RE: BMW 530i Touring (E34): PH Carpool
Discussion
Devil2575 said:
I'm not sure I agree with this.
The 6 cylinder engine in the E34 M5 is a comletely different beast to the V8 in the 540i. M cars have always had individual throttle boddies and been relatively highly stressed, high revving engines with a high specific output. The original E34 M5 engine made 315 bhp from a 3.6 litre straight 6, compared to the 286 bhp 4.0 V8 in the 540i. Following the facelift the M5 got a 3.8 litre engine with 340 bhp.
I'm also not sure that the rest of the bits used in the 540i M-Sport, such as suspension, brakes etc were the same as the equivalent M5. The Facelift E34 M5 had complicated self levelling suspension and floating discs on the front. IIRC the 540i didn't have either.
Totally agree, and that character of the E34 M5 comes from it's screaming S38 lump!The 6 cylinder engine in the E34 M5 is a comletely different beast to the V8 in the 540i. M cars have always had individual throttle boddies and been relatively highly stressed, high revving engines with a high specific output. The original E34 M5 engine made 315 bhp from a 3.6 litre straight 6, compared to the 286 bhp 4.0 V8 in the 540i. Following the facelift the M5 got a 3.8 litre engine with 340 bhp.
I'm also not sure that the rest of the bits used in the 540i M-Sport, such as suspension, brakes etc were the same as the equivalent M5. The Facelift E34 M5 had complicated self levelling suspension and floating discs on the front. IIRC the 540i didn't have either.
Interesting looking at the headlights, how BMW seemed to be trying to neatly package everything up into two circles and an indicator per side. I suppose the final and arguably most resolved solution they came up with was the e39 'angel' eyes. Shame that BMW moved away from this configuration after that...
SuperHangOn said:
Very, very cool.
I'll be the first to say it then... Nikasil!
Probably the reason so few have survived. Although common wisdom is that if it has survived this long it will carry on lasting.
Absolutely right buddy.I'll be the first to say it then... Nikasil!
Probably the reason so few have survived. Although common wisdom is that if it has survived this long it will carry on lasting.
If it was going to go it wouldn't wait until 21 years and 125k had passed!
Devil2575 said:
I'm not sure I agree with this.
The 6 cylinder engine in the E34 M5 is a comletely different beast to the V8 in the 540i. M cars have always had individual throttle boddies and been relatively highly stressed, high revving engines with a high specific output. The original E34 M5 engine made 315 bhp from a 3.6 litre straight 6, compared to the 286 bhp 4.0 V8 in the 540i. Following the facelift the M5 got a 3.8 litre engine with 340 bhp.
I'm also not sure that the rest of the bits used in the 540i M-Sport, such as suspension, brakes etc were the same as the equivalent M5. The Facelift E34 M5 had complicated self levelling suspension and floating discs on the front. IIRC the 540i didn't have either.
The M540i had pretty much all the goodies of a 3.8 M5 as North America didn't receive the S38B38 and the 3.6 M5 (which actually had more in common with the M88 iirc) in NA was to be discontinued due to emissions regs. I don't think they received the fully floating discs of the 3.8 6Spd cars but many 540i's in M or standard guise do posses SLS, I know mine does and it's only a 540iA.The 6 cylinder engine in the E34 M5 is a comletely different beast to the V8 in the 540i. M cars have always had individual throttle boddies and been relatively highly stressed, high revving engines with a high specific output. The original E34 M5 engine made 315 bhp from a 3.6 litre straight 6, compared to the 286 bhp 4.0 V8 in the 540i. Following the facelift the M5 got a 3.8 litre engine with 340 bhp.
I'm also not sure that the rest of the bits used in the 540i M-Sport, such as suspension, brakes etc were the same as the equivalent M5. The Facelift E34 M5 had complicated self levelling suspension and floating discs on the front. IIRC the 540i didn't have either.
Now, a 6Spd 540i that has an LSD is probably just as quick in a sprint compared to a 3.6 but it won't keep up with a 3.8, so they're not to be snuffed at. However in either guise the M5 is a massively special car inside and out and you do have to drive them differently to a 40 to go quickly, but a 40 does like a good hoon just as much!
Can't find the ad on here or on eBay so presumably it's already sold? The original ad from last July is still up here - £2200 http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/168814/1994...
Ad is here, but it sold last Thurs before the article went live.
It went for £2600 on account of it needing a new steering box.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
It went for £2600 on account of it needing a new steering box.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
Rafeabrook said:
Ad is here, but it sold last Thurs before the article went live.
It went for £2600 on account of it needing a new steering box.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
Looks great. Lucky it's sold as I just don't need another old BMW Touring but would have been tempted!It went for £2600 on account of it needing a new steering box.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
Steering boxes very easy to adjust & finesse - details written-up in my profile.
I ran an E34 540 for 7 years up to to July last year. Bloody wonderful car, totally reliable, charming and engaging. Its place has been taken by a natural successor, but the 540 never, ever lost it's sense of occasion however inconsequential the journey. I'd have another such gem in a heartbeat.
I ran an E34 540 for 7 years up to to July last year. Bloody wonderful car, totally reliable, charming and engaging. Its place has been taken by a natural successor, but the 540 never, ever lost it's sense of occasion however inconsequential the journey. I'd have another such gem in a heartbeat.
Rafeabrook said:
Ad is here, but it sold last Thurs before the article went live.
It went for £2600 on account of it needing a new steering box.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
The advert made it sound like it needed something done to the steering.It went for £2600 on account of it needing a new steering box.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
The photos did look good in the Retro £5K thread. That the owner is a Photographer explains the great photos. The photos and the wheels reminded me of the CAR Giant test photos of the 530i V8 Vs C4 Avant S4 Vs W124 Estate, I think in E320 form.
The new owner has since booked it in for a replacement steering box, having considered his options.
Good to know she will live on, and that the money I plumbed into her will not be in vein!
This Corrado VR6 I replaced her with is really something though. No wonder they laid the competition to waste once the 2.9 was dropped into them!
Good to know she will live on, and that the money I plumbed into her will not be in vein!
This Corrado VR6 I replaced her with is really something though. No wonder they laid the competition to waste once the 2.9 was dropped into them!
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