Needs More Power: 1985 BMW 524TD

Sorry about all the BMWs recently, I've just been feeling the German thing recently and...well...what am I apologizing for...if you don't like BMWs go start your own Daily Turismo competitor site and call it Daily Not BMWs or Daily Honda.  Anyway, I'm not a fan of buying cars that have "stopped running", particularly if they cost more than a few hundred bucks, but this next car is surprisingly clean and appears to have considerable potential...particularly if you ditch the worthless oil burner and slushbox in favor for something like an N54 and 6-speed manual.  Find this 1985 BMW 524TD offered for $2500 in Berkeley, CA via craigslist.

Oil Burner: 1985 BMW 524TD

The E28 generation BMW 5-series market lives somewhere in that sweet no-mans-land between discarded junk and desirable classic, and the low mile, clean examples are starting to fetch decent money.  The 524TD is a turbo diesel version was only imported into the US for two years.  The USDM 524TD was sold with a low power diesel engine and an automatic transmission, making it just about the slowest, cheapest and least loved E28 available.  Find this 1985 BMW 524TD offered for $6000 near Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Bearded Spock Universe: 1975 International Harvester Scout II Turbo Diesel

The early 1970s fuel crisis hit small domestic automakers (like International Harvester from Fort Wayne, Indiana) hard and they didn't have the resources to retool their entire fleet to meet the new requirements for emissions and fuel economy.  So...what did they do?  Only the most logical thing, which was to enter a joint venture with BMW to create turbo diesel powered Scout.  At least that what could have happened here...and then the car was transported from that universe via an inter-dimensional wormhole...you got any better ideas?  Find this 1975 International Harvester Scout II Turbo Diesel offered for $4,500 in Oakdale, CA via craigslist.

Built E28 Turbodiesel: 1985 BMW 524TD

BMW launched their second generation of their executive 5-series in 1981 with styling by Claus Luthe and power by straight-six engines.  Naturally, the speed lovers will want the M5 version, but prices for those all-black beauties have skyrocketed in the past few years and the juice might not be worth the squeeze.  Next up is the 535i, which does provide a decent punch and can be picked up with a 5-speed manual box...but what about a highly tuned oil burner?  Find this 1985 BMW 524TD offered for $8,500 in Seattle, WA via craigslist.  Tip from Kaibeezy.

10k: Don't Drip Oil On Your Monopoly Money: 1985 BMW 524TD E28, Minty Clean

The E28 generation BMW 5-series market is currently somewhere between discarded junk and desirable classic, and the low mile, clean examples are starting to fetch decent money.  The 524TD is a turbo diesel version was only imported into the US for two years.  The USDM 524TD was sold with a low power diesel engine and an automatic transmission, making it just about the slowest, cheapest and least loved E28 available...unless it is super clean...  Find this 1985 BMW 524TD E28 for sale in Tarpon Springs, FL currently bidding on ebay for $8,000 with a few hours to go.

5k: 1990 BMW 524TD 5spd Euro

The e34 BMW 5 series was sold in the USA with multiple gasoline engines but the fuel efficient and torquey turbo diesels were not exported stateside due to the EPA limits in particulates and NOx.  This 1990 BMW 524 turbo diesel (exported to Canada from Europe) is equipped with a 5 speed manual transmission and bidding on ebay at $2075 (reserve not met) in St John, NB, Canada.