken to Maximillian Imports, the BMW Mobile Tradition dealer in Maryland, about hard-to-find parts? Also, Blaupunkt makes a classic-styled Bremen SQR 46 DAB radio with Bluetooth. It looks correct, but allows hands-free phone calls and modern inputs. Worth a look!

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před 3 lety +2

      Thanks for the great comment! Please get yours added to the bmwmregistry.com E12 M535i area. I don't know if I knew about your car, chassis #96 but we need to have it listed! I haven't used Maximillian in years, I prefer going to Steve at Blunttech for all my parts.

  • @tlake64
    @tlake64 Před 2 lety +2

    Amazing work Adam, it's a credit to you. Accurately described, it was the first Motorsport 5 series available in left and right hand drive from BMW Motorsport in Germany.

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před 2 lety

      Thanks! Is this Mark Cranswick after all these years? I still have a copy of your E12 book! My car has come a long way hasn't it?!

  • @tiitsaul9036
    @tiitsaul9036 Před 2 lety +2

    Thanks for sharing.
    I’ve got e28 M535i, but in my opinion e12 M535 is the real deal. E28 M535 is mostly cosmetic marketing bs.

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před 2 lety

      Thanks! Yes they made a lot more of the E28 M535i but still a great car.

  • @ericbacker2116
    @ericbacker2116 Před 3 lety +1

    Your love and admiration for this car are obvious. Congratulations on the reward of your efforts and thank you for sharing!

  • @projectv12bmw66
    @projectv12bmw66 Před měsícem

    Absolutely beautiful car, good on you for saving it and then some!

  • @shinnyblack6964
    @shinnyblack6964 Před 3 lety +3

    Stunning.......Give me 12 months and I’ll post my Saphire blue one!

  • @dutchcuda
    @dutchcuda Před rokem

    That thing is just pure beauty. To me, there`s no better engine sound. I`ve owned all kinds of vintage BMW`s over the years, but the e12 just fits me like a tailored suit, so a few weeks ago I purchased a `76 528 after being beemer-less for almost 15 years... That was too long.

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před rokem +1

      Thanks very much for the comment, I appreciate it. It is perfect affirmation having my 16 year old son drive the E12 and E28 back to back, and he tells me he would pick the E12 every day (and twice on Sundays)!

  • @agc911
    @agc911 Před 4 lety +3

    Beautiful car, Adam - a credit to your hard work. Thanks for sharing it.

  • @rightminddrive
    @rightminddrive Před 2 lety +1

    Looks absolutely fantastic Adam! Thanks for sharing your cars with us!

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před rokem +1

      Thanks for the comment (sorry I'm so late in replying). I am happy to share about the car (I have an update video coming this year on what's happened since I shot this) and hope that the E12 M535i fever is infectious.

  • @MA45TR03
    @MA45TR03 Před 3 lety +2

    your ride here is abslutly awesome, i love the e12, and looking forward to deal this good as you with my e34 in the future ^^

  • @princewarior2554
    @princewarior2554 Před 3 lety +1

    That's insane man!
    I'm so envy... 😭😭😭😭
    😁😁😁😁
    Good work Dude..👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

  • @jykayksin71
    @jykayksin71 Před rokem

    Damn you have a nice job done to your E12! Bless you Sir!

  • @oldiesfm98.5stereolive8
    @oldiesfm98.5stereolive8 Před 3 lety +2

    Long live E12,E21 ,E24 ,E30,E28,E30E9 3.0 !!!😍😍❤️❤️
    OO=[][]=OO BMW 2002 Turbo ,BMW 320I

  • @johnforbey8454
    @johnforbey8454 Před 8 měsíci

    I love e12. Had '80 528i and 2.8, 3.0 and 3.2 engines.

  • @o2kala649
    @o2kala649 Před 3 lety +1

    An E12 like this M535 is a real unicorn. You were jumped on it early - Enjoy it.

  • @GentilsGarage
    @GentilsGarage Před rokem +1

    Fabulous car, really nice. I have recently started to restore a 1974 E12, but a more sedate 520 4 cyl auto.

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před rokem

      Thanks for the note, any E12 is a beauty to me. Such great cars.

  • @TheFelgeSchneider
    @TheFelgeSchneider Před 3 lety +2

    Great work Adam! Such a cool car. I recently bought a 528i E12 which has an M90 engine in it, as I found out. Now thinking about whether to build an M535i tribute car as I love the look.

  • @Qxoyk665
    @Qxoyk665 Před 3 lety +1

    Hi Adam, you've down such an amazing job there.
    My Dad had one, white, with the 'M' stripes.
    I know from the UK registration plate at the time, that his car was probably one of the last imported from Germany to the UK, as most cars that have survived were registered in 1980 on a 'W' plate, where my Dad's car was on and 'X' plate.
    Again, an amazing job!! Enjoy.
    Cheers Andy

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před 2 lety

      Thanks Andy, means a lot coming from your perspective and your Dad's history with one.

  • @dlvad44
    @dlvad44 Před 4 lety +1

    Job Well Done Adam! Enjoyed the video as well.

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před 3 lety

      Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sitting through and watching it all.

  • @mikescholz7824
    @mikescholz7824 Před rokem

    Wow...absolutely beautiful! One of my favorite cars growing up, still have a nice sales brochure/booklet from that model i picked up at Bellevue BMW 40 plus years ago.

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před rokem

      I appreciate the note, I'm obviously biased but I think she's beautiful as well. And others at car shows in the last year or so agree, because she's won 3 people's choice awards!

  • @rjd7697
    @rjd7697 Před 3 lety +1

    Awesome car and seems like a cool guy.....

  • @emmanuelofori6521
    @emmanuelofori6521 Před rokem +1

    Beautiful interior.I say this car carries the spirit of BMW.Its the most comfortable Bimmer, unlike the e30 that feels a bit harsh.

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před rokem

      Thank you! I love E28's, E24's, and E32's as well as E34's and E30's of course. But the E12 just feels like a different era, before BMW sedans were the affluent person's car choice. Undiscovered and not apologetic for the tradeoff for performance versus comfort.

    • @emmanuelofori6521
      @emmanuelofori6521 Před rokem

      @@adamwilson2203 Unfortunately we hardly have the e12 here these days ,dont remember when i last saw one even with the e28 very few around but you are surprised occasionally with a good looking one and you feel good, it makes your day.A few good looking e12's i used to see have disappeared and i wonder where they are..

  • @lexburen5932
    @lexburen5932 Před 3 lety

    this is a real cool car. a 80s hero this car

  • @EnriqueLopez-hb5jn
    @EnriqueLopez-hb5jn Před 3 lety +1

    Those stripes look like the 2002 Turbo stripes quite rare,👍👍👍👍👍👌👌👌👌👌

  • @dqwaszx
    @dqwaszx Před 3 lety

    Beautiful car!

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před rokem

      Thanks, she is part of the family for sure! My son has claim to her in my will.

  • @paulbuckles5353
    @paulbuckles5353 Před 3 lety +1

    I thought that drive looked familiar, years ago I lived north of there, had clients in that area, and loved biking around MH

  • @richlee509
    @richlee509 Před rokem

    Mechanics never get bothered by cars. They deal with cars everyday so are not bothered by cars.

  • @FastTrack-1
    @FastTrack-1 Před rokem

    It's really good what you've done.
    I'm fussy about E12's and this is a good one.
    One point to clarify, the BMW bonnet badge in 1980 was smooth on the surface.
    I know this because I noticed this compared to the enambled/raised edge badge on a 1978 528 at the time.
    Just so you know..

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před rokem

      Thanks for that, it's been 20 years this month (May) that I've owned the car. Still love admiring it today (check out my instagram at flipwils11 for more pictures). Good to know on the Roundel, I guess I got my years wrong thinking all E12's would have the enameled raised badge. I still really like it though versus the plastic so I think I'll keep it on there.

    • @FastTrack-1
      @FastTrack-1 Před rokem +1

      @@adamwilson2203
      Yes.
      That year was a facelift year.
      Black remote plastic door mirrors both sides....Square column stalks....Digital central clock instead of analogue....fuel reserve warning light now built into fuel gauge...electronic ignition added...
      And another thing...
      Don't let anybody tell you this is just an any old Euro 5 series....It's very unique rare car...at least in Europe and your fortunate own it.

  • @aslutnixessexintulsa
    @aslutnixessexintulsa Před rokem

    Nice resto truly a labor of love. I had an early E12-based E24 635CSi euro . I always loved the big analog clock with the outer dial controlling the fan speed .BMW switched to the digital one like yours has at some point.. That would be a cool backdate to do if the analog one is out there in BMW unobtainia parts land

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před rokem +1

      Thanks for your comment, and it's funny I'm with you, I prefer the analog clock. Classy aesthetic. So I was on the fence when I did the resto of the car of what to put in. But I decided to go with original because back in 1980, digital was a big deal and original to the E12 M535i! So that's what I used.

  • @EnriqueLopez-hb5jn
    @EnriqueLopez-hb5jn Před 3 lety

    That is an awesome car,👌👌👌👌👌👍👍👍👍👍👍

  • @richlee509
    @richlee509 Před rokem +1

    Amazing how some folk are treating these cars like old bangers

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před rokem +1

      I would say that was the case in the early 2000's. The E12 M535i's (real ones) were so obscure, it was just another old 5 series! Now people who know......... THEY KNOW

  • @timbell4961
    @timbell4961 Před 3 lety

    Props to you! I own an 87' 535IS That needs some of the same love ,,It can be done$$

  • @Crusader1815
    @Crusader1815 Před 3 lety

    I like the E12 so much more with the Euro bumpers. Either way, though, it's a wonderful little car.

  • @mikehoh8328
    @mikehoh8328 Před 2 lety +2

    Add a pair of e12 chrome mirrors it'll be perfect!

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před rokem +1

      Actually on the E12 M535i the mirrors are always black so they are correct for the car now the way I have it.

  • @Freepalestine10723
    @Freepalestine10723 Před rokem

    nice work im sure you put alot of time in it , does this car have a m30 or m90 engine ?

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před rokem

      Hi! It's the original M90 engine that all E12 M535i's came with.

  • @sjococo
    @sjococo Před 3 lety

    The yellow head lights are for the french market as you had to have that there then.

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před rokem +1

      Yep, I like the contrast with the white car and clear lights and then having those yellow highbeams. Like an early 80's Mercedes

  • @puppygadget3189
    @puppygadget3189 Před 3 lety +1

    Awesome car-does it have A/C?

  • @user-lu9hc8ww5w
    @user-lu9hc8ww5w Před 3 lety +1

    Очень достойно.
    Машины мечта.

  • @alexmartinez280
    @alexmartinez280 Před 2 lety +1

    The BMW rondel is made of enamel. The new ones are plastic along with many many other parts.

  • @laurentroyer9511
    @laurentroyer9511 Před 3 lety

    The first 5 series M before the M5

  • @rjd7697
    @rjd7697 Před 3 lety

    I wonder what the 0-60 time is 🤔🤔

    • @beyleveld132
      @beyleveld132 Před 3 lety

      9.8 sec

    • @tlake64
      @tlake64 Před 2 lety

      The BMW factory time was 7.3 seconds, but magazines got faster than that.

  • @alexandermathar7780
    @alexandermathar7780 Před měsícem

    With a Procar engine they could have shown Brabus the middle finger!!

  • @user-xb1ii3nz6d
    @user-xb1ii3nz6d Před 3 lety

    Вот этот авто правильно выглядит! Нет катафотов на крыльях и дебильных бамперов.

  • @baihui7349
    @baihui7349 Před 2 lety

    Audi and Mercedes killer

  • @blaubeerprinz5291
    @blaubeerprinz5291 Před rokem

    most boring vid i ever saw. just wanted to see rev it up 1 single time

    • @adamwilson2203
      @adamwilson2203  Před rokem

      Thanks for your honest reply. Perhaps there are some drift videos you can watch that will be more exciting.

    • @blaubeerprinz5291
      @blaubeerprinz5291 Před rokem

      @@adamwilson2203 sry to disapoint you sir. its just my opinion a sportscar should be driven like its made for, not like a 524td

  • @tonygarcia7805
    @tonygarcia7805 Před 6 měsíci

    great info