Recommended E34 for student.

[t.wak]

Hey everyone,

I'm in Australia and am a student. I always used to love the E30 styling, but recently it's been hard to find one in good condition, and the look is becoming even more outdated. I've always liked the E34, but thought that perhaps the size would be too much for my needs.

I think that a nice 91 or so E34 looks fantastic with a leather interior, very modern looking for a car of its age!!

Originally, I was liking the 525i, but then was thinking about fuel prices, etc, and then converted myself to the 520i, and saw some photos of the anniversary edition which looked amazing! My only concern with the 2L is the power,any owners got some feedback on the power? Is it enough for normal driving? I'll be getting a manual also, since I enjoy a bit more control over the gears.

So yeah, pretty much, is it worth upping to the 525?? Or should I stick with looking for a nice 520i?

Thanks a lot guys!

[Toomas]

I dont think you will save much fuel with 520 compared to 525, maybe like 1l/100km.

[romus]

Just don't go for 535i :) Because it'll grow on you and, like I, will get a bike for commuting coz 100 bucks a week for fuel will get too much but you just won't have the heart to sell her! :)

[Yiorgos]

Fuel for my 525i is usually about $55 for 45L of petrol (I always fill up on Tuesday afternoon) -- this is Unleaded 95 octane.

I doubt the 525i is considerably worse than the 520i in terms of economy. The E34 is not a light car, I think the 520i would be struggling a bit more trying to shift all that weight.

If you're going for a 520i, the manual is probably a better choice -- a 520iA would be quite sluggish. Don't be surprised if you open the bonnet of a 520i and see all this empty space :D

There are a few E34 replacement parts that pop up on eBay Australia from time to time -- especially clear lenses. If you like this look, you could pick up a pair or two to maintain the more modern look. Get a pair of good rims and maybe even lower it and you would have a fairly respectable looking car -- except for that 520i badge on the back :D just kidding.

The E34 is a good car -- it's my first car and I'm a 2nd year graduate, so it wasn't that long ago that I finished my studies. They're quite solid and usually only break down if they haven't been well maintained.

[dternst]

M A I N T E N A N C E

Do you have the cash flow to maintain one of these beast? You mention nothing about maintenance.

[liquidtiger720]

Seriously...maintnence is a big factor.

Better save your pennies.

I know I am. (fellow college e34 owner).

[ThoreauHD]

I would not have been able to afford this car in college. Even though the upfront price is fairly low, you are buying essentially a kit. You have to put it together and maintain it. That's where the money comes in.

If you are just worried about gas, you really shouldn't buy this car. Buy a Hyundai or ricecar and run it into the ground. Nobody cares about those cars when they die and you won't either.

Being a student means that you need dependable, and this age of a car means that it "needs" maintenance. It's dependable after the maintenance is done- but not before. So, that's the threshold.

If you can grab a car from one of the people on this forum, you have a real shot to have the best of both worlds. If you buy some cracked pile of **** from some lady that has yet to discover using the gas and brake pedal seperately- then you are screwed. You have to then look at asian crumple boxes. Not very safe, but very dependable.

Happy July 4 Americans!

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[wingman]

I have to agree with the maintenance issue. These cars need regular servicing and if something breaks your Austudy wont even cover the labour charge (just ask Mattyb how much his tranny is costing to be rebuilt!!!). You are right in thinking that the E34 is a great car but I wouldn't consider one until you've got your degree and can throw the money they need at them OR study to be a BMW tech and get a job selling BMW spares. I don't mean to dishearten you but it's a reality. Feel free to PM me if you are interested in servicing and parts prices in OZ.

[rob101]

yeah i definitely couldn't have afforded mine when i was a student.
would have to say though, there is always the e28. depends on your cash flow i guess.
did you mean an M50 (twin cam) 525i?
good luck finding one in manual.
where are you located

[Zeuk in Oz]

I must also agree that on-going maintenance is a big issue, but the cost of it is manageable if you buy cleverly and do it yourself - or with the help of friends.

As to which car to look at, I would recommend the M20 525i as from a maintenance perspective I think it is simpler than the M50 motors. They are also very economical and perform better than most on this forum would admit. Certainly look for a well - maintained manual one.

[m4ff3w]

Is the cost to maintain a 525i or 535i much more than a e30? I wouldn't think it would be that much more. My e30 has been damned cheap to maintian.

[ThoreauHD]

I don't know if a E30 is cheaper. I don't own one. All I know is that big stuff needs replacing at the 90-120K mile mark. Guibo, engine mounts, gaskets, pretty much everything rubber.

I paid 7K for my car and am nearing that amount in repairs as of 5 months later. It's not the cost of the parts persay, it's more the labor needed is typically professional and BMW specific. I don't have a lift to work on the car, and I don't have the skill to do it right for big jobs. if it were just maintenance, I would say go for it. But it's not that. At 12 years, the rubber and fluids(tranny) begin to degrade. It's a bit of work, but the engineering on the car is top notch.

I don't know how the older models were put together, like the E30. Maybe they didn't have as many critical rubber components on the transmission/engine as the E34. Just a guess. I'm a computer guy by trade, so I'm not sure.

[Old F4 Pilot]

I've had an early production (12/88), 1989 525i with the M20 engine and automatic trans (the ZF) and I now have 318,000 miles on the "original engine and transmission" and it regularly sees 6,200 RPM & 125 mph! Just keep regular maintenance done on it and it'll last forever. The local BMW dealer in Knoxville, TN does all of my work and I think that they're pretty reasonable. When I drive like I have some sense (75~80 MPH) I get 27 mpg WITH THE A/C ON!! All in all, a great car. The only upgrades that I've done in the last 6 years is to rebuild the front end using 7 series thrust rods & bushings, M5 Touring sway bars and Bilstein Heavy Duty shocks (they're brutal even after 100,000 miles on them). For fun, I have a 1990, 535i with a 5-speed which I'm in the process of "Tweaking" a bit!

[Old F4 Pilot]

Just don't go for 535i :) Because it'll grow on you and, like I, will get a bike for commuting coz 100 bucks a week for fuel will get too much but you just won't have the heart to sell her! :)

AMEN!!

I finally found one and I'm having wwwaaaayyyyy too much fun with it.

[t.wak]

Some great points mentioned... It's been a day and this thread is allready on page 2!! Thanks a lot for all your input guys.

I noticed there are a few Aussie members here as well! As soon as I get a nice Euro car I'm hoping to join the ECCA for some cruises, noticed the logo in a sig!

Nooooooow, with maintenance, I've looked on the e34bmw site, and see some of the issues. Are E30s cheaper to maintain? I really like the 325iS, but I think it's difficult to find one in good condition.

Again, thank you for the input.

Cheers,

Aden

[GJPinAU]

Issues are going to be the same for either.

Ask yourself whether you want a car to drive or a car to cruise in.

Get an E30 if you want a car that's easy to drive/park etc. Finding a "good one" is going to be hard as most have been "blinged" by now (unless it's owned by an enthusiast and you'll pay heaps for one of these).

Check with the BMW Car Club in your state to see if any members have cars to buy.

Best with it

Greg

[genphreak]

Yea the e30 is a stunner of a little car- practical, economical, nice to drive (very) and well made. There are some real bargains nowadays as people think they are a bit old- get one that's been well-serviced and never modded by a guy that drives it too hard. Maybe talk to a dealer- (only after a club member tho) they see a lot of good ones but don't want to trade them- you could be helping them out and get a good deal. :) nick

[wingman]

You've probably already done some research but the 325iS is still pulling big money and as you say they are fairly rare. The very nature of them also means that they have probably been driven 'spiritedly' over their lifetime. One of the attractions of the E34 for me (my list is infinite!!!) was that the 5 is what I call a 'grandpa's car' and was usually bought by mature people who don't usually flog them and have had the money to throw at them when they needed it. Mine is a classic example of what I'm talking about.

[Uber Soldat]

Personally i would get a 525i if you can. When i first got my 520i, it was seriously lacking in the power department. Since then i've added stage 2 cams, chipped it and added fuel management.

In my opinion you would most likely get a slighty better fuel consumption with the 525i. As someone stated earlier the 520i has to carry around all that weight around and i found myself putting my foot down a little more to get it to move.

[genphreak]

You've probably already done some research but the 325iS is still pulling big money and as you say they are fairly rare. The very nature of them also means that they have probably been driven 'spiritedly' over their lifetime. One of the attractions of the E34 for me (my list is infinite!!!) was that the 5 is what I call a 'grandpa's car' and was usually bought by mature people who don't usually flog them and have had the money to throw at them when they needed it. Mine is a classic example of what I'm talking about.Yea too right Tony. From that point of view, as astudent I'd be happy with an old 325E in the knowledge that it had been nursed by some old fart and well cared for. I'd be happy with the prosepct of economy, a manual gearbox and torquey engine, beautful dynamics and prcaticality. A freshen up and she'd be better than any other, and when I leave uni she'd be about ready for a turbo... (very easy to do on the 325E). The chrome bumpers have a better, more classic style too. :) Nick