Late E34 or early E39
Discussion
Well, the title says it all. I am in need of a new car as my old Saab is getting prohibitively expensive to run, and looking at what I have scraped together from behind the sofa.
Among other things I am looking at a late/mint E34 or an early/slightly shabby E39. I'll be looking at a manual and as large a petrol engine as I can find, though I am aiming to steer clear of the E34 V8 models - so ideally a 535i in either chassis.
I guess over to you, tell me what you think and what you would do.
Thanks
Ferkle.
Among other things I am looking at a late/mint E34 or an early/slightly shabby E39. I'll be looking at a manual and as large a petrol engine as I can find, though I am aiming to steer clear of the E34 V8 models - so ideally a 535i in either chassis.
I guess over to you, tell me what you think and what you would do.
Thanks
Ferkle.
If you've scraped together pennies to afford it then buy whichever one you can afford whilst leaving a comfortable amount of change for the inevitable bills you will continue to suffer.
And the E39 535i is largely pointless, it drinks like a 540i, costs 540i money to run but is barely any quicker than a 528i really. You might as well have the 540i if you want the V8.
And the E39 535i is largely pointless, it drinks like a 540i, costs 540i money to run but is barely any quicker than a 528i really. You might as well have the 540i if you want the V8.
I think in the e34 the 535i finished in 1992, you you wont get a face-lifted e34 unless you go V8. I would have thought all the issues with the V8's would be sorted by now, although the 3.5 6 cylinder is a very nice engine. I had an e28 m535 manual and it was just so 'on it' felt great! I tried to find a nice e34 535i but had no luck, I test drove a couple of manual ones and they feel really really nice so worth finding one(i ended up with 24V 525i). I've only driven an e39 523i & 530i, both manual, and compared to the e34 they feel a lot more remote in my opinion. The e39 is a much more modern car mind you. Both e34 & e39 seem to go very baggy with age so best have a good drive in potential cars to spot any issues
I went through the exact same discussion when I was looking, a few years ago – posted something about it at the time if I recall... Personally, I started out biased in favour of the E34 – a bit more direct in some way, a bit more charismatic in some equally hard to define fashion. However, I bought an E39, for a number of reasons.
I think the main reason was that good E34s with anything like the spec. I was after are very hard to find, and as they are all very old now, finding a good car in the right spec. is even harder. In the end, I ran out of patience, although I got close to buying two 540s (neither were manuals, neither had sports seats.. both were very nice...) and a 525 Sport (probably should have bought that one.. ah well). Some that I looked at had rust showing, many had worn suspension (usually bushes going - not a big deal, but requiring time and money to sort). If I am remembering correctly, the E34 535 had the M30 engine (which is lovvvvely – had a couple of cars with it), and was replaced a while before the end of E34 production – being superceded by the 530 V8 (a bit gutless in my opinion) or the 540 V8; E34s 535s are therefore earlier cars (finished in ’93, as opposed to ’96 for the others, according to Wikipedia...).
The E39 certainly feels more “modern”, which is both good and bad – slightly less direct feeling, but much better economy for a given level of performance, and a generally more sophisticated feeling. I ended up with a 530 Sport manual (not easy to find in itself, but I happened to be lucky), with the Alacantra seats and aluminium trim (don’t like wood and leather in a BMW....). I also wanted a/c (wimp, I know), which all E39s I ever come across seem to have, but not all E34s have, and even if they do, it doesn’t always work. Another contributory reason, which may or may not matter to you, was that the E39 definitely feels more spacious inside (I have two children and they don’t get any smaller).
I like straight sixes, really, and the 530 is a good combination of adequate performance and reasonable economy. 540s are definitely nice – the extra grunt is appreciated in what is a fairly big and heavy car; manuals are very rare though, and the steering isn’t so nice. 535s might be worth a look, simply because they are unpopular, so you might get a good deal.
All of these cars are basically tough, with potentially long lives, as long as they are cared for. But, the economics are the usual thing for older cars; I’ve spent over a third of the value of mine on tyres, discs and various non-mechanical repairs and tweaks, this year. I hope it will now roll on for a while, especially as there is nothing that really appeals to me as a replacement, yet.
I think the main reason was that good E34s with anything like the spec. I was after are very hard to find, and as they are all very old now, finding a good car in the right spec. is even harder. In the end, I ran out of patience, although I got close to buying two 540s (neither were manuals, neither had sports seats.. both were very nice...) and a 525 Sport (probably should have bought that one.. ah well). Some that I looked at had rust showing, many had worn suspension (usually bushes going - not a big deal, but requiring time and money to sort). If I am remembering correctly, the E34 535 had the M30 engine (which is lovvvvely – had a couple of cars with it), and was replaced a while before the end of E34 production – being superceded by the 530 V8 (a bit gutless in my opinion) or the 540 V8; E34s 535s are therefore earlier cars (finished in ’93, as opposed to ’96 for the others, according to Wikipedia...).
The E39 certainly feels more “modern”, which is both good and bad – slightly less direct feeling, but much better economy for a given level of performance, and a generally more sophisticated feeling. I ended up with a 530 Sport manual (not easy to find in itself, but I happened to be lucky), with the Alacantra seats and aluminium trim (don’t like wood and leather in a BMW....). I also wanted a/c (wimp, I know), which all E39s I ever come across seem to have, but not all E34s have, and even if they do, it doesn’t always work. Another contributory reason, which may or may not matter to you, was that the E39 definitely feels more spacious inside (I have two children and they don’t get any smaller).
I like straight sixes, really, and the 530 is a good combination of adequate performance and reasonable economy. 540s are definitely nice – the extra grunt is appreciated in what is a fairly big and heavy car; manuals are very rare though, and the steering isn’t so nice. 535s might be worth a look, simply because they are unpopular, so you might get a good deal.
All of these cars are basically tough, with potentially long lives, as long as they are cared for. But, the economics are the usual thing for older cars; I’ve spent over a third of the value of mine on tyres, discs and various non-mechanical repairs and tweaks, this year. I hope it will now roll on for a while, especially as there is nothing that really appeals to me as a replacement, yet.
I’ve owned both a v8 e39 and a straight 6 e34 and they’re very different cars.
The v8 e39 is more of an accomplished cruiser, solidly built and great to drive, if you don’t live in a speed-bump infested city like London. The 6 cylinder e34s are far more fun to drive, in my opinion. They’re smaller in size, lighter in weight and with the rack and pinion steering, feel like much more nimble, pointy and connected to the road. The car really wants to pushed-on and is a joy to drive, even at legal speeds. The heavy e39 V8s feel slightly cumbersome in comparison.
The engines and gearboxes are bullet-proof but given the age of the e34, rust is now a major issue. Jacking points, undertrays, fuel lines, bolts, screws, springs and panels around the arches/fuel filler cap are all prone to rust and render the car almost unworthy of time and money being spent on it. If you can find a good example, they are, however, easy cars to work on, if you enjoy DIY maintenance.
Given the choice, I’d go for a mint straight 6 e34 manual 530i with cloth seats rather than aged/cracked leather.
The v8 e39 is more of an accomplished cruiser, solidly built and great to drive, if you don’t live in a speed-bump infested city like London. The 6 cylinder e34s are far more fun to drive, in my opinion. They’re smaller in size, lighter in weight and with the rack and pinion steering, feel like much more nimble, pointy and connected to the road. The car really wants to pushed-on and is a joy to drive, even at legal speeds. The heavy e39 V8s feel slightly cumbersome in comparison.
The engines and gearboxes are bullet-proof but given the age of the e34, rust is now a major issue. Jacking points, undertrays, fuel lines, bolts, screws, springs and panels around the arches/fuel filler cap are all prone to rust and render the car almost unworthy of time and money being spent on it. If you can find a good example, they are, however, easy cars to work on, if you enjoy DIY maintenance.
Given the choice, I’d go for a mint straight 6 e34 manual 530i with cloth seats rather than aged/cracked leather.
Roggia said:
The 6 cylinder e34s are far more fun to drive, in my opinion. They’re smaller in size, lighter in weight and with the rack and pinion steering, feel like much more nimble, pointy and connected to the road.
You mean E39 ? Since AFAIK all E34's came with recirc-ball steering.ferkle said:
Well, the title says it all. I am in need of a new car as my old Saab is getting prohibitively expensive to run, and looking at what I have scraped together from behind the sofa.
Among other things I am looking at a late/mint E34 or an early/slightly shabby E39. I'll be looking at a manual and as large a petrol engine as I can find, though I am aiming to steer clear of the E34 V8 models - so ideally a 535i in either chassis.
I guess over to you, tell me what you think and what you would do.
Thanks
Ferkle.
Shameless plug here.Among other things I am looking at a late/mint E34 or an early/slightly shabby E39. I'll be looking at a manual and as large a petrol engine as I can find, though I am aiming to steer clear of the E34 V8 models - so ideally a 535i in either chassis.
I guess over to you, tell me what you think and what you would do.
Thanks
Ferkle.
My wife's E34 525i Sport is up for sale here.
A bit of Googling confirms – all E34s, and E39 V8s, have recirculating-ball steering; E39 sixes have rack-and-pinion. This is one of the contributory factors to giving the E39 six-cylinder cars better steering feel and sharper handling than the V8s – there are bound to be others, including engine weight, of course. Recirculating ball can be fine, though – my (M30 engined) E28 528 had very nice steering.
I've never owned an E34 but buying a cheap E39 could end up costing you as much again in repairs. If you do go down that route just make sure you buy a good one.
Top price e34s seem to be around £3k except for a few chancers who are after 4 (and one bloke with an E34 535 on trader who thinks it's worth £5.5k!).
You can get a decent e39 for 3k but any E34 for this money should be in very good condition.
Top price e34s seem to be around £3k except for a few chancers who are after 4 (and one bloke with an E34 535 on trader who thinks it's worth £5.5k!).
You can get a decent e39 for 3k but any E34 for this money should be in very good condition.
Devil2575 said:
TonyRPH said:
See the ad and i've emailed you. You're not too far from me.I do rather like this though, but am a touch biased having one already...
Trader ad
Edited by Six Fiend on Thursday 22 July 22:46
Devil2575 said:
I've never owned an E34 but buying a cheap E39 could end up costing you as much again in repairs. If you do go down that route just make sure you buy a good one.
Top price e34s seem to be around £3k except for a few chancers who are after 4 (and one bloke with an E34 535 on trader who thinks it's worth £5.5k!).
You can get a decent e39 for 3k but any E34 for this money should be in very good condition.
And even that won't buy mine! Top price e34s seem to be around £3k except for a few chancers who are after 4 (and one bloke with an E34 535 on trader who thinks it's worth £5.5k!).
You can get a decent e39 for 3k but any E34 for this money should be in very good condition.
http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spg...
road_rager said:
sparkythecat said:
road_rager said:
Both e34 & e39 seem to go very baggy with age.....
Excuse me, but WTF does that mean? 
derin100 said:
Fantastic work Derin, as always 
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff