Thinking about buying this car today....

[ilya1585]

Hey guys. I currently own an E36 and have found an E34 i may want to explore. The car has a clean CA title and has 205k. It was a trade-in at a dealership. No previous maintenance records are available. Im not tooooo familiar with the E34's problem areas and such. ANY information or feedback would be great. THANKS!!!!
Edit: Ive been reading and apparently some engines were made differently? Some for american gas and some for european?


http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/ctd/1217823517.html

[LouieD]

Car looks clean, but there have been similar condition cars for considerably less. I'd keep looking, because no matter how clean the car is there will be other repairs that will need to be addressed. That is, at least by my budget, a substantial amount of money for a 205k mile car.
Good luck.

[ilya1585]

/\....Thats what i was thinking as well. My offer was going to be in the 2500-3000 (out the door)

[acet]

check which block it has.

Nikasil - not desired
Alusil - the one you want

Ydachi Tebe! :)

[ilya1585]

check which block it has.

Nikasil - not desired
Alusil - the one you want

Ydachi Tebe! :)

How can i tell what type of block it has???

[russiankid]

If the car went 205k miles and still runs and passes smog I don't think he needs to worry about what block it has.

[ilya1585]

Wait, but no. I really do want to know. Is it by VIN? How can i tell, going to look at it shortly.

[acet]

heres what i have found for you:

The composition of the engine can be found by checking the serial number stamped into the engine block:

M60B30:

* 1 725 970 - Nikasil
* 1 741 212 - Nikasil
* 1 745 871 - Alusil

M60B40:

* 1 725 963 - Nikasil
* 1 742 998 - Nikasil
* 1 745 872 - Alusil

if its not a V8, this issue may not apply. I am not 100% sure.

[myred318i]

Don't waste the bandwidth discussing the Nikasil-Alusil debate... with 205k miles its not an issue.

Now, unless you're really familiar with an E34 (you said you're not) and you have a great desire to DIY a HUGE number of things that haven't been done yet, or need to be done. Or else, you just have a wad of cash to give your local indy mechanic. Don't go there. E34's are great cars for original owners and mechanically-inclined enthusiasts... all others should really just admire from afar. :wave

[russiankid]

Only the M60(V8's) had the issues with using poor quality fuels. M20,M30, and M50 do not have this issue.

[ilya1585]

Don't waste the bandwidth discussing the Nikasil-Alusil debate... with 205k miles its not an issue.

Now, unless you're really familiar with an E34 (you said you're not) and you have a great desire to DIY a HUGE number of things that haven't been done yet, or need to be done. Or else, you just have a wad of cash to give your local indy mechanic. Don't go there. E34's are great cars for original owners and mechanically-inclined enthusiasts... all others should really just admire from afar. :wave

Thats what alot of people would say about the E36 M3 as well. Besides the clutch and cooling, not much i have done to the car. So the E34 is a problem child?...
The dealership said theyll let me take it to my own mechanic. We'll put it on the lift and check it out. Go from there i suppose.

[myred318i]

Thats what alot of people would say about the E36 M3 as well. Besides the clutch and cooling, not much i have done to the car. So the E34 is a problem child?...

HA! I wouldn't really call it a "problem child" Hell ANY car with 200+K miles is going to be a maintenance burden. My experience with the e34 is after that many miles the suspensions get very suspect. The handling can get pretty bad, and finding the issue and fixing it, can be chasing down MANY probable causes... to say another way, time & money consuming. The V8 WILL have to have intake gaskets replaced, likely fuel injectors, coolong system too, and on & on...

IMHO the E34 is the classic, handsome BMW style. But it takes work to keep them that way.

...And they don't drive like an E36, especially not an M3.

[russiankid]

ALL E34's have the typical issues such as cooling system,transmission if not cared for, front suspension, some interior bits needing repair, trim pieces. The V8's have the addition of intake gaskets, and PCV system. Otherwise, everything else will fall under the normal maintenance.

[tonyroc14]

e34 is plenty easy to work on. If everything checks out, and you like it, go for it. But personally I wouldn't buy that car, too many miles and it has the less desirable m60. The only thing it has going for it is it's a 95 and has a 5 speed. It does however look pretty clean, but the fact that it has that high of miles, with little or no documented maintenece... pass.

[4500 RPM]

I like that car. Clean overall, looks to be well-cared for. There was paintwork on the trunk looking at the badge, you'd need to really look it over in person. Nice color combo too.

With any older BMW purchase, keep $1k in the bank, especially getting stuff up to par after buying it.


HA! I wouldn't really call it a "problem child" Hell ANY car with 200+K miles is going to be a maintenance burden. My experience with the e34 is after that many miles the suspensions get very suspect. The handling can get pretty bad, and finding the issue and fixing it, can be chasing down MANY probable causes... to say another way, time & money consuming. The V8 WILL have to have intake gaskets replaced, likely fuel injectors, coolong system too, and on & on...

IMHO the E34 is the classic, handsome BMW style. But it takes work to keep them that way.

...And they don't drive like an E36, especially not an M3.

If the guy has an E36 M3, the E34 will need much less attention than what he is used to.

If anything the E34 is the most solid older BMW.

They drive differently than an E36 M3...maybe that's what he wants. With a nice suspension setup, at the least fresh components, they are not boats.

[ilya1585]

Thanks for the info fellas. Based on everything in play, would would a reasonable offer be?...*TOTAL offer, including tax, lic, reg. 2500?

[russiankid]

2500 isn't to bad. The car is clean, and if the engine for example does go out within a year; you already have a 5-speed in the car. So just drop in another engine(from a 540) and you won't be set back a large amount of cash.

[ilya1585]

Yea, i need a daily beater because the M is at 144K. But is buying a 200k+ E34 the answer?? I REALLLY REALLLLY want to put polished style 5's on it and DUMP it!!...
Anymore feedback guys?..Keep it coming, i can use it all right now

[4500 RPM]

Yea, i need a daily beater because the M is at 144K. But is buying a 200k+ E34 the answer?? I REALLLY REALLLLY want to put polished style 5's on it and DUMP it!!...
Anymore feedback guys?..Keep it coming, i can use it all right now

I think it is...but I'd find a 6-cylinder.

[russiankid]

I think it is...but I'd find a 6-cylinder.
Same here. I would prefer an M30, but an M50 will do just fine.

[e34Croak]

Looks Great. like they all said check the casting #'s on the block to see if it has been updated. the 530/5 IMO is no slug they're quick smoothly excelerating cars. i do think 205k is high miles but not a huge deal. my block has been updated and the body has 190k on it.. just check the block. I paid TOO much for my car $6500 back in 2005 when everything wasn't screwed up. I think like 2500-2900 range and they should take that for it. GL let us know!

[kipwinger]

I agree with Denton.

Find a later 525 or a 535 and call it a day.

[ilya1585]

Appreciate all the feedback fellas. I dont feel like making the drive right now to check it out. But ill look at it tomorrow morning. My offer will be 2,500 cash. If he accepts the offer i will try to transform it within a week. Have all parts ready to go, just no E34 yet....:(

[sstrickstein]

We have 2 E34's on our company website with full carfax. go to our site

rightchoiceautomotive

[ross1]

I would be VERY suspicious of this car. The seller(some bogus dealer apparently without a lot)posts a picture of the rear seat which is always nice but none of the front. What else has he "forgotten"?
It was trade in, that's some useful information.


Don't waste the bandwidth discussing the Nikasil-Alusil debate... with 205k miles its not an issue.

Now, unless you're really familiar with an E34 (you said you're not) and you have a great desire to DIY a HUGE number of things that haven't been done yet, or need to be done. Or else, you just have a wad of cash to give your local indy mechanic. Don't go there. E34's are great cars for original owners and mechanically-inclined enthusiasts... all others should really just admire from afar. :wave

Well said, should be a sticky.


We have 2 E34's on our company website with full carfax. go to our site

rightchoiceautomotive
Perhaps they could be posted in the FS section where this post belongs.
Carfax is as worthless as tits on a bull.

[Stir Fry A Lot]

I think I saw that Moroza's 535/5 was for sale in his sig. I've driven it before and wouldn't hesitate at buying it for the price he is asking. He's local.

[ilya1585]

So i checked out the car. The interior is 8/10. Back is perfect, a little wear on the drivers seat.The car had a dinan exhaust and intake chip so felt pretty good. Opened the hood and the "crash and burn" began. Car has a header leak, none of the front panels are OEM, none of the rear panels are OEM. It might have gotten sandwitched in an accident or something. Third gear slips a little. Just wasnt feeling it. I can forsee this thing breaking down. Had to PASS. Appreciate all the feedback guys