what would you people get? e36 or e34

[adashio]

a 5 speed auto 320i, no leather, has sunroof but has everything else...from 1995

or

a 4 speed auto 525i from 1988, leather, sunroof etc

which of the two is most reliable? fuel eficency?

[bigtisas]

5sp is a lot more reliable than auto.

[LunatiC]

bigtisas, they're both auto.

[John in CT]

with major ($$$) issues. Of course a careless drive can screw up a clutch and gearbox too, so be sure the chack the service history, no records, no sale IMHO

Good luck,

John
1995 525i 5 speed

[Paul in NZ]

i think e 36's are ugly compared to e 34.This E36 is nearly 10 years younger than this 525 tho.A 320 may not be as fuel efficient as you are hoping but prolly more fuel efficient than the M20 in the 525

[johnnyturbo2002]

a 5 speed auto 320i, no leather, has sunroof but has everything else...from 1995

or

a 4 speed auto 525i from 1988, leather, sunroof etc

which of the two is most reliable? fuel eficency?

since they are both auto the question then should be which will I have less trouble with. I just bought a 1995 520i and one of my main reasons was safety ( airbags) as well as less work on the engine. ( I am almost positive that I won't have to do any adjustments or anything like that.) Plus the fact that I have AC heated seats blah blah blah make it a better car all around...which do you like better and what are the prices of each?

[attack eagle]

wouldn't an 88 be an e28?

[Qube]

Nah. 88 build is still a 1989 model. Anyway, it's a toughie. This 320 has a good many years on the 525. If it's a beater, then get the e36... you'll find much more junkers than e34 for parts.

[adashio]

first of all i bought a e34 520i 1995 model, leather, sunroof, ac, keyless entry, wood trim. for $5999 australian...good deal or not?

also, the m50 engine and the car all round. any quirks or things i should watch out for directly relating to the 520i? does it have a timing belt or chain? thanks so much for any help you can provide

anyone know the original price of this car in 1995?

[repenttokyo]

personally, I would buy neither. hold out for a manual e34.

[rob101]

first of all i bought a e34 520i 1995 model, leather, sunroof, ac, keyless entry, wood trim. for $5999 australian...good deal or not?

also, the m50 engine and the car all round. any quirks or things i should watch out for directly relating to the 520i? does it have a timing belt or chain? thanks so much for any help you can provide

anyone know the original price of this car in 1995?
6k is good, it has a timing chain. trannies do not have infinite life transmission (contrary to what most slack arse australian mechanics will tell you) fluid if you don't change it along with the filter at 100 000km intervals your transmission will break leaving you with a 4k-ish bill.

[txp135]

yes, hold out for a manual. And unless there's something special about the car like it's in great shape and/or dirt cheap or has all the upgrades already, just keep waiting. Stay alert, you will find a nice one that's all sorted out. If you plan to be cheap, you will probably end up spending a lot of money sorting it out.

[rob101]

yes, hold out for a manual. And unless there's something special about the car like it's in great shape and/or dirt cheap or has all the upgrades already, just keep waiting. Stay alert, you will find a nice one that's all sorted out. If you plan to be cheap, you will probably end up spending a lot of money sorting it out.
1993 onwards there are no 525i, 520i or 530i manuals in Australia

[txp135]

oh sorry, didn't even notice that you're from Australia. I personally would choose the 95' e36. I have an e34 and am attached to it. But buying such old cars, the shape they are in is more important than most other things. The 95' will probably be in much better shape.

[Zeuk in Oz]

a 5 speed auto 320i, no leather, has sunroof but has everything else...from 1995

or

a 4 speed auto 525i from 1988, leather, sunroof etc

which of the two is most reliable? fuel eficency?

Buy a '95 520i or 525i auto instead.

Friend of mine just went through the same exercise - chose a '95 E36 over a cheaper '95 E34.

Crazy.

What I am suggesting is that the M20 engine in the '88 with a 4 speed auto is less desireable than a later E34 520i or 525i (94-95) with M50 engine, air bags and a 5 speed auto.

The E36 does not drive anywhere near as well as an E34 - I find the steering absolutely dreadful and the suspension lacks the same class.

Also, IMHO, it is too small, with getting in & out of the back seat a real issue.

[Zeuk in Oz]

first of all i bought a e34 520i 1995 model, leather, sunroof, ac, keyless entry, wood trim. for $5999 australian...good deal or not?

also, the m50 engine and the car all round. any quirks or things i should watch out for directly relating to the 520i? does it have a timing belt or chain? thanks so much for any help you can provide

anyone know the original price of this car in 1995?
What sort of mileage and service history does it have ?

I agree with Rob that the first thing you should do / get done is change all the fluids - auto, diff, brakes, power steering, engine oil etc.

Did you get the vehicle inspected by an expert ? When did it last have thrust arms replaced etc.

I always get an Inspection II done asap after purchase as this will show up any areas that need attention.

Good price though - good luck with it.

[rob101]

yeah my friend got a 6 month younger e36 than my e34. you can def notice the different in the quality of the car in general especially the interior.

[adashio]

yeah my friend got a 6 month younger e36 than my e34. you can def notice the different in the quality of the car in general especially the interior. I nee

yeah i bought the 95 520i. executive model. verrrry nice condition, bordering on immaculate. yeah i looked at e36's when i bought this one but there WAY overpriced comapred to e34's everyone was asking over 10k for one in same year! there just too cramped...although comapared to the e30s.....

[LunatiC]

anyone know the original price of this car in 1995?

You're lucky I have a copy of Wheels magazine from July 1995 in front of me (the issue where they take an EF Falcon XR6 to England and test it against a Ford Scorpio, Opel/Vauxhall Omega and Jaguar XJ Sport). In "Price Watch", an E34 520i auto cost $78,750 (1995 dollars of course). Compared to the 525i which cost $94,150.

[repenttokyo]

1993 onwards there are no 525i, 520i or 530i manuals in Australia


so that means 3 years of no manual e34's? not really that big a deal...just get an earlier one, like I did.

[adashio]

so that means 3 years of no manual e34's? not really that big a deal...just get an earlier one, like I did.

it was a tough descision about manual or not. manual would have been ideal but i just couldnt pass this car up it was that good.

as im still learning about bmw's does anyone know where i can get a little piece of plastic that sits below the automatic gear shift knob. its only cosmetic...but annoying

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u186/adashio/0E2B504C589D49AA91CE1D618E318A4D.jpg

[rob101]

it was a tough descision about manual or not. manual would have been ideal but i just couldnt pass this car up it was that good.

as im still learning about bmw's does anyone know where i can get a little piece of plastic that sits below the automatic gear shift knob. its only cosmetic...but annoying

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u186/adashio/0E2B504C589D49AA91CE1D618E318A4D.jpg
damn no airbag?
I'd suggest having a look at realoem.com
most of the australian members here get their parts from BMA Parts (google it) in the USA. I am sure Patrick or Yves will be able to fix you up with that part and you won't have to sell body parts to afford it (unlike bmw):p

[repenttokyo]

mine doesn't have an airbag either.

[BMWCCA1]

The shifter gate cover part is: SLIDING COVER 51161938352 $6.14USD, cheap enough to just get from your local dealer. (Don't know why everyone suggests the aftermarket for OE parts that the aftermarket sources have to buy from BMW anyway!)
Part #24 on this image:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/v/w/5.png

[Zeuk in Oz]

mine doesn't have an airbag either.
Airbags were very rare (if at all) in '91 but I thought they were standard in '95.

Just checked Realoem - airbags were apparently an option on 520i cars even in '95.

[LunatiC]

I am sure Patrick or Yves will be able to fix you up with that part and you won't have to sell body parts to afford it (unlike bmw):p

+1 for BMA. These guys will be your new best friend when it comes to parts for your E34.

That plastic strip thing is something that breaks all the time, and is relatively cheap and easy to fix. I still have to get a replacement for mine too (*adds it to his list*) you can see the missing piece of mine when you shift to anything lower than D on the auto.

[repenttokyo]

Airbags were very rare (if at all) in '91 but I thought they were standard in '95.

Just checked Realoem - airbags were apparently an option on 520i cars even in '95.


wow that is really strange - domestic luxury cars had airbags standard well before that.

[BMWCCA1]

Of course passive restraints were mandated by law in the U.S. It took a while for anywhere else to even consider them slightly useful. Standard on all BMWs in the U.S. from 1990. First appeared in some models in 1987 or so.

[adashio]

Of course passive restraints were mandated by law in the U.S. It took a while for anywhere else to even consider them slightly useful. Standard on all BMWs in the U.S. from 1990. First appeared in some models in 1987 or so.

yeah that wasnt my car, just a stock photo off either ebay or google cant remember, will take photos of mine now.

[adashio]

yeah that wasnt my car, just a stock photo off either ebay or google cant remember, will take photos of mine now.

this is MY 520i....any upgrades you reccommend? also where is the pollen filter for these cars for the air conditioning...? you can see where the yellow is near the gear shift because of no cosmetic cover...

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u186/adashio/IMG_1228.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u186/adashio/IMG_1229.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u186/adashio/IMG_1231.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u186/adashio/IMG_1233.jpg

[LunatiC]

this is MY 520i....any upgrades you reccommend? also where is the pollen filter for these cars for the air conditioning...? you can see where the yellow is near the gear shift because of no cosmetic cover...


Pretty sweet car! The pollen filter is located behind the pedals, have a look at www.bmw34.net for Microfilter replacement for RHD.

Can you take a pic of your car's front and rear head-on (ie. not on an angle)? I've been meaning to get euro-style number plates for my E34 but I never see any other E34s around with them and I'm not sure if they look good or not.
TIA.

[adashio]

Can you take a pic of your car's front and rear head-on (ie. not on an angle)? I've been meaning to get euro-style number plates for my E34 but I never see any other E34s around with them and I'm not sure if they look good or not.
TIA.[/QUOTE]

its dark so its the best i can do till tomorow....

the silly car wont start! it wouldnt start this morning, took key out, reinserted, then started. did the same thing this afternoon....but tonight it wont start at all, it does have the battery light permenantly on though. flat battery gah! will charge tomorrow then probobly to buy a new battery!

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u186/adashio/IMG_1239.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u186/adashio/IMG_1238.jpg

[LunatiC]

Thanks for the pics adashio, much appreciated!

EDIT: By the way, what colour is that? Looks a bit like Oxford Green...

[adashio]

Thanks for the pics adashio, much appreciated!

EDIT: By the way, what colour is that? Looks a bit like Oxford Green...


spot on!

[repenttokyo]

Of course passive restraints were mandated by law in the U.S. It took a while for anywhere else to even consider them slightly useful. Standard on all BMWs in the U.S. from 1990. First appeared in some models in 1987 or so.


my Canadian bmw doesn't have them, in 1991...and our laws are identical to yours in many ways...

[BMWCCA1]

my Canadian bmw doesn't have them, in 1991...and our laws are identical to yours in many ways...Well then, obviously, your laws are not exactly the same...as the Hertz ads say!

According to Wikipedia:
On July 11, 1984, the U.S. government required cars being produced after April 1, 1989 to have driver's side air bags or automatic seat belts Which fits pretty well with my memory of BMW phasing-in airbags on the U.S. E34 525i mid-year 1989. All U.S. E34 535i's came with driver airbags. Other changes came around the same time. For instance any Salmon Silver E34 525i in the U.S. came without airbags, but when Salmon was replaced, mid-year, by Sterling Silver, all those 525i's in Sterling came with air-bags.

[repenttokyo]

that's true,, our bumper laws are also harsher than yours.