1995 BMW e34 540iA Touring
Discussion
Hi all,
I thought after almost 6 months and 6k miles of owning my 540 I should post something. Here is the story of the ongoing transformation from old, neglected and flakey into 90's timewarp. I'm a good way there now, and loving it.
Originally seen on autotrader and bought on a whim, I saw it afterwards on the Best Smoker Barges Vol:5 thread.
To be quite honest, it was looking a bit sorry for itself - but felt decent for £995.
I needed interesting reliable transport simpler than the e38 750il that went before it, having owned an e34 530 v8 years before I knew it could fit the bill. It was just to carry me through my critical last few months at uni.
Its clear its been someones very occasional DIY van, covering an honest sub 1k miles over the past 5 years. Having roughly 138k, being a 4.0v8, you'd have thought (on a student budget) it would have bankrupt me. Far from it...more on that later.
The first job was making it look respectable, many areas of matt paint and flaking roof rails - so I attacked it with a machine polisher and elbow grease for 2 days solid. (I should have been writing my dissertation at this point).
Before:
After:
AND FINALLY:
'Max' as he's lovingly known has proved to be a bit of a gem, almost all his problems fixing themselves with use and a bit of tlc.
Repairs i've carried out have been sorting out the horrendous rattles in the boot and (non functioning) sunroof and replaced 1 window motor. Thats been it, in 6 months and 6k of use. All the pixels even work and there isn't the 60-70mph wobble that affects these cars.
Currently on around 144k i've found some interesting things out about the economy. If the tyres are around 45psi, its very easy to get 32mpg at 75, not uncomfortable but not cosseting. Its on ditchfinders (fitted by dealer before I purchased) but I never actually feel short of grip, even at that pressure. If the pressures are 32/36 (roughly recommended for 2 persons) its impossible to top 28mpg, even at 70. Basically, i'm going to get some decent low rolling resistance tyres and find some middle ground with pressures.
Average since I bought it is 23.5mpg, this is by the computer- but I calculate every fill up and it seems very accurate. I live in oxford, spend lots of time in traffic, and I enjoy letting the horses run free - so this seems superb to be honest. By comparison my 750 averaged 20 and my 328i 27.
Overall its been a superb cruiser which can be serious fun pushed down a country road (e34's on sports suspension handle very well) and I've got to a point where I cant really be without it. Nothing under £5k really would make me think about changing, its ridiculously cheap, fun, fast, practical v8 motoring. It's amazing how fond you can be of a car so quickly, I still find myself looking over my shoulder at it every time I walk away and get a buzz (even tho to some its just an old bmw)
Here's a rough breakdown of costs so far (27 male, living in oxford, handy with spanners, 1k per month)
Insurance (6 months @ £61p/m) - £366
Repairs & Maintenance - Under £50
Fuel (6k @ 23.5mpg + £1.38p/l) - £1600
Tax - £123
Depreciation - £0 (In fact, its probably worth more than I paid, but a service is due soon - that'll swallow up any profit)
TOTAL - £2139 or £356 per month or 36p/mile
TOTAL (Without Insurance) - £1773 or £295 per month or 30p/mile
As far as i'm concerned 30p/mile all in (including depreciation) is pretty amazing. I hope it drags some out of their diesels...
I thought after almost 6 months and 6k miles of owning my 540 I should post something. Here is the story of the ongoing transformation from old, neglected and flakey into 90's timewarp. I'm a good way there now, and loving it.
Originally seen on autotrader and bought on a whim, I saw it afterwards on the Best Smoker Barges Vol:5 thread.
To be quite honest, it was looking a bit sorry for itself - but felt decent for £995.
I needed interesting reliable transport simpler than the e38 750il that went before it, having owned an e34 530 v8 years before I knew it could fit the bill. It was just to carry me through my critical last few months at uni.
Its clear its been someones very occasional DIY van, covering an honest sub 1k miles over the past 5 years. Having roughly 138k, being a 4.0v8, you'd have thought (on a student budget) it would have bankrupt me. Far from it...more on that later.
The first job was making it look respectable, many areas of matt paint and flaking roof rails - so I attacked it with a machine polisher and elbow grease for 2 days solid. (I should have been writing my dissertation at this point).
Before:
After:
AND FINALLY:
'Max' as he's lovingly known has proved to be a bit of a gem, almost all his problems fixing themselves with use and a bit of tlc.
Repairs i've carried out have been sorting out the horrendous rattles in the boot and (non functioning) sunroof and replaced 1 window motor. Thats been it, in 6 months and 6k of use. All the pixels even work and there isn't the 60-70mph wobble that affects these cars.
Currently on around 144k i've found some interesting things out about the economy. If the tyres are around 45psi, its very easy to get 32mpg at 75, not uncomfortable but not cosseting. Its on ditchfinders (fitted by dealer before I purchased) but I never actually feel short of grip, even at that pressure. If the pressures are 32/36 (roughly recommended for 2 persons) its impossible to top 28mpg, even at 70. Basically, i'm going to get some decent low rolling resistance tyres and find some middle ground with pressures.
Average since I bought it is 23.5mpg, this is by the computer- but I calculate every fill up and it seems very accurate. I live in oxford, spend lots of time in traffic, and I enjoy letting the horses run free - so this seems superb to be honest. By comparison my 750 averaged 20 and my 328i 27.
Overall its been a superb cruiser which can be serious fun pushed down a country road (e34's on sports suspension handle very well) and I've got to a point where I cant really be without it. Nothing under £5k really would make me think about changing, its ridiculously cheap, fun, fast, practical v8 motoring. It's amazing how fond you can be of a car so quickly, I still find myself looking over my shoulder at it every time I walk away and get a buzz (even tho to some its just an old bmw)
Here's a rough breakdown of costs so far (27 male, living in oxford, handy with spanners, 1k per month)
Insurance (6 months @ £61p/m) - £366
Repairs & Maintenance - Under £50
Fuel (6k @ 23.5mpg + £1.38p/l) - £1600
Tax - £123
Depreciation - £0 (In fact, its probably worth more than I paid, but a service is due soon - that'll swallow up any profit)
TOTAL - £2139 or £356 per month or 36p/mile
TOTAL (Without Insurance) - £1773 or £295 per month or 30p/mile
As far as i'm concerned 30p/mile all in (including depreciation) is pretty amazing. I hope it drags some out of their diesels...
I love it when someone finds a car like this and gives a few hours attention and the difference is incredible. Love the shine it now has. I would be proud of that car as well. Looks an absolute sleeper when it has no badge on the tailgate.
Any interior pictures? Did you get the sunroof sorted yet?
Any interior pictures? Did you get the sunroof sorted yet?
I love it when someone finds a car like this and gives a few hours attention and the difference is incredible. Love the shine it now has. I would be proud of that car as well. Looks an absolute sleeper when it has no badge on the tailgate.
Any interior pictures? Did you get the sunroof sorted yet?
Any interior pictures? Did you get the sunroof sorted yet?
mak2503 said:
I love it when someone finds a car like this and gives a few hours attention and the difference is incredible. Love the shine it now has. I would be proud of that car as well. Looks an absolute sleeper when it has no badge on the tailgate.
Any interior pictures? Did you get the sunroof sorted yet?
Thanks, its surprised a lot of others now, including sticking with a boxster and s4. Any interior pictures? Did you get the sunroof sorted yet?
The sunroof has proven to be a pain, i'm on the lookout for a replacement unit, but no rush. Ill take some interior pics later.
Nice find and write-up 
Yes, 30+ mpg is quite easily possible. On the same basis - tyres at 3bar I recently scored 32.8mpg overall in mine for a 240mile romp up to london and back for a work project, which included 20miles rolling around the North circular at peak hours.
I've had my 540 saloon five and a half years now - bought because I always wanted a good E34 and now kept because there's nothing I want to replace it. Long term av cost on mine (excluding fuel!) - about 9p/mile... fairly detailed history in profile.
Yes, 30+ mpg is quite easily possible. On the same basis - tyres at 3bar I recently scored 32.8mpg overall in mine for a 240mile romp up to london and back for a work project, which included 20miles rolling around the North circular at peak hours.
I've had my 540 saloon five and a half years now - bought because I always wanted a good E34 and now kept because there's nothing I want to replace it. Long term av cost on mine (excluding fuel!) - about 9p/mile... fairly detailed history in profile.
Looks like a comfy place to spend a few hours travelling across countries in. I used to own a 635csi, E39 530d Touring, E46 M3 and now an X3 3.0sd. The quality in the older cars always seemed far superior to the newer ones and the older cars seem to get under your skin that little bit more.
Once I read through your thread I searched on here for one in the for sale section.
Once I read through your thread I searched on here for one in the for sale section.
This was mine with a fruity exhaust on my last trip. I do miss the noise! (The Jag is also fruity but not as gutsy sounding)
http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq349/SixFiend/...
http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq349/SixFiend/...
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