E34 540i - Future classic?
Discussion
Evening gents,
I'm a car dealer, drive a new BMW myself and have just taken a lovely E34 540i as a part exchange.
Car is question is a 94 M reg 540i Auto in dark blue metallic with grey leather seats has covered 98k miles with a lot of history every bill for servicing and repairs present and all 4 keys, couple of small scabs here and there but it's going in to a paint shop to have these repaired car looks better than most E46s in terms of rust!
Anyway I didn't pay a lot for it, and in two minds whether to flog the thing or stick it in a storage unit I have?
Do you think it will go up in value?
I'm a car dealer, drive a new BMW myself and have just taken a lovely E34 540i as a part exchange.
Car is question is a 94 M reg 540i Auto in dark blue metallic with grey leather seats has covered 98k miles with a lot of history every bill for servicing and repairs present and all 4 keys, couple of small scabs here and there but it's going in to a paint shop to have these repaired car looks better than most E46s in terms of rust!
Anyway I didn't pay a lot for it, and in two minds whether to flog the thing or stick it in a storage unit I have?
Do you think it will go up in value?
Manual e34 540's are quite desirable now, however most cars have been snapped up by the drifting community over the last year or two leaving them quite scarce.
Auto's will no doubt become more sought after as the years go by, plus they do suit the character of a decent sized family saloon IMO.
C.
Auto's will no doubt become more sought after as the years go by, plus they do suit the character of a decent sized family saloon IMO.
C.
Right hand drive E34 manual 540i's are quite rare, especially in Touring form as the auto's sold in far larger numbers, five or six times more IIRC. There were just 62 rhd 540i/6 Tourings I think, and just over 250 Saloons.
As to their becoming a classic, they face fairly stiff competition in the E34 shell from four, maybe six, different options further up the food chain. There are two M5 models and four different Alpina models with greater rarity and/or performance.
That said, a decent E34 540i is still a fabulous car to drive if its been well maintained - I had one of the rare Tourings and had it not been written off I don't doubt I would still have it and not spent years and thousands on my subsequent Alpina journey.
But check the sills under the covers, especially if it has a sunroof.
As to their becoming a classic, they face fairly stiff competition in the E34 shell from four, maybe six, different options further up the food chain. There are two M5 models and four different Alpina models with greater rarity and/or performance.
That said, a decent E34 540i is still a fabulous car to drive if its been well maintained - I had one of the rare Tourings and had it not been written off I don't doubt I would still have it and not spent years and thousands on my subsequent Alpina journey.
But check the sills under the covers, especially if it has a sunroof.
Back to this thread, just realised it was Minimoogs old car! He put it in part ex against his Lexus LS430.
Spent a bit of time with the car today, gave it a wash and booked it into the bodyshop for a couple of paint repairs, sills are very solid in fact the car is very strong and solid underneath, I've just ordered an intake hose for it and there is a knock from the suspension which I will sort, but the car is defo a keeper for now and will be going into storage for a while.
Spent a bit of time with the car today, gave it a wash and booked it into the bodyshop for a couple of paint repairs, sills are very solid in fact the car is very strong and solid underneath, I've just ordered an intake hose for it and there is a knock from the suspension which I will sort, but the car is defo a keeper for now and will be going into storage for a while.
Lovely, lovely cars. I ran one for 6years up to July and enjoyed it all (- detailed history in my profile if you want to see how things went in all that time.) Remarkably solid and soothing car to drive leisurely or a spirited manner.
Change the autobox oil and filter, have a look at the big 'beercan' bushes on the rear suspension beam mounts and frankly, that's about it. I'd readiy have another.
It took me 3 months to find something I actually wanted enough to replace it - an Alpina B10 3.3 manual. Much lighter on its feet overall - like teh car I'd sometimes wanted the e34 to be - but sufficiently familar to feel right at home, and the same essential bank vault build. A different take on an elegant theme.
Do enjoy the 540
Change the autobox oil and filter, have a look at the big 'beercan' bushes on the rear suspension beam mounts and frankly, that's about it. I'd readiy have another.
It took me 3 months to find something I actually wanted enough to replace it - an Alpina B10 3.3 manual. Much lighter on its feet overall - like teh car I'd sometimes wanted the e34 to be - but sufficiently familar to feel right at home, and the same essential bank vault build. A different take on an elegant theme.
Do enjoy the 540
If its lasted this long, and UK fuel went low-sulphur in 2001, it'll be fine enough.
Easy triage if car is unknown - open drivers door before cold start - the idle should be very smooth from dead cold, so watch the top edge/corner of door it should be dead steady and not shake at all esp as the initial 10-30s high idle reduces.
Be aware these cars idle low (500-550rpm) and the cam duration is actually quite long* leading to a very, very slight stir/rock at idle you can feel sitting in the car - not enough to lope, but not as glass smooth as the six-cylinders.
Easy triage if car is unknown - open drivers door before cold start - the idle should be very smooth from dead cold, so watch the top edge/corner of door it should be dead steady and not shake at all esp as the initial 10-30s high idle reduces.
Be aware these cars idle low (500-550rpm) and the cam duration is actually quite long* leading to a very, very slight stir/rock at idle you can feel sitting in the car - not enough to lope, but not as glass smooth as the six-cylinders.
- it was shortened slightly in the 4.4s/ overlap reduced for smoothness - the 4.0 revs much more sweetly and higher
Took the 540 for a drive today, and have compiled a list of things to do to make it near enough perfect, I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my cars and like to have them cosmetically and mechanically as mint as possible.
540 needs a little bit of paint on rear bumper and drivers door, needs seats leather treated, needs an intake hose as it has split and repaired using duct tape, gearbox fluid needs changed and starting to change slowly, both rocker cover gaskets could do with replacing, windscreen washer bottle has a slight leak, o/s/f front suspension has a knock and tracking out will end up changing the engine oil and coolant check the other fluids before it goes away.
Anyway a few pics of it next to my current daily driver a 2014 320d XDrive M Sport.
540 needs a little bit of paint on rear bumper and drivers door, needs seats leather treated, needs an intake hose as it has split and repaired using duct tape, gearbox fluid needs changed and starting to change slowly, both rocker cover gaskets could do with replacing, windscreen washer bottle has a slight leak, o/s/f front suspension has a knock and tracking out will end up changing the engine oil and coolant check the other fluids before it goes away.
Anyway a few pics of it next to my current daily driver a 2014 320d XDrive M Sport.
Data for vehicle identification number: WBAHE62050GF22120
Model description: 540I
Market: Europa
Type: HE62
E-Code: E34
Chassis: Limousine
Steering: rechts
Doors: 4
Engine: M60/2 - 4,00l (210kW)
Drive: Heckantrieb
Transmission: automatisch
Body Color: Orientblau Metallic (317)
Upholstery: Leder Bison/silbergrau Hell (L2SH)
Production date: 24.01.1995
Assembled in: Dingolfing
Code
Sonderausstattung
Optional Equipment
S255A
Sport-Lederlenkrad Airbag Sports leather steering wheel
S339A
Shadow-Line Shadow-Line
S401A
Schiebehebedach elektrisch Lift-up-and-slide-back sunroof, electric
S428A
Warndreieck und Verbandstasche Warning triangle and first aid kit
S431A
Innenspiegel automatisch abblendend Interior mirror with automatic-dip
S438A
Edelholzausführung Fine wood trim
S472A
Armlehne vorne Fahrer/Beifahrer Armrest, front, driver/passenger
S498A
Kopfstützen im Fond mechanisch Headrests, rear, mechanically adjustable
S500A
Scheinw.Rein.Anl./Intensivreinig. Headlight wipe/wash/Intensive cleaning
S530A
Klimaanlage Air conditioning
S540A
Geschwindigkeitsregelung Cruise control
S687A
Radiovorbereitung Radio preparation
S704A
M Sportfahrwerk M Sports suspension
L812A
Länderausführung England / Irland NATIONAL VERSION GREAT BRITAIN
S850A
Zusätzl. Tankfüllung Export Additional Export tank filling
Model description: 540I
Market: Europa
Type: HE62
E-Code: E34
Chassis: Limousine
Steering: rechts
Doors: 4
Engine: M60/2 - 4,00l (210kW)
Drive: Heckantrieb
Transmission: automatisch
Body Color: Orientblau Metallic (317)
Upholstery: Leder Bison/silbergrau Hell (L2SH)
Production date: 24.01.1995
Assembled in: Dingolfing
Code
Sonderausstattung
Optional Equipment
S255A
Sport-Lederlenkrad Airbag Sports leather steering wheel
S339A
Shadow-Line Shadow-Line
S401A
Schiebehebedach elektrisch Lift-up-and-slide-back sunroof, electric
S428A
Warndreieck und Verbandstasche Warning triangle and first aid kit
S431A
Innenspiegel automatisch abblendend Interior mirror with automatic-dip
S438A
Edelholzausführung Fine wood trim
S472A
Armlehne vorne Fahrer/Beifahrer Armrest, front, driver/passenger
S498A
Kopfstützen im Fond mechanisch Headrests, rear, mechanically adjustable
S500A
Scheinw.Rein.Anl./Intensivreinig. Headlight wipe/wash/Intensive cleaning
S530A
Klimaanlage Air conditioning
S540A
Geschwindigkeitsregelung Cruise control
S687A
Radiovorbereitung Radio preparation
S704A
M Sportfahrwerk M Sports suspension
L812A
Länderausführung England / Irland NATIONAL VERSION GREAT BRITAIN
S850A
Zusätzl. Tankfüllung Export Additional Export tank filling
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