I have a 1989 535i but I drove several 530 V-8s while shopping. The 8 is very smooth,and I liked the car very much. That was 3 years ago, and the block replacement issue was still in its infancy. Ultimately, the price for my 535 was about half that of the 530, so I went with the 535 and chipped it, put in a UUC shortshifter and Dinan Stage One and ACSchnitzer 17" wheels. I'm still way under the asking price of that 530. Maybe now the discrepancy has narrowed. The 535 is the most reliable car I have ever owned, and is easily the highest performance 4 door by a huge margin. Five speed 535s are rare, so if you can find a 530 with a block replacement and 5 speed, I would go have it looked over by a independent specialist. The unknowns of 3 years ago wouldn't deter me now with the info I have picked up from this board. All 535s are a little lumpy at idle. To paraphrase "Top Gun," it's a little arrogant. I like that in a car.
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