525 tds - views?

[wrighty78]

Does anyone have experience of the e34 525 tds? I'm interested in views on performance, real world economy, longevity and any particular maintenance / reliability issues to look out for.

Also, was the same engine carried over into the e39 tds or is this a different unit?

And how robust are the auto boxes? Is the engine better suited to manual or auto?

I'm considering one of these as the next "every day" car (combination of pottering around town and some longer / motorway trips) so would appreciate any views.

Thanks in advance

Wrighty.

[Mustard]

wrighty78 said:

Does anyone have experience of the e34 525 tds? I'm interested in views on performance, real world economy, longevity and any particular maintenance / reliability issues to look out for.

Performance - Decent once it gets into its stride, nothing happens below 2k, starts to fly @ 3k rpm

Economy - From what I understand Manuals are quite a bit better than Autos, with similar use to what you describe with a manual mid to high 30's

Reliability - Usual Bomb proof E34 qualities in General, but if the fuel pump on these is on its way out is ££££ to sort, look out for poor idling and difficult hot cold starting

Also, was the same engine carried over into the e39 tds or is this a different unit?

Pretty much, also used in Range Rover P38, Omega & E36 3 Series

And how robust are the auto boxes? Is the engine better suited to manual or auto?

Cant Comment

Can be a bit tiresome around town with a manual box, but quite rewarding on a run, bit tractorish from cold! A used one needs buying with care, a lot of high mileage dogs about (even more so than petrol E34's)

[wrighty78]

Thanks Mustard - that's really helpful and judging by the photo of yours in your profile, it looks like you've got a good'un. And that's quite a fleet of estate cars you've got there!

Do you mind if I ask how it (the e34 tds) compares with your e39 525i? Thinking particularly in terms of economy, build quality and reliability?

[Mustard]

wrighty78 said:

Thanks Mustard - that's really helpful and judging by the photo of yours in your profile, it looks like you've got a good'un. And that's quite a fleet of estate cars you've got there!

Do you mind if I ask how it (the e34 tds) compares with your e39 525i? Thinking particularly in terms of economy, build quality and reliability?

E34 is without a shadow of doubt better built, thats not to say the E39 is poorly built its just the E34 feels like its made out of granite and theres more to go wrong on the E39, but touch would we've not encountered any problems (though it is low mileage, not having touched 40k yet)

The E39 525i Auto Touring does just over 25mpg, but with more motorway work this would improve.

An E39 will out handle and drive an E34 (though our latest E34 has sports suspension which makes its pretty nifty, but is very firm... the W124 Merc is like a magic carpet in comparison)

[sniff diesel]

I've got a 325tds manual on 147k and my GF runs a 325td auto on 180k. Both have been fantstically reliable, but watch for failing fuel pumps as they can be very expensive to replace, and hot starting problems. TBH with the price of diesel being so much higher than petrol (especially in the winter months) I don't think it's worth going for one over the more plentifull 525i or 528i.

[wrighty78]

Thanks chaps - that's great.

I'd consider a 325tds either, if a good one came along. No rush, so I'll just keep an eye out.

And I hear what you say about the petrol perhaps being a better solution - I do like a silky smooth straight six, and there are dozens around - but wanted to explore the tds option before making a decision.

Thanks again!

[wrighty78]

Sorry... one last question: is there an easy way to tell whether the fuel pump is on the way out? Any tell-tale signs?

Thanks

[bluetester]

just bought my first 525 tds 1993, anyone any idea what the turbo pressure is set at? it's a very small turbo and I'm thinking of putting a slightly bigger one on. I was thinking it was running on 0.5 - 0.8 bar.

[sniff diesel]

wrighty78 said:

Sorry... one last question: is there an easy way to tell whether the fuel pump is on the way out? Any tell-tale signs?

Thanks

When the lift pump is going it's difficult to start the car with less than half a tank of fuel if it's facing uphill. There's a bill for over £700 in my SH for replacing both pumps at a BMW specialist 3/4 years ago so it's worth checking for.

[sniff diesel]

bluetester said:

just bought my first 525 tds 1993, anyone any idea what the turbo pressure is set at? it's a very small turbo and I'm thinking of putting a slightly bigger one on. I was thinking it was running on 0.5 - 0.8 bar.

Tried remapping or a tunning box yet? should give an extra 20-30 bhp for a lot less effort.

One of these:

http://www.tuningbox.com/

took my car from 143bhp and 200lbs/ft to 170bhp and 250lbs/ft

[Mustard]

sniff diesel said:

bluetester said:

just bought my first 525 tds 1993, anyone any idea what the turbo pressure is set at? it's a very small turbo and I'm thinking of putting a slightly bigger one on. I was thinking it was running on 0.5 - 0.8 bar.

Tried remapping or a tunning box yet? should give an extra 20-30 bhp for a lot less effort.

One of these:

http://www.tuningbox.com/

took my car from 143bhp and 200lbs/ft to 170bhp and 250lbs/ft

Whats the cost, impact on fuel consumption and any increase likelyhood of component failure?

[sniff diesel]

Mustard said:

Whats the cost, impact on fuel consumption and any increase likelyhood of component failure?

New about £300, but used ones pop up on Ebay for around £100 odd.

Fuel consumption suffers by about the same amount as the extra performance, so if you press on it's about 3-4mpg worse than before. But when you're not using the extra power it seems to return the same mpg as before it was fitted: i.e. at an 80mph cruise it still returns around 45mpg. It's certainly more econimical than my GF's 325td auto.

Not had any problems in the 2 years and 17k it's been fitted. The M51 engine seems over engineered as standard so appears to take a small boost in performance.

I see you're based in the Midlands, if you're ever near Shrewsbury drop us a PM and come and have a go. Could even try it out on your car if you like, it's only 2 plugs.

[Mamij]

sniff diesel said:

When the lift pump is going it's difficult to start the car with less than half a tank of fuel if it's facing uphill. There's a bill for over £700 in my SH for replacing both pumps at a BMW specialist 3/4 years ago so it's worth checking for.

I have a BMW 524 TD e34, I have the exact problem you write there, my car has a problem when its on less than half tank, and when the engine is cold, stood still minimun 2 hours, then when I have to start it uphill and even only 1% uphill, it has the problem starting, what happens is first when I turn on the key it starts, but shuts down immediately, then the starter will run like 10 seconds before the engine starts and acts like nothing is going on.
But what I don't understand is I can hear the Fuel Pump giving some noise of it self when I put the car on ignition, and it starts fine when its not uphill, then how can the Fuel Pump be the problem here, just sounds strange because its not the same as if I pulled out the fuse for it, then the car will have a starting problem like this all the time, even normal roads, but now only uphill and when the engine is cold ofcourse?

[sparks_E39]

I know the 525 tds is meant to be the slowest in the whole E39 range but it's still a very decent car/engine.

[Mamij]

sparks_E39 said:

I know the 525 tds is meant to be the slowest in the whole E39 range but it's still a very decent car/engine.

Its a E34 I am talking about

[bramley]

Mamij said:

Its a E34 I am talking about

Are the engines the same between the E34 and E39 (the 2.5tds I mean)? If so, my mate's '97 E39 525tds touring auto averaged 24 mpg, ergo my E39 530i touring was a much better bet.

[Mustard]

bramley said:

Mamij said:

Its a E34 I am talking about

Are the engines the same between the E34 and E39 (the 2.5tds I mean)? If so, my mate's '97 E39 525tds touring auto averaged 24 mpg, ergo my E39 530i touring was a much better bet.

pretty much the same engine, he really ought to be getting more than 24mpg, Auto is supposed to knock BMW diesel's economy around, but in mixed use I'd expect to see 30mpg+ (our manual E34 Touring does circa 34mpg with very little in the way of long runs, whereas a E34 520i manual did 30mpg)