another what should I pay thread

[mgmarsh39]

Sorry for my first post being one of these, but I really have no experience with buying an older bmw. I have owned several 944's over my life and have stumbled over, what I think is a nice 540i.

So its a 95 540i 6 speed 104k miles. Original owner. Stacks of service records, clean no accidents, non smoker. the whole 9 yards. black with tan interior.

The seller wants 5k. The books show anywhere from 3,500 to 7,000. Seems like a good deal to me but any and all opinions would be nice.

:D

Thanks in advance!

[yuceturk1453]

5k is a good price i think if the car is in good condition.I payed 2.3k for my 540/6 but it had 168k mileage and needed tons of work,but if you could negotiate and lower the price a bit i think its a good deal.

[jbondbmw]

That is a good price. I paid $5,197 for my 95 540iA with 86k miles and no service records. So in my mind $5k for a 540i/6 is good with 104k and records. I just wouldn't be thrilled with the black.

[mgmarsh39]

Thanks for the quick replys.

For some reason I can't get enough black cars haha... wifes car is black, my DD is black.

Honestly I am trying to get out of a car payment *my 07 g35 is eating me alive* so if I can pay cash for this beast and keep it running for less a month I will be set.

I saw this thing and fell in love with it. Just keep having these sinful thoughts on how I am going to get m5 wheels, grill and lower it... $$$ ugh.

[jbondbmw]

Thanks for the quick replys.

For some reason I can't get enough black cars haha... wifes car is black, my DD is black.

Honestly I am trying to get out of a car payment *my 07 g35 is eating me alive* so if I can pay cash for this beast and keep it running for less a month I will be set.

I saw this thing and fell in love with it. Just keep having these sinful thoughts on how I am going to get m5 wheels, grill and lower it... $$$ ugh.

You must be a glutton for punishment with all those black cars. My last car (which was also my first car) was black. Never again, looks great when it's cleaned and waxed, but it was back to dirty after a day. I also applaud you on not wanting car payments anymore, that was the other mistake I made with my first car (and it was a lease to boot).

The E34 does become an obsession when you get into it. I have to reign myself in a lot when it comes to buying the non-essentials. I have put about $6k on top of what I already paid for the car. and it doesn't look much different from stock. Of course, I was stupid and paid dealer prices early on. Don't make the same mistake.

I wish I had found a 6 speed, that may almost be worth having a black car for.

[ShapeShifter]

How about a black 951 :-)

[K Fox]

I'll agree with the others above, but I'll caution you to take the car for a good test drive, and also to get a good PPI performed by a mechanic who at least knows BMW's, if not the E34 chassis. There's a really good PPI form here in the forums somewhere, and you should at least search it out and get familiar with it yourself.

There ARE a few quirks with the 540, though by getting the 6 speed you avoid one of the biggies, and also earn my envy. :mad:shifty:stickoutt Biggest things I can think of that you'll need to watch for are: the standard E34 'shimmy' from worn front suspension bushings (do-able DIY fix if your good with a wrench), vacuum leaks (which the M60 is notoriously sensitive to. Also a DIY fix, though if present you may need to pull the intake manifold to replace it's gaskets), and research the Nikasil issue. On that last one, don't let it worry you right now, especially if the car runs well. If the car does have it's original Nikasil block and runs well, then it's not an issue. If the car has had it's block replaced with an Alusil block, then no worries at all. This one is mostly for your information. It had to do with cheap gas having too high of sulfur concentrations in it, which can't happen anymore due to modern fuel regs.

Also, you may want to look up the VIN to see if this may be one of the rare M-Sport cars - we'll all hate you for finding one, but they're nice to have. (At least I'll hate you, in a friendly, jealous way :stickoutt) Things to not be worried about that may show up: seat 'twist'. These E34's have cables in the seat that get loose, and then the seat's don't move right. 20 min fix for no cost, but if the seller doesn't know...:) Also, the shifter in the 6 speeds can get a little sloppy over time, but it's normal. It's a small design flaw (choice) that is fixable, but will cost a little bit and I think you need to drop the tranny for it. Might be do-able with the tranny in place. Search DSSR. :D I can't think of anything else right now.

All in all I'd say that the car is about spot on with it's price, depending on what's going to need attention and how urgently it needs it. If nothing needs attention immediately, then it's a good deal. If nothing is wrong at all, then it's a steal, but that's just not likely. These cars always have something to love on, that's their charm. :) Keep us informed!

Fox

[mgmarsh39]

You must be a glutton for punishment with all those black cars. My last car (which was also my first car) was black. Never again, looks great when it's cleaned and waxed, but it was back to dirty after a day. I also applaud you on not wanting car payments anymore, that was the other mistake I made with my first car (and it was a lease to boot).

The E34 does become an obsession when you get into it. I have to reign myself in a lot when it comes to buying the non-essentials. I have put about $6k on top of what I already paid for the car. and it doesn't look much different from stock. Of course, I was stupid and paid dealer prices early on. Don't make the same mistake.

I wish I had found a 6 speed, that may almost be worth having a black car for.

you are a mind reader. I was just outside waxing that evil black car... But oh man she looks purty :). I give it 12 hours before it looks nasty again.


How about a black 951 :-)
I'm listening :devillook


I'll agree with the others above, but I'll caution you to take the car for a good test drive, and also to get a good PPI performed by a mechanic who at least knows BMW's, if not the E34 chassis. There's a really good PPI form here in the forums somewhere, and you should at least search it out and get familiar with it yourself.

There ARE a few quirks with the 540, though by getting the 6 speed you avoid one of the biggies, and also earn my envy. Biggest things I can think of that you'll need to watch for are: the standard E34 'shimmy' from worn front suspension bushings (do-able DIY fix if your good with a wrench), vacuum leaks (which the M60 is notoriously sensitive to. Also a DIY fix, though if present you may need to pull the intake manifold to replace it's gaskets), and research the Nikasil issue. On that last one, don't let it worry you right now, especially if the car runs well. If the car does have it's original Nikasil block and runs well, then it's not an issue. If the car has had it's block replaced with an Alusil block, then no worries at all. This one is mostly for your information. It had to do with cheap gas having too high of sulfur concentrations in it, which can't happen anymore due to modern fuel regs.

Also, you may want to look up the VIN to see if this may be one of the rare M-Sport cars - we'll all hate you for finding one, but they're nice to have. (At least I'll hate you, in a friendly, jealous way ) Things to not be worried about that may show up: seat 'twist'. These E34's have cables in the seat that get loose, and then the seat's don't move right. 20 min fix for no cost, but if the seller doesn't know... Also, the shifter in the 6 speeds can get a little sloppy over time, but it's normal. It's a small design flaw (choice) that is fixable, but will cost a little bit and I think you need to drop the tranny for it. Might be do-able with the tranny in place. Search DSSR. I can't think of anything else right now.

All in all I'd say that the car is about spot on with it's price, depending on what's going to need attention and how urgently it needs it. If nothing needs attention immediately, then it's a good deal. If nothing is wrong at all, then it's a steal, but that's just not likely. These cars always have something to love on, that's their charm. Keep us informed!

Fox

Wow tons of great info! Thanks Fox. I did read up on the suspension issues and will be looking at that. I for one am not scared to grab a wrench and fix something, so I hope that will end up saving me money.
So how do I go about finding out this car is a super special M car? :D Heres the vin:
WBAHE5321SGA64556

I really hate autos *because my wife cant drive a stick* so shell leave my car alone :).

[MarchelloBB]

Thanks for the quick replys.

For some reason I can't get enough black cars haha... wifes car is black, my DD is black.

Honestly I am trying to get out of a car payment *my 07 g35 is eating me alive* so if I can pay cash for this beast and keep it running for less a month I will be set.

I saw this thing and fell in love with it. Just keep having these sinful thoughts on how I am going to get m5 wheels, grill and lower it... $$$ ugh.
Hehe.

I love my car, truly I do.

But so far it seems to look at me like this: :cashwalle

Right now it's not even usable. Constant coolant leak = needs a head gasket job... What won't you do for a car you love, right?

[mgmarsh39]

Hehe.

I love my car, truly I do.

But so far it seems to look at me like this: :cashwalle

Right now it's not even usable. Constant coolant leak = needs a head gasket job... What won't you do for a car you love, right?

ew I know how that is...

so I did a vin check and the options show this:
M-Technic sports suspension with independent front (double pivot Macpherson strut) and semi-trailing arm rear suspension

[jbondbmw]

ew I know how that is...

so I did a vin check and the options show this:
M-Technic sports suspension with independent front (double pivot Macpherson strut) and semi-trailing arm rear suspension

Sounds like a standard 540i/6, not an M-Sport. In my mind that is a good thing. I would never want to replace EDC struts at (I think) $1k a pop.

[mgmarsh39]

Yeah I doubt it is. I looked online and it doesnt have the all black steering wheel or the M sills.

[auto da fe]

5K is a good price, especially of the block has been replaced. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security on the Nikasil issue just because the car has made to 104K. Acccording to the service records, my car succumbed to Nikasil failure at 99k miles despite a lifetime of supposedly decent California gasoline. It may or may not prove to be a problem with the car you're considering, but the potential is still there. Not trying to scare you off the car, just be aware that it is an issue.

[BMWheadSpence]

Sounds like a standard 540i/6, not an M-Sport. In my mind that is a good thing. I would never want to replace EDC struts at (I think) $1k a pop.

Yeah, that number is about right. My mom's old 740i had it but it actually rode ok. There isn't much of a difference in the ride though, between K and S that is.

[moroza]

5k sounds about right.

[mgmarsh39]

Going tomorrow night to check her out :D

[filmy]

Beyond the aforementioned PPI, get her on the highway and do a clutch test. Of course, with all of the included records a clutch job may have been done in the past couple of years. It's a huge benefit to have all of those records.

I paid $4K for mine. Then I bought wheels, then tires, then upper control arms, then a clutch job (including rear main seal, shifter bushings, guibo and center driveshaft support bearing). Some of this is maintenance of course, but I've spent over $4K on it since buying it. And it still has relatively high mileage (225K) and a Nikasil block. It's an awesome car all in all, but for $8K I could have gotten something much better, and worth more now. (I wasn't able to sell it for $4K - but with paint issues.)

Hope it pans out well for you! Good luck on the test drive.

[mgmarsh39]

Beyond the aforementioned PPI, get her on the highway and do a clutch test. Of course, with all of the included records a clutch job may have been done in the past couple of years. It's a huge benefit to have all of those records.

I paid $4K for mine. Then I bought wheels, then tires, then upper control arms, then a clutch job (including rear main seal, shifter bushings, guibo and center driveshaft support bearing). Some of this is maintenance of course, but I've spent over $4K on it since buying it. And it still has relatively high mileage (225K) and a Nikasil block. It's an awesome car all in all, but for $8K I could have gotten something much better, and worth more now. (I wasn't able to sell it for $4K - but with paint issues.)

Hope it pans out well for you! Good luck on the test drive.

ugh... sounds like all my 944's

I can justify it by not having a car payment *i guess*

[K Fox]

Hey Filmy, you still thinking about selling your 540?? If I remember correctly you decided to keep it when you moved, but maybe the inspiration for change has hit you again?? I may be looking soon, but I'm not sure yet. I do know that I want a 6 speed, and buying a whole car is prolly the best way to get one. :D I just need to see how much cash I have in one place come next month... I've been waiting patiently.

Fox

[M30Stui]

PPI jac1d (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1189126&page=0&highlight=E34+PPI)

This is a pretty good starting point

[hammy35]

ugh... sounds like all my 944's

I can justify it by not having a car payment *i guess*

I can justify it personally. I recently bought a 540/6 with some issues for a lot less than the one you're looking at. Should be in it for about $2k in initial repairs to get it roadworthy. Lots of gaskets - Oil pan, timing cover, valley pan, valve covers, water pump, intake manifold, ccv; also needs a front suspension freshening.

I'm ok with an initial outflow of cash to get it going and caught up on deferred maintenance; it's still cheaper than interest + depreciation on even a crap economy car.

At a glance, yours sounds solid. Hope for an alusil for some peace of mind. I would personally pay for a PPI and leverage the bill on the price negotiation.

[mgmarsh39]

Well... I now own this 95 e34 and am pretty happy about it. Was a tough buy. I did get her down $500 bucks though, *was hoping a grand*.

Car is really clean. Very well taken care of. They have all service done at BMW but nothing major was done. I am going to call today and see if I can get copies of the records. I saw no signs of oil leaks, no signs of damage other than a couple dings and no signs of abuse.

There are a couple things... Small things like, when we were driving it back on the highway the trim piece around the window popped up and I had to pull over and take it off... scared me at first haha. The drivers seat wont adjust properly. This lady was pretty short so she had the seat jacked all the way up into the steering wheel. It wont go down but it goes back so it was driveable. *very uncomfortable for 2 hours though*

The rear window wont go down, but the rest seem to work. Gear changes were a bit sloppy but smooth shifting and it had some play in the steering. Guessing the tie rod issue.

Overall I am very impressed. 90+mph on the highway that thing pulled really well. Quiet, smooth and powerful.

Need to work on that drivers seat tonight and put that trim piece back on... *I love projects :)*

I will post some pics tonight.

Thanks again for all your help guys!

[sfgearhead]

Congrats. You'd think with a broken seat, no major work and trim flying off you could get her down more than $500! Just yanking your chain.

One owner with records is worth a serious premium in my books, and both those issues are easy fixes. Definitely check the cooling system ASAP as that's the most likely killer at this point. A flush and new upper radiator hose would be the minimum I'd do, if not the whole thing.. radiator, water pump, t-stat, housing, hoses, fan.

Looking forward to pics!

[K Fox]

Congrats!! Just to make sure I'm not an idiot, you got the 540i6, right? If so very congrats!!


There are a couple things... The drivers seat wont adjust properly. This lady was pretty short so she had the seat jacked all the way up into the steering wheel. It wont go down but it goes back so it was driveable. *very uncomfortable for 2 hours though*

If you haven't already, do a search here for 'seat twist'. It really is an easy fix.


The rear window wont go down, but the rest seem to work. Gear changes were a bit sloppy but smooth shifting and it had some play in the steering. Guessing the tie rod issue.

Search for 'DSSR' for a permanent fix of that sloppy shifter. :D The window I have no experience with, but I've seen a few threads on it so it's not unknown, I've just been fortunate. The play in the steering can also be the steering column nut, I've read recently. Might also need the steering box adjusted too. That's one of my issues with these cars - without a rack and pinion there are more places for slop to hide in the system. :mad BTW, does it have the shimmy at around 55 mph?


*I love projects :)*

Tis a good thing you love projects, as this will save you a lot of money keeping this car running right and well. Which will make said car very VERY enjoyable. :D Again, congrats!!

Fox

[mgmarsh39]

:evil2
Congrats. You'd think with a broken seat, no major work and trim flying off you could get her down more than $500! Just yanking your chain.

One owner with records is worth a serious premium in my books, and both those issues are easy fixes. Definitely check the cooling system ASAP as that's the most likely killer at this point. A flush and new upper radiator hose would be the minimum I'd do, if not the whole thing.. radiator, water pump, t-stat, housing, hoses, fan.

Looking forward to pics!

Hopefully I can get that seat fixed easily. It is the most annoying part thus far. The trim piece is a little bent so I hope I can salvage it. *must have bent flying off the car*.


Congrats!! Just to make sure I'm not an idiot, you got the 540i6, right? If so very congrats!!
Yep :)


If you haven't already, do a search here for 'seat twist'. It really is an easy fix.
I was looking at that today. Hopefully that is the problem. Basically you can hear the motor running but nothing happens.


Search for 'DSSR' for a permanent fix of that sloppy shifter. :D The window I have no experience with, but I've seen a few threads on it so it's not unknown, I've just been fortunate. The play in the steering can also be the steering column nut, I've read recently. Might also need the steering box adjusted too. That's one of my issues with these cars - without a rack and pinion there are more places for slop to hide in the system. :mad BTW, does it have the shimmy at around 55 mph?
Will do. I did feel a slight shimmy at first on the highway at lower speeds but it went away. Nothing major.


Tis a good thing you love projects, as this will save you a lot of money keeping this car running right and well. Which will make said car very VERY enjoyable. :D Again, congrats!!

Fox

Projects keep me busy and the wife annoyed. :evil2

[jbondbmw]

Projects keep me busy and the wife annoyed. :evil2

Better fixing an old 5-Series than doing other women. Just sayin'.

[mgmarsh39]

Better fixing an old 5-Series than doing other women. Just sayin'.

haha good point I will let her know!