What 5 would you buy & why?

[Paul in NZ]

it depends what you want from your car.If you like the 7 you may be tempted by an E39..530 or 540,the 540 is available as a 6 speed manual.If you want a more connected drive then an e34,I guess the 540 six speed or an M5,but the 535 manual has its own attractions....perhaps a late 525 manual.The e39 would be available in a touring,but it seems most E34 tourings in the US(you dont say)are 525.

[bigtisas]

If you don't need a lot of power/speed, the M50 525i is the cheapest to maintain. Get the 5sp manual if you can.

[sparkdaddy]

I guess I'm a BMW guy. I have a BMW motorcycle (R75/6) for those interested, and I have a 94 740il that I'm tired of. It has 174k on it and still going strong except for the rusted door panel. New engine at 65k, new tranny at 97k. But I am tired of it. :p

I'm looking for a 5 series. The pro's are it is not as big, smaller engine is ok but still need power to fly up the hill to go skiing and I need something newer. I will work from this car. Price range 15k or less.

Best engine, best year etc.

Thanks for your two cents.

[attack eagle]

95 540i6

or ///m5

[repenttokyo]

I have yet to see a M5 for under 15k as well.


not hard to find, they regularly go for less than that on ebay. But no automatics.

M5, either e39 or e34 is the way to go with these cars, in my opinion.

[sparkdaddy]

I will probably go with a automatic since I work from the car alot. I sell real estate and taking notes and talking on the phone while sifting is a little cumbersome. Doable just cumbersome. Don't forget the coffee with no cup holders too.:D

I like the idea of a smaller engine but worried about an automatic and having enough power in the mountains or city for that matter? Any good balance there? Gas is espensive. :)

I have yet to see a M5 for under 15k as well.

[M20Turbo]

I'm looking for a 5 series. The pro's are it is not as big, smaller engine is ok but still need power to fly up the hill to go skiing and I need something newer. I will work from this car. Price range 15k or less.

Best engine, best year etc.

Thanks for your two cents.

With a price range of 15K, I would be looking for an M5. You will have plenty of power to make it up to the slops. I love my baby 6 (M20) with the Korman rebuild and the added turbo. What a difference it made when I went skiing for the first time after the added boost. I ski in northern New Mexico (Taos), and sometimes in Santa Fe, I think I have more fun driving to the slops then skiing:)

[BuckNaked]

$15k buys a lot of car if you shop around and are patient.
Right now there is a 540i in the $15k range, but it has 56,000 miles, rather extreme. Expect a nice '95 540i/6-speed to go in the $8k range. And expect to spend at least a grand on maintenance immediately.
I would avoid the m5's if you are cost conscious and need a daily driver.
Price the difference in a simple brake job for the M5 against a standard model. e34 M5's (all of which had the straight six) have the added cost of valve adjustments which I understand are a yearly ritual.
To me, the 540 is the daily driver, the M5 is for track days and bragging rights. But they are huge bragging rights, don't get me wrong.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

I got one of each

M20 525 for daily commute

M50tu 525iT for my wife to haul kids around

S38 ///M5 for me:D

[Bo525i]

Get an Alpina B10 ;) :D

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

I have yet to see a M5 for under 15k as well.


I picked mine up for under $9k, just needed some a/c work

[Barney Paull-Edwards]

I guess I'm a BMW guy. I have a BMW motorcycle (R75/6) for those interested, and I have a 94 740il that I'm tired of. It has 174k on it and still going strong except for the rusted door panel. New engine at 65k, new tranny at 97k. But I am tired of it. :p

I'm looking for a 5 series. The pro's are it is not as big, smaller engine is ok but still need power to fly up the hill to go skiing and I need something newer. I will work from this car. Price range 15k or less.

Best engine, best year etc.

Thanks for your two cents.
Buy an early non-vanos M5 from UK,export to NZ, still cheap and the most reliable quick BM made.£1800-3000 plus $875 transit, taxes? but the ultimate tool.

[e34.535i.sport]

First of all e34 beats the e39 hands down in the looks department... No competition.

I might be biased here but the 535i seems to be a good compromise. There's a lot of power there in my opinion but it's still reasonably cheap to run and maintain (particuarly if you do your own work). Yes it's a bit thirsty but if you've currently got a 740iL then it shouldn't be any worse than that.

When I was looking for an e34 I didn't really have an engine in mind. I test drove the 520i, 525i, 540i and finally the 535i (couldn't insure or afford an m5... yet!). After considering the boring stuff (MPG/maintenance costs/insurance/etc) and then the good stuff (power/spec/etc) the 535i won out. I also must admit out of the ones I found it had by far the most comprehensive service history and seemed well looked after. This is probably the most important thing you should be looking for. I've done a lot of work to my car (and still am!) and thats always going to be necessary with the age of these cars, but its worth it.

Although the V8's are apparently more 'temperamental' than the straight six's, the 540i is a beast and if I could afford to run one I probably would... Anyway your best bet is probably to try a few different models and see what you like best and what best suits your needs. Happy hunting.

[Paul in NZ]

the e34 m5 didnt have vanos in either guise...3.6 or 3.8...and i dont know how NZ comes into it.SparkDaddy started the thread I dont know where he is located

[repenttokyo]

Cheers Dave... Makes sense! So why would someone say buy a NON-vanos m5? It seems that the vanos has lots of pro's, without the con's? I know my car hasn't got it but I think my friend's e36 has... His does seem a lot smoother than mine on idle, but mine feels more powerful (that is prob due to mine being 3.5L and his being 2L admittedly.)

Downsides?


the cons are it is complicated and breaks much more readily than a non-vanos motor.

[e34.535i.sport]

Buy an early non-vanos M5 from UK,export to NZ, still cheap and the most reliable quick BM made.£1800-3000 plus $875 transit, taxes? but the ultimate tool.

I've heard this mentioned many times but never known what 'vanos' and 'non-vanos' is? Apologies if this is a noobiiiiish question (which I am sure it is). I have assumed it's to do with the injection system?! What are the pro's and con's and what BM's come with it?

[Dave M]

I've heard this mentioned many times but never known what 'vanos' and 'non-vanos' is? Apologies if this is a noobiiiiish question (which I am sure it is). I have assumed it's to do with the injection system?! What are the pro's and con's and what BM's come with it?

vanos........by wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VANOS)

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

I've heard this mentioned many times but never known what 'vanos' and 'non-vanos' is? Apologies if this is a noobiiiiish question (which I am sure it is). I have assumed it's to do with the injection system?! What are the pro's and con's and what BM's come with it?


E34 ///M5 S38 motor never came with a vanos (variable cam).


The regular M50TU motors on the 525 have that charm.

[e34.535i.sport]

vanos........by wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VANOS)

Cheers Dave... Makes sense! So why would someone say buy a NON-vanos m5? It seems that the vanos has lots of pro's, without the con's? I know my car hasn't got it but I think my friend's e36 has... His does seem a lot smoother than mine on idle, but mine feels more powerful (that is prob due to mine being 3.5L and his being 2L admittedly.)

Downsides?

[e34.535i.sport]

the cons are it is complicated and breaks much more readily than a non-vanos motor.

I see. More complicated = more to go wrong. I like the way my motor is quite simple... Simple good.

[Sam-Son]

95 525 5spd LSD couple engine mods chip and whatnot thats the route Id go......did go
great car wouldnt trade it for anything and if its in your budget you could always do an S50 swap

[Craig Wright]

I'll limit my comment to the E34 and the E39. I think they both have classic looks. I have one of each!

I have a '99 528iT with the sport package and 5 speed manual. I wanted the cargo capacity w/out buying an SUV. I bought the 528iT over the 540iT because you can not get a 540iT 6speed. It is an entirely different feel that the E34, but one that I enjoy. If I'm going to be on the back roads, then it's the E34. If I need to get there quickly via the interstate, then it's the E39.

If you need to work from the car, consider the Touring; either the E34 525iT and the 530iT(careful of the sunroof issues) or the E39 5 series iT models, which came to the US in '99. It sound as if you are leaning to the automatic. You would not go wrong with a model year 2000 or newer, 540iT. It is also great to haul the ski equiptment! Just make sure that you get a set of winter wheels and tires. If 15K is your limit, then the 528iT would be more affordable, and I would guess less $$ to maintain than the 540iT.

If you are interested in the E34, then make sure it's in good shape. Buy a E34 from someplace other than the northeast where they salt the roads!

I have to install new front fenders and all four door skins on my '89 535i. Then there is the issue of the rust around the fuel filler door. That will require major cutting, like the whole rear 1/4 panel. I probably can't justify that expense. I still love the "feel" of the drive. I installed the sachs kit, which has much to do with the improved "feel" and handling. It is just a blast to drive 19 years later.

Since you aked what would I buy and why, then others that I would not mind to have in the garage are as follows:

If I wanted a garage queen then three come to mind: the E 28 M5, the E34 M5, and the E34 M540.

For an everyday driver it would be the 2003 E39 540i 6speed.

[JohnC]

Jahre Motorsport M5, is the only E34 I want otherwise my 525 suits me fine.