e34 whats the best engine

[david106]

I keep looking at getting an e34 5 series but i cant make my mind up on engine size 520i , 525i ,530i or a 540i .
I've had a look at a 540i which was nice but i started thinking about economy
any ideas

[JGG1]

What about the 535i??

[Cloggy Saint]

Forget the 520, way too underpowered for such a heavy car.

[Andyboy]

The 518i is surprisingly torquey and they're okay around town. 520i's are a waste of time and the V8's are fast but heavy on fuel. The best is the manual 525i 24v.

[darkchild]

The 525i is the pick of the bunch. They go really well (192bhp), will provide 30mpg on a run and are practically bulletproof. The M43 engined 518i's are decent things too, good low down torque and a far better prospect than a 520i. The M43's only real weakness is the odd head gasket but they're simple enough on one of these. Given 8000 mile oil changes, they plod on forever.

[wiledw]

M5

[78dude]

M5

Like you boobs in you avatar, I also like the M5 sir!

[georob]

525i 24v for everyday driving

[david106]

525i 24v it is then will match my 325i touring now all i need to do is find one, seen a 525i touring on auto trader but its bloody miles away i dont mind travelling up to 100 miles .

[B7]

As said here and in a previous thread, the 24v 2.5 with Vaons from 93 on is the one to have.

I had 2 e34's, one a '90 M20 2.5, the other a '93 525 24v. They were both fantastic cars. Later one had the edge though.

[fingerman]

The 2.5 M50 24v is the sensible choice, fast / economical but I missed the 530 V8 grunt so was always fter a decent 540 manual with all the trimmings

[Speedtouch]

I owned an '88 535iSE with the M30B35 Senior Six and manual box, which was great on grunt, 0-60mph was around 7.5 sec and a top whack of 147mph (personally tested on a private runway) and gave 30mpg on a long motorway run but only low 20s on journeys of 5 miles or so - certainly not much worse than an E30 325i. Lovely smooth cruisers but watch those front suspension bushes!

It was surprisingly nimble feeling for a big car, and they are extremely well built.

[david106]

I've seen a 525 on ebay its a 96 n plate its an auto no leather and its white but looks very clean and the best bit its only done 70k he wont take less than £1250 for it though

[Simon13]

I've seen a 525 on ebay its a 96 n plate its an auto no leather and its white but looks very clean and the best bit its only done 70k he wont take less than £1250 for it though

are you hoping to buy it for £50 or something?!

[fingerman]

£1250 is not bad late E34 525 with low miles.

Be better leather, manual, computer and air con

[Speedtouch]

White isn't a good colour for an executive chariot though - could be hard to sell on.