Just bought this... 1996 E34 520i
Discussion
As much as I love my mk1 MX-5, it's getting a little bit tiring using it every day. I've put 12k on it since I bought it in July (taking it up to 170K), and I've been keeping an eye open for something a bit more usable for a little while. I looked at various boring things at dodgy backstreet dealers... a Civic, an Ibiza, and almost settled on an Astra. Fortunately the Astra turned out to have a failed head gasket, so I ran a mile.
Anyway, browsing eBay at work I stumbled across this E34 520i. I'd been fancying a 3 Series but, at 22, even a 316 was stupid to insure. Out of interest I tried a quote on this and was surprised to find it was only a couple of quid more than the MX-5 to insure. A bit of persuasion from my colleagues and last weekend I found myself taking a look at this, expecting it to be rubbish. It wasn't, and later that evening the seller and I agreed on a price to end the auction early.
So, the facts. It's had two owners from new, the last one since 2000. It's covered 175k with full service history (most of it BMW, or at least specialists). It's got Individual paint and a grey leather interior, so a bit different to a lot of the E34s on the market. Don't know much about this though, so if anyone can identify the colour it'd be good to hear from you...
It doesn't seem to have been used much over the last three years or so, and I think the last owner has probably bought a new car and left it sitting for a while. It's a bit grubby, and there are a few minor areas of cosmetic rust I'd like seeing to.
The tyres are legal but there was an advisory on the last MOT (in November) for the two rear ones, so I'd quite like four new tyres in the near future. Anyone, enough rambling, here's some quick pics taken on the way home today:
Anyway, browsing eBay at work I stumbled across this E34 520i. I'd been fancying a 3 Series but, at 22, even a 316 was stupid to insure. Out of interest I tried a quote on this and was surprised to find it was only a couple of quid more than the MX-5 to insure. A bit of persuasion from my colleagues and last weekend I found myself taking a look at this, expecting it to be rubbish. It wasn't, and later that evening the seller and I agreed on a price to end the auction early.
So, the facts. It's had two owners from new, the last one since 2000. It's covered 175k with full service history (most of it BMW, or at least specialists). It's got Individual paint and a grey leather interior, so a bit different to a lot of the E34s on the market. Don't know much about this though, so if anyone can identify the colour it'd be good to hear from you...
It doesn't seem to have been used much over the last three years or so, and I think the last owner has probably bought a new car and left it sitting for a while. It's a bit grubby, and there are a few minor areas of cosmetic rust I'd like seeing to.
The tyres are legal but there was an advisory on the last MOT (in November) for the two rear ones, so I'd quite like four new tyres in the near future. Anyone, enough rambling, here's some quick pics taken on the way home today:
HustleRussell said:
Are those wheels metric? If so you're going to want to buy a set of imperial ones. I've had my E34 525i for 18 months now and it's the most satisfying car to own that I have ever had- a properly built car.
They are indeed. Have found some tyres on eBay for £95 a corner. Not bad, but a shock after MX-5 tyres!Angry Sheep said:
They are indeed. Have found some tyres on eBay for £95 a corner. Not bad, but a shock after MX-5 tyres!
I bought a set of 15" BBS basketweaves from eBay... They're plentiful and therefore dirt cheap. They're also quality wheels- I paid £60 for five, and by looking at them you'd guess they are two years old, not twenty! Also, 15" tyres are cheap... Fitted a new set of 205/65 Goodyears at £71 each yesterday. TrackTalentUK said:
I like these and that looks like Ivinghoe beacon to me 
Certainly is. Convenient photo taking location on my way home from Berkhamsted to Leighton.23rdian said:
Looks nice that, always been a fan of e34s. Can I ask how much you paid? Picked up a cheap 1998 e39 528i myself a few weeks ago. Beauty of owning 2 older cars is you always have a spare should one decide it doesn't want to work
I picked it up for £595, which I was happy with considering the amount of tax and test on it. Just wish I'd checked the cost of tyres first...Very nice. 
I smoked about in a 1993 E34 520i when commuting between N London and Canterbury (final year uni). Bought for £450 and sold on a year later for £200.
Glad to hear it's a manual, the auto in these is really only suited for 525s and above. Although a little down on power/torque it goes well enough and sits perfectly at 70-80 with no fuss. Easy to work on too.
With the price (and limited availability) of metric tyres I'd be considering second hand OE 16 inch cross spokes. Perhaps ebay or http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/ might be worth a look.
Edit to add, the colour of the car should be on the suspension turret under the bonnet.
I smoked about in a 1993 E34 520i when commuting between N London and Canterbury (final year uni). Bought for £450 and sold on a year later for £200.
Glad to hear it's a manual, the auto in these is really only suited for 525s and above. Although a little down on power/torque it goes well enough and sits perfectly at 70-80 with no fuss. Easy to work on too.
With the price (and limited availability) of metric tyres I'd be considering second hand OE 16 inch cross spokes. Perhaps ebay or http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/ might be worth a look.
Edit to add, the colour of the car should be on the suspension turret under the bonnet.
Edited by g3org3y on Sunday 9th February 13:24
g3org3y said:
Very nice.
I smoked about in a 1993 E34 520i when commuting between N London and Canterbury (final year uni). Bought for £450 and sold on a year later for £200.
Glad to hear it's a manual, the auto in these is really only suited for 525s and above. Although a little down on power/torque it goes well enough and sits perfectly at 70-80 with no fuss. Easy to work on too.
With the price (and limited availability) of metric tyres I'd be considering second hand OE 16 inch cross spokes. Perhaps ebay or http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/ might be worth a look.
Edit to add, the colour of the car should be on the suspension turret under the bonnet.
Cheers for the advice, g3org3y. Replacement wheels are definitely on the cards. Did look under the bonnet before for the colour but missed it, I'll have to take another look.I smoked about in a 1993 E34 520i when commuting between N London and Canterbury (final year uni). Bought for £450 and sold on a year later for £200.
Glad to hear it's a manual, the auto in these is really only suited for 525s and above. Although a little down on power/torque it goes well enough and sits perfectly at 70-80 with no fuss. Easy to work on too.
With the price (and limited availability) of metric tyres I'd be considering second hand OE 16 inch cross spokes. Perhaps ebay or http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/ might be worth a look.
Edit to add, the colour of the car should be on the suspension turret under the bonnet.
Edited by g3org3y on Sunday 9th February 13:24
I went out for a drive today, via a local friendly hand car wash (and a shop to pick up some Back to Black type stuff for the trim). It's great to drive, I like the reaction of other drivers. I had one bloke move over and indicate left to encourage me to overtake... that never happened in my MX-5! And, despite not being massively up on power, it's definitely torquer than the MX-5 making overtaking and tooling around town easier.
The drive has highlighted a few issues, but nothing catastrophic (and to be expected of a BMW at this age/price, I think).
1) The temperature seems to fluctuate between a quarter and halfway. I'm guessing the thermostat might be stuck open? Anyone care to correct me?
2) It's got the 'steering shimmy', which apparently is common on these. It only does it between 65-70mph, so there's an easy solution to that.
3) The steering in general I think is a bit vague and probably not as tight as when it was new back in 1996. Might try adjusting the steering box and having the steering in general looked at.
These, added to the slight cosmetic rust and tyres which aren't far off needing replacement, mean it isn't quite the bargain I thought it was. But, it's an old, cheap BMW and fortunately these issues aren't massively major. I'm sure I can justify spending a little time and money on it. Some more pics from today:
There's been a good few folk post threads about E34s recently, I think they're enjoying a bit of a revival having languished in the 'cheap disposable barge' category for years. People are beginning to appreciate that much like the Mercedes Benz of the late 80s and early 90s, BMWs of the same period are built very well and are usable enough to be a daily whilst being old and simple enough to be cheap and easy to fix. They also offer a slightly more sporting drive than the Mercedes. The E34s design is just so 'right', too.
I've had mine 18 months now and I have enjoyed every mile.
I've had mine 18 months now and I have enjoyed every mile.
Very nice! Got a Calypso Red 520i myself, I'm quite jealous of your leather! I too have a shimmy at 60 odd mph. Are you sure it's coming through the steering? I say this because mine feels like it's coming from the transmission tunnel which would suggest a mullered proposhaft coupling...
My thermostat also needs doing.
Enjoy it though! You don't see many any more!
My thermostat also needs doing.
Enjoy it though! You don't see many any more!
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