e34 530 V8 Auto-Are they any good?

[daveco]

A mate of mine has one of these and is thinking of selling it on. I haven't driven it yet but was wondering if anyone else has? Does the auto destroy any driveability this car might have? Are they a fairly rapid barge?

[SJobson]

The auto box in the 530 V8 is electronically controlled and learns your driving style. It has a sport mode as well which hangs onto the gears nicely.

However, try before you buy - the gear ratios are very high and the engine's not that torquey so you might find it's slow unless you thrash it. In which case it'll be no more economical than a 540, so you might be better off buying one of those.

I had my 530 Touring for a year, would probably have kept it if it had been a 540 but decided more effortlessness was required and ended up with an E39 instead.

[Hammerhead]

Also check your mate's car has an alusil block car as the original lumps were the nikasil lined jobbys. Guess you know the issues with those.

The AGS auto box is very good - my E34 540 Touring has it. No shortage of grunt/speed

[daveco]

Thanks folks, could be getting it for little to nothing as he has an E34 540 manual that he drives regularly. It's also a very late model so I'm guessing it doesn't have the problematic block.

[abarber]

daveco said:

Thanks folks, could be getting it for little to nothing as he has an E34 540 manual that he drives regularly. It's also a very late model so I'm guessing it doesn't have the problematic block.

Er no, it probably does. Best check.

[SJobson]

They were all built with the Nikasil block - Alusil ones would have replacemenet engines. However, my very late Touring (built July 1996 which was the last month of production, IIRC - registered Jan 1997) was fine on the original Nikasil engine at 150k miles when I sold it. It all depends on whether it's been exposed to particularly sulphurous fuel.

[The old fella]

The auto box does seem to sap any fun out of a 530 but if you are just looking for a nice to drive comfy car it would fit the bill. The nickasil/alusil issue is ongoing, if you can get underneath and check the casting numbers on the engine block this will tell you which one it has, contact me and i can let you know what numbers are good/bad.

Graham

[RedOctober]

All E34 V8's had the Nikasil block, and many had replacement Alusil blocks. If the original Nikasil block has survived until now, then it will probably be ok, as low sulphur fuel is the norm now, although it's still luck of the draw.

The BMW V8's aren't like the big torquey Yank V8's-you need to rev the BMW engines, especially the smaller 530i. The step-off with the small 3 litre V8 coupled to an autobox won't exactly give your neck muscles a work out, but it should be ok once up to speed.

The E34 is a heavy car, and stop-start driving really hits economy, although on motorway cruises they can very economical, and have a larger fuel tank (80 litres), than the later E39's, so have a good range.

I have an E34 540i auto, and it's been the best car I've ever had, as it covers so many bases-fast in a straight line, big and comfy, decent handling, and will do a genuine 30mpg on a 70mph motorway cruise-I once got 485 miles out of a tankful before filling up, and even then the tank still had over a gallon left in it.

E34's are cheap as chips now, and are one of BMW's strongest models-I've had 4 now, and rate them very highly. Find the best you can, and you'll be laughing. There's so many around now that you don't need to saddle yourself with the first baggy old tub you find-there's always a decent one just around the corner.

Even better if you can get one for free!