Hello all...

[BobbyRitz]

I'm very close to buying a 1994 540i from a co-worker. I've read the forum a little today and found the solution to the twisted driver's seat-back. The only other issues are 1) a slighty cracked windshield 2) the muffler needs a new hanger 3) windshield washers are faulty and might need to be replaced or fixed.

I haven't "kicked the tires" yet, but I've known the owner since he bought the car 5 or so years ago. BMW rebuilt the short block about 3 years ago and he put a new transmission in 2 years ago. The odometer reads 166,000.

I'm getting the car tomorrow and plan to spend time at my brother-in-law's shop over the weekend to check the overall condition of car.

I just wanted to introduce myself!

If you have any suggestions for what I should look for over the weekend "I'm all ears" or eyes as it were! :)

EDIT: By the way, he's asking $3,000. FYI - The transmission has been in for 20,000 miles and the short block work was done 50,000 miles ago. Any thoughts on cost?

Here's a pic:

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f395/rlpatrick/540i.jpg

[632 Regal]

that car is garbage STAY AWAY also WAY to expensive, way too many miles too.

please give me that guys number so I can dispose of it properly. :D

http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main.htm
check this place out, in the "what will break" section you can find hints as for what to look for.

you can pm me his number...lol

please?

[Evan]

BUY IT I own the same car in the same color... I'm in MD too... the car sounds great! message me if you want to talk about it

[azale]

The odometer reads 166,000, but only . . .
but only what?

but only when you can see through the smoke coming out of the steering column?

but only when you divide by 10?

but only after you removed a human finger from the dashboard?

Sounds like a good car at a very reasonable price. Let us know what you decide.

[BobbyRitz]

that car is garbage STAY AWAY also WAY to expensive, way too many miles too.

please give me that guys number so I can dispose of it properly. :D

http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main.htm
check this place out, in the "what will break" section you can find hints as for what to look for.

you can pm me his number...lol

please?

LOL...I did see the "what will break" section. It's very informative and will be printed ASAP.

[BobbyRitz]

BUY IT I own the same car in the same color... I'm in MD too... the car sounds great! message me if you want to talk about it

Thanks! I might take you up on that!:D

[BobbyRitz]

but only what?

but only when you can see through the smoke coming out of the steering column?

but only when you divide by 10?

but only after you removed a human finger from the dashboard?

Sounds like a good car at a very reasonable price. Let us know what you decide.
LOL...the "but only" was left in error during the edit. Fixed. :)

[BobbyRitz]

Thanks for the kind words everyone. My plan is to make this my daily driver. I have a 2005 350z roadster that needs to hang out in my garage (too many miles already)

[Felixdacat]

Welcome aboard, That seems to be a great deal. I bought my 89 535i for 2800. Would love to have come across this kind of deal.

[31Hertz]

That is a lot of car for a little money. Sound to me like you found a good'n... Regal beat me to the punch on the advise. So I just gotta be honest. Damn!!!

[nuclearfusion]

EDIT: By the way, he's asking $3,000. FYI - The transmission has been in for 20,000 miles and the short block work was done 50,000 miles ago. Any thoughts on cost?


Here in Vancouver BC that car would be listed at approx. $CAD 12k to 15k and would be snapped up quite quickly.

If it's decent, buy it.

Enjoy!

Fusion

[BobbyRitz]

Well, now I'm feeling good. Thanks everyone. Now I just have to keep my fingers crossed that my brother-in-law gives the car a clean enough bill of health. :)

[Nick.Hay]

Maybe even get an BMW specialist to check it out... They know 'stuff' that regular mechanics don't pick up on.

You could easily double that purchase price with repairing problems if its got them...


Best of luck, and welcome aboard...

[BobbyRitz]

I considered a BMW mechanic as well. I'll probably do both. There is an shop with a BMW focus 3 miles from me here in Fallston, MD (Autowerkes if anyone is nearby).

[bbig119]

It shouldn't be more than $100 for a BMW mechanic or the like to look this over, at what you're paying for the car its well worth it.

As a matter of reference, I recently bought a '94 540/6sp with 170k on the clock for 6k. Unique car, but I still felt I got a good deal.

[mattyb]

excellent! hopefully they did the engine mounts and the tranny mounts when they did all of the other work before, that would be a bonus. check radiator on left hand side under the hose at top. theres a circular plastic moulding piece, if there is water stains usually whitish it comes from here as a rule, but for the price youre paying even if the radiator needed replacing its still a bargain. Good for you. best of luck and welcome to the board.

[BillionPa]

my coolant is leaking like crazy from there, im getting new hoses today.

that car is an awesome deal, even if you have to do $3000 of work on it, its still a good deal.

[2fast]

Do it:D

[BobbyRitz]

I'm pinching myself. I NEVER run across a good deal. Well, I guess the sun has to shine on a dog's a$$ sometime! :)

Mattyb, thanks for the welcome and good information! My wife is driving me in to work today. I'll be driving the 540i home for the weekend.

Thanks again for the good advice/kind words. I'll post my first drive thoughts tonight.

[BobbyRitz]

First impressions...

1) The paint isn't in the best of shape. (easy solved)
2) The drivers side foglight needs to be replaced (easy solved)
3) The interior is in pretty good shape
4) The windshield washer fluid light is on (perhaps the sensor needs to be cleaned/replaced)
5) Radiator and all hoses were replaced in 6/00.
6) Turns out the short block was replaced TWICE. BMW didn't correctly torque down a head bolt during the first install and it broke in bank #2 and caused a little (:)) damage. I'm not sure if it's normal procedure, but the timing chain was changed at this time as well. This work was done in 7/03, approximately 55,000 miles ago.
7) Front shocks and bushings were replaced in 7/02.
8) Water pump was replaced in 1/00.
9) A/C system tested and recharged in 4/03.
10) Pressure line and transmission oil cooler replaced in 7/01.
11) Battery replaced in 3/03.
12) Automatic transmission replaced with a new unit in 7/01.

[Evan]

autowerkes is a good shop... marcelo and vito are knowledgeable... but you should always get at least two opinons

i'm in fallston a lot... i'm surprised i haven't seen this car!

[BobbyRitz]

autowerkes is a good shop... marcelo and vito are knowledgeable... but you should always get at least two opinons

i'm in fallston a lot... i'm surprised i haven't seen this car!

marcelo and sergio. :)

I had an e36 328 in a former life that they took care of for me.

I live in Fallston off RT152 towards RT165. I just took the keys to the 540, so it hasn't been in Fallston yet. My brother-in-law is looking at the car on Monday at his shop. He works at Bill Denny's Carstar in Havre de Grace.

Then I'm dropping it off at Autowerkes Tuesday morning.

The current owner has ALL documentation on the 540i. Given the work that has been done on the car, I'm hoping to buy it.

EDIT: If you are in Fallston and want to see it, let me know!

Rob
BobbyRitz

[Evan]

sounds like you're buying an E34.. welcome to the club

i'll be back up there wednesday... i'll meet up with you

evan

[MBXB]

Rob,

It's a great deal. Looks like most of the major mechanicals are covered.

[BobbyRitz]

Thanks everyone for your helpful posts.

Well the BMW mechanic just told me that the 540i appears to be a good deal at $3,000 given the repair history of the vehicle and condition of the car.

Major recommendations were as follows:

1) Upper control arm bushings. In his opinion, this will cure the 50-60 shimmy. Before I could say anything, he suggested that I put in the 750i bushings. (Good indicator of the type of business he runs) He quoted me $275 parts/labor.

2) Check engine light showed 4 faults that were o2 sensor related. He suggested that, on this car, this normally means that the intake gasket needs to be replaced. Any board suggestions would be appreciated. I'll be researching this on the board after lunch. He quoted me $800 parts/labor.

3) Left motor mount is shot. This is contributing to vibrations at idle. $350 parts/labor.

4) Radiator fan is missing 2 blades. He recommended replacing the fan, shroud and maybe the fan clutch. $250 parts/labor.

I'm waiting to hear from my brother-in-law as I'm sure that this is stuff he can handle. Total $1,675 at the BMW mechanic's shop.

[31Hertz]

Thanks everyone for your helpful posts.

Well the BMW mechanic just told me that the 540i appears to be a good deal at $3,000 given the repair history of the vehicle and condition of the car.

A major recomendations were as follows:

1) Upper control arm bushings. In his opinion, this will cure the 50-60 shimmy. Before I could say anything, he suggested that I put in the 750i bushings. (Good indicator of the type of business he runs) He quoted me $275 parts/labor.

Replace both arms with new (BMA has them with 750 bushings installed)

2) Check engine light showed 4 faults that were o2 sensor related. He suggested that, on this car, this normally means that the intake gasket needs to be replaced. Any board suggestions would be appreciated. I'll be researching this on the board after lunch. He quoted me $800 parts/labor.

Check the 02 sensors themselves before launching into the manifold gaskets

3) Left motor mount is shot. This is contributing to vibrations at idle. $350 parts/labor.

Replace both mounts at one shot

4) Radiator fan is missing 2 blades. He recommended replacing the fan, shroud and maybe the fan clutch. $250 parts/labor.

If yer gonna replace the fan, replace the clutch as well...

I'm waiting to hear from my brother-in-law as I'm sure that this is stuff he can handle. Total $1,675 at the BMW mechanic's shop.

Check the oil pump mounting and housing bolts before anything else!!!

it would be nice to know exactly what the fault codes were that showed up, but yeah; This is all stuff that any competent Joe or Jane could do referencing this website and a Bentley manual. $3,000 is definitely a steal (even with the problems listed above). I paid a bit over 7G's for mine and haven't had to do too much yet... I do not regret it one little bit. This comes from someone who is not a mechanic; but who LOVES to tinker!!!

[MBXB]

Before you pull the intake manifold, O2 Sensors are around $80 each. M60 540 sensors are easily accessible. Very easy replacement.

Pull plugs and check condition. That may be all thats throwing the codes.

[BobbyRitz]

Before you pull the intake manifold, O2 Sensors are around $80 each. M60 540 sensors are easily accessible. Very easy replacement.

Pull plugs and check condition. That may be all thats throwing the codes.

I'm with you on this. :)

[BobbyRitz]

Check the oil pump mounting and housing bolts before anything else!!!

it would be nice to know exactly what the fault codes were that showed up, but yeah; This is all stuff that any competent Joe or Jane could do referencing this website and a Bentley manual. $3,000 is definitely a steal (even with the problems listed above). I paid a bit over 7G's for mine and haven't had to do too much yet... I do not regret it one little bit. This comes from someone who is not a mechanic; but who LOVES to tinker!!!

I'll get this info and post them.

[Evan]

who is your mechanic

[BobbyRitz]

Autowerkes...Sergio looked at the 540i this morning.

Are you still going to be in Fallston tomorrow?

[Evan]

yeah dude... i'd love to see your new toy

[632 Regal]

I have to disagree, the intake gaskets and both front and back openings shrink after ages and will draw raw unmetered air in and throw the same code

another thing is to pull the icm and spray a shitload of carb cleaner in there til it turns like it should, easy to see if you pull it and twist it and it dont return.

190k and the original O2 sensors.


Before you pull the intake manifold, O2 Sensors are around $80 each. M60 540 sensors are easily accessible. Very easy replacement.

Pull plugs and check condition. That may be all thats throwing the codes.

[BobbyRitz]

Check the oil pump mounting and housing bolts before anything else!!!

it would be nice to know exactly what the fault codes were that showed up, but yeah; This is all stuff that any competent Joe or Jane could do referencing this website and a Bentley manual. $3,000 is definitely a steal (even with the problems listed above). I paid a bit over 7G's for mine and haven't had to do too much yet... I do not regret it one little bit. This comes from someone who is not a mechanic; but who LOVES to tinker!!!

Codes thrown were 12, 13 (left and right O2 sensors) and 203 (O2 control).

The mechanic told me not to buy into the O2 sensors needing to be replaced. His experience tells him it's the intake gasket.

[BobbyRitz]

I have to disagree, the intake gaskets and both front and back openings shrink after ages and will draw raw unmetered air in and throw the same code

another thing is to pull the icm and spray a shitload of carb cleaner in there til it turns like it should, easy to see if you pull it and twist it and it dont return.

190k and the original O2 sensors.

It appears that you are correct. Not that I ever doubted you. :)

[MBXB]

I'll defer to your wisdom, Jeff