At the time of its launch, when revealed at the 1985 Amsterdam International Motor Show, the E28-generation BMW M5 was the fastest production saloon in the world. While sharing the chassis of the common-or-garden 5 Series, the M5 was graced with the same 24-valve inline six-cylinder engine first installed in the iconic M1, offering a mighty 282 horsepower from a 3.5-litre displacement. Moving away from standard factory assembly, the M5 was hand-built by BMW Motorsport technicians, making for a truly special car.

The example offered here was completed on 3 July 1985, finished in timeless Lachssilber Metallic paint. In its accompanying service book, the M5 is noted to have been supplied to its first owner by BMW Niederlassung Hamburg on 10 September of the same year. The car was well configured from new with options including electric front windows, power-operated sunroof, central locking, and an electric antenna. The factory-supplied sports seats are clothed in top-of-the-range black Buffalo Leather and the car now rides on genuine and period-correct 16-inch Alpina alloy wheels.

Offered for sale with its complete factory toolkit and set of BMW manuals, including a stamped service book and the M5 Zusatzbetriebsanleitung (Additional Owner’s Manual), the M5 presents in largely original condition without sign of modification. The odometer reads 145,993 kilometres at the time of cataloguing. Coveted by enthusiasts since the 1980s, the E28-generation M5 is as exciting to drive and own now as it was when it first burst onto the scene.