518i advice wanted
Discussion
Anyone run a leggy (100k+) E34 518i? I've got a few questions.
What sort of MPG are you getting?
Are there any common faults?
Is the 1.8i lump up to the job of pulling the car about or do they feel a bit asthmatic?
If anyone wants to throw in any other advice about buying one I'd appreciate it.
What sort of MPG are you getting?
Are there any common faults?
Is the 1.8i lump up to the job of pulling the car about or do they feel a bit asthmatic?
If anyone wants to throw in any other advice about buying one I'd appreciate it.
First off
Make sure you buy a M43 engined version from approx 94 onwards
No timing belt (its a chain) and basically had all the M40 engines problems (it wasnt one of BMW's best) sorted out
Down side to latter cars is they came with metric alloy wheels & tyres(which are very expensive) easily solved with some earlier 15" BBS or 15" or 16" E39 rims and tyres (you will need to buy hub rings if fitting E39 rims, but cheap and easy to buy off ebay)
We ran a 518i Touring (bought when it was 4yrs old) for nearly 8yrs (and to 103k miles) Mechanically the car was pretty much faultless and the new owner of 6 mths is also very pleased!
Even in the touring body despite what follks say, its was ok in the performance stakes, more gutsy than than a 520i 24v off the line (though when the 520i gets some revs on it its better)
Cheap as chips to run, mpg circa 30 as long as you dont thrape it and do 'sensible' motorway speeds (sub 85 units)
As with all E34's only real thing to look out for is the rear axle bushes, find and if they have been replaced and when, cus if they havent chances are they will need doing (circa £150 by a specialist)
Above all dont be put off by folks who say there crap, try one for yourself, its no road rocket, just a very durable, well built thrifty car
Make sure you buy a M43 engined version from approx 94 onwards
No timing belt (its a chain) and basically had all the M40 engines problems (it wasnt one of BMW's best) sorted out
Down side to latter cars is they came with metric alloy wheels & tyres(which are very expensive) easily solved with some earlier 15" BBS or 15" or 16" E39 rims and tyres (you will need to buy hub rings if fitting E39 rims, but cheap and easy to buy off ebay)
We ran a 518i Touring (bought when it was 4yrs old) for nearly 8yrs (and to 103k miles) Mechanically the car was pretty much faultless and the new owner of 6 mths is also very pleased!
Even in the touring body despite what follks say, its was ok in the performance stakes, more gutsy than than a 520i 24v off the line (though when the 520i gets some revs on it its better)
Cheap as chips to run, mpg circa 30 as long as you dont thrape it and do 'sensible' motorway speeds (sub 85 units)
As with all E34's only real thing to look out for is the rear axle bushes, find and if they have been replaced and when, cus if they havent chances are they will need doing (circa £150 by a specialist)
Above all dont be put off by folks who say there crap, try one for yourself, its no road rocket, just a very durable, well built thrifty car
Edited by mustard on Sunday 6th May 09:54
The one I've found is a bit earlier... K plate.
Bodywork looks in remarkable condition, one very small dent in the bonnet (which looks removable from behind) and not a single dent in any of the doors. Even got the BBS wheels...
It's red so the paintwork is very flat. Asking price is £695 and if I can get they buyer down to £600 I would have thought it's a good buy.
Having personally tested the crashworthiness of an E30 Touring I'm impressed with their durability
Bodywork looks in remarkable condition, one very small dent in the bonnet (which looks removable from behind) and not a single dent in any of the doors. Even got the BBS wheels...
It's red so the paintwork is very flat. Asking price is £695 and if I can get they buyer down to £600 I would have thought it's a good buy.
Having personally tested the crashworthiness of an E30 Touring I'm impressed with their durability
They do last remarkably well, just ask silverbackmike!
Be aware on the M40 engine the cam belt change is every 4yrs/35k miles if my memory serves me correctly
At that age faced with an M40 engined 518i or an M50 Engine 520/525 24v i'd take the latter.
The M40 engine struggles a bit with the abused that may be given it, pay a few pounds more a buy a latter car, Derin bought an absolute low miles minter of a late 525i for less than £2k which is a lot of money for an E34 (but hardly expensive for what he got), but its all a quesion of whats left to 'spend' on a car to get into good order (the answer with Derins was nothing! so not soo expensive after all!)
Be aware on the M40 engine the cam belt change is every 4yrs/35k miles if my memory serves me correctly
At that age faced with an M40 engined 518i or an M50 Engine 520/525 24v i'd take the latter.
The M40 engine struggles a bit with the abused that may be given it, pay a few pounds more a buy a latter car, Derin bought an absolute low miles minter of a late 525i for less than £2k which is a lot of money for an E34 (but hardly expensive for what he got), but its all a quesion of whats left to 'spend' on a car to get into good order (the answer with Derins was nothing! so not soo expensive after all!)
Good advice... Which I'll probably completely ignore
I'm buying down to a price and hadn't considered a 518i until I walked past this one yesterday. For £600 I could run it for a couple of years and then just throw it away.....
The question is more "Is this a good buy at the price"? as opposed to "How can I buy a good 518i"? if that makes sense.
I'm buying down to a price and hadn't considered a 518i until I walked past this one yesterday. For £600 I could run it for a couple of years and then just throw it away.....
The question is more "Is this a good buy at the price"? as opposed to "How can I buy a good 518i"? if that makes sense.
A good buy?
All down to future spends!
Tyres
Brakes
Suspension
Cam belt
any other defects
If its in good order on all those then yes..... what more do u want for £600 ? lol
But you always seem to end up spending a couple of hundred in my experience 'sorting'
See profile for taking a very nice 520i into a fully sorted car (my brother is very particular
)
All down to future spends!
Tyres
Brakes
Suspension
Cam belt
any other defects
If its in good order on all those then yes..... what more do u want for £600 ? lol
But you always seem to end up spending a couple of hundred in my experience 'sorting'
See profile for taking a very nice 520i into a fully sorted car (my brother is very particular
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