E34 V8s 530/540

[Trackpug]

Does anybody have experience with them? Any known weaknesses or potentially horrific bills?
Is there a noticable hike in power over the 525?
General opinion?

Thanks in advance

[SJobson]

I had a 530i Touring, automatic. I test drove a few 525is before buying it, all late ones with VANOS. The 530i is barely any faster, and the gearing is so tall it really needs winding up to make it go, though it's good fun when you do. I did love it to bits, and I'd definitely go for a 540i if I were to have another E34.

[sniff diesel]

I've had a couple of 525's and a 540. TBH for UK road use a 2.5 has adequate performance, with the V8 the opportunities to make use of the extra power were very limited. In my time with the car I averaged 17mpg, where as in similar use I got nearly 30mpg out of the 525's.

[Huff]

The 540 makes a lot more power (286BHP), the 530 is nearly as thirsty and 'only' 218hp.

The engines are sturdy given routine maintenance, certainly there's no rep for gross failures. Duplex-chain driven cams, no history of head gasket failures, very free-revving (and nice to do so!) V8 age-related issues are air leaks spoiling idle quality on some (easy DIY to lift intake manifold and replace, I've not needed to) ditto gunged-up PCV valves (fixable with carb cleaner), so make sure it idles well cold or warm. A *very slight* occasional 'rock' is acceptable - the cams are quite long duration and -overlap compared with the later 4.4s and this means the idle is smooth, but not utterly vibration-free. Open the drivers door while it idles and watch the top corner - it shouldn't be shaking.

The Nikasil issue which some bang on and on about can be pretty safely ignored - UK fuel went ultra-low sulphur in 2000. Very unlikely to become a problem at this remove. If you're really paranoid, there are 540s out there with replacement alusil blocks. Look up the numbers and bear in mind when shopping.

Routine DIY is easy. If you buy, on your first oil change pull the sump and check the oil pump bolts are in and re-torque. These work loose with age, even fall into the sump, but don't worry the pump still works /cannot fall off, it just rattle a bit. Everything else to watch is the same as other E34s - bushes, steering play, all easily dealt with.

I've had my 540 a bit over 2 years, and plan to keep it indefinitely. It averages 24ish mpg, and find 28-30mpg is easy on motorway runs; 18ish when 'making progress' .

[buggalugs]

Had a 540 manual - as above, its nearly 100hp more than a 525 and a boat load more torque too so quite a bit faster. Awesome car, only reason I sold it was because of the miles I was doing.

Only probs I had was the plastic bits on the radiator, the rear subframe bushes (same as any e34), and a bit of steering play, also easily sorted as per any e34.

Only negative I'd say was the exhaust is unique to the V8 and all of it is quite expensive, so bear in mind when looking that a blowing backbox could cost you a few hundred quid.

Good luck

[TonyRPH]

There's some very pertinent information here. I would just like to add:

I have previously owned:

1) '95 E34 520i Auto (was actually surprisingly quick for it's 150 bhp - economy good an't remember mpg)
2) '94 E34 530i Auto - quite thirsty - my daily commute is 15 miles each way, and I averaged 19 mpg.
3) '96 E39 523i Auto - 170bhp, approx 25 mpg, and not as quick as 170bhp would suggest
4) '99 E46 323i Auto - ditto except slightly better mpg
5) '95 E34 525i Sport Manual - 192 bhp - and as someone pointed out - performance is quite adequate
6) '02 E39 535i Sport Auto - 3.5 V8 - 20 to 21 mpg (better than the E34 530)

5 + 6 are my current cars. (well the 525i is my wife's)

The x23's are detuned 525's due to German tax laws I believe.

Daily commute is unchanged (15 miles each way)

HTH.

ETA: You simply cannot beat the sound of the V8's !!

Edited by TonyRPH on Tuesday 13th July 19:16