BMW E34 5 series diesel - any good?

[gti tim]

Looking at this :

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/largepic.asp?i=15...

2.5 TDS manual as a towing car. Any known problems, things to look at, issues with high mileage etc? Not looking for or expecting perfection. Just want something reasonably reliable and practical for everyday use. Alternative suggestions welcome.

[slippery]

The E34 is still a great car if you can find a nice one. The 525 TDS is the intercooled diesel as opposed to the non intercooled and less powerful TD. They can run to mammoth mileages and still feel very tight if they are well looked after. Not a purchase you will regret if the provenance is right.

[nellyleelephant]

I'm also in the market for a well made big old barge, what sort of mpg would you expect out of the one linked above at French motorway speeds (80mph)??

[slippery]

Probably low thirties MPG. Diesel economy has come quite a long way since the early ninties, but respectable all the same. My Saab 9-5 3.0 TiD was a great car for this, but there are a few cautionary tales re engine failure. I can only speak as I find and ran mine to 160k without incident. Volvo S80 D5 is also a great value barge if you don't need an estate.

[dave87]

My father had one from new on a 'N' reg, and he seemed to like it. Kept it 4 years and 30 something k, before selling it to friends who ran it everyday to and from work (racking up some serious mileage in the process) and I don't think it ever had a major problem. They only sold it when they got a decent deal on a V70 D5 iirc?

That said, it did have a clutch replaced under warranty at 18k or something daft, but it was all covered. A fair few years ago mind..

Edit - his was the tds

Edited by dave87 on Sunday 21st February 22:03

[inlovewithRWD]

My brother picked up a 525tds for £900 and so far it has been the best car he has ever had. The build quality is fantastic and if looked after they can do mammoth mileages. I think that the fuel pump is a weak point on these engines. Not entirely sure but it could be something to do with plastic vanes in the pump which can snap due to the lower grade of sulphur in modern diesel. Could be wrong though...

But when I drove it I thought it was fantastic. We drove 1000km back from Berlin with it sitting at 80mph all of the way and it didn't miss a beat.

[MondeoMan1981]

You see these BMW early td/tds models for sale with space shuttle mileage, they just seem to go on and on.

Didnt the TDS have over 140bhp ? Not bad for the time at all.

Engine also featured in the 2.5 diesel Omegas as well.

[dave87]

Yup, Omega and also the Range Rover DHSE had it iirc

[slippery]

MondeoMan1981 said:

You see these BMW early td/tds models for sale with space shuttle mileage, they just seem to go on and on.

Didnt the TDS have over 140bhp ? Not bad for the time at all.

Engine also featured in the 2.5 diesel Omegas as well.

Correct about the Omega, but only the non intercooled variant unfortunately.

[nellyleelephant]

Would it make more sence to stump up the extra for the E39?

[slippery]

nellyleelephant said:

Would it make more sence to stump up the extra for the E39?

I would take a mint E34 over an early E39 if I'm honest, but that's probably because I'm becoming strangely retro in taste in my old age!

[nellyleelephant]

slippery said:

nellyleelephant said:

Would it make more sence to stump up the extra for the E39?

I would take a mint E34 over an early E39 if I'm honest, but that's probably because I'm becoming strangely retro in taste in my old age!

I'm strangely retro in taste with cars and bikes and I'm only 30.
Modern stuff doesn't do it for me, which is good in some ways, bad in others!

Is the E34 build quality better?

[slippery]

nellyleelephant said:

slippery said:

nellyleelephant said:

Would it make more sence to stump up the extra for the E39?

I would take a mint E34 over an early E39 if I'm honest, but that's probably because I'm becoming strangely retro in taste in my old age!

I'm strangely retro in taste with cars and bikes and I'm only 30.
Modern stuff doesn't do it for me, which is good in some ways, bad in others!

Is the E34 build quality better?

That's a tricky one. I've had both and they were both superb and probably similar in terms of build quality. What I would say though, is that there always felt like there was a bit more to go wrong with the more sophisticated, later car. If I had £2.5k to spend for example, I would be looking for the best E34 I could find, but would be slightly wary of what that money would buy me in the way of an E39.

[inlovewithRWD]

nellyleelephant said:

Is the E34 build quality better?

[crofty1984]

Like for like I'd go for the E39, but budget for budget, go for the E34. The E39 has just a few more things that become annoying little faults, etc.

[E21_Ross]

inlovewithRWD said:

nellyleelephant said:

Is the E34 build quality better?

agreed, from all the stories i've heard, including a fairly long chat with a very very good bmw indy. you see these tds models regularly with over 200k on them, i've seen a few with over 300k. if you keep doing regular oil changes (maybe more often than service interval), keep to servicing intervals for other filters, plugs and so forth, and treat them well from cold, these engines will just keep going. it's probably a case of simple, but rugged. the E34 does the rugged, tough thing quite well. i've only been in one before (a 535i) and it had 250k on the clock and still was solid as i don't know what. cracking cars.

[nellyleelephant]

How does bodywork last? Is rust an issue in any specific areas?

[E21_Ross]

nellyleelephant said:

How does bodywork last? Is rust an issue in any specific areas?

yes they do rust, it's the only real weak point on the cars to be honest. around the arches, the doors, around the sills and so on can go. probably more areas but i'm not 100% sure. i always say just look around the car and find yourself a good example. i was always told E21's rot really badly (which they do!!) but i got a very good example, i keep it clean, and 2 years later, being driven in salt, snow and you name it but it hasn't rusted because i keep it washed and waxed regularly and KEEP TO INSPECTION SERVICE INTERVALS, can't stress how important they are, get it done by a good indy, they know where to look and will do a proper job! an 'ordinary' garage, will not do a thorough inspection like an inspection II.

keep them clean, keep them checked and it won't rust anywhere near as quickly IMO. catch any rust before it spreads!!!

[g3org3y]

Had an E34 a couple of year back, loved it. Properly 'carved from granite' feeling.

As mentioned, the 2.5 tds is pretty darn bomb proof.

Go for it

[inlovewithRWD]

They can rust around the filler cap as well; that is the only part of my brother's that has rusted. But other than that it definitely has the hewn from granite feel about it.

Apart from the steering box (another weak point on the E34s), the only time that my brother's 525tds has played up was in a herbyesque moment when it sought revenge for him beating it with a shovel after it got stuck on the drive in the snow.

Edited by inlovewithRWD on Monday 22 February 11:10