Which E34 would you get? (need help here)

[Kamil]

Ok, so I'm pretty much shopping for E34 #2. My wife would get the E46.
Both of these I would drive year round, 60 miles/day. Both have the same price, both are stock, neither really needs anything.

E34 #1
'92 535i 5-speed, 101k miles, green with tan interior. No rust, little boubling along the trunk, paint a little faded, leather a little dry, minor seat warpage, 6 or 7 out of 10 for interior and exterior.

E34 #2
'95 525i 5-speed, 140k miles, calipso red with light gray (almost white) interior. Very clean, shiny paint, garage kept all its life, all original, very good condition, 8 or 9 out of 10 for exterior and interior.

$5000 for either one... I'm torn. The 525 is newer, and in better condition. But I love the 535 engine and narrow grills and it's just more rare... I mean 100k 535i are super rare these days.

Give me opinions please. This would be BMW #6 for me, and E34 #2.
Thanks.

[bbig119]

What are you buying for? Without knowing, I'd say go for the better ride-- 535.

[we_call_him_doher]

535, but hey I'm a little biased.

[Qube]

If you're doing absolutely nothing to it, get the 525i. If you are going to work on it and have some fun, then the 535i.

[Kamil]

What are you buying for?

To drive.
Mostly to work back and forth, 80% highway, park in a city garage, and driven other places in weekend, etc. It won't be a garage queen, it will be used daily as it should, year round.

The 525 might a little girly in color, but it won't probably suffer from a lot of "old age" issues... or at least fewer. And I already had a 535.

[Macv]

535 ftw

[markus]

535i because you wont have buyers remorse

[spyrot1]

Get the 525i Calypso; the newer e34's are a little more advanced and the 525 gets better gas mileage, and if you add the EAT chip it drives better:

Then again I'm biased, but either way you can't go wrong.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k258/spyrot1/BMW2/525ib.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k258/spyrot1/BMW2/525ih.jpg

[Denton]

The 525i. Get's decent mileage, newer, and the '95s have plenty of minor changes that are all thoughtful.

AND CALYPSOROT IS NOT A GIRL'S COLOR!

[mamilapon]

The 535,hands down!!

[ryan roopnarine]

GIGO, if you ask me. interior fixes/paint fixes/appearance fixes are never as cheap, easy as you hope. always easier to maintain an asthetic (sp) condition than to bring something up to one, even if it is a daily driver. id wager you could probably find a nicer 535i than that for less if you could deal with higher mileage, 100k car in 6/10 is not really worth $5k to me. (Usually what i find if i see a combination like low mileage + mediocre care in a car like an e34 is that the repair bills/visits knocked someone on their @ss too much for them to find time to drive the car) if you really want the 35, find a more expensive example in nicer condition and buy it.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

CALYPSOROT IS NOT A GIRL'S COLOR!

that's why I bought my wife a Calypsorot touring, but I still love to drive it.

[Zeuk in Oz]

If the 525 has ASC then I would choose that one.

[Atl530i]

I'd get the 525. That is just me though.

[angrypancake]

I'd vote 535 but I agree with Ryan Roop. he's spot on with it.

[CharlesAFerg]

I'd vote 535 but I agree with Ryan Roop. he's spot on with it.

Agreed, I bought my 525 w 150k on it and it's great after a few things, but I still long for more power... Get the 535, you'll be fixing stuff anyways, might as well have fun with it.

[Thayne]

525i

[DaveVoorhis]

The 535i M30 engine is a bit gutsier, but the 525i M50 engine gets better fuel mileage, is lighter for better handling, doesn't require valve adjustments, and scores high on the technical coolness factor with four valves per head, the first engine (I think) to employ a plastic intake manifold, two overhead camshafts, distributor-less ignition, and 189 horsepower out of a 152 cubic inch mill.

[Kalevera]

Buy the 525, negotiate the price. Then dump the M50, get a $4,000 S54 like this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230046402037&rd=1

and put it all together. Paint, bodywork...it will eat you alive and it is rarely close to factory quality.

[Kamil]

Buy the 525, negotiate the price. Then dump the M50, get a $4,000 S54 like this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230046402037&rd=1

and put it all together. Paint, bodywork...it will eat you alive and it is rarely close to factory quality.

Yea, good luck getting that turn over in anything other than a post '01 E46. Such swap is the reason why I bought a '01 E46.

I'm going to look at both of these tomorrow... if I get one, it will probably be the 535... I just miss mine so much. :)

[Elekta]

I sold my wife's 92 535iA for $5k and it had 117k.

Get the 3.5, it's the better engine.

[bigtisas]

Between the two, I'll pick the 95 525i just because it is newer for the same price.

I've not driven a 535. My 525 (no EAT chip) is pretty slow under 4000rpm. Just make sure you're ok with the power.

[Kamil]

Went to see them.

Red 525 was sold before I got there.

535 - all stock, needs muffler, shocks and LCAs. Front pass fender is dented, could use a tune up too, the basketweave rims were M I N T!! Needed illumination over the HVAC controls too.

Interesting thing, the car was an '92 535i with ASC!!!... and it worked too!!!
Turns out that the ASC was optional in '92.
Did not know that.

I think I'm gonna pass... between exhaust, a springs/shock package, and few other things, this thing will cost me too much money. For $7000+ I can get a nice E30 or E36. I dunno... I'm confused. :(