RE: BMW M5 (E34): PH Used Buying Guide

[belleair302]

I ran a late model LE 3.8 in Rosso for a number of years. Epic drive but an old car now. Potential huge issues surrounding EDC suspension and cats failing. Rust was not an issue on mine but water pumps were and head gasket !!! Interior was beautiful but some parts are NLA. Great sound, wonderful size with woeful headlights. Huge fuel tank and easy to slide around. Sadly as stated these are now more classic than anything else and not so quick in 2018. More for collecting and fine day driving than fast road use. Don't miss mine but loved the experience if not the bills. Car was last known to be in Aberdeen.

[magno]

3.8 6 spd Individual spec. Bologna motorshow car. I turned down 25k earlier this year. Prices are definitely on the rise for good cars.

[Venisonpie]

magno said:

3.8 6 spd Individual spec. Bologna motorshow car. I turned down 25k earlier this year. Prices are definitely on the rise for good cars.

Oooof. Bloody nice motor.

[pSyCoSiS]

Venisonpie said:

magno said:

3.8 6 spd Individual spec. Bologna motorshow car. I turned down 25k earlier this year. Prices are definitely on the rise for good cars.

Oooof. Bloody nice motor.

Absolutely beautiful.

Were the wheels added afterwards, or factory-fitted? (as from memory, those wheels came on the LE models only and optional extras on the later E34 M5 models).

[3795mpower]

pSyCoSiS said:

Absolutely beautiful.

Were the wheels added afterwards, or factory-fitted? (as from memory, those wheels came on the LE models only and optional extras on the later E34 M5 models).

Late 94 cars were facelifted (wider grill) , floating front discs, 6 speed gearbox and
Those 18 inch M parallel spoke rims.

[Maxus]

magno said:

3.8 6 spd Individual spec. Bologna motorshow car. I turned down 25k earlier this year. Prices are definitely on the rise for good cars.

Stunning. What colour is that? I had a Daytona Violet E34 Sport but this looks a little lighter in colour.

[TheAngryDog]

magno said:

3.8 6 spd Individual spec. Bologna motorshow car. I turned down 25k earlier this year. Prices are definitely on the rise for good cars.

[RS Grant]

Absolutely love E34 M5s, but a good one is now in my 'too much to justify' list. That doesn't stop me admiring them on the rare occasion that I see one though, that individual car above is lovely.

[E34-3.2]

magno said:

3.8 6 spd Individual spec. Bologna motorshow car. I turned down 25k earlier this year. Prices are definitely on the rise for good cars.

that is mine (3.8 6spd 1994) got offered 27k last year just on pictures:

[Olivera]

British Beef said:

More should have been stated in the article of the cost and work required to overhaul the engine, as I have heard horror stories regarding engine repairs and suspensions repairs, running into many thousands.

Thousands? Probably piss easy on these cars to spend £10k+ on repairing some bodywork, replacing the dampers and some engine work.

[Shakermaker]

Olivera said:

British Beef said:

More should have been stated in the article of the cost and work required to overhaul the engine, as I have heard horror stories regarding engine repairs and suspensions repairs, running into many thousands.

Thousands? Probably piss easy on these cars to spend £10k+ on repairing some bodywork, replacing the dampers and some engine work.

I think a full set of pistons and piston rings for one of these is £2,000 in parts alone, plus all the work to get to that stage.. so yes, very easy to spend thousands but that's surely comparable with other similar specification cars?

[E34-3.2]

Shakermaker said:

I think a full set of pistons and piston rings for one of these is £2,000 in parts alone, plus all the work to get to that stage.. so yes, very easy to spend thousands but that's surely comparable with other similar specification cars?

+1 body work on these cars is actually cheap. engine parts is another story but comparing with others cars of similar values of same age, I don't think that they are expensive to run. I got some quotes for the Body work of my 911 which will have bought me another M5!

[pSyCoSiS]

3795mpower said:

pSyCoSiS said:

Absolutely beautiful.

Were the wheels added afterwards, or factory-fitted? (as from memory, those wheels came on the LE models only and optional extras on the later E34 M5 models).

Late 94 cars were facelifted (wider grill) , floating front discs, 6 speed gearbox and
Those 18 inch M parallel spoke rims.

Thanks, that makes sense. So, the 'L' / 'M' reg cars as well as the LE models had these wheels?

[3795mpower]

pSyCoSiS said:

Thanks, that makes sense. So, the 'L' / 'M' reg cars as well as the LE models had these wheels?

Yep that’s it.
It was a popular mod for folk to put 18’s onto earlier cars though.

[pSyCoSiS]

3795mpower said:

pSyCoSiS said:

Thanks, that makes sense. So, the 'L' / 'M' reg cars as well as the LE models had these wheels?

Yep that’s it.
It was a popular mod for folk to put 18’s onto earlier cars though.

Yes, that's true, but it ruins the originality for me.

For some reason, I really like the earlier turbine wheels. I've got Throwing Stars on mine, but there is something alluring about the Turbine design and look.

[hertfordshire1]

All 6 speed cars came with the 18" wheels as standard (to show off the floating brakes) that were also standard on the 6 speed cars.

Later cars = wide grill, 18" wheels, floating brakes, 6 speed.

I have a late 93 car (built dec 93) so also L registration, but mine is 5 speed, 17" wheels, narrow grill (I however added the floating brakes as the standard ones were not up to the job)..

These are now getting on for 25 year old cars, as such can be costly to keep in shape if neglected in earlier life. Much the same will be said for any 25 year old ///M car. I can't imagine a 25 year old e60 or F10 are gonna be any cheaper when they are this vintage...

[Alex Gurr]

I have had mine 11 years. Bought with 94,000 miles on the clock and now has 133,000. It has never left me stranded, but has required regular rolling restoration. Mine was OK when i got it, but had probably been looked after on the cheap by the last one or two owners. I think I have spent circa £30k on maintenance in the 11 years (it has just had a £7k bodywork and paint bill to address rotting sills). It is now immaculate and I expect expenditure to reduce as I am now back on top of everything.

Would i do it again? Absolutely yes. It is a stunning thing to drive. Fast, fun and reliable, but also capable of doing the everyday stuff without a complaint if you are so inclined!

[magno]

Maxus said:

Stunning. What colour is that? I had a Daytona Violet E34 Sport but this looks a little lighter in colour.

Zyclamrot. Special order colour. I believe there is only 1 other car in the same shade.

Car is exactly as it came out of the factory, wider grilles, 18" wheels, sport mirrors, body colour skirts, bumpers etc.

[pSyCoSiS]

magno said:

Maxus said:

Stunning. What colour is that? I had a Daytona Violet E34 Sport but this looks a little lighter in colour.

Zyclamrot. Special order colour. I believe there is only 1 other car in the same shade.

Car is exactly as it came out of the factory, wider grilles, 18" wheels, sport mirrors, body colour skirts, bumpers etc.

It's an absolute stunner - one of the nicest colours to grace an E34 M5.

[Josco010]

3795mpower said:

The last 10k car I saw up for sale had a different (ie wrong) interior in it and
The wrong front bumper (sport rather than //M)

The other car was north of 160k on the clock.

Fine if you want to just smoke about but not ok if you enjoy originality.

Given that high volume E46 M3’s are fetching 10+ these days and
E30 M3’s are north of 50k I think it’s about time the E34 had some recognition for
Being the last hand built Garching car.

Not exactly tripping over them in the classified are we.

You are so right. I'd say good luck to those who think they can have a decent e34 m5 for £10k. I know most owners who've owned these very special cars will not let it go for £15k. I for one will not even go look at any thing less than £17k period. i've had mine for 12 years now, i know what these cars entail and appreciate the effort that went into creating them. A word of warning, spend £10 k on a car then look for another near £15 to put it in good shape @ £6k for the EDC to be refurbed plus rust proofing and £10 large as already disappeared, forget the exhaust the steering, clutch etc. Lol yeah £10k indeed. Mine is for keeps anyways.