Is the BMW E12 the best sports sedan ever? Maybe not, but for the era, it was pretty close. Its most worthy competitor was probably another BMW – the 2002. Alfa and Lancia were making sporty saloons too, but these were rarely found in the US. Meanwhile, the sheer competence of the E12 platform won over drivers for generations. The 530i was made specifically for America, from 1975 through 1978. The “i” means “injected” and the numerical designation translated as follows: “5” denoted a four-door sedan of intermediate size; the “30” meant it bore the 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder engine. The “2” series cars were short, sporty conveyances; the “7” series cars were your basic luxo-mobiles sitting on BMW’s longest wheelbase. Here on craigslist we have a 1977 BMW 530i with an asking price of $5000. The seller bought this car off eBay (see here) in October 2022 for more than he’s asking, and has realized the car’s needs are beyond his abilities. The car is located in Visitacion Valley, California but titled in New York. Thanks once again to ToddK for this tip!
The silky, Bosch-injected M30 six-cylinder (photo from the eBay listing) – an icon at BMW for almost three decades – makes about 176 bhp. BMW avoided catalytic converters for several years, electing instead to detune the engine and “accessorize” it with various emission-control equipment. Still, the 3300lb car can hustle from zero to sixty in under 10 seconds. This particular car has a three-speed automatic – a tough sell when so many came with Getrag or ZF manual gearboxes. And then there’s the matter of the titling issue: the air pump on this car has been removed, and in most states, it will likely fail a smog test. Its current residence in California doesn’t help matters. The odometer reads 49,000 miles, but who knows. The car does run and drive, but that leads to the second issue: the front struts are worn and the seller advises a rebuild.
The interior is in average condition with cracking and seam separation in the navy (not black!) leather, but a nice instrument panel and tolerable headliner. Power windows, a power sunroof, and an AC unit that needs work round out the creature comforts.
The underside (again, the photo is from the eBay ad) is fair. I did spot rust here and there, and the seller notes small rusted areas on the exterior as well. The chrome is quite good and the trim is all present. It’s never fun to buy an auction car and discover its needs exceed your capabilities, but given strong pricing on E12s recently, this one should find a home. Any Barn Finders willing to take it on?
I think the period smog equipment included the dreaded Thermal Reactors. From what I hear on the internets, they were catalytic converters bolted at the manifold which often overheated and caused the heads to warp. Sounds like this seller can’t get it registered cuz he can’t get it smogged.
That’s what I thought too. California is a stickler for this stuff, for sure.
Very possible. They have to be 1975 or older for California to let them off the hook.
J worked at a large BMW dealership when these came out. Very bad car- run away! Thermal reactors cracked the heads frequently, jump starting could blow the fuel injection computer and when running right the exhaust is hot enough to burn paint or melt rubber! They also guzzle gas at an alarming rate but performance is mediocre at best. Styling was distinctive “70s Wedge” and well thought of at the time. Remember the Fiat X1/9, TR7 & Dino 308GT4!
Yeah they are one of BMW’s few failures.
I have owned several and driven several hundred thousand miles in 22 countries on three continents in them. Almost universally, they get the mechanicals perfect and the styling sucks. Sometimes, as here, it’s the other way round. Ten or twenty times in history they have gotten both right. Three or four times in history they have completely missed the point in the mechanical department. Pretty ones with crap mechanicals like tgus one are very rare.
’76 was the last year for the 2002. In ’77, when this car was produced, BMW introduced the first 3 series – the 320i.
Beautiful looking car. I hope whoever buys this car enjoys it.