Buying my first E34.

[Michael999]

Hi, ive been doing alot of reading on various sites, and reading alot of reviews about the E34, and i really like how the car looks as well :)

http://www.thecaryard.com.au/2.html

Ill be inspecting that car this weekend.
The man on the phone told me that the car has 190,000km on it, and had te motor rebuilt 4,000km ago.

When i drive it, and inspect the car, what should i be listening for, and looking for.
Ill have an RAA inspection done as well, but advice from BMW owners would really go a long way in helping my decision :)

Thanks heaps in advance.

[Yiorgos]

This list helped me a bit when I was looking for my E34.

http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/trouble/what_will_break.htm

Hope this helps.

[Evan]

Good Luck with this! Take a close look at everything including:

door rust (bottoms of doors rust through)
drive train vibration
front end "shimmy" (worn bushings in the suspension)
shock/spring wear
oil consumption

I've also noticed that the fuel pump likes to retire and that's a $300USD part here.
The water pump should have been replaced with one that has a metal (not plastic) impeller.
Overall, these are great cars but the truth is that they are expensive to maintain in terms of time and money.

Make sure you check for service records.. if they are missing, skip the car.

Ask the seller for the paperwork from the recent motor rebuild.. if that's missing, skip it...

Good Luck!

[1995 525i]

Hi, ive been doing alot of reading on various sites, and reading alot of reviews about the E34, and i really like how the car looks as well :)

http://www.thecaryard.com.au/2.html

Ill be inspecting that car this weekend.
The man on the phone told me that the car has 190,000km on it, and had te motor rebuilt 4,000km ago.

When i drive it, and inspect the car, what should i be listening for, and looking for.
Ill have an RAA inspection done as well, but advice from BMW owners would really go a long way in helping my decision :)

Thanks heaps in advance.


THe link they gave you is a great start.
Also, I would look for the following things:


Check service history thoroughly (very,very important).
Have a BMW technician do a pre-sale inspection.
Test the brakes at highways speeds and see if the steering wheel shakes.
See how it accelerates from a stop (smooth, hesitantly ect).
Make sure one touch features for the windows and sunroof work without issue.
Does the transmission shift smoothly.
Does the CD changer work.
Do the doors (and trunk and gas door) all lock from the drive door when you use the key.
Hope this helps.

Michael

[SharkmanBMW]

if there are no maintenance records (or details on this "engine rebuild 4000k ago")
then be wary.

It could cost a fortune to bring up to par a problem child BMW...
If the records are there and look good, that is worth it's weight in gold.

[RobPatt]

is known to be just great, but does require it's routine maintenance intervals be followed... I'd be VERY hesitant or else very sure what that engine rebuild is all about... there are lots of M30 engines w/tons of miles and still strong and tight... (granted I've an M50 engine... but ask other 535 drivers...)

[Michael999]

Wow thanks for the quick replies.
Ill make sure i check those things you guys listed.

Im not sure how i go about getting a bmw technician to check the car, but i can get my RAA to do a 100 point check.

The guy told me that the 5xx cars fuel pumps dont last very long, and he said he replaced it after he got the car traded in to him as it died.

cheers again, i look forward to seeing it :)

[Evan]

get paperwork on everything he said he changed.. buying a used car is dirty work... buying a used car from a dealer is FILTHY

[GJPinAU]

Ill have an RAA inspection done as well

In Oz we have RACV, NRMA, etc, who provide a service like your describing. IMHO they cost a fortune to get done and they know jack-**** about BMWs, getting a BMW tech to check the car is a far better option. You don't have to go to the nearest dealer as there are very good independent shops around.

cheers,
Greg

[Michael999]

GJPinAU, Where would i locate a BMW tech that will drive out to do an inspection?
I live in Adelaide SA, so neither RACV or NRMA available to me.

Should i contact a BMW dealership?

[kev535i]

greetings michael check the advertiser theres often a BMW mech listed to do inspections in the cars for sale section on sat. the RAA do an ok job and will give you a good basic report but obviously a bmw guy will know what to look for you could try BMWise in mile end they may be able to help. good luck that is a great price

[Zeuk in Oz]

GJPinAU, Where would i locate a BMW tech that will drive out to do an inspection?
I live in Adelaide SA, so neither RACV or NRMA available to me.

Should i contact a BMW dealership?
Must agree with GJPinAu that what you need is a BMW specialist to look at the car. There must be at least one that is not a dealer in Adelaide. This is especially true if there is no proper history or if there are no receipts for the engine rebuild or whatever was done.

Organise the car yard to take the car to him and get him to go over it thoroughly. It would not be a bad idea if you could be there while he looked at it.

Don't be in a hurry. If the seller won't play ball, look for another one. Don't buy it without having it thoroughly inspoected.

To find a specialist do some yellow pages searches and get on the phone and don't give up until you find one. Avoid dealers would be my advice.

If all else fails get a RAA inspection but it will not be as worthwhile as getting a BMW specialist to look at it.

I would be a little wary of an engine that had been rebuilt 4k ago without full history of who did it, why, what else was done.

These cars require constant maintenance and replacement of various components before they fail.

Poor prior maintenance might indicate a car to stay away from.

Good luck.

[rob101]

3 thumbs up for zeuk's (bo's) post.
also dealers are a pain
I hope never to buy another car from one. For one, at least in this state they rort the RWC's something shocking. i've seen dealers get RWC's on cars that has PITTED brakes with kickback so bad i could feel in the passenger's seat.
anyway my recommendation is to buy privately but get it inspected. and learn how to learn service records. if it doesn't have regular services tell them to get lost it isn't worth it.

[Michael999]

Okay ive found "motor check" (no website sorry), and i talked to their main guy there, and he says he has alot of bmw experience, and he will go out to the car and do an inspection, and talk to me about it. (RAA just fax a report, cant talk to mechanic).

Ill get the check if im happy with the car myself when i see and drive it this sunday.
(making a list of all the things you guys suggested and ill check as much as i can)

The dealer/wholesaler doesnt have any of the paper work, he says he is still chasing it up from the previous owner, i wont give him any money until i have at least the receipt from the motor rebuild though, and ill try ring the mechanic that did it and hopefully he can maybe tell me something about the car.

[Zeuk in Oz]

The dealer/wholesaler doesnt have any of the paper work, he says he is still chasing it up from the previous owner
Sounds like a load of BS to me.

If the paperwork was available, the dealer would already have obtained it, IMO.

Unless the mechanic gives it an absolute all clear, walk away and find a nice one privately. These cars have done so many kms that at least in NSW, the warranty you might get from a dealer means very little, if there is one at all.

I would rather buy a car from a fanatic who has done his or her own amateur maintenance properly, than a car maintained by a dealer or worse, a non BMW savvy mechanic.

Welcome to the forum, by the way ! :D

[pundit]

Don't be in a hurry.
Look at several and get a feel for a good car.
Look for service records and an owner that is fussy.
E34 prices are now dropping to the point where $8-$10k should get you a decent car.
Be careful of the $4000, "Yeah, she just needs a service and a bit of a tickle up!" ;)

[Michael999]

Full story on what i was told.
The dealer is a private seller who resells alot of cars out of his backyard and is a mechanic. He said he likes the bmws and has had quite a few 5 series before.
He bought the car at an auction, the previous owner was a lady whose husband died. She cant find the service history, and as soon as it was sold, she has become slack and slow in trying to find them.
She says she has the Recipt for the motor rebuild/repair, but has yet to send it to the Guy who bought it.
He told me that he is happy to give me her name so that i can ask her myself.
He has been waiting 2 weeks for the paper, and she is "still trying to find them".

I will get the inspection done, and try get in contact with the previous owner, so that i may hopefully get a hurry on the papers she has, and be able to ring the cars mechanic and ask some questions.

The dealer said he has a list of things he would fix if he was to own the car, a small dent, bubbled tint on the rear window, and a hardened engine mount.
All these things wont cost much to fix, so im hoping i can keep talking abut them and work his price down :)

[Paul in NZ]

190,000 ks is nothing for these cars IF THEY HAVE BEEN SERVICED.The fact that it has "had a rebuild" means it hasnt been serviced and has been overheated,OR its had some parts replaced which most of us would regard as normal maintenance but Honda owners wont.In my experience a BMW dealer will actually give a very thorough check of a car for a reasonable fee.
DONT bug the lady for the service records,she likely has other things on her mind right now.

[ThoreauHD]

The engine mount will cost close to a grand if you can't fix it yourself. That is not a small item. Yes, an inspection would be necessary if you are serious about this car. If the engine mount is toast, odds are the guibo is also toast.

[pundit]

190,000 ks is nothing for these cars IF THEY HAVE BEEN SERVICED.The fact that it has "had a rebuild" means it hasnt been serviced and has been overheated...
What Paul says is true.
For an M30 to require a rebuild at 190,000kms means either neglect or.... neglect.
Also what do they mean by 'rebuilt' and who rebuilt it?
I think I'd keep looking unless you can get a positive independant inspection from a BMW specialist.
NEVER!... and I mean NEVER take the word of a used car salesman :)

[Michael999]

Story about motor:
Lady noticed car was running hot, she thought she would just take it to a mechanic, drove it up the highway and it overheated.
Turned out the radiator hose had fallen off..
So the car has a new radiator, and and the motor was completely fixed (unsure what they did, ill need to ask further questions when i get there).

[Michael999]

Okay i saw the car today and poked around at everything, and took it for a 20minute drive.

Exterior was very good, duco looked well looked after.
1 small dent in back left door, about 40mm across, and 1-2mm deep, it was a very small shallow dent, no scratched paint on it and it was hard to notice until he pointed it out.
There was a small 30mm long crack on the rear bumper (someone must have been a bad parker?)
Tyres looked near new, rims were stock and boring but free of any obvious gutter marks.
Gas lifts on the boot only seemed to work once the boot was fully open, otherwise it fell down, is this normal? (when fully open they held it open firmly)
Gas lifts on the bonet seemed to work fine.

Inside the cabin:
Car is alot smaller than i thought it would be, im 6'1", and i was close to the ceiling unless i put my seat back (far enough to severely cramp rear passengers).
The seats were all full black leather, back seats looked very unused, front seats were worn but nothing major. Shown up more because it was black as well i beleive.

ALL the wood trim in the car was faded cracked, and pulling away, especially the gear nob, how hard is this to replace?

The top dashboard vent was buckled out at the left and right side (coming away from the dash), can this be replaced or repaired?

Glove box hinge was half broken, it worked fine but you could feel there was something broken, im sure i can repair this.

There were no floor mats, and the driver side floor was worn with the plastic coming away.

Windows were all tinted, but the rear window was bubbled enough to look unsightly... and the side windows has slide marks from going up and down, the guy told me that the car can get a complete retint for $200AU.

Steering wheel was worn but not falling apart, though the little blue/purple/red part was almost completely silver and looked very worn.
http://www.bmwmovies.net/albums/userpics/10001/normal_steering_wheel_mtech1.jpg

The dash and all black surfaces had no damage or cracking (unlike the dash fan grill).
Some buttons looked worn, but likely needed a good clean, there was alot of dust and grime in the car.
Front windscreen looked slightly unclear, man said it needed to be polished or buffed, i havent heard of this being done, is it cheaper than a new windscreen?

Ok after all that i finally drove the car.
The car was parked and he said it had not been driven since the morning (this was at 2pm), it was 13oC outside and the car started quickly without any fuss at all, no accelerator needed (unlike my current 79 volvo).
I found the rear visibility to be poor when trying to get out of the carpark, i had no idea where the rear bumper was, and the carpark was rather cramped!
At idle the car had a very slight vibration, the man said an engine mount had hardened (will confirm this when i get the bmw tech to inspect it).
As i drove off the car felt VERY smooth, i heard almost no engine noise, and the gear changed were silent and i could barely feel them even when pushing the car hard. (its an automatic btw)
The acceleration was steady and smooth, not as powerful as i had expected, but i was going alot faster than it felt as well.
The suspention was perfect, never driven a car that felt as nice on the road.
I found a quiet road and took the car to 110, which it did very easily and seemed like it just wanted to go faster.
at that speed i heard a little road noise (thus far it had been a near silent experience). 110 did not feel fast, the car was stable, and the there was no wobble or any kind of handling issues.

I did not get a chance to do any manouvering as the roads were wet, i didnt know the area, and there was a little traffic.
But the corners i did take i tried to take quickly, and the car stayed nice and flat, no roll, and no dramas.
Brakes seemed good, didnt pinch or anything uncomfortable like some asian cars seem to. Didnt get to test them at high speed tho as i didnt want to hurt my passenger.

When we got back, i opened up the bonet and had a poke around.
The Radiator was deinately new, along with alot of the hoses.
The bay was VERY clean, and you could see on the block that new gaskets had been installed, all the hoses that i gave the sqeeze test to seemed very firm and supple.

Im happy with the car and am going to get an inspection done by a bmw tech this week.
The interior is very grotty and i will work on what i can and hope to get some feedback from you guys and the tech on how much trouble it will be.

Im very excited, the cosmetic issues seem to be fixable, and should give me considerable bargaining power on the price.

Feedback at this stage is really apreciated :)
(Sorry for the long post!)

[rob101]

the seat can be adjusted up and down, the guy probably has it full up like the dude that i bought mine off did
i am 6'1" as well and i can tell you my head is nowhere near the roof.

[Michael999]

ooo okay, thanks rob.
Is it a mechanical adjustment like it is on older cars, or is there a lever somewhere?

[Paul in NZ]

i am 6'3 with a long body and with the seat all the way down i have no triuble with head room...i am close but not really close.Sounds like quite a good car!
Try to determine wether it has a good service history,its one of the most important things with these cars,but it certainly sounds as though it has been looked after,if not just lately

[Michael999]

Yeah, if i cannot get hold of the service history then i will contact the previous owner, and then get the name of the mechanic who has worked on the car.
If i can get verbal confirmation from a few ppl that it had regular service then ill be satisfied.

Anyone got any comments out fixing that interior trim?

[rob101]

ooo okay, thanks rob.
Is it a mechanical adjustment like it is on older cars, or is there a lever somewhere?
well it depends on the seat some of them are mech, like mine other electrical. anyway i think its either the front or the middle lever on the right side of the drivers seat, you push it down and the seat will sink down when it has weight on it.... i can never really remember which lever is which.

[mamilapon]

is known to be just great, but does require it's routine maintenance intervals be followed... I'd be VERY hesitant or else very sure what that engine rebuild is all about... there are lots of M30 engines w/tons of miles and still strong and tight... (granted I've an M50 engine... but ask other 535 drivers...)
At 190000ks with just routine maintenance the M30 just doesn't break. So the car must have been neglected/abused. It's not only the engine that has suffered but other parts of the car as well such as suspension,body,interior,and maybe even the chassis. If it was me, I'd stay well clear of that one; there's plenty of others out there. Be patient my friend.

[mamilapon]

get paperwork on everything he said he changed.. buying a used car is dirty work... buying a used car from a dealer is FILTHY
A little detailing, a little sweet talk and you're sucked in. Be careful.

[Yiorgos]

Gas lifts on the boot only seemed to work once the boot was fully open, otherwise it fell down, is this normal? (when fully open they held it open firmly)
This is how my car is as well -- lifts don't really do their job until the lid is at least 90deg up (doesn't have to be all the way). Not sure if this is correct or not, just letting you know that you're not the only one. ;)


The top dashboard vent was buckled out at the left and right side (coming away from the dash), can this be replaced or repaired?
Did this look like as if someone tried to pull the vent out, or if someone had clipped something onto it?


There were no floor mats, and the driver side floor was worn with the plastic coming away.
You can get BMW mats if you like (I got mine for around AU$250, BMW part), I could either choose black which was in stock, or order grey ones which would be a 4 week wait and double the price. The BMW original part that I got didn't have any stomp pad for the drivers', so I used the driver mat of an $8 set that I bought a couple of weeks prior to protect the carpet. The BMW mats that I got came with the clipping pins as well, so that they clip into the holes in the carpet and stay put. I can provide you with a part number if you like.


it was 13oC outside and the car started quickly without any fuss at all, no accelerator needed (unlike my current 79 volvo).

It's a fuel injected car, you should only be pressing the accelerator when starting for cars that are carburetted.


I found the rear visibility to be poor when trying to get out of the carpark, i had no idea where the rear bumper was, and the carpark was rather cramped!
Welcome to the E34. I have had my E34 for more than a year, and I still don't know where the rear bumper is. Whenever I park my car back-to-front on my driveway, I always line it up to my front yard lamp post, I have discovered from trial and error that distance is the safest -- any further and I would crash my rear end into my garage door.


But the corners i did take i tried to take quickly, and the car stayed nice and flat, no roll, and no dramas.
Welcome to near 50/50 weight distrubution :D

Well, looks like mechanically the car seems fine. Of course, a BMW inspection should be able to show you any flaws with the vehicle. Good luck on the purchase if you decide to go through with it.


(Sorry for the long post!)
Sorry for the long reply!

[mamilapon]

Yeah, if i cannot get hold of the service history then i will contact the previous owner, and then get the name of the mechanic who has worked on the car.
If i can get verbal confirmation from a few ppl that it had regular service then ill be satisfied.

Anyone got any comments out fixing that interior trim?
Is this the first E34 you have a look at?

[Michael999]

mamilapon, i posted how the motor had been stuffed. check top of page 3.
It checks out when i checked under the hood, new radiator was there, nice and shiny, new pipes, and you could clearly see the gaskets on the motor had been replaced.
Im waiting on the reciept for this work, and ill contact the mechanic and speak with him about the cars history.


Yiorgos thanks for the replies, really appreciated.
Top dashboard vent looked like it has warped from sun damage.
I suspect the car had been left in the hot sun for some years, this would account for all the timber trim bowing out and cracking.
Those prices for genuine mats seems really steep, I may pickup some generic ones for the time being.
My volvo is fuel injected, and still likes to be throttled when starting, its not electronic fuel injection tho, its some half way thing that volvo were using at the time.

LOL @ visibility, i may have to invest in some of those reversing sensors :P

[Michael999]

mamilapon, first one i have test driven yes.
Ive looked at about 3 so far.
Im testing a 1991 520i tomorrow, ill see how much different everything is.

[Michael999]

I Noticed that the climate controls in the car i viewed were different to the E34 dash pictures that i have seen.
The climate control was not knobs but little wheels, like this http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/4695/climatecontrolhmmkx9.jpg

Does this mean anything? was this just a style used in the early models of E34?

[rob101]

My volvo is fuel injected, and still likes to be throttled when starting, its not electronic fuel injection tho, its some half way thing that volvo were using at the time.

LOL @ visibility, i may have to invest in some of those reversing sensors :P
the volvo might have mechanical fuel injection. anyway i don't see what the problem is with the rear visibility, i can park fine so far. I am not really that interested in reverse parking anyway.

[Zeuk in Oz]

never driven a car that felt as nice on the road....................But the corners i did take i tried to take quickly, and the car stayed nice and flat, no roll, and no dramas.

The bug has bitten. It now just has to reel him in ! :D



You have now discovered why we are all so passionate about this car.

This might not be the one though. Don't be in a hurry.

There are others out there if this one isn't good enough.

Good Luck ! ;)

[GJPinAU]

I Noticed that the climate controls in the car i viewed were different to the E34 dash pictures that i have seen.
The climate control was not knobs but little wheels, like this http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/4695/climatecontrolhmmkx9.jpg

Does this mean anything? was this just a style used in the early models of E34?
This is a full "climate control" unit, not heater/air co system. Just set and forget. They just look ugly, but work really well.
I thought Phil Sanderson would've added his 2 cents worth by now??

I don't consider a blown head gasket a full rebuild and through personal experience know it cost a lot of bucks to fix. Look at it this way, it has happened now so you don't have to worry about it.

I don't know of any local independent BMW techs in Adelaide, there are a couple of SA guys here, I'm sure they would know of some.

cheers,
Greg

[Michael999]

im getting the inspection done by Gary at BMP Prestige.
Ive rung around and i keep getting reffered to him when i mention bmw.

Just asked about getting the interior wood trim redone, and was told i have to get it refurbished or buy new BMW parts. And its very very expensive.
Ill have a good poke at it when the inspection is being done today and see if i could do it myself, my dad is an avid boat builder and has also been making furniture all his life, so we should be able to come up withsomething.
Or i can just live with it :) http://www.carshine.com.au have dash wood kits, but when i rang they said that its additional wood, not replacement, and he couldnt help me with what i needed, although the gear knob he has $140 for auto would suit me fine.

Important thing is findout out the history, and making sure the inspection goes well and no mechanical faults.

UPDATE:
Got the previous owners phone number from the dealer, and i called her, her son said to call back after 5 and she will be home.
Looking good so far! :D

[Yiorgos]

http://www.carshine.com.au have dash wood kits, but when i rang they said that its additional wood, not replacement, and he couldnt help me with what i needed, although the gear knob he has $140 for auto would suit me fine.
Yep, the stuff CarShine sells are wood veneers, they stick on top of the surface. I think they really are for older E34s that don't have wood-grain, they basically stick on to the surface where woodgrain would go.

Gear knob should be OK, have you asked around how much a genuine part is?

Custom woodgrain with assistance from your dad would be quite interesting, you'll come out with the result of having woodgrain that is unique and hand-made :D

[GJPinAU]

Bma
Bma
Bma
:d

[Michael999]

Ok i jsut got home from the inspection.
The guys there were really good, and went though everything with me.
He showed me that the car has clearly been looked after, HEAPS of stuff has been replaced, lots of new parts under the hood, new head, radiator, hoses, master cylinder, suspension arms, bushes.
The tryes have heaps of tread, it has brand new disks, and very think pads on atm.

There were 2 oil leaks he found, so small that it didnt drop, but.
He said it would cost about $120 to get him to fix them, but they werent urgent at all.

The rear muffler cover had a TINY little rust on a join, nothing to worry about.
Cruise control wire was broken, front and rear badges have had it, front was upside down.. and painted with nail polish.
CLEARLY a woman owner.

He said to me that he did not often see one in this good condition and that it was clear that it had been looked after and well serviced.

He siad the front shockers would need to be replaced within 6-12months, he gave me a price of $170 for the pair, or $500 installed.
The left side (passenger) heater was broken, $250 to fix.

And he said it needed a dyno tune $300
And a wheel alignment $50?


'Im going to the bank now :)

[Paul in NZ]

sounds a good un....

[Jehu]

The engine mount will cost close to a grand if you can't fix it yourself. That is not a small item. Yes, an inspection would be necessary if you are serious about this car. If the engine mount is toast, odds are the guibo is also toast.


a grand for engine mounts ? I had one installed on my 540 recently . He used one i had been supplied by the seller from which i bought the car. But at most you should pay about $100 each for the parts . Anyway he found the fan shroud was cracked and broken and one radiator bracket was missing. He isntalled the one engine mount, ordered and installed the new fan shroud and radiator bracket for under $100.00 One Hundred Dollars.....This was an independent BMW shop near by.Don't scare the guy like that ,lol. I ended up in total,so far having to spend about $1,500.00 in additional parts and labour to get it to driveable and to pass state satefy inspection.That included installing belts, engine mount,replacing the aux. water pump,replacing a fog lamp,trueing a wheel, adding hubcentric rings and replacing the two front tires.

[Michael999]

Okay, ive decided to purchase the car.
Talked to the previous owner and she said it was serviced every 6 months, and she gave me the name of the mechanic who fixed the head, and the name of the shop where it was taken to regularly. "BM City" in adelaide for anyone interested.
Im registering it tomorrow and picking it up 2 days from now :)

Ill get my friend with a good digital camera to take a stack of photos, and ill post em all up.
Thanks HEAPS for all your advice! all of you have been great, and i hugely appreciate it, hope to become one of the crowd over the next few months!

I worked out the price today with the seller, $6300.

[GJPinAU]

You've done well. Enjoy the car and stay in contact with us.

cheers,
Greg

[dennyg]

Just bought my 1989 535 from ebay. car had only 43800 miles on it but mehcanics were not attended too. I had to replace rear brake lines front rotors engine and tranny mounts ...this week i will replace upper and lower control arm bushings idler arm front struts front and rear sway links pitman/dog bones.....today I had throttle body cleaned via IV and she smoked for about twenty minutes......big improvement!!! Car idles a little rough but I think that is common in these. power is not great but not too shabby. Cant wait for suspension to be fixed so I can actually use the power.

[angrypancake]

43,800? wow!

[ILoveMPower]

From the information I have gathered from this thread, I would tend to look around for a different E34.

I'm sure it rides real nice, but I just have a bad feeling they did a real good job of cleaning up the bay and whatnot when in reality maitenence has been lacking.

Either way, this might not be the one, but there's tons more out there! Make sure to at least drive a manual before you go choosing ;)

[Ross]

Hallelujah!