This 1980 BMW 520 is a desirable gray-market example, meaning it was originally intended for European audiences before somehow making its way to the United States with its desirable features intended for overseas consumers still intact. This 5-Series is an example of the company’s E28 platform, which is one of the better generations ever made of the mid-range sedan. The 520 seen here also comes with an engine not typically seen in U.S. models, as it is a carbureted 2.0-liter inline six, the same engine that powers my gray-market barn find 1980 BMW 320, which has been profiled here on Barn Finds in the past. You can find this unique 5-Series here on eBay where bidding is just over $3,000 with no reserve.

There are many features about Euro-spec cars that make them desired by enthusiasts, including the lack of heavy crash bars in the doors. Usually, when a car like this comes to the states, it enters into a federalization process where the vehicle in question is crudely outfitted with the components necessary to bring it into compliance with federal guidelines. This is a fairly haphazard process, especially in the 1980s, as some cars would get slapped with the full assortment of safety and emissions tweaks, ranging from safety bumpers to catalytic converters. Some cars would escape with just safety-related changes, while others would somehow skip the process entirely. This 520 doesn’t have any of the tell-tale signs of fun-sapping federalization fixes.

I get that safety is important, but U.S. guidelines robbed cars like this 5-Series and the E21 3-Series of so much potential solely because of the grotesque bumpers they were required to wear. Weight was increased dramatically as a result of those changes and the heavy crash beams inserted into the doors. Additional emissions equipment was layered in, strangling performance. The listing notes that the owners of this unusual 5-Series have owned it since 2014, but no other details are provided as to how it got there or how long it has been stateside. The seller notes that like most European models, the interior features cloth seating surfaces rather than vinyl or leather, and that it’s beginning to come undone. The door panels with manual crank widows look to be in fine shape.

The 520 has been repainted at some point, with the description noting that while it is a factory color known as Ozeanblau, it is not the original color the BMW left the factory in. Still, it’s a beautiful shade of paint and looks quite nice from this side of the monitor. Wheels and tires are from a later model 7-Series, as the seller notes it previously wore TRX tires on metric wheels, which are quite pricey to replace. The listing is short on details regarding the 520’s mechanical status, which is likely why bidding is so low at the moment. The engine this car features is a bit tepid at first, but really wakes up if you convert it to sidedrafts, as I did with my barn find 320. No matter what route you go, owning a gray-market car puts you in a fairly exclusive owner’s group that appreciates these obscure models.