Four BMW Aces - E34 M5, E92 M3, E34 5.25i M Sport & E28 520i
Discussion
Thought I would post here on the maintenance and ownership of 3 classic BMW's and one modern classic BMW, rather than hog the pages of what have you done with your BMW thread.
I am very fortunate to have been able to purchase a few dream toys over the years. I'm not a dealer as I recently changed my Pistonheads name from my initials to the current one to correspond with my little YT channel of the same name to preserve and cherish my car memories. It's nice that my niece and nephews are excited that I'm putting my cars online and they are happy to help.
Anyway, on to the BMW E34 525i M Sport Automatic:
Last week the E34 525i M Sport went in for a service and some additional things I wanted to fix. I picked it up on Saturday with the following work done:
- Oil & oil filter change. I opted for 10w40 since it's only used in the summer. Did consider 15w40 but thought I don't drive it in the winter so a slightly thinner oil is best.
- Air filter change
- Gearbox oil change
- Diff oil change
- New rear subframe bushes and two other bushes
- Tracking
Respray on the rear bumper and the rear spoiler. Very pleased with the respray as it was needed since I purchased the car two years ago. I can now tick that item off the list.
Been asked to drive for 100-200 miles and let the car settle and then come back for the tracking to be done again.
I am very fortunate to have been able to purchase a few dream toys over the years. I'm not a dealer as I recently changed my Pistonheads name from my initials to the current one to correspond with my little YT channel of the same name to preserve and cherish my car memories. It's nice that my niece and nephews are excited that I'm putting my cars online and they are happy to help.
Anyway, on to the BMW E34 525i M Sport Automatic:
Last week the E34 525i M Sport went in for a service and some additional things I wanted to fix. I picked it up on Saturday with the following work done:
- Oil & oil filter change. I opted for 10w40 since it's only used in the summer. Did consider 15w40 but thought I don't drive it in the winter so a slightly thinner oil is best.
- Air filter change
- Gearbox oil change
- Diff oil change
- New rear subframe bushes and two other bushes
- Tracking
Respray on the rear bumper and the rear spoiler. Very pleased with the respray as it was needed since I purchased the car two years ago. I can now tick that item off the list.
Been asked to drive for 100-200 miles and let the car settle and then come back for the tracking to be done again.
Edited by SZM Cars on Thursday 28th August 19:00
Edited by SZM Cars on Thursday 28th August 19:17
Thanks Dan.
I should have bought an E34 540i that was looking for a new owner for 6 months but non Ulez 5 cars put me off.
It's going to happen at some point. Same with E39 M5, I would like one despite never being in one. Otherwise it will be a E39 Sport of some description to add and use as a potential daily.
Pity the E39 M5 are not Ulez compliant, whilst all the other E39 of later years are compliant.
I basically PX'd a really sorted TVR Chimaera for the M3 a few weeks ago as it did hardly any milage and wasted in 20 mph London.
I should have bought an E34 540i that was looking for a new owner for 6 months but non Ulez 5 cars put me off.
It's going to happen at some point. Same with E39 M5, I would like one despite never being in one. Otherwise it will be a E39 Sport of some description to add and use as a potential daily.
Pity the E39 M5 are not Ulez compliant, whilst all the other E39 of later years are compliant.
I basically PX'd a really sorted TVR Chimaera for the M3 a few weeks ago as it did hardly any milage and wasted in 20 mph London.
Edited by SZM Cars on Thursday 28th August 20:40
Edited by SZM Cars on Thursday 28th August 20:41
Mr Tidy said:
That is a lovely collection, but really does need an E39 of some sort!
You're absolutely right Mr Tidy.I initially purchased the E92 M3 to use as a daily. Then I realised it's a top spec LCI with the carbon roof that is far too nice to daily. Low number if previous owners with road bearings and throttle actuators done.
Also about £400 in fuel in 3 weeks in 800 miles doesn't add up. Further, the small fuel tank doesn't help either to use as a daily. I do limited miles across the collection but still that fuel tank is so small considering 20 mpg is what the computer shows.
So I am somewhat looking for another car. I always keep an eye on E39 M sport cars. If the rust has been kept at bay or remedied and I can find a good example, I think they are very good value for money and will only appreciate.
I've been offered a really tidy 2006 Lexus IS 250 for £1500. The only issue is I don't want to pay the £730 road tax on two cars. I will have a look at it in the next few days. The man maths works apart from the hurtful road fund licence.
I can also go the complete opposite way and look at the E60 M5 as it's Ulez compliant or the F10 M5. I would have to part exchange the E28 and there's a classic Mini in the collection. I don't want to have six cars. It's a nice headache having five cars as it is...
Things escalated quickly this evening. So on to another curve ball.
Provisional deal agreed on a sixth car before 9 pm. Technically it's not my car. Hence I'm still on five cars.
I promise it's for my mother's birthday. I will also have loads of fun with it. Think it will be a hoot to drive for anyone.
A few clues - it's small, it's dinky, it's fun, it's 998cc turbo charged engine with 100 bhp. Any guesses are welcome at this time of the evening.
I will reveal the full story tomorrow.
Provisional deal agreed on a sixth car before 9 pm. Technically it's not my car. Hence I'm still on five cars.
I promise it's for my mother's birthday. I will also have loads of fun with it. Think it will be a hoot to drive for anyone.
A few clues - it's small, it's dinky, it's fun, it's 998cc turbo charged engine with 100 bhp. Any guesses are welcome at this time of the evening.
I will reveal the full story tomorrow.
SZM Cars said:
Thanks Dan.
I should have bought an E34 540i that was looking for a new owner for 6 months but non Ulez 5 cars put me off.
It's going to happen at some point. Same with E39 M5, I would like one despite never being in one. Otherwise it will be a E39 Sport of some description to add and use as a potential daily.
Pity the E39 M5 are not Ulez compliant, whilst all the other E39 of later years are compliant.
I basically PX'd a really sorted TVR Chimaera for the M3 a few weeks ago as it did hardly any milage and wasted in 20 mph London.
An E34 540i would have been a lovely addition; but for an every day driver, IMO, you’ll not go wrong with a well looked after and maintained 530i SportI should have bought an E34 540i that was looking for a new owner for 6 months but non Ulez 5 cars put me off.
It's going to happen at some point. Same with E39 M5, I would like one despite never being in one. Otherwise it will be a E39 Sport of some description to add and use as a potential daily.
Pity the E39 M5 are not Ulez compliant, whilst all the other E39 of later years are compliant.
I basically PX'd a really sorted TVR Chimaera for the M3 a few weeks ago as it did hardly any milage and wasted in 20 mph London.
Edited by SZM Cars on Thursday 28th August 20:40
Edited by SZM Cars on Thursday 28th August 20:41
The M54 is a superb engine and it’s a great drive too with it being a proper rack rather than a steering box
Thanks for the support gents and suggestion of E39.
Lots of running around sourcing parts for the E34 M5 in the last few days.
First a bit of context and background. About four weeks ago I took it in for a MOT and it needed front pads. I had a set of new discs and pads so said that cool, that's not an issue. New and shiny is always good.
I try and source parts in advance so it helps when things need to be done promptly, as it becomes harder to source parts for certain BMW models. I popped home and brought them the parts on a Saturday and they would fit it on the Monday.
(One thought - BMW can learn a lot from Merc and Porsche on how to support their classics/heritage cars).
I had given the new discs and Yellow Stuff pads and the car was ready with a new MOT. I didn't use my usual trusted main mechanic, as I assumed the M5 was in good order and the proved to be the case.
I was trying to avoid the £12.50 Ulez, as these other guys who I have used now and again on normal (non special) cars are usually good and close enough that the Ulez camera on the back roads don't catch me.
Well that was a mistake. The brakes were fine for 20 miles, then started squeaking like crazy. OK that's on me. I put Yellow Stuff pads and they need to be bedded in properly. So try and follow the procedure but it's still not going away.
Things did not really improve in the next 80-100 miles. Time to put the car away into storage and come back to it.
It was around this time that the Chimaera was replaced by the M3. So shiny new toy to play with and the M5 can wait.
Squeaky race brakes for the road no big deal, right?
It will bed in and be fine was my thinking as I was clearly not getting enough heat into them despite trying quite hard to do that.
Lots of running around sourcing parts for the E34 M5 in the last few days.
First a bit of context and background. About four weeks ago I took it in for a MOT and it needed front pads. I had a set of new discs and pads so said that cool, that's not an issue. New and shiny is always good.
I try and source parts in advance so it helps when things need to be done promptly, as it becomes harder to source parts for certain BMW models. I popped home and brought them the parts on a Saturday and they would fit it on the Monday.
(One thought - BMW can learn a lot from Merc and Porsche on how to support their classics/heritage cars).
I had given the new discs and Yellow Stuff pads and the car was ready with a new MOT. I didn't use my usual trusted main mechanic, as I assumed the M5 was in good order and the proved to be the case.
I was trying to avoid the £12.50 Ulez, as these other guys who I have used now and again on normal (non special) cars are usually good and close enough that the Ulez camera on the back roads don't catch me.
Well that was a mistake. The brakes were fine for 20 miles, then started squeaking like crazy. OK that's on me. I put Yellow Stuff pads and they need to be bedded in properly. So try and follow the procedure but it's still not going away.
Things did not really improve in the next 80-100 miles. Time to put the car away into storage and come back to it.
It was around this time that the Chimaera was replaced by the M3. So shiny new toy to play with and the M5 can wait.
Squeaky race brakes for the road no big deal, right?
It will bed in and be fine was my thinking as I was clearly not getting enough heat into them despite trying quite hard to do that.
Edited by SZM Cars on Friday 29th August 15:42
SZM Cars said:
(One thought - BMW can learn a lot from Merc and Porsche on how to support their classics/heritage cars).
They used to be a lot better, but becoming the council estate favoured purveyor of cars meant they've had to shift so much metal, the consideration about older cars paled away..Fast forward to this week and now I'm used to the M3 and time to resolve this squeaky front brake business of the M5.
I took it to my main mechanic and had been planning to do the valve clearance this year or next year. Squeaky front brakes were the first priority.
I took it in and asked him to drive it for two minutes. He did and they bloody squeaked like crazy.
By this time I had put another 20 miles before I reached him, so around 140 miles and still squeaky.
I had a new set of Mintex brakes as well. Put it in the boot if it was the Yellow Stuff that was the issue.
The real issue was the MOT place had put the brake pads the wrong way round and didn't put a new shim. Great, I had a new shim in the boot.
Brakes taken care of with new Mintex pads and the Yellow Stuff are out. It was not the EBC Yellow Stuff's fault but the guys who had fitted the brakes.
I took it to my main mechanic and had been planning to do the valve clearance this year or next year. Squeaky front brakes were the first priority.
I took it in and asked him to drive it for two minutes. He did and they bloody squeaked like crazy.
By this time I had put another 20 miles before I reached him, so around 140 miles and still squeaky.
I had a new set of Mintex brakes as well. Put it in the boot if it was the Yellow Stuff that was the issue.
The real issue was the MOT place had put the brake pads the wrong way round and didn't put a new shim. Great, I had a new shim in the boot.
Brakes taken care of with new Mintex pads and the Yellow Stuff are out. It was not the EBC Yellow Stuff's fault but the guys who had fitted the brakes.
Since the car was with him, the valve clearance was given the go ahead. This is a bit of a skill that not many have apparently. Most of the old BMW boys have retired. There is one well known specialist but he's quite far.
The other fortunate thing is my main mechanic had a BMW E28 M5. He's familiar with the engine and the valve clearances. Of course it has to be done on a stone cold engine so once the brakes were done he would keep the car for a few days.
I asked him to go through the car and let me know what else may need to be done for preventative maintenance.
Then I added a list of things to do, which would have been obvious to him without my eager input.
The other fortunate thing is my main mechanic had a BMW E28 M5. He's familiar with the engine and the valve clearances. Of course it has to be done on a stone cold engine so once the brakes were done he would keep the car for a few days.
I asked him to go through the car and let me know what else may need to be done for preventative maintenance.
Then I added a list of things to do, which would have been obvious to him without my eager input.
Edited by SZM Cars on Friday 29th August 16:11
Edited by SZM Cars on Friday 29th August 16:12
In my personal experience, EBC pads are crap - no matter what colour. Always had issues with them, more so the Yellowstuff - I avoid like the plague now
For OEM / OE pads; BMWs own pads (usually Jurid or Textar made) are good, but can be dusty. Pagid Street+ pads are very good; had them on my previous 130i with Brembo discs and excellent braking.
ATE Ceramic pads are superb also; can be bought via Autodoc
I’m running Brembo discs and OE BMW pads on my 540i and they’re excellent - bedded in easily, very quiet and not that dusty at all… For every day driving, I’ve always found gen BMW pads to be very good indeed and can be found on eBay generally, much cheaper than from the dealer, or if you’re lucky like I was, new/old stock etc
For OEM / OE pads; BMWs own pads (usually Jurid or Textar made) are good, but can be dusty. Pagid Street+ pads are very good; had them on my previous 130i with Brembo discs and excellent braking.
ATE Ceramic pads are superb also; can be bought via Autodoc
I’m running Brembo discs and OE BMW pads on my 540i and they’re excellent - bedded in easily, very quiet and not that dusty at all… For every day driving, I’ve always found gen BMW pads to be very good indeed and can be found on eBay generally, much cheaper than from the dealer, or if you’re lucky like I was, new/old stock etc
bgunn said:
danb79 said:
In my personal experience, EBC pads are crap - no matter what colour. Always had issues with them, more so the Yellowstuff - I avoid like the plague now
100% agree.The E34 525i M Sport has upgraded Brembo M5 pads. I will have to check what I put in that last year. It's been fine and no issues. Think it was Pagid from the motor factors.
Didn't have any issues with Green Stuff rear pads on the E28 520i. Initial slight squeak went away after 500 miles.
The sound of the squeal rather than squeak in the M5 could be heard by the whole high street. Bad enough having a loud purple M5 with individual throttle bodies and loudish but not silly exhaust.
It's a shame I never really got to test the Yellow Stuff pads due to install error but nevermind. I won't buy another set for a while. It only cost £40, rather than the £120 they retail at currently.
The E34 M5 initial list go oil + oil filter change, air filter change, M-tech 2 steering wheel (change from M-tech 1), new plastic cover that goes over the HT leads and over the valve clearances.
As you all know, the 3.6 litre S38B36 engine is different to 3.8 litre engine for valve clearances, hence shims ordered by the main man. I am not getting involved in shims parts purchasing. I've seen a YouTube video with all the calculations and it's best left to the experts even when ordering the shims. It's magic to me.
Earlier this week, the main man called and said I should change the distributor cap as it has a crack on it. Hence requirement for a new rotor arm and HT leads.
I checked and said I will get the parts. Firstly the HT leads
BMW quoted £20 something + Vat for each of the six leads and £300 + Vat for the king lead. Who did the pricing on that? Basically best part of £600. Yes, it's a M car and has M car tax but I'm resourceful and willing to find alternatives. One guy on eBay has the genuine new HT leads it for £300 but he's based in Germany. Other sellers also at £600 ish figure.
Quick search and found a specialist who makes them. He's literally 20-30 minutes walk from my house. I called and he said place the order on eBay and it will be ready for collection in 2 hours. Unbelievable result. It's 10mm and better than OEM. Unless OEM is also 10mm. No time to check.
He asked which colour and I was not sure as it's hidden under a plastic cover. I said blue as it would go nicely if it can be seen on the mass of black and the car is Macau Blue.
Distributor cap and rotor arm ordered from Halfords apparently for next day 4 pm delivery.
As you all know, the 3.6 litre S38B36 engine is different to 3.8 litre engine for valve clearances, hence shims ordered by the main man. I am not getting involved in shims parts purchasing. I've seen a YouTube video with all the calculations and it's best left to the experts even when ordering the shims. It's magic to me.
Earlier this week, the main man called and said I should change the distributor cap as it has a crack on it. Hence requirement for a new rotor arm and HT leads.
I checked and said I will get the parts. Firstly the HT leads
BMW quoted £20 something + Vat for each of the six leads and £300 + Vat for the king lead. Who did the pricing on that? Basically best part of £600. Yes, it's a M car and has M car tax but I'm resourceful and willing to find alternatives. One guy on eBay has the genuine new HT leads it for £300 but he's based in Germany. Other sellers also at £600 ish figure.
Quick search and found a specialist who makes them. He's literally 20-30 minutes walk from my house. I called and he said place the order on eBay and it will be ready for collection in 2 hours. Unbelievable result. It's 10mm and better than OEM. Unless OEM is also 10mm. No time to check.
He asked which colour and I was not sure as it's hidden under a plastic cover. I said blue as it would go nicely if it can be seen on the mass of black and the car is Macau Blue.
Distributor cap and rotor arm ordered from Halfords apparently for next day 4 pm delivery.
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