Discussion
I've been driving auto's for the past 6 years or so, a bit of a 'modern classic' roadtrip - starting with an E30 325i > 190e 2.6 > E24 635csi > Audi S8 D2 and ending up with the current LS400
I decided to try a manual e34, mainly as we've recently moved to Woking and there appear to be some decent-ish roads not far away; it would also be a third car
I saw/heard one burble past me recently, an elderly chap driving, Calypso Red, auto and emitting a lovely exhaust note as he pulled away from the lights. But I wanted to try a manual...
The one I tested last weekend was cosmetically challenged - rusty front wings and attention needed on nearly every panel. It had 190k miles, well sorted suspension though, with recent new OEM bushes/arms, Boges, largely factory except for some -30mm springs. Ultimately though, it needed a complete respray in its original Oxford Green.
The test drive was something else, I absolutely loved it
The manual gearbox combined with a new clutch was just a thing of beauty, and reminded me of the snickety snick action on my first car, a Mk2 escort. I was heel and toeing (badly), but it seemed to appreciate the efforts. And the later 2.5 engine was so much better than the M20B25 i'd previously enjoyed in the E30 touring (which was an auto, I have to add.) This e34 was also so keen to hit the rev limiter, there appeared to be no intertia. Sat on 18s it rode really well too I'm closer to 50 than 40 as of 2 days ago, so decent ride quality is a must - I was very impressed.
The main thing was that a 20min test drive really made me enjoy driving (as opposed to wafting) again and I couldn't stop smiling during the roadtest - no poker face here!
I didn't buy the one I tested, as I didn't really want so much of a project; suffice to say however, my LS400 will be up for sale very soon.
Anymore e34 owners out there willing to share their ownership experiences? Pros/Cons?
I decided to try a manual e34, mainly as we've recently moved to Woking and there appear to be some decent-ish roads not far away; it would also be a third car
I saw/heard one burble past me recently, an elderly chap driving, Calypso Red, auto and emitting a lovely exhaust note as he pulled away from the lights. But I wanted to try a manual...
The one I tested last weekend was cosmetically challenged - rusty front wings and attention needed on nearly every panel. It had 190k miles, well sorted suspension though, with recent new OEM bushes/arms, Boges, largely factory except for some -30mm springs. Ultimately though, it needed a complete respray in its original Oxford Green.
The test drive was something else, I absolutely loved it
The manual gearbox combined with a new clutch was just a thing of beauty, and reminded me of the snickety snick action on my first car, a Mk2 escort. I was heel and toeing (badly), but it seemed to appreciate the efforts. And the later 2.5 engine was so much better than the M20B25 i'd previously enjoyed in the E30 touring (which was an auto, I have to add.) This e34 was also so keen to hit the rev limiter, there appeared to be no intertia. Sat on 18s it rode really well too I'm closer to 50 than 40 as of 2 days ago, so decent ride quality is a must - I was very impressed.The main thing was that a 20min test drive really made me enjoy driving (as opposed to wafting) again and I couldn't stop smiling during the roadtest - no poker face here!
I didn't buy the one I tested, as I didn't really want so much of a project; suffice to say however, my LS400 will be up for sale very soon.
Anymore e34 owners out there willing to share their ownership experiences? Pros/Cons?
Yes! I've had mine for five years now.
I was fed up of living in fear of common rail diesel and it's associated complexities so I started looking at old BMWs.
It had to have the classic BMW look but be modern enough to work as a daily, it had to be a manual and it had to be able to tow about a ton comfortably.
The E34 with the M50 2.5L engine was the one so I set off in pursuit.
The first one I drove was a bit of a dog but the ride quality was still very good and the engine / gearbox was lovely. I gave it a miss but found a second a little while later.
It's been good to me especially considering it is now 22 years old, I have put a lot of work into it which unfortunately isn't finished but like you I just love the way it drives and I look forward to having it fully sorted.
Reader's rides thread
I was fed up of living in fear of common rail diesel and it's associated complexities so I started looking at old BMWs.
It had to have the classic BMW look but be modern enough to work as a daily, it had to be a manual and it had to be able to tow about a ton comfortably.
The E34 with the M50 2.5L engine was the one so I set off in pursuit.
The first one I drove was a bit of a dog but the ride quality was still very good and the engine / gearbox was lovely. I gave it a miss but found a second a little while later.
It's been good to me especially considering it is now 22 years old, I have put a lot of work into it which unfortunately isn't finished but like you I just love the way it drives and I look forward to having it fully sorted.
Reader's rides thread
I think part of what is great about the E34 is that it was engineered at a time when manufacturers were still trying to make cars which were good at being cars, whereas later on it was all about making cars which statistically looked good on a spreadsheet- How many MPG, how much CO2, how many stars for occupant and pedestrian safety on the Euro NCAP etc.
A prime example is the gear ratios. There are only five but they aren't horribly gappy or ridiculously long, they are just the best compromise available to the engineers for general driving within the confines of a five ratio gear set.
Drive a later car, after manufacturers went mental trying to maximise their MPG on the NEDC driving cycle test, and you'll find a stupidly short 1st gear and a big gap somewhere in between 2nd and 4th gear, if there is a 6th it will be so long that it is just about suitable for cruising at motorway speeds so long as you don't encounter a hill or obstruction that causes you to slow down... not pleasurable to use. All of this because the manufacturers are carefully optimising their gear ratios so that the various sections of the NEDC cycle are conducted at an engine RPM which is conducive to low emissions. And if it's a FWD car it'll have a cable shift these days so seldom a pleasure to use.
Sure it costs a bit on MPG but in my 525i you can get out of the junction in 1st if you want to because it's long enough. You can short shift into 3rd if you want to and it'll pull handily from about 15mph to 90mph. I never have to downshift from 5th on the motorway unless I want to even when towing.
A prime example is the gear ratios. There are only five but they aren't horribly gappy or ridiculously long, they are just the best compromise available to the engineers for general driving within the confines of a five ratio gear set.
Drive a later car, after manufacturers went mental trying to maximise their MPG on the NEDC driving cycle test, and you'll find a stupidly short 1st gear and a big gap somewhere in between 2nd and 4th gear, if there is a 6th it will be so long that it is just about suitable for cruising at motorway speeds so long as you don't encounter a hill or obstruction that causes you to slow down... not pleasurable to use. All of this because the manufacturers are carefully optimising their gear ratios so that the various sections of the NEDC cycle are conducted at an engine RPM which is conducive to low emissions. And if it's a FWD car it'll have a cable shift these days so seldom a pleasure to use.
Sure it costs a bit on MPG but in my 525i you can get out of the junction in 1st if you want to because it's long enough. You can short shift into 3rd if you want to and it'll pull handily from about 15mph to 90mph. I never have to downshift from 5th on the motorway unless I want to even when towing.
Having always loved E34s when I was a teenager (my father bought a Saab 9000 instead, so I didn't get to drive one but I was passenger in a few), I ended up owning three.
First was a 1997 registered 530i Touring auto. If it had been a 540i I'd probably still own it now. Special order Barbados Green paint, special order extended leather inside in Oxford Green, it even had an LSD from the factory. It was gorgeous to drive, the only slight let-down being the lack of torque.
After moving on to an E39 540i Touring and then an E61 545i Touring, I still wanted another E34. I test drove a 1995 M5 3.8 6-sp but as a second car it was too refined and the high gearing meant I'd never really have used it. I ended up buying a virtually one owner 535i Sport instead a couple of years later:
Because I had too many cars I never really used the 535i, but I did want to find some appropriate imperial alloys for it. I bought a 180k mile 525i Touring just for the wheels, really, but that drove beautifully and I preferred the engine to the M30 in the 535i or the M60 V8; I guess the final drive was a bit lower, and maybe it was fit after being well run-in but it was satisfyingly brisk and lovely to rev out. I had no need for another car so I moved it on after putting a set of the original 15" BBS wheels back on and keeping the 17"s.
I'd have a manual VANOS 525i Touring or an auto 540i Touring again if a low mileage/owner one came up in the right sort of spec. But they're such good cars nobody mothballed them so those specific models would probably be like unicorns.
First was a 1997 registered 530i Touring auto. If it had been a 540i I'd probably still own it now. Special order Barbados Green paint, special order extended leather inside in Oxford Green, it even had an LSD from the factory. It was gorgeous to drive, the only slight let-down being the lack of torque.
After moving on to an E39 540i Touring and then an E61 545i Touring, I still wanted another E34. I test drove a 1995 M5 3.8 6-sp but as a second car it was too refined and the high gearing meant I'd never really have used it. I ended up buying a virtually one owner 535i Sport instead a couple of years later:
Because I had too many cars I never really used the 535i, but I did want to find some appropriate imperial alloys for it. I bought a 180k mile 525i Touring just for the wheels, really, but that drove beautifully and I preferred the engine to the M30 in the 535i or the M60 V8; I guess the final drive was a bit lower, and maybe it was fit after being well run-in but it was satisfyingly brisk and lovely to rev out. I had no need for another car so I moved it on after putting a set of the original 15" BBS wheels back on and keeping the 17"s.
I'd have a manual VANOS 525i Touring or an auto 540i Touring again if a low mileage/owner one came up in the right sort of spec. But they're such good cars nobody mothballed them so those specific models would probably be like unicorns.
After coming from RWD Fords the BMW's, for me, are the next affordable rwd car. From going to not really paying much attention to BM's I've now owned around 7 or 8 in as many years. The latest being my 34, purchased to replace my dead 36.
It's not as nimble as the 36, and the steering box doesn't help, but it's still great. It's Techno Violet too which is a lovely colour when clean on a bright day. It's also nice that they aren't as common anymore day to day. For a relatively recent car, in my eyes, they do stand out from the modern crowd. Classic shark nose type styling, albeit without the protruding bonnet, and a nice boxy look. Gotta love em.
It's not as nimble as the 36, and the steering box doesn't help, but it's still great. It's Techno Violet too which is a lovely colour when clean on a bright day. It's also nice that they aren't as common anymore day to day. For a relatively recent car, in my eyes, they do stand out from the modern crowd. Classic shark nose type styling, albeit without the protruding bonnet, and a nice boxy look. Gotta love em.
It’s strange for me, as I’ve just started considering the e34. I was planning on a manual e30, but the e34 seems to be a notch above in terms of build quality (and practicality).
There was an oxford green saloon which sold on eBay for 1700 a couple of weeks ago, sat on the same wheels the lovely looking Touring above is pictured with. I got outbid but I’d no knowledge of prices so dropped out early, shame.
Has anyone here had sill rust remediated? Assuming it’s sills only and not extended into the rear arch, what sort of costs should I budget for?
There was an oxford green saloon which sold on eBay for 1700 a couple of weeks ago, sat on the same wheels the lovely looking Touring above is pictured with. I got outbid but I’d no knowledge of prices so dropped out early, shame.
Has anyone here had sill rust remediated? Assuming it’s sills only and not extended into the rear arch, what sort of costs should I budget for?
I've had three E34's, all Tourings, all absolutely lovely. They are incredibly solid cars with an excellent driving feel to them; the later E39 and after cars are far, far more sohisticated and 'modern feeling' but in doing that the driving experience and feedback is lost - the E34 nails it for me as a modern BMW without the isolation from the road - it's the very reason the E34 M5 has its justified reputation as amazing drivers car, and the rest of the range is just as rewarding to drive these days.
My first, a 540i Touring with a six speed manual gearbox; 286bhp and 295lb/ft, they only made about 250 or so left hand drive cars and just 64 right hand drive examples, making it rarer than the supposedly rare M5 Touring...
That was replaced by an 'rare' M5 Touring, 340bhp and 295lb/ft, which are actually pretty common with 891 left hand drive cars made, but two cars have been converted to rhd...
Then I found the only right hand drive E34 Alpina Touring ever made, a B10 4.6, 340bhp and 355lb/ft, one of just 19 cars in total...
My first, a 540i Touring with a six speed manual gearbox; 286bhp and 295lb/ft, they only made about 250 or so left hand drive cars and just 64 right hand drive examples, making it rarer than the supposedly rare M5 Touring...
That was replaced by an 'rare' M5 Touring, 340bhp and 295lb/ft, which are actually pretty common with 891 left hand drive cars made, but two cars have been converted to rhd...
Then I found the only right hand drive E34 Alpina Touring ever made, a B10 4.6, 340bhp and 355lb/ft, one of just 19 cars in total...
love that Alpina touring above!
E34 M5 3.8 over here. Love mine even if I can only drive it very rarely due to my job. It is just a driving machine. My 6 years old love it.
Spending a large amount of money this year to bring it back to pristine condition and will sadly decide if I have to sale it or not due to moving abroad.
E34 M5 3.8 over here. Love mine even if I can only drive it very rarely due to my job. It is just a driving machine. My 6 years old love it.
Spending a large amount of money this year to bring it back to pristine condition and will sadly decide if I have to sale it or not due to moving abroad.
OP, I've always needed a Touring but if that wasn't necessary I'd be looking at the following list of E34's;
Alpina B10 3.5; 40-odd bhp more than a 535i, and 540i performance levels from an M30 engine.
3.6 M5; engine just more robust than the 3.8.
540i; auto or manual as manuals are so rare now.
535i, auto or manual, sport or SE; just a bulletproof engine and powertrain.
525i Sport manual; I've never driven or been in one but those that have swear to the cars all round ability.
Buy which you find/takes your fancy, restore it to a reasonable standard and use it sparingly, or, buy a shed, restore it to just presentable enough and daily drive it to enjoy the excellent E34 experience every day.
To add to the first list there are these unusual E34's out there somewhere in the UK that are all appealing in their own way;
Alpina B10 4.0; two 315bhp rhd saloons, both automatic (not Switch-Tronic) but could be converted to 5 speed manual for fun.
Hartge 3.5/3.6 cars; all saloons, not sure about the engine specs.
Hartge 4.7; saloon with 340 bhp, the biggest engine dropped into an E34 by a tuner afaik but I don't think the owner will ever sell.
A 535i Touring where an M30 was dropped into a 525i bodyshell.
A 540i Touring converted from a 530i Touring with a five speed manual gearbox and shorter diff to hunt M5's.
A pair of rhd 3.6 M5 Tourings, where the Motorsport 3.6 bits were dropped into 525i Tourings.
A pair of rhd 3.8 M5 Tourings, where genuine lhd cars were converted to rhd.
An Alpina B10 BiTurbo Touring project; a lhd conversion of a 525i Touring and B10 BiTurbo saloon that might someday be completed.
There was a rhd supercharged manual gearbox 540i Touring a few years ago running high 300's bhp I estimated but it was bought up by the drifting boys, barried and buggered then the supercharger removed.
Edit: This was the supercharged car;
And here's a B10 BiTurbo Touring all finished for inspiration...
Alpina B10 3.5; 40-odd bhp more than a 535i, and 540i performance levels from an M30 engine.
3.6 M5; engine just more robust than the 3.8.
540i; auto or manual as manuals are so rare now.
535i, auto or manual, sport or SE; just a bulletproof engine and powertrain.
525i Sport manual; I've never driven or been in one but those that have swear to the cars all round ability.
Buy which you find/takes your fancy, restore it to a reasonable standard and use it sparingly, or, buy a shed, restore it to just presentable enough and daily drive it to enjoy the excellent E34 experience every day.
To add to the first list there are these unusual E34's out there somewhere in the UK that are all appealing in their own way;
Alpina B10 4.0; two 315bhp rhd saloons, both automatic (not Switch-Tronic) but could be converted to 5 speed manual for fun.
Hartge 3.5/3.6 cars; all saloons, not sure about the engine specs.
Hartge 4.7; saloon with 340 bhp, the biggest engine dropped into an E34 by a tuner afaik but I don't think the owner will ever sell.
A 535i Touring where an M30 was dropped into a 525i bodyshell.
A 540i Touring converted from a 530i Touring with a five speed manual gearbox and shorter diff to hunt M5's.
A pair of rhd 3.6 M5 Tourings, where the Motorsport 3.6 bits were dropped into 525i Tourings.
A pair of rhd 3.8 M5 Tourings, where genuine lhd cars were converted to rhd.
An Alpina B10 BiTurbo Touring project; a lhd conversion of a 525i Touring and B10 BiTurbo saloon that might someday be completed.
There was a rhd supercharged manual gearbox 540i Touring a few years ago running high 300's bhp I estimated but it was bought up by the drifting boys, barried and buggered then the supercharger removed.
Edit: This was the supercharged car;
And here's a B10 BiTurbo Touring all finished for inspiration...
Edited by E24man on Sunday 18th February 08:08
This was posted on the barge thread; no affiliation, no connection, etc, etc...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Lovely Alpinas, alas in a different price bracket to mine
I’m planning on viewing a 525i se manual next weekend. It’s in my favoured Oxford green and non-sunroof. Primary concern is that the mot site has listed ‘possible rust under sill covers’ as advisories for the past 2 MOTs.
Surely the MoT man would know for definite if there is rust in the sills by viewing from underneath using a lift?
Unsure if the buyer will agree to removing sill covers as part of the viewing. If the rest of it checks out, maybe ill do a rac check as they check undersides.
I’m planning on viewing a 525i se manual next weekend. It’s in my favoured Oxford green and non-sunroof. Primary concern is that the mot site has listed ‘possible rust under sill covers’ as advisories for the past 2 MOTs.
Surely the MoT man would know for definite if there is rust in the sills by viewing from underneath using a lift?
Unsure if the buyer will agree to removing sill covers as part of the viewing. If the rest of it checks out, maybe ill do a rac check as they check undersides.
The plastic will covers hide all manner of sins. Fortunately the jacking points, the only part of the sill exposed with the covers fitted, are generally the first parts to succumb to rust so you can at least poke at those.
Earlier models didn’t have plastic covers. On the later models with the plastic covers you can guarantee with certainty that there is rust under there to some degree, unless somebody has already sorted it out. Mine had new complete outer sills done.
Earlier models didn’t have plastic covers. On the later models with the plastic covers you can guarantee with certainty that there is rust under there to some degree, unless somebody has already sorted it out. Mine had new complete outer sills done.
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