Every week, we’re tracking the values of the most popular classic cars on the UK market. Thanks to our friends at Classic Car Weekly, we can focus on one car and compare its values from 2005 to today – and then anticipate where they will be in 2025. This week, we take a detailed look at the brilliant BMW M5 (E28) - the first in a long line of performance BMW saloons. Classic Car Weekly’s editor David Simister tells the market story of this classic’s future growth.
BMW M5 (E28) – The current situation
It’s fair to say all BMW M5s have garnered a strong following with today’s classic market but we’re looking specifically at the first-generation E28 cars, which these days are fairly rare visitors to auctions.
It took a while for values to pick up, and a decade or so ago, you could still pick up a half-decent example for around the £10k mark, These days, you’re looking at nearer £25k for the same car, and we’ve seen dealers advertising minters for a lot more.
BMW M5 (E28) values – the onward march
We’re tracking Condition 2 examples here, and as you can see, these lovely M5s are being pushed upwards on the crest of the modern classics movement over the past 10 years. However, examples found at classic car auctions,are pushing forwards at a rate, especially the exceptional Condition 1 examples that everyone seems to want as an investment. The lower-order Condition 2 cars are the ones that are still out there being used and racking up the miles.
BMW M5 (E28) price tracker
There are two factors driving the increases in BMW M5 (E28) values. First off, numbers have dwindled since the mid-2000s, and owners are restoring the survivors. Secondly, there’s stiff competition for these cars when they do come onto the market – a generation of car nuts who grew up with these super-saloons are now in a position to buy them, pushing prices up.
Below are the typical prices for a Condition 2 example between 2005-2025.
2005 £8500
2010 £8500
2015 £16,500
2020 £25,000
2025 £33,000 (anticipated)
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