Looking at a 525i - Questions

[travmn]

Okay, so I have an early chance to get a a 525i that's going on sale. It's a '90 w/ a 5-speed manual w/ somewhere over 180-190 on the clock (could be over 200, but not sure). The exterior had some dings and needs some attention (trim, bumper, etc.), but in general the car seemed in pretty good condition, especially the interior. Engine bay seemed like it's been fairly well taken care of with several things recently taken care of.

So I'm wondering (since I'm new to E34's) is what to look for or watch out for when I get a chance to review the car in a little more detail? (I saw some links about taking the car into a dealer for a pre-inspection, but I have an opportunity to throw it on a lift and do my own inspection).

Also, is a car around the 200k mark getting near it's end of life? Or are E34's known for chugging for a long time?

And of course, what's a realistic price range to expect to pay for a car like this? I know i'm not giving a lot of details, but I'm seeing prices ranging from like 1000-5000, and i'm not sure what people are actually paying. It would be helpful so if I go with the car, I have a solid basis for an offer.

Thanks!

[Paul in NZ]

you should lso post where you are located..we have board members from Australia to Uganda..and most places in between.Just cos its an American site doesnt mean you live there...or do you?..welcome,look at bruno's e 34.net site and a properly maintained e 34 is just starting to wear in at 200 000

[Kalevera]

Welcome!

Frankly, if you've not worked on one before and given the 200,000 mile comment, it's probably not a wise idea to do your own inspection. Take it to a good independent (in the states, look for a shop off of http://www.iaibmwsp.org), see what they say.

There are lots of threads on the subject of buying these cars in the forum's archives; do a search on the term "buying" and you'll likely get more info than can be digested in one sitting.

good luck!

best, whit

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

was spent on it over the last 15 years.

If there are repair/maintenance records available...Then they are gold in determining the longevity of the car.

In my area a good 90 525i with 100k would go for $3000. that's with no major body damage, good interior, fair tires, a/c may be flat, and all power accesories work.

[travmn]

you should lso post where you are located..we have board members from Australia to Uganda..and most places in between.Just cos its an American site doesnt mean you live there...or do you?..welcome,look at bruno's e 34.net site and a properly maintained e 34 is just starting to wear in at 200 000

i'm in the chicago illinois area. that's good to know that the cars are just starting to "wear in" at that mileage. i can try doing some more searches, but i went through about 10 - 15 pages of a search last night and only found surface information.

i also hit another e34 site that had some stuff regarding maintenance and what to expect to replace around 100k miles, but didn't quite find anything about details to look for (other than service records) when looking at an e34. i'll try to do some more searches, but any input is appreciated.

i think i also saw somewhere that maintenance on a yearly basis is probably around 1-2k, is that accurate? doesn't sound out of the norm given the age of the car and the fact that it is a bmw.

and i'll ask an oblivious newbie question, what are the best sources to look for parts online? i'm going to look at the car in more detail (i'll see if i can arrange an inspection as well) and would love to get some ideas on various parts and replacement costs / efforts to install. In general though, the engine bay didn't look too hard to work in other than the front-hinged hood.

Thanks for the help!

[Paul in NZ]

e34.net (http://www.bimmer.info/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=24)

BMA auto parts (http://www.bmaparts.com/)

I strongly suggest you get someone who is familiar with these cars to take a good look at it.However a manual 525 would prolly be the pick in terms of economy and reliabilty.Mechanically the 535 and 525 are nearly bulletproof as long as they have been regularly maintained,esp the cooling system.The complex electrical systems can be a trial,but you will get lots of help here.If you can do your own work it will save you some money.

Hope this helps

[Gayle]

http://www.bmw4life.com/buyingE34.htm

http://www.bmw4life.com/e34History.htm

Suggest you note the comments about m20.

[george]

buy it! but, don,t pay more than 1200 -1500 for it . check idle, should be smooth,as well as trans shift check drivers seat condition and pedal wear ,can tell volumes