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Thread: Hot Rod my 1990 525i?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
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    1990 BMW 525i 5spd 230k

    Hot Rod my 1990 525i?

    Folks need your opinion on whether I am crazy, stupid, or maybe semi-OK.

    I’ve owned my M20 5-speed for 8 years and know it inside out. 260k miles and running great but I’m getting into some work and thinking about a hot rod.

    I want a fun daily driver, still reliable, maybe an occasional autocross.

    I definitely want to stay in the e34, but I know know the M20 isn’t the preferred engine to upgrade but there are options. I should mention that I have some rust to deal with.

    But first things first. My rebuilt suspension from 80k miles ago is shot. I can go OE set up but that’s no fun. H&R or Eibach springs with Bilstiens or Koni’s sounds fun but what about Coilovers? Can I even get coilovers?

    If I do a suspension upgrade then I would also move to 17” wheels on 235/45R17 like the M5.

    Now the engine. Turbo seems like way too much money and potential reliability issues. Simple small power bump with a chip - seems worth a couple hundred bucks. But more fun is a 2.8 or 2.9 stroker. Not as much power as FI, but definitely a power bump.

    How about exhaust? Headers? Cat delete? I no longer have to pass emissions in CT!!

    So......all that would be adding up to some serious cash. I know I could just buy an M5 but I kinda want to build the car.

    Should I buy a 1992ish 535i? Better engine to work with? Maybe a rust free desert specimen?

    What do you think?
    1990 525i 5spd 260k miles (Daily Driver Winter)
    1976 Porsche 911S 122k miles (Daily Driver Summer)
    1999 C280 240k miles (DONATED to Goodwill, will never buy another MB)
    2004 Saab 9-3 Linear (serviceable)
    1985 Chevy K-10 (Project)

  2. #2
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    If you plan on keeping it a while then definitely get something rust free.

    Might as well get a 540, way better ungrade for the price you are talking about.

  3. #3
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    1990 BMW 525i 5spd 230k
    Thanks Redshirt, 540/6spd might be nice. But I might rather do a 535 because I like the I6 engine.

    Hoping to get some more data points/opinions!

  4. #4
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    hiss by my window
    Just don't. It's a 3600 car with 170 hp. "Hot rod" it ain't and never will be.
    If you were to increase power by 50%, which would cost a lot, you'll still have a dismal power to weight ratio.
    Overhaul your suspension with OE parts, freshen whatever that old M20 needs(timing belt lately?) and invest in some quality rubber.
    I see so many nice cars ruined in the name of "performance". Refreshing to stock (or nearly) specs will give you a capable, comfortable and reliable fun car to drive.
    Don't F it up, please.
    Last edited by ross1; 01-02-2019 at 08:52 AM.

    If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. - Mark Donohue

  5. #5
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    Rat rod it maybe but hot rod it just isn't feasible.

  6. #6
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    1990 BMW 525i 5spd 230k
    WooHoo that is the kind of input I was hoping to get, maybe shake me back to my senses!

    Actually just did the timing belt and water pump last week....that was what got me thinking of modifications....that and the fact that my suspension went all to hell in the past month. Rocking, knocking up front, rear strut mounts blown out again in the back.

    So....perhaps refresh the suspension with OE or maybe lower it with H&R or Eibach....that wouldn't be so bad would it? ;-) I have to believe it would be more fun to drive lowered and with low profile tires, no?

    And how about chipping the ECU.....maybe that gets me to 185HP??
    1990 525i 5spd 260k miles (Daily Driver Winter)
    1976 Porsche 911S 122k miles (Daily Driver Summer)
    1999 C280 240k miles (DONATED to Goodwill, will never buy another MB)
    2004 Saab 9-3 Linear (serviceable)
    1985 Chevy K-10 (Project)

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2017
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    Austin Tx
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    e34 525, s52 1993skyline
    s54 swap it. it'll be super fun to drive there's a few people that have done it already and they look super fun to drive with that kind of power. i personally s52 swapped mine and it made it so much more fun to drive.

  8. #8
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    Lower it and will ride like shit.
    Form over function never ends well.

    If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. - Mark Donohue

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    Eldersburg MD
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    2011 BMW X5 Xdrive50i
    didn't they make way more 535i5's then 540i6's?

    Lowering a car can go either way, some ride fine, some ride terrible. It is all subjective and opinion driven though
    2011 BMX X5 Xdrive50i - 122K - No muffler, BMS Stage 1
    2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L V8-Her stock DD
    1995 Ford Thunderbird 4.6 V8 LX - A bunch of mods BMW guys don't care about
    1995 BMW 540i6 - H&R Lowering Springs, Brillstein's, Racing Dynamics Bars, supersprint exhaust, UUC short throw

  10. #10
    Join Date
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    09/90 E34 525i (M50)
    Keep it as the old stock reliable car to drive to the wrecking yard or parts store with while you build a rust and dent free 525 with a m50 into a stroker 54b30, or a s50 into; or the 535 you are turbo-ing, or the 540 you are traveling cross country to find the bargain one.

    It's a lot easier to convert an already m50 525 into something better, it's a lot easier to make power out of a 535, and 540s don't need much done to them. There's no point starting with a rusty and dented m20 e34.
    Last edited by fo3; 01-04-2019 at 11:33 AM.

  11. #11
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    1990 BMW 525i 5spd 230k
    Great input everyone! I will take the advise to leave my current ride stock and drive it. Prolly get another 100k out of it!

    I’ll start looking at other cars as starting point for a stroker, or 535s and 540s.

  12. #12
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    318is, dodge ram
    Yes, look for a 535i since you like the 6 cyl. The m30 is durable and has plenty of power. It will be a massive upgrade to your m20 e34.
    I had a '90 525i with the m20 and it was a turd so I sold it. 2 yrs later I bought an 89 535i and they are just night and day in comparison

  13. #13
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    1990 BMW 525i 5spd 230k
    Sounds like a plan. 535/5spd

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by gjmascoli View Post
    Sounds like a plan. 535/5spd

    Find a nice unmolested one, you'll never regret it.

    If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. - Mark Donohue

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by ross1 View Post

    Find a nice unmolested one, you'll never regret it.
    as old and as cheap as these cars are, this may be tricky, but always good idea to buy the best example you can afford. Me, I like to self punish myself, so I buy German cars that need work (My X5, my e34)
    2011 BMX X5 Xdrive50i - 122K - No muffler, BMS Stage 1
    2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L V8-Her stock DD
    1995 Ford Thunderbird 4.6 V8 LX - A bunch of mods BMW guys don't care about
    1995 BMW 540i6 - H&R Lowering Springs, Brillstein's, Racing Dynamics Bars, supersprint exhaust, UUC short throw

  16. #16
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    1990 BMW 525i 5spd 230k
    I’ll keep my eyes open for something that is cosmetically good, less rust than mine. No worries about mchanical issues, in fact the more the better for lower purchase price.

  17. #17
    Join Date
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    2011 BMW X5 Xdrive50i
    I think e34's tend to go the opposite way, cosmetic issues, but mechanically good. My 540i6 is like that (maybe?)
    2011 BMX X5 Xdrive50i - 122K - No muffler, BMS Stage 1
    2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L V8-Her stock DD
    1995 Ford Thunderbird 4.6 V8 LX - A bunch of mods BMW guys don't care about
    1995 BMW 540i6 - H&R Lowering Springs, Brillstein's, Racing Dynamics Bars, supersprint exhaust, UUC short throw

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