Evaluation: Represented as a one-owner car. That owner has driven it 87,268 miles and kept it carefully the whole way with service records to prove it. There are plenty of minor paint flaws and a small dent on the right front fender, plus the bumpers are dull. Tidy and maintained underneath. Great interior with minor wear on the driver’s seat. The imperfections re mostly forgivable, and E28 M5s so rarely come to market that all of them are special.
Bottom Line: The first generation (E28) M5 was the fastest production sedan in the world when it was new, with a 0-60 time of 6.5 seconds and a 148-mph top speed. It is also one of BMW’s rarest models with about 2200 cars produced, and as modern BMWs in general have appreciated in recent years, classic M5s are one of the cars leading the charge.
The Vegas bidders rightfully recognized this example’s careful ownership history and gave it a realistic price, one that would have seemed insane just five or so years ago.