530?

[pgh2002]

I would like to get some feedback from you guys. I have a '91 525im w/ about 144K miles that I truly love. It runs very well and I really have no major complaints other than the lack of acceleration. I have been recently considering getting a newer ('94/'95) 530im for the larger engine and umph! I am curious to know whether or not you think this is a wise move or not.

[Mr Project]

530's have 2 disadvantages in my mind:

1 - Practically 0 aftermarket parts. If you don't like the stock performance, or the chipped performance, you're stuck.

2 - Nikasil issue... beaten to death, but it makes shopping harder, and if you want a 5-speed.... good luck! An Alusil 530i 5-speed is a rare beast indeed.

[Phil M]

i suggest that you find a nice early model 5 speed 535i. 3.5L I6 as opposed to 3.0L V8. you will get better (and can get lots more) perfomance out of a 535, plus better gas, and it'll be cheaper than a later model 530i.

[Robert K]

I have a 1991 535i and I drove the 530i just to see what the V8 would feel like. I swear that my 535i would have outrun it. I think a 535i has as much or more power and probably a much more reliable engine. If you just have to have a V8, I'd take a look around for a 540i. Probably the thing you really need to do is just locate an example of each that's for sale and take them for a spin. In the end, you have to be the one that's happy.

Grace and peace,

Robert K
1991 535i

[Sweetwater]

I would like to get some feedback from you guys. I have a '91 525im w/ about 144K miles that I truly love. It runs very well and I really have no major complaints other than the lack of acceleration. I have been recently considering getting a newer ('94/'95) 530im for the larger engine and umph! I am curious to know whether or not you think this is a wise move or not.


As my daily driver, the 530i is a great car. :p

Nice feel, power and balance. :D

Great gas consumption on the highway, not bad around town. ;)

Hope you find a good one like I did.

[MantecaBMW]

I agree that the 530 is underpowered for a V8, but I'm not a hot rod anyway.....that's what my Camaro is for. I've been driving my 530 150 miles a day for the past 1 1/2 years averaging about 23 mpg in commute traffic. And for the drive, you just can't beat it.....especially on the freeway at 80 mph and up......very smooth and stable.

[winfred]

i have pounded 530s into the ground in drags to 100 or so with my 535


I swear that my 535i would have outrun it.

[632 Regal]

grrrrr..... I like the 530, have had NO mechanical problems except it burns a lot of oil, one quart every 6000 miles. the power in the lower RPMs is low but it cruises and runs great when stretching its leggs. It does have the Nikasil option that everyone that doesnt have one warns against. me I dont care, it does what its supposed to do and I havent had any problems so far. you pays your monies and you takes your choices.

[PhilipJCaputo]

I drive the 530 as well.... I have the Alusil option, things are good... but you know how it is you always want a little more horsies under the hood, go for the 540

[winfred]

try a pcv plate an see if your oil consumption goes down, if nothing else you will loose respect for the engineer that designed that piece of ****, take a look at the two back spark plugs, they catch most of the oil if they are much dirtyer then the rest it's plate time


it burns a lot of oil, one quart every 6000 miles

[ryan roopnarine]

if one quart per 6000 miles is bad, i got a serious problem (or i need to start using thicker oil). got about 1/2 quart per 3k on conventional or 3/4 quart per 6500 miles on mobil 1 5w30.

[winfred]

that's not bad, some m50 had less then perfect valve guides, but the m60 was cursed with a miserable pcy system which spread to the m42 then the m52, they all have this wussy little diaphram that splits and at best creates a vacuum leak and at worst sucks lots of oil directly from the crankcase and dumps it into the intake


if one quart per 6000 miles is bad, i got a serious problem (or i need to start using thicker oil). got about 1/2 quart per 3k on conventional or 3/4 quart per 6500 miles on mobil 1 5w30.

[callen]

Robert:

Have one of each....and the 530i will beat the 535i. It's smoother, quieter, gets better gas mileage. The 535i though feels more like a 535 and has more torque making it more fun to drive. Also you feel one with the 535i, feeling a little distanced from the road in the 530i.

Callen
91 535i 94 530i 5spds 89 735il slushbox

[callen]

feels more like a "BMW" not "535"

[callen]

Were they manuals!!!! Did they know how to shift....my 530's faster to 100, maybe not to 50 but there after.

[632 Regal]

yes, if i had it to do over id go for the 540 but the condition of the 530 I bought and considering it was an older lady that owned it I felt it wasnt beat on as much as it probably could have been.

[Sweetwater]

Robert:

Have one of each....and the 530i will beat the 535i. It's smoother, quieter, gets better gas mileage. The 535i though feels more like a 535 and has more torque making it more fun to drive. Also you feel one with the 535i, feeling a little distanced from the road in the 530i.

Callen
91 535i 94 530i 5spds 89 735il slushbox


I remember my 733i and 635i being very torque oriented. It wasn't that they weren't smooth either, both cars would hit a target speed of 80-90 mph and hold it effortlessly. And my wifes' Avalon XLS with a 3l six seems pretty quick but handles like a FWD rice burner (she likes it). My only complaint with the 530ia is the a, it's not choosing the shift points that I'd choose. It does, however, keep the gas consumption very reasonable, about 10% less than the Toy, and the 530i is MUCH more fun to drive.

[winfred]

auto vs auto, bring on the stick! as long as i don't get out of it and try to get on it again (auto doesn't wanna kick back down above 4k) the boss can bearly pull me with his 97 m3 on the interstate, he wants a supercharger bad i think he's afraid my e30 will become a threat with the stroker motor i am building (at the moment it's no threat)


Were they manuals!!!! Did they know how to shift....my 530's faster to 100, maybe not to 50 but there after.

[callen]

Meet you on the border IH 10 LA TX ........

callen 94 530i Big Dog

Houston

LOL of course

[Elekta]

I have both, though automatics
http://img2.photobucket.com/albums/v11/ggil-tx/bmw/cc9dcb52.jpg

For a sedan, I would go with the 535 for sure. It's just lighter, more responsive, and that translates into more fun. 104k 2nd owner sweet ride if you can overlook the mommy grocery bag swirls on the trunk and the 10 door dings on passenger side.

For the wagon, I wouldn't get anything but the 530. The car's heavier no matter how you slice it, and you get a 5 speed auto which makes this the perfect highway car, as it was intended. Even with the nik, I feel I have a pretty bulletproofed cruiser with 80k on the clock

I'd find a low miles 93 535, auto or stick. If you have a 5 speed right now, why not swap out tranny's?

Here's one with low miles, but issues. Maybe your knowledge of E34's makes this a good buy. (http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=165946277&dealer_id=47845904&car_year=1989&search_type=used&make=BMW&model=535I&transmission=MAN&distance=any&address=78703&advanced=y&certified=n&max_mileage=&max_price=&min_price=&end_year=2005&start_year=1989&drive=&engine=&body_style=&advcd_on=y&doors=&fuel=&color=&cardist=1503)

[632 Regal]

where did you see issues?

[Elekta]

where did you see issues?

It's an 89, so my first issue is verifying 54k for a 15 y/o car. Second, why is it so cheap?

Look for the omissions..


[edit]

This one I likey
1993, one owner, 106k miles, under $6, fresh trade to the dealer. I'd neg a II insp, tranny fluid, and whatever else for $5k cash. (http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=167451887&dealer_id=1146943&car_year=1993&make=BMW&distance=any&max_price=&model=535I&advcd_on=n&end_year=2005&min_price=&certified=n&address=78703&search_type=used&advanced=n&start_year=1993&color=&cardist=1208)
Not crazy about green, but this is as close as you can get to an M motor w/o paying for it.

There;s only one other 93 535 in autotrader

[Phil M]

only a few 93 535i's exist, iM's even rarer. 93 535iM is the rarest E34 i believe.

[Reidal]

I went with the 530 for a number of reasons, but one of them was definitely the way it drove compared to the 535's.

Bought my '93 530iA about 2 months ago after driving a number of 535's (M and A). The yard I haunted specialized in 5 Series and they were ok with me driving 3 or 4 different cars back to back.

I accept that "go fast" parts are limited for the 530, and I will be chipping it just for the hell of it, but I already love the way it gets stronger the higher the revs.

The 5 speed adaptive auto is a revelation. I've driven manuals, sequence shifts, auto clutches and a couple of CV systems, but this is the first "non stick" tranny that thinks the way I do. Gentle when I feel like it and "hang on for dear life" when the boot goes down and the rev's approach red line. The tranny will actually hold longer than I often would with a manual, and as for it shifting down by itself as you slow down, awesome!

We all have our opinion, which is why I like hanging out here, but I’m sure at the end of the day, everyone here would agree that you have to be happy with your choice. Take the information offered in good faith and with good humor and do what you have to do :-)

[632 Regal]

It's an 89, so my first issue is verifying 54k for a 15 y/o car. Second, why is it so cheap?

Look for the omissions..


[edit]

This one I likey
1993, one owner, 106k miles, under $6, fresh trade to the dealer. I'd neg a II insp, tranny fluid, and whatever else for $5k cash. (http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=167451887&dealer_id=1146943&car_year=1993&make=BMW&distance=any&max_price=&model=535I&advcd_on=n&end_year=2005&min_price=&certified=n&address=78703&search_type=used&advanced=n&start_year=1993&color=&cardist=1208)
Not crazy about green, but this is as close as you can get to an M motor w/o paying for it.

There;s only one other 93 535 in autotrader