looking for opinions

[edbd1]

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/2560536998.html
Saw this ad. I'm not too familiar with the longevity/durability of the V8 e34.
Would be used as a second vehicle, probably 3 days a week at most, say 200 miles maybe. Please let me know what I should be concerned with. went to Edge motorwerks site and looked the e34/39 issues for 75k miles, but what about at 180k miles?

[marct335i]

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/2560536998.html
Saw this ad. I'm not too familiar with the longevity/durability of the V8 e34.
Would be used as a second vehicle, probably 3 days a week at most, say 200 miles maybe. Please let me know what I should be concerned with. went to Edge motorwerks site and looked the e34/39 issues for 75k miles, but what about at 180k miles?

Way too much money!!!

[Meeve]

seriously, very expensive. I wouldn't buy it at that price. It's not even a 6 speed. The 540 itself is a great car though.

[mpaganr34]

That price is absurd. Car looks nice from that grainy, far away picture though.

[DUDMD]

That is an M5 - 540i/6 - M-sport price
You can find a decent 540iA for around 3k

[Synesthesia]

Yes, it is overpriced.

[edbd1]

Thanks for the responses. And no i wouldn't pay asking price. I'm just wondering how these cars age? I assume as with most cars, that properly taken care of, they last. I'm aware the m30b35 in the 535s are bullet proof. But how about these?

[AquilaBMW]

Thanks for the responses. And no i wouldn't pay asking price. I'm just wondering how these cars age? I assume as with most cars, that properly taken care of, they last. I'm aware the m30b35 in the 535s are bullet proof. But how about these?

Depends on the caliber... :dunno.. :D j/k

The bottom ends on these cars are very solid and literally take a grenade to send them to the other side. However, the V8 suffer from things like vacuum leaks and will run badly if they ever develop said leaks. The PCV valve on the back of intake will need replacing once you hit high miles - like in the 100K + range. You will also eventually need to do things like the Intake Manifold Gasket, Valley Pan Gaskets, and Valve Cover gasket. However, these are wear and tear / maintenance items. Besides that, they are pretty sturdy engines.

You do have to be beware of the Alusil vs. Nikasil issue which plagued East Coast cars more than most due to the high Sulfur content in the fuel. However, if your car has already crossed the 100K mile range without turning into a sieve and leaking all over the place, hasn't blown up pre-maturely you are probably okay. A lot of the engines were replaced with Alusil blocks and you can check to verify that.

Like most other things, stay on top of maintenance and you will rewarded with a fair degree of reliability. A member here had a car that crossed the 250K mile range before it gave up the ghost.

Good Luck!

[edbd1]

Depends on the caliber... :dunno.. :D j/k

The bottom ends on these cars are very solid and literally take a grenade to send them to the other side. However, the V8 suffer from things like vacuum leaks and will run badly if they ever develop said leaks. The PCV valve on the back of intake will need replacing once you hit high miles - like in the 100K + range. You will also eventually need to do things like the Intake Manifold Gasket, Valley Pan Gaskets, and Valve Cover gasket. However, these are wear and tear / maintenance items. Besides that, they are pretty sturdy engines.

You do have to be beware of the Alusil vs. Nikasil issue which plagued East Coast cars more than most due to the high Sulfur content in the fuel. However, if your car has already crossed the 100K mile range without turning into a sieve and leaking all over the place, hasn't blown up pre-maturely you are probably okay. A lot of the engines were replaced with Alusil blocks and you can check to verify that.

Like most other things, stay on top of maintenance and you will rewarded with a fair degree of reliability. A member here had a car that crossed the 250K mile range before it gave up the ghost.

Good Luck!

Thanks for the info.

[ChiTownTy]

Alpina Reps- Rare?...7,000?...Wont be for sale long.

[K Fox]

A member here had a car that crossed the 250K mile range before it gave up the ghost.


You typo'd. Jehu's car had over 350k, actually right under 400k miles before he lost a cylinder. Hell, my 540i6 has just over 248k miles. Runs like a top - I just need to replace the engine mounts (and both of my over 200k mile 540's are Nikasil blocks, so don't let that scare you away, just learn about it). These cars are quite nice as daily drivers, as the big V8 (4.0l) has plenty of power where it needs to be for general motoring around. And the maintenance isn't really any more intensive than any other model - just keep on top of it and you'll be fine. That said, if you're considering buying any E34 then a PPI is your friend. Making sure you get a car that's been maintained properly will make sure you don't end up buying what seems like a money pit - deferred maintenance will turn any E34 into a money pit until it's brought up to par. So get any prospective purchase well checked out before haggling, and adjust your price accordingly. Good luck, and let us know what you end up with. :D

Fox

[K Fox]

Grrrrr....silly server. It finally decided to mess with me and copy my post 6 times. GrrrrRRRrrrr....

Fox

[TSMacNeil]

You got some good responses, so not much to add...except the ask is about $2500 too much.
Aquilla said it well...I recently researched this topic when I was shopping for an e34. The V8's are fine as long as you dedicate yourself to staying ahead of the curve on maintenance (MX)

Valley pan gaskets, intake manifold gaskets...very common failure points that seriously affect performance. As said, if it's a nikasil motor, once beyond 100K and healthy...you're free.

Any of the BMW line that is over 10-15 years old requires a steady and continual hand of MX to be happy. Coolant systems are a must to stay ahead of...