Discussion
Sills, sills and sills. Rears and fronts where hidden by mudflaps/sport kits. Also door lowers rot thanks to water holding of bottom lip trims. Boot lids/tailgates.
Check it has normal wheels not the expensive dicky tyre size ones. Can make a £50 per corner difference.
Arches too.
Shouldn't smoke, leak or rattle.
Ask when front thrust arms were done (if not done it'll soon wobble, not pricey but an arse).
E34s are all old so suspension components having been changed already will save £££.
Can't recall if water pump plastic or metal. Plastic=waiting to fall apart, temp go through roof and heads to warp.
Shouldn't have nikasil issues at this stage. Many had replacement engines (my 540 has).
Auto box should be dead smooth.
Check computer on dash may show up bulbs failed etc when you turn on the lights. Make sure you have the lights on a fair while and press brakes plenty. This ususally shows up elec issues and NOT blown bulbs!
Elec seats a bugger to fix. Heavy to get out too!
Check drainage holes in floorpan - crawl underneath - mine rusted out so have been welded.
Ask when pollen filter changed - prob not for years as it's a sod to get at but is a DIY job. Improves air-con performance no end when you take out a few handfuls of crap!
Air-con costs big bucks to fix - needs a regas? It's leaking. Break wallet.
Window motors go lazy in back due to lack of use.
Self levelling rear suspension can fail - replace with normal set-up.
I love my 540. Bags of charatcer, great looks and sooooooo comfy
Plenty of bits around for them and some decent specialists in Bristol area.
Message me if you want a hand checking one out and will try to make time (work silly hours and on-call). Am on my second and have experienced most of the problems!
Check it has normal wheels not the expensive dicky tyre size ones. Can make a £50 per corner difference.
Arches too.
Shouldn't smoke, leak or rattle.
Ask when front thrust arms were done (if not done it'll soon wobble, not pricey but an arse).
E34s are all old so suspension components having been changed already will save £££.
Can't recall if water pump plastic or metal. Plastic=waiting to fall apart, temp go through roof and heads to warp.
Shouldn't have nikasil issues at this stage. Many had replacement engines (my 540 has).
Auto box should be dead smooth.
Check computer on dash may show up bulbs failed etc when you turn on the lights. Make sure you have the lights on a fair while and press brakes plenty. This ususally shows up elec issues and NOT blown bulbs!
Elec seats a bugger to fix. Heavy to get out too!
Check drainage holes in floorpan - crawl underneath - mine rusted out so have been welded.
Ask when pollen filter changed - prob not for years as it's a sod to get at but is a DIY job. Improves air-con performance no end when you take out a few handfuls of crap!
Air-con costs big bucks to fix - needs a regas? It's leaking. Break wallet.
Window motors go lazy in back due to lack of use.
Self levelling rear suspension can fail - replace with normal set-up.
I love my 540. Bags of charatcer, great looks and sooooooo comfy
Plenty of bits around for them and some decent specialists in Bristol area.
Message me if you want a hand checking one out and will try to make time (work silly hours and on-call). Am on my second and have experienced most of the problems!
Edited by Six Fiend on Saturday 24th April 19:59
excellent pointers and thanks for the offer! Viewing tomorrow possibly and if I like it I'll get an AA inspection - I'd take you up on offer but its 80 miles in the other direction. Sounds numpty but whats a good way to check the sills? Its so many years since I've bought old cars so forgot all the old tricks. Magnet, prod them etc? Car doesnt appear to have any body kit or flaps applied so hopefully issues should be easy to spot on the surface.
For the electric test what exactly do I do? Turn on ignition and then see if any lights stay on, if so press breaks a few times to see if they go out?
As for nikasil, was that an issue even on the 3.0s back then? I thought it was only on the v8s? What sort of questions should I ask about nikasil in the case it was relevant even on the 6s?
For the electric test what exactly do I do? Turn on ignition and then see if any lights stay on, if so press breaks a few times to see if they go out?
As for nikasil, was that an issue even on the 3.0s back then? I thought it was only on the v8s? What sort of questions should I ask about nikasil in the case it was relevant even on the 6s?
530i is an M60 engined V8 if 93-95. Prior was as you say an M30 straight 6. If it's a 6 don't worry about that, just ask about the water pump!
Poke the sills! Look for signs of repairs and also look at the ends from inside the wheel arches and underneath. Lack of body kit and flaps is a good sign.
Electrical test - there's a display below the clocks. Any bulb warnings etc come up "Brake light bulb" etc will appear if there are any problems. It doesn't affect thr runing of the car, it;s just annoying when it keeps saying ulbs have blown when they haven't.
At a softball tournament tomorrow so can't do then anyway
Useful site: http://www.bmwe34.net/Wiki/tiki-index.php?page=hom...
This too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_5_Series_%28E34%2...
Poke the sills! Look for signs of repairs and also look at the ends from inside the wheel arches and underneath. Lack of body kit and flaps is a good sign.
Electrical test - there's a display below the clocks. Any bulb warnings etc come up "Brake light bulb" etc will appear if there are any problems. It doesn't affect thr runing of the car, it;s just annoying when it keeps saying ulbs have blown when they haven't.
At a softball tournament tomorrow so can't do then anyway
Useful site: http://www.bmwe34.net/Wiki/tiki-index.php?page=hom...
This too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_5_Series_%28E34%2...
Edited by Six Fiend on Saturday 24th April 21:52
Edited by Six Fiend on Saturday 24th April 21:54
cheers! looks like it is the v8 = a v16 house if i get it!! Now the waterpump, cheap to replace? Its something that I've read is an issue so I'll get it done regardless. Presume its a cheap/easy job?
The engine stamp that shows whether its a prone engine, where is it I need to look? Is it an obvious stamp?
The engine stamp that shows whether its a prone engine, where is it I need to look? Is it an obvious stamp?
bull996 said:
Oooh great thread-can I ask a question too?
Just bought a 540 E34 and the AC is not cold. All the compressor works etc, so I thought it probably needs a regass, but following the comment above, is it likely to be fooked, or might it be a re gas?
Ta muchly!
try taking it for a regass they will diagnose. Only issue is the gas these things would originally have is now illegal.Just bought a 540 E34 and the AC is not cold. All the compressor works etc, so I thought it probably needs a regass, but following the comment above, is it likely to be fooked, or might it be a re gas?
Ta muchly!
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff