Which E34?

[kramsivad]

Hi all. I'm looking for an E34 for my wife. It has to be an automatic. We just sold a '99 528 sport package and are looking to come as close to that performance as possible - at lower cost, of course. I'm figuring I can 2+ the wheels on whatever I get and add Bilstein HDs and H&R's for her.

So I figured the M30 engine would be the way to go. Super reliable with better specs than the E39 528. Then I drove a '90 WITH a chip. What a pig! It handled great but it was sooo slow to accelerate. I can only imagine what it would have been like without the chip.

As for the V8's, my mechanic says, "no way." I'll just end up spending the money I would have continued to spend on the E39.

That leaves the 525. We'll drive some this Saturday. But I have the M50 in my e36 and I know the torque doesn't kick in 'til past 4000, so I'm not hopeful that it's acceleration will be as satisfying as her E39 - and that didn't cut it, either.

I'm looking to spend < $10K. Any thoughts?

[winfred]

of 525s id suggest 93-95 and drive a few theres fast and slow ones, the same goes for 535s but the 4hp22 tranny can be sluggish and not geared to launching a 3500+ lb car, that said i dragged the boss when he was in his sisters 97 528ia and for about 50' the e39 had me but once i got on the cam it wasn't even close with my 535ia

[John in CT]

Hi all. I'm looking for an E34 for my wife. It has to be an automatic. We just sold a '99 528 sport package and are looking to come as close to that performance as possible - at lower cost, of course. I'm figuring I can 2+ the wheels on whatever I get and add Bilstein HDs and H&R's for her.

So I figured the M30 engine would be the way to go. Super reliable with better specs than the E39 528. Then I drove a '90 WITH a chip. What a pig! It handled great but it was sooo slow to accelerate. I can only imagine what it would have been like without the chip.

As for the V8's, my mechanic says, "no way." I'll just end up spending the money I would have continued to spend on the E39.

That leaves the 525. We'll drive some this Saturday. But I have the M50 in my e36 and I know the torque doesn't kick in 'til past 4000, so I'm not hopeful that it's acceleration will be as satisfying as her E39 - and that didn't cut it, either.

I'm looking to spend < $10K. Any thoughts?

[John in CT]

Easy choice really, the 1995 w/ M50 has all the bells and whistles possible plus wood trim. You should be able to find a really nice example around $10K.

Good luck

john
1995 525im

[AllanS]

And it has that nice folded-leather on the doors. Looks a lot nicer than the flat style.

[Elekta]

Easy choice really, the 1995 w/ M50 has all the bells and whistles possible plus wood trim. You should be able to find a really nice example around $10K.

Good luck

john
1995 525im

Agree, that's the car.

My wife's in the 92 535ia, but we knew orig owner and it had FSH. Still rock solid despite the shopping cart dings and paper sack swirls all over it. :(

[AllanS]

Er... a 525ia does 0-60 in over 9 seconds compared to over 8 seconds for a 535ia. Maybe the 535i you were driving had some... issues?

[Phil M]

i was thinking the same thing. if ya want the quickest e34 auto outside of the V8's, then the 535 is it. the 525 just seems underpowered. i guess im just spoiled by my 4.0L V8.

i say get your wife a 5 speed 535i and teach her how to drive it. E34s are probably the easiest car to learn how to drive stick. see then you will then get to enjoy it as well.. that is if you ever were to need a break from that Dinan E36 :p

[Elekta]

Er... a 525ia does 0-60 in over 9 seconds compared to over 8 seconds for a 535ia. Maybe the 535i you were driving had some... issues?

My point is that a 535 is a rare car to find with low miles and no issues. Also, he said it's his wife's car, so she's not going to miss the sec. Lastly if he is going to drive it, he can chip the M50 and get the sec back, plus keep the bulletproof M50.
http://i24.ebayimg.com/01/a/02/2e/f6/4a_4.JPG

jes sayin 99k >$6k (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2485451042&category=6008&sspagename=WDVW)

http://images.autotrader.com/images/2004/7/17/167/100/937608739.167100978.IM1.MAIN.565x421_A.562x421.jpg
Bet this one with 59k would fetch $9800 (http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=167100978&dealer_id=10819631&car_year=1995&make=BMW&distance=any&max_price=&model=525I&advcd_on=n&end_year=1995&min_price=&certified=n&address=78701&search_type=used&advanced=n&start_year=1994&color=&cardist=1445)

Search autotrader 94-95 / 525 / >100k. There's 83 cars under 100k; 6 of which are manual like this blue one...sweeet (http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=163403088&dealer_id=3236854&car_year=1995&search_type=used&make=BMW&model=525I&transmission=MAN&distance=any&address=78701&advanced=y&certified=n&max_mileage=100000&max_price=&min_price=&end_year=1995&start_year=1994&drive=&engine=&body_style=&advcd_on=y&doors=&fuel=&color=&cardist=1694)
http://images.autotrader.com/images/2004/5/15/163/403/856280727.163403088.IM1.MAIN.565x421_A.562x421.jpg

[AllanS]

There's no way that a chip is going to take 1 second off of the 0-60 time, and obviously, if he's replacing a 97' 528i (which does 0-60 in less than 8 seconds with an auto box) he's going to miss that kick.

The 528i that he's coming from is a helluva nice BMW. I love the 525i (I owned one and would buy one again in a second) but... a 528i is a 528i.

Also, I checked Autotrader, and there are 50 1990-1993 535Is out there between $5k and $8k. They're not as rare as you might think. The mileage is probably going to be higher than a similarly priced 525i, although I'd trust the m30 to last longer. This doesn't speak for anything else on the car though :) I couldn't accurately search via mileage because half don't list it. http://www.autotrader.com/findacar/results.jtmpl?model=535I&start_year=1990&end_year=1993&min_price=5000&max_price=8000&distance=any&certified=n&x=47&y=17&advanced=y&advcd_on=n&make=BMW&address=10509&search_type=used

[Elekta]

good thing we're not politicians ;)

[AllanS]

Why is that???

[Elekta]

tough to smell the snake oil through cat 5

[kramsivad]

All,
Original poster here...

Thanks for the great feedback. This is what I've got out of the posts so far: (1) the auto 525 will be slower than even the slushbox 535 but at least it will be in nicer condition because I can get a newer one; (2) a chip will help but I'll still be slower in the 525 than the 535; (3) manuals are faster (still not an option - she drives a stick but just doesn't want to).

Distinctly absent from the comments are any from 530 or 540 owners suggesting that I get a V8. Either none of them (except 530i Touring) have read this post or they have they read it but don't dispute my mechanic's position that the V8's are cash sinkholes. Please, someone tell me that it's possible to find a good V8 that won't suck me dry!

[Elekta]

All,
Original poster here...

Thanks for the great feedback. This is what I've got out of the posts so far: (1) the auto 525 will be slower than even the slushbox 535 but at least it will be in nicer condition because I can get a newer one; (2) a chip will help but I'll still be slower in the 525 than the 535; (3) manuals are faster (still not an option - she drives a stick but just doesn't want to).

Distinctly absent from the comments are any from 530 or 540 owners suggesting that I get a V8. Either none of them (except 530i Touring) have read this post or they have they read it but don't dispute my mechanic's position that the V8's are cash sinkholes. Please, someone tell me that it's possible to find a good V8 that won't suck me dry!

FYI, I bought my 58k 3.0 V8 wagon for $13,5 and I'm now in my 3rd summer driving it. I spent just under $8 grand making it right, but that included a dented rf 1/4 panel and new bumper cover and paint.

I've been nothing but oil changes brake pads and tires since then.

I think the $3k-8 of refurbishing does not descriminate between e34's after 60k miles, and again after 100k. It all depends on the car. My wife's 92 535 was kept current with a FSH, and we've done nothing but the headliner, brakes, and the radio in 4 years. (of course she only drives about 7k a year)

So as far as V8 v M30, I indeed have both, and on the surface, my 530 has cost more, but I was the third owner and had very little history to go on the 530. I did valve cover, alternator, pwr steering, and front suspension, none of which I did myself.

My pointing you to the 525, was in part to get the 1995 (the youngest e34 you can get) with the lowest mileage.

good luck, and let us know how it turns out.

[AllanS]

whatever you say man... :P

[aussie540i]

im in australia so it maybe different here, but i have a stock standard 1993 540ia with about 50,000 miles on her. aside from using copious amounts of fuel when i put my foot down i have no costs that i would call additional to another e34 model. i have had her for 5 years drive her everyday and would not swap it for anything at all (except maybe a 540im but they are soooooo rare here) i previously owned e34's 525im and 535ia....and i loved them both........but the v8 is so smooth and nothing is better for cruising in (than a v8) , i have managed to put my 2 loves together with this car e34 bmw & v8... :p


All,
Original poster here...

Thanks for the great feedback. This is what I've got out of the posts so far: (1) the auto 525 will be slower than even the slushbox 535 but at least it will be in nicer condition because I can get a newer one; (2) a chip will help but I'll still be slower in the 525 than the 535; (3) manuals are faster (still not an option - she drives a stick but just doesn't want to).

Distinctly absent from the comments are any from 530 or 540 owners suggesting that I get a V8. Either none of them (except 530i Touring) have read this post or they have they read it but don't dispute my mechanic's position that the V8's are cash sinkholes. Please, someone tell me that it's possible to find a good V8 that won't suck me dry!

[JonE]

I find the acceleration of my 1990 EAT chipped 535i very adequate, but not as quick as my unchipped 325iC. I did test drive a 1992 535i which seemed quicker, but I think it had a 4.29 differential in it (noticeably quicker than my '90). If you find a good '93 535iA, should have the 4.29 diff. and will have also have newer AC refridgerant, etc. Something to consider. Good luck.