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sjf210
09-04-2012, 12:19 AM
The rundown:
I operate a 1994 green 525i that I can remember being purchased in 1993 by my father at age 4. Since that time, it has served as an amazing family car. It’s been around just about as long as I can remember and it seems as though it is part of the family. Only problem is, with a two car garage as soon as dad bought a new car, the BMW was garage less. It lost reign to a 64 white mustang and 88 black porsche 911.
In spring of 2002 I was interrupted by grinding gears and the sound of rubber screeching. I peered outside a window and could see my mother teaching my older brother how to drive. He learned how to do it.

Chris, my older brother, was a swimmer and our high school did not have a swim team so he drove about 30 min on the highway every day to and from practice. The 5-series took a beating. Chris was admitted into University of Connecticut and the car was all mine. The e34 wasn’t in the shape Chris received it in but, hey it was still a pimpin car.

My entire 2 years using this BMW in high school, I put almost no care into the car. I might have washed it once. I never waxed it and I was stupid. Like my brother, I too put an extraordinary amount of miles on our car by being on a swim/dive team that was a few towns over. Two days a week I even drove 50 min to and 50 from practice at a local university. The car was slowly unnoticeably deteriorating.

After my High school years the BMW went back to older brother Chris for what looked to me as further beating. Practically no one washes his car at a university. Theres only time to party and cram for tests.(and slay) During this time Chris went to a Yankees Red Sox game with die hard Red Sox fan Alex. Alex drinks a lot and probably told some ass-clown to sit down or somethin. Well, when Chris and Alex got back to the e34 some clowns were jumping up and down on the hood of our car.

Whatever, you get the point, this car has been pooped on by high schoolers and college kids. Its still going at 297000 miles and I merely want to be nice to it in its final years. (and maybe learn)

Problems:
Black side strips
· need white snaps and new side strips
Window switches
· Too much beer in switches, sticky
· How do I clean
A/C
· Don’t even know where to start
· It doesn’t work
Fan
· Always blows hot air
· Never blows neutral temperature air
Electronics
· Back speakers don’t work
· Wiring is messed up in rear
· Rear license plate lite
o Only one works
o Tried to replace but still no work because the wireing in back is bad
· Original lcd screen needs to be tapped to light up
· Air control dials do not light up
· Lights above rear view mirror need attention
Would like to get new wheels
Don’t know what to do about rust on bottom of doors
Misc. missing parts that are insignificant to the rest of the problems.

PorscheH6
09-04-2012, 12:24 AM
Here's the deal. It's worth $750 as a complete car, on a good day. So keep this in mind before you decide to spend ANY money on it.

-Window switch, use some kind of spray-can electronics cleaner. If it's kaput, get a junkyard one for $10.

-Trunk wiring can get frayed after 270k miles of use, just FYI, in order to remove the trunk you have to disconnect all the trunk wiring, there is no plug for the trunk.

-There are bulbs in the A/C dials, they are probably burnt out.

-Light surface rust? I'd leave it alone. This car is destined for the graveyard way before it will rust itself dead.

-Dented hood - Oxfordgrun is one of the most common E34 colors, you can find a hood in a junkyard for about $50 (at least around here)

I'm sure someone else will chime in with more. Honestly, you can figure out most/all of your issues with a trip to the junkyard and with a Bentley service manual (links in FAQ thread sticked at the top) Also, SEARCH is your friend. Every issue imaginable has probably been discussed multiple times, at least, over the ten years this forum has existed.

sjf210
09-04-2012, 12:42 AM
Thanks for the advice. I know the car is not worth much but its still what I drive so I would like it to look decent. Also I am looking at this as a learning experience not something to generate money from. I'm definitely not looking to spend much money at all. Oh and the hood is fixed. I am sorry for that confusion. Its not the same hood though. Its diffrent somehow.

TGreene
09-04-2012, 12:51 AM
Welcome aboard! You sound like I did when I joined. I hope you have room for more than one car... =p

Your format is a bit wierd when listing problems. It seems like maybe you copied and pasted something and it became disconnected?

Try and narrow down the list to the most important things and I am sure lots of us will help you sort through them. In the beginning it can be a chore just learning the lingo and acronyms so that you know what words to put into the search. If you go back and look at the threads I started when I joined it will make you laugh and make me wonder how I could be so terrible!

attack eagle
09-04-2012, 01:38 AM
you weren't that bad tg. there were a few doozies though.

gawd, I had a good one about m30 vs m50 block extrnals back in my early days.


Thanks for the advice. I know the car is not worth much but its still what I drive so I would like it to look decent. Also I am looking at this as a learning experience not something to generate money from. I'm definitely not looking to spend much money at all. Oh and the hood is fixed. I am sorry for that confusion. Its not the same hood though. Its diffrent somehow.

wide grill hood, i bet