E34's

[oakey]

When my e30 is ready I want to get a e34 Touring as a daily driver.
I want it to be fairly economic- is the 2.0 very slow? Is the 3.0 V8 a waste of time?
I want it to be nippyish and around 25-30mpg
Are the tds's worth looking at?
Main things to look out for, etc, etc?

[B7]

I'd say you should be looking at a late 525i. I had 2 and they were the best cars I ever had, (Saloons mind). Go for as much spec as you can get and go for a late 94 on Vanos car. 192bhp is never gonna set the worlld alight in a car as heavy as these but they can still pick their skirts up and get going if you work them, even the autos. The 525 was the best all rounder, giving good MPG but wasn't a slug.

Go for it.

[Andyboy]

The 518i was better than you think, not fast but not embarrasing. The 520i is useless, autos are just dangerous although a later manual with vanos isn't toooo horrific. The 525i is great, enough 'go' and better on fuel than the 520i. 530i's are nice as a manual and the gearbox/flywheel assy is worth £500, so buying a clean one for a grandis fine. I would avoid all autos, avoid the double sunroof at all costs. Best spec is na later wide grille 525i manual with aircon but no sunroof. £1200 will buy a good clean one.

[B7]

The 518i was better than you think, not fast but not embarrasing.

I'd second that. My bro in law had one of the first 518's on the H. In "doom" atlantis Blue and wearing hubcaps it wasn't the nicest of e34's but as Andy says, It went really well considering. Handled well too due to less weight in the nose. No 6 pot soundtrack tho!

[darkchild]

My Dad has a 520i Touring - nice and smooth, a decent cruiser but very, very sluggish. The M43 engined 518i ('93 onwards) is a very underrated car with superior low down torque. The 530i is in no-man's land. 540i running costs with 525i performance. The tds' are OK but one diesel pump failure away from the scrapyard and they're not particularly economical.

The moral of the story? 525i all day long. Quick, reasonably cheap to run and will return 30mpg.

If buying an auto, look for evidence of gearbox oil and filter screen changes. BMW's "sealed for life" recommendation is nonsense.

[DanThe]

30mpg is mythical (for a touring anyway), unless you never use the brakes and frequently drop it into neutral
I read on the 5 series forum last week someone claimed to be getting 37mpg!

25 tops is what I have found

I have a 525i touring, june 96 build (one of the last) 110k, auto box is fine no problems. AC, no sunroof and ALL the electrics work 100%

Just finished the gas conversion and on the motorway I can get up to 200 miles from my 10 gallon tank which costs £20 to fill
Plenty of poke for a car so big

[oakey]

I've just come across this:
http://carandclassic.co.uk/car/C41907
Ikinda like it

Thanks for the great advice guys. 2.5 it is then

[B7]

37mpg!

25 tops is what I have found

Most I ever got from my M50 2.5 was 30 and that was a leisurly bowl down to Cornwall (300 miles).

Round town? 23 -25 all day long.

[B7]

I've just come across this:
http://carandclassic.co.uk/car/C41907
Ikinda like it

Thanks for the great advice guys. 2.5 it is then

That 7 a gansters motor straight out of the sweeney surely

You won't be disappointed in the 2.5 e34. Good luck. If I see any decent ones I'll drop you a line.

[Alpina99]

Fully agree with both the comments about 24v 525i's & the mileage predictions,
Acceptable for such a big car around town & very good on a long run.

[darkchild]

A good one will see 30mpg on a run. Around town is a different matter!

[tannerman8807]

I had a 530 touring, pants on the fuel, but fully loaded with working twin sunroofs! very heavy so you had to work it but at 80 kick it down and it went like a rocket! got 145 down the M4 a few years ago mind. Bad points , never could get it to idle smoothly always felt lumpy to me, prefer 6 pots every time. Look for on that had a replacement engine by BMW for the Nasikli problem. Other things are wheel wooble at 55mph, can be a multitude of things, i replaced the whole front end before i cured it.
Best thing is it will swallow anything, i miss this compared to the E30 small load . IMHO a 525 late fully loaded is a good buy.

[georob]

My 95 525 sport does about 20mpg around town and i get 30mpg if i'm lucky on the open road, my foot is usually welded down on the right pedal though. Would def recommend one though. You still can hustle one through the bends considering the size of it too.

[bilun777]

I had a 530 touring, pants on the fuel, but fully loaded with working twin sunroofs! very heavy so you had to work it but at 80 kick it down and it went like a rocket! got 145 down the M4 a few years ago mind. Bad points , never could get it to idle smoothly always felt lumpy to me, prefer 6 pots every time. Look for on that had a replacement engine by BMW for the Nasikli problem. Other things are wheel wooble at 55mph, can be a multitude of things, i replaced the whole front end before i cured it.
Best thing is it will swallow anything, i miss this compared to the E30 sma
ll load . IMHO a 525 late fully loaded is a good buy.

Ditto the front susp....more links in it than Heath Robinson. 28 mpg on a run from my 535 manual .Body resists rust very well.Plus point you know what to do with the eng/box when you've finished with it

[tannerman8807]

I had a 530 touring, pants on the fuel, but fully loaded with working twin sunroofs! very heavy so you had to work it but at 80 kick it down and it went like a rocket! got 145 down the M4 a few years ago mind. Bad points , never could get it to idle smoothly always felt lumpy to me, prefer 6 pots every time. Look for on that had a replacement engine by BMW for the Nasikli problem. Other things are wheel wooble at 55mph, can be a multitude of things, i replaced the whole front end before i cured it.
Best thing is it will swallow anything, i miss this compared to the E30 sma
ll load . IMHO a 525 late fully loaded is a good buy.

Ditto the front susp....more links in it than Heath Robinson. 28 mpg on a run from my 535 manual .Body resists rust very well.Plus point you know what to do with the eng/box when you've finished with it

Cant agree more

[Andyboy]

Best thing is it will swallow anything

A bit like someone on here..................

[tannerman8807]

Oi not looking at me are you

[78dude]

If you are looking for an estate who can do 50+ mpg you need to change your rellgion to VAG and VW Passat 1.9TDi estate....
I bought my self the last E34, 530i Touring with an manaul gearbox and its the best car I have ever had in my life!

[bmw-mad]

If your after a 530i v8 touring or a 520i touring drop me a pm as i have 2 for sale both are facelift and have good specs

[fingerman]

I have to say the 525 (M50) - the 530 isn't that bad (M60) but don't keep your foot down (fully!) for to long, might as well get an 540 !

I've had a 518 - wasn't to bad, pretty economical (get's a bashing from E34 owners tho) and actually sounded good when you put your foot down, a 520 (M20) - pants, a 520 (M50 - non vanos) - good but not a 525, a 530 V8 and Big six - V8 was great 2 x 525's, legendary

[oakey]

Are the IX's worth looking at? There seems to be more 525IX tourings for sale than 525i tourings.