E30 & e34

[bmpaul]

Hey guys I was just looking through the site when a question popped into my head, how do the e30 owners rate the e34? I can see that the e36 is not the most popular car here, but what are the views on the 34? Cheers guys

[sihooker]

I think E34's are good cars, but if i was looking for a 5 series then it'd be an E28 for me!

[toby]

E34 is a beautifully made car. I think it's great looking too. But I feel it is overrated as a driver's car. Like the E28, it has vague steering and it's a bit woolly in the bends. The E34 is great to drift about in though and is nicely balanced. It's just a bit clumsy somehow.

[B7]

The reason we like the 34 so much IMO (as e30 drivers) is that it is, without doubt, the last properly built BMW where it was almost a "cost is not a problem" scenario, when it came to build quality.

Yes the e28 is a nice car. But dated and they can rot.
Yes the e36 is a good car but theres no one can ever say it was built as good or as well as either an e30 or an e34.

The e34 is far more modern than an e28 or an e30 and drives as such. It's a fantastic daily driver with few reliability issues. As a 525 auto, it's a god all rounder and probably the best daily driver money can buy for the money they fetch now. Step up to the 535 M30 or the 540 V8's and they become a very quick car.

Personally, an e30 weekender in the garage and a clean e34 on the drive for the "getting to work" and the shoping etc. is a damn good car collection for any BMW freak.

[snakebrain]

Yep. They're incredibly well built. I'd say what you want is an E34 touring for the leg work and an E28 project to keep you busy.

Oh, and an E30 cabby for the 3 days of annual sunshine!

[fingerman]

Think I've owned about 10 E34's in the past and tend to flick between them and E30's

Sometimes the E30 is just a little bit small for me and I fit better in the E34 (6ft 3") and the tourings are very practical

My first BM was an E39 - it was a shed, had loads of issues and sold it after 6 months, then bought a Vectra as it was cheap and everything worked!

To stop myself dieing of boredom I begged the missus to get rid, so bought a very nice 1995 E34 525 for about 2.5k - every since then I've owned BMs as I was really impressed

Great cars

[S38B38]

A little offtopic about these 2 cars,, this is my opinion

As an owner of both cars ,, i can say that the E34 is a MUCH much better car all the way,, but my car is 500 kg +heavier vs oem 325

so there is a big differenc in handling and punishing,,

The E30 is IMO the biggest cult car BMW have ever made,,
it is good looking and a 325 is still a semi-quick car ,, 24 years back.. the car was launched,and what a bullit it was,, it was insane fast back in the days,, and owning a 325 M-tech was a status symbol ,, when the M5 came in late 1988 it was the greatest 4 door car on the planet,, stunning looks and a HULK dressed in an ARMANI clothes,, it outperformed in an average way everything that was similair,, but when ALPINA launched their B10 - BT on the IAA show in Frankfurt 1989,, the M5 came like a lame shit compared to the straight-performance accleration and highspeed that the BT was capable off,,

E30 M3 is for sure the most spectecular car BMW have ever mass-produced,, no car will for sure get close with it toes were the M3 have its heel,,

Both E30 M3 and E34 M5 are the last handbuildt cars that BMW have made,, also both of them are the cars with many types of Motorsport heritages,,

E30 M3 were made like this

1) EURO model

2) USA model

3) EVO 1

4) EURO late model

5) EVO II

6) CABRIO M3

7) SPORT EVO

Sport EVO cabrio

9) Europameister (( Roberto Ravaglia ))

10) CECCOTTO
((25 as special Raviglia edition and 50 CECOTTO Swiss import ))



E34 M5,,,,,,,,,

Cecotto

Winkelhock

20 years Motorsport

Limited editon

Naghi

i think this is why many peoble likes these cars so much ,,

there will be faster M cars but no M car will make an input as these cars did,,
thes cars ,, and the M3 nr. 1) will always be remembered forever ,, by history and the glory days

[bmpaul]

Exellent! I was wondering as I have a lovley e34 525i manual and I wouldn't mind a e30 cab as a toy and I was wondering how the 34 rates as it is a very similar car but on a bigger scale and as was said they are built like tanks. All the views are appriciated as both these cars are v special to me anyway and the nice thing about it is that I've had a few nods from e30 drivers which is always a nice!

[zaust]

I have had and still have an e34. Just a big e30. Get the right one and you will love it.

But on the other hand the e30 is alot more fun.

[320ise]

as above they are not as sharp as an e30 but put some billys on and some good springs and they can be better than an e30! the thing that lets them down in worn steering boxes as i have experianced myself with a recon or new onw they are 100% a different car and the steering feels great! but horrible when there worn as you can have an inch or 2 in diamiter before you get any steering! this is why they feel vauge! great cars i now prefer the 34 to the 30 and i have about 10 of both!

[Blitz]

I saw a stunning N reg E34 sport in sliver with grey sports leather. Sitting on Staggered Alpina's. It was gorgeous.

[George]

Had a 520i (manual) a few years back, felt totally solid. Motorways were a pleasure, uber smooth and the sound the door made on closing screamed super build quality.

[Alpina99]

I've had three "5 Series" over the years, an E12, E28 & now the E34,
Of all the E34 is, in my opinion, the best for overall handling & performance,
Funny thing is it'll be going to make way for an E30,

[320ise]

do you fancy selling the alpinas off yours?!

[Blitz]

I would really want a E34 as a daily. Cant afford to insure two cars.

[Alpina99]

do you fancy selling the alpinas off yours?!

They're genuine rims, 10" rears with 8.5" fronts, they'll be going with the car,

[DanThe]

Ive ran an E34 525i touring auto as a daily for just over 2 years now, it was a few thousand miles over 100k when I bought it and its just had its religious 5k oil and filters change at 145k
The only bad points are it could do with a recon steering box, the wiper linkage needs changing (not looking forward to this) and the tailgate electrics are a bit iffy.

Im thinking about changing to an E39 touring as its getting a bit tatty now and I cant be arsed with bodywork, but at the back of my mind im thinking I might be worse off in the long run

[Andyboy]

E39's don't make good workhorse bangers. Everything costs ££££ to fix, coded electrical components, expensive ally suspension bits, rear air suspension and crap like that. Looked nice in the brochure 10 years ago, now it's just a liability.

E34 is as good as a banger gets. I've got a mint steering box here btw.

[stup86]

Didn't realise many people had E34's on here.

I took the bumpers, wings, bonnet, lights (f&r), grill and towbar (incl elec) off my E34 donor. Is anyone interested on here? I didn't give it any thought!

[oakey]

Love the e34! If it was slightly smaller I'd have one over an e30 probably. Just too big to enjoy in the same way as you would an e30.
I went from a nice e34 to a cheap e39. As Anydyboy said above, this is not a good move Yes the e39 goes better and people don't look at you like a pauper but it now has a long list of things that need doing, none of which are cheap. My GF's dad has been running the e34 and all that has needed in the same amount of time is some handbrake shoes and pollen filter.

[Blitz]

540i touring

http://pistonheads.com/sales/1643727.htm

Nice late LPG. Great daily.

http://pistonheads.com/sales/1638040.htm

[toecutter666]

Just fragged my e34 tourer for its lump but only because my g/f bought another family motor, it was a lovely cruiser and ate up the motorway miles, but i would still choose the e30 over it every time

[kingludba]

E34`s rock!!!

[Brianmoooore]

I bought an E34 525i for its M50 engine and the vapour injection LPG system that was attached to the engine. Two years on, the engine and gas kit are still in the car, and it's on the road in daily use. Makes an excellent tow car and comfortable long distance motorway cruiser.
It's no E30 when it comes to throwing it around, though. Nothing matches that for the driving 'experience'.
By coincidence, I just bought an E36 325i this afternoon with a LPG kit fitted, so I'll finally be able to carry on with what I bought the E34 for.

[terryphelan]

Hi, I'm in the market for a low mileage e34 525i manual, if anyone knows of one.
Always wanted to own one and sold the e30 recently so keen to get back in.
Cheers

[Blitz]

Hi, I'm in the market for a low mileage e34 525i manual, if anyone knows of one.
Always wanted to own one and sold the e30 recently so keen to get back in.
Cheers

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C151244/

[terryphelan]

Thanks Blitz, that is a nice car, a bit out of my price range at the moment though.

[hammoj28]

Im a big fan of E34's. Well built and when they are a decent spec with some nice touches they can look the business.

[Brianmoooore]

Thanks Blitz, that is a nice car, a bit out of my price range at the moment though.

Very nice car! Almost exactly 10X what I paid for mine! (But it is a year older).

[bmpaul]

Well they are certainly well thought of on here, rightly so of course. Most 34's look the nuts with a lowering kit and nice wheels regardless of colour, although I really like calypso red ones! Don't see many of those tho. I had a e39 before and I have to admit that it was a lovely car and I miss the mod cons, especially the auto wipers! It was an expensive car to maintain compared to my faithful '34 however a 325 cabby would be a welcome addition one day!