e34 m5

Discuss Non-E30 BMW's in here - No selling!

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320ise
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Post Sat Mar 01, 2008 5:01 pm

what is essensial when looking to buy one of these what goes wrong? and what is the more reliable engine 3.6 or 3.8? after bulitproof reliability is the the rite car to choose? allso what average fuel consumption, and where do you have to watch for rot on a e34? thanks in advance!
maxfield
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Post Sat Mar 01, 2008 5:06 pm

Both engines are pretty bullet proof assuming they've been well looked after.

Can't say I've ever seen much rot on E34s.
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mattG
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Post Sat Mar 01, 2008 5:23 pm

They can rot, electronic sterring & suspension can be very expensive to replace £1k a corner 8O , 3.6ltr may be considered a bit stronger.
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hammoj28
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Post Sat Mar 01, 2008 5:45 pm

Iv read that the 3.6 is the more reliable and safer option. As theres apparantley more problems with the 3.8. But the 3.8 has bragging rights cos........well cos its the 3.8.
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320ise
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Post Sat Mar 01, 2008 6:32 pm

what models have the electric steering/suspension?
cecotto479
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Post Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:23 pm

Later 3.8s have the EDC. If they haven't been changed, the likelihood is that they'll need changed. Some have had them disabled and Konis fitted. £1000 per corner is not far off the mark, but there are now rebuilt dampers in testing and it looks like they might be available relatively soon.

The car to go for, if not one of the last LEs, is reckoned to be the 3.8 5 speed - fairly few of them about, but the 5 speed is reckoned to be a stronger box than the 6 speed.

Look for one wih a decent history and there's not much to go wrong. Inspect it visually and drive it. Pretty much everything is there to see on inspection and driving.

Look at and ask the same questions in www.bmw5.co.uk and www.m5board.com. On BMW 5 get in touch with "Robbo". He was selling a decent 1992 3.8 5 speed. I know it's decent, because I sold it to him.
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BIGJO
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Post Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:32 pm

Look out for leaks with the self-leveling suspension.

I have a bulletproof 3.6 engine, box the lot if anyone's interested.


Kind regards.
Karan
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Post Tue Mar 04, 2008 11:37 am

how much for engine and ecu?
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georob
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Post Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:16 pm

Wasnt aware of them rotting, thought the e34 was pretty good in those stakes.

Def speak to Robbo though, top chap and his one is for sale at the moment over on the 5ser forum
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Post Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:37 pm

BIGJO wrote:Look out for leaks with the self-leveling suspension.

I have a bulletproof 3.6 engine, box the lot if anyone's interested.


Kind regards.
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78dude
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Post Tue Mar 04, 2008 6:45 pm

The best E34 is always the latest ones, and I think the E34 M5 ended its life some where around 95/96 and in 95 it got also a facelift. That means it have the V8 grille and also some other bits as well. For suspension I know that it have floted brake discs and all of the latest models had 6 speed manual gearbox!