E34. Vs. E39

[vwsnaps]

I'm a car whore.

Had a few e30's. A few e36's. A lot of vw's. A few Porsche 911's. Currently speedster replica that the wife hates


So after looking at e36's again. I searched for m5's

Looking at 90-92 m5's. Most around $8000 to $12000


Then I see a few 2000 m5's. I see a few $15 -$20k


I tend to lean toward old school. Which is why i posted here . Id rather have older one that I can work on without being scared....

Cost of ownership probably catching up e39 owners? When most e34 issues already dealt with?


What y'all think? Anyone wanna trade me a m5 for a speedster porsche replica?

[ShapeShifter]

Althought I like the looks of the E34, I'd go with the E39.

Automotive evolution rarely goes backwards

[bmwhiteman]

Gotta go for the 414 horsepower and sweet looking exhaust. If the e39 has over 140000 and they have had their fair share of fun with it, see if they have replaced the vanos units. I've heard that that's expensive

[mottati]

Gotta go for the 414 horsepower and sweet looking exhaust. If the e39 has over 140000 and they have had their fair share of fun with it, see if they have replaced the vanos units. I've heard that that's expensive

which one has 414 hp? THe e39 doesn't, 394 is what it's rated at in the US. Most of them dyno 325-340 at the wheels, stock. And if you're looking at an e39 M5 with 140k miles, besides the vanos units, you also want fresh rod bearings. (there were several vanos revisions, so odds are if the car has been used and has decent milage, the vanos units have probably already been replaced)

Main difference is an e34 will run for 165k+ miles, being well used and enjoyed. An e39 will be feeling a bit tired by 100k, and rod bearings will be suspect around that time as well, if the car was used hard. (similar to the euro e34 m5, 3.8). E34 is much more raw feeling, e39 is a bit more isolated, but ridiculously fast.

I bought my e39 m5 in 2003, drove it daily until 2008, bought cpo with 32k on the clock, sold it with about 110k. Added the dinan s2 package, eventually had them port the heads and install their cams. Was the best car i ever owned, but in the end, i kept the e34, and sold the e39. WIth the e39, you will have to throw $5-6k at it every so often. Not that the e34 is maintanance free, but you certainly can do more to it yourself vs the e39 (well, some people change vanos units, rod bearings etc in their garage, you can find some great write ups on m5board). What is the most frustrating thing about the e39 is when all of the various sensors are not at their peak, it just kills the power. Drive an e39 with fresh mafs, cps's, o2 sensor etc, and it is a far cry from one with worn components.

[prash]

The E39 is far more modern of the two inside and out.

I prefer my E34 over an E39 because 1. they're much more rare now days and 2. E34's have fewer problems.

[WolfStrong]

Honestly, the e39 is superior to the e34 in pretty much every way, with the exception of engine noise IMO (depending on who you ask), and looks (same thing). Maintenance costs are generally about the same and both the S38 and S62, suspension is equally likely to go on both, and so forth. They both have their quarks, but when it comes right down to it, we buy them because we love them for some reason or another. If it is about the money, do not buy either. Here is a rule of thumb: no matter how cheaply you buy an e34 M5, it will in the end cost you ~$15; no matter how cheaply you buy an e39 M5, it will cost you ~$20k. Keep that in mind, because chances are when you buy one, you WILL need to put a few thousand into it, and it would be foolish to think otherwise. As far as ease of working on the car, the e34 is FAR easier to wrench on, thanks to it's straight six in a HUGE engine bay and simple engineering. Remember even the e39 is nearing, or at 10 years old now, so just like the e34, everything rubber from gaskets to seals all are nearing, or at the end of their life, so expect the same things to fail on both equally as far as that goes.

When it comes right down to it, it is about buying the car that you love. This means go out, drive them both, and see which one moves you the most; which one makes you take that second or third look as you walk away after driving it. THAT will be the car for you, regardless of what is said on here, because without that loving passion for the car, there is no way you will be able to justify the higher maintenance cost that the ///M cars demand. The e34 and e39 are both good in their own right, and have a loyal following for different reasons, so go find out what yours will be.

[JesterMX6]

hey cory :)

having had both within the past month....i'd have to say go for e39. My obsession with the E34 is purely for the M30 motor. If i wasn't such a slut about that particular engine, E39 would be my BMW of choice.

If i were basing it totally off Looks though, i'd choose the E34. I love the older styling with separate headlight housings. The old school BMW look and yet they look modern enough to where people think they're a late 90s car.

But comfort and technology gives the nod to the E39 hands down.

Also if you're like me you despise anything OBDII and would choose the E34 in that case as well.

[B10 BITURBO]

which one has 414 hp? THe e39 doesn't, 394 is what it's rated at in the US. Most of them dyno 325-340 at the wheels, stock. And if you're looking at an e39 M5 with 140k miles, besides the vanos units, you also want fresh rod bearings. (there were several vanos revisions, so odds are if the car has been used and has decent milage, the vanos units have probably already been replaced)

Main difference is an e34 will run for 165k+ miles, being well used and enjoyed. An e39 will be feeling a bit tired by 100k, and rod bearings will be suspect around that time as well, if the car was used hard. (similar to the euro e34 m5, 3.8). E34 is much more raw feeling, e39 is a bit more isolated, but ridiculously fast.

I bought my e39 m5 in 2003, drove it daily until 2008, bought cpo with 32k on the clock, sold it with about 110k. Added the dinan s2 package, eventually had them port the heads and install their cams. Was the best car i ever owned, but in the end, i kept the e34, and sold the e39. WIth the e39, you will have to throw $5-6k at it every so often. Not that the e34 is maintanance free, but you certainly can do more to it yourself vs the e39 (well, some people change vanos units, rod bearings etc in their garage, you can find some great write ups on m5board). What is the most frustrating thing about the e39 is when all of the various sensors are not at their peak, it just kills the power. Drive an e39 with fresh mafs, cps's, o2 sensor etc, and it is a far cry from one with worn components.

Well said.... i agree on this comment

[EvanUrS4]

I'm not sure where these comments are coming from that these cars cost anywhere near each other to own.

I hear all kinds of horror stories about E34 M5's, but I don't actually know anyone who has experienced these kinds of problems. I've had two of them myself, and my previous one had almost 250,000 miles on it. It spun like a top.... I only sold it cause this 1993 with half the miles came out of no where locally and left me no choice but to buy it.

E39 is a more modern car, it's got a newer look, nicer interior, and of course a big ole V8. But I've spent a significant amount of time driving both and I can honestly say I like the E34 M5 better. It's lighter, raw feeling, snappier, and classic. E39's have some build quality left to be desired which I don't find present in a well maintained E34.

I might feel differently if it were my only car or daily driver... as it stands I have a Spec E30 to beat the crap out of and usually end up daily driving the tow vehicle instead of commuting the M5, but if I have to maintain and look at an E34 or E39 M5 in the garage it's going to be an E34, no question.

On top of that - the E39 M5's I'm familiar with have been absolute nightmares to maintain. There's no parity what-so-ever in the cost between E34's and E39's. That V8 is significantly more complex than these big sixes are, and parts are also far more expensive. There's not much you can't find a deal on from an E34 M5 these days, and other than a few unlucky disasters, most of their parts are shared with any other E34 which makes them dime a dozen.

The E39 is a wonderful car... there's a million reasons to argue it's better than an E34... but if you're primary reasoning is that they are almost the same price now, run away, fast.

[B10 BITURBO]

Just one other minor thing,, that sometimes can cause a war between E34 and e39 enthusiastics

the E34 M5 is the LAST HANDBUILDT car from BMW .. and is an individual car

if you like something handmade.. buy an E34 M5

it is not as fast .. but it have a classic look and was made from BMW in several items.. like this :D



Cecotto Edition — A total of 22 Cecotto E34 M5s were produced with options of having either Lagoon Green metallic (266) and Mauritius Blue metallic paint (287).
Winkelhock Edition — A total of 51 Winkelhock E34 M5s were produced with the options of having Jet Black (668) with contrasting lower body panels in Sterling Silver metallic paint (244), no fog lights and manual rear windows helped to lower the weight.
20 Jahre Motorsport Edition — To celebrate BMW Motorsport 20th anniversary, BMW had built 20 specially equipped Euro-spec M5s in late 1992.
UK Limited Edition — To commemorate the end of right-hand drive E34 M5 production, 50 examples of the E34 M5 Limited Edition were assembled between March and June 1995.
Elekta - 20 M5 Tourings were assembled for distribution in Italy. These were finished in either Sterling Silver over Marine Blue leather, or British Racing Green over Tobacco leather. All were made in 1995. It is debated as to whether or not these cars constitute a true special edition as they were ordered directly by a group of Italian BMW dealers.
Naghi - At the request of Naghi Motors, the BMW importer for Saudi Arabia, BMW Motorsport GmbH produced 15 special examples of the 3.6-liter E34 M5 sedan. Known as the "Naghi" edition, these were the final ECE-spec 3.6-liter M5s produced. and were all built in late March and early April of 1992. Like all Gulf-specification E34 M5s, they were built without catalysts and were therefore rated at 318 hp (DIN). Five examples were produced in three different exterior colors each: Jet Black (668), Alpine White II (218) and Lagoon Green metallic (266)

no E39 was made special except of one touring that M/// boss had for him self

This is why i like the E34 M5 so much :alright :alright :alright

One board member here ELEKTA ,, have one of these rare ITALY tourings
utterly cool imo:stickoutt

[JesterMX6]

Just one other minor thing,, that sometimes can cause a war between E34 and e39 enthusiastics

the E34 M5 is the LAST HANDBUILDT car from BMW .. and is an individual car

if you like something handmade.. buy an E34 M5



this is a very strong point i forgot to mention in my post as well. Huge nod in the favor of the E34 IMHO

[GumbysE34]

...see which one moves you the most; which one makes you take that second or third look as you walk away after driving it. THAT will be the car for you...

Damn, I think I got a little teary-eyed there. :blush2


WolfStrong is completely right with this one. When you know...you know. I constantly catch myself double and triple-taking looks at my E34, even if it's a lowly 525i. It's love. :D

[JesterMX6]

haha. ^^ this! i parked my 535i outside my girlfriend's place and we took her jeep to the zoo with her niece. as we were comign back to her house i saw the car sitting there and thought to myself "damn that's a nice looking car." about 30 seconds later i realized it was mine :laugh

[MartinMartin]

This means go out, drive them both, and see which one moves you the most; which one makes you take that second or third look as you walk away after driving it. THAT will be the car for you..

I've had the E39 and E34 at the same time.

















The E39 is now sold.
E61 is now in the garage.

E34? Still the one I love the most of my cars..

[Schneider]

Wow didn't know there were so many editions out there !






Cecotto Edition — A total of 22 Cecotto E34 M5s were produced with options of having either Lagoon Green metallic (266) and Mauritius Blue metallic paint (287).
Winkelhock Edition — A total of 51 Winkelhock E34 M5s were produced with the options of having Jet Black (668) with contrasting lower body panels in Sterling Silver metallic paint (244), no fog lights and manual rear windows helped to lower the weight.
20 Jahre Motorsport Edition — To celebrate BMW Motorsport 20th anniversary, BMW had built 20 specially equipped Euro-spec M5s in late 1992.
UK Limited Edition — To commemorate the end of right-hand drive E34 M5 production, 50 examples of the E34 M5 Limited Edition were assembled between March and June 1995.
Elekta - 20 M5 Tourings were assembled for distribution in Italy. These were finished in either Sterling Silver over Marine Blue leather, or British Racing Green over Tobacco leather. All were made in 1995. It is debated as to whether or not these cars constitute a true special edition as they were ordered directly by a group of Italian BMW dealers.
Naghi - At the request of Naghi Motors, the BMW importer for Saudi Arabia, BMW Motorsport GmbH produced 15 special examples of the 3.6-liter E34 M5 sedan. Known as the "Naghi" edition, these were the final ECE-spec 3.6-liter M5s produced. and were all built in late March and early April of 1992. Like all Gulf-specification E34 M5s, they were built without catalysts and were therefore rated at 318 hp (DIN). Five examples were produced in three different exterior colors each: Jet Black (668), Alpine White II (218) and Lagoon Green metallic (266)

[B10 BITURBO]

Wow didn't know there were so many editions out there !


[/LIST]


Thats why the E34 M5 are Soooo special IMO


ps ,, E30 M3 were even made in more specific types:)

[Evole]

e34m5 is the king, but I am biased ;)

[vwsnaps]

thanks for the feedback - i tend to lean old school - i think my signature still has my 1979 Gti that i just sold and was picked up today.. ;(

I am really leaning toward e34 - M5 - Wish i could find one semi-local so i can test drive it and have it locally inspected.. but that probably wont happen

What is the e34 m5 got for HP ? 225 ? What is the older m5 body style the boxier one?

[mottati]

e34 m5 has 310hp in US trim. Older m5, the e28 had 256 US, 286 euro, iirc.
e28 is even lighter and more raw.

[vwsnaps]

funny - found one in Omaha..


http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=281552355&dealer_id=65397781&car_year=1991&rdm=1278020990944&lastStartYear=1981&model=M5&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1988&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=used&distance=500&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=y&make=BMW&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=68516&advanced=&end_year=1993&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=42&standard=false



I dont like Black - though.. too bad...

[JesterMX6]

you're welcome to check out my 535i sometime if you just want an idea of what they're like inside/out as far as chasis/interior/quality etc. just keep in mind mine's a work in progress.

[vwsnaps]

you're welcome to check out my 535i sometime if you just want an idea of what they're like inside/out as far as chasis/interior/quality etc. just keep in mind mine's a work in progress.

Once i sell the Speedster I am going to call Jeff and go for a drive in his M5

[JesterMX6]

good plan. that thing is gorgeous. (if its the one i'm thinking of. i've checked it out at a few AutoX's in town)