e34 m5 ownership, problem areas???

[he30]

Looking at the above, and need to know where to look for problems? anybody on here run one? its a later 3.8 model.
Big problem is, if i take the plunge the sport will have to go so may have to start putting feelers out....

cheers peeps!

[darkchild]

BMW Car had a buying guide last month which was a decent read. The editor must've been impressed because he's just gone and purchased one!

[he30]

cheers fella, ill try and find/order one!

[Blitz]

3.8's have EDC. EDC shocks to replace are serious money. I think there £700+ each shock.

Theres a special M5 BMW car magazine at the moment half price for £5.

Pacerpete knows a lot about these.

[he30]

special m5 bmw magazine? is this on the shelfs at the mo? and where? cheers

[kieran325]

WHSmiths.

[dimebag_from_hell]

I heard these cars are complete money pits when it comes to fixing them.

[hammoj28]

Thats the thing though, with any M car id guess. Buying them is one thing, but running them is another. Just make sure you budget for the M tax on parts.

Be worth it if you can though. They are immense motors and a gorgeous shape although id be tempted in an e28 instead.

[he30]

To be fair, any m cars big bucks to fix. you've just got to do your homwork properly, these are 20 year old + now nd all gunna have issues to a deegree. it will come down to how much you can beat the price down to i guess....

[maxfield]

pacerpete is the man for these cars.

How's this Howard?

[e30topless]

is it that time of year again Howard ?

I think the biggest problem with these is usually the previous owners
you need a highly documented, well cared for car Mate, there are some real dogs out there...

I have never really known any major rust issues with E34's ? but I believe they can rot under the sill covers ?

[bss325i]

Dont buy a scotch turd whatever you do!

[nickso]

my scotch 540i was almost spotless at 180k. you can find clean ones

[Simon13]

my scotch 540i was almost spotless at 180k. you can find clean ones

it obviously hadn't lived up there long!

[Theo]

my scotch 540i was almost spotless at 180k. you can find clean ones

My Scottish M5 was severely rotten underneath. You can find turds!

[nickso]

scotch car from day one, lived on a farm for a while too looking at the previous owners address.

of course the majority are rotten but not all.

[fingerman]

Never had an M5 in E34 format but would love to one day

he30 - have you every had an E34 before? They are good motors, think I'm on my 12th

As mentioned above M parts are in a different price bracket (like the V8 models) so make sure you've got plenty of spare cash to splash out on the old girl

BTW - why the 3.8 and not the 3.6 ?

[hammoj28]

my scotch 540i was almost spotless at 180k. you can find clean ones

Was a cracking looking motor wasnt it. Looked proper, especially rolling on style 5's.

[nickso]

my scotch 540i was almost spotless at 180k. you can find clean ones

Was a cracking looking motor wasnt it. Looked proper, especially rolling on style 5's.

bloke after me must have had the 5's on it. i didn't get round to changing the boggo 5 spokes.

i do miss that car, if only i had the money and space at the time i wouldn't have let it go.

[pacerpete]

I have had loads of these , including six 3.8 tourings I probably will never own another as most are now boarderline scrap I.E the cost of repairs to get them up to a good standard is more than the value of the car

Major issues include rampant sill rust, mostly hidden by the side skirts. Rusty fuel, brake and self levelling suspension pipes. Non functioning airconditioning, they NEVER "just need gas, innit" W4nked shock absorbers, 3.8 units are £1000+, EACH and cannot be successfully repaired. Oil leaks everywhere. Growly gearboxes. Shagged suspension arms and bushes etc etc
3.8 engines tend to be more prone to expiring in a spectacular fashion than 3.6s but they are all nigh on 20 year old turds now so all will be on borrowed time unless they have had major work.

A decent sorted one is a great car but you really do need access to a ramp and a very thorough inspection before you buy .

[fingerman]

Cheap as chips one here

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=85&t=69621

[pacerpete]

Cheap as chips one here

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=85&t=69621

Buying it will be the easy bit, as the seller undoubtably knows.......

[hammoj28]

my scotch 540i was almost spotless at 180k. you can find clean ones

Was a cracking looking motor wasnt it. Looked proper, especially rolling on style 5's.

bloke after me must have had the 5's on it. i didn't get round to changing the boggo 5 spokes.

i do miss that car, if only i had the money and space at the time i wouldn't have let it go.

Think it had style 5's on for a while before you had it. Its always the same tbh, in ideal situations you'd always keep cars like that.lol

[he30]

will find out more on monday, ie history etc. car itself requires a bit of tlc but looks faily honest and still has the origonal stickers under bonnet. guy selling has a ramp so will be able to have a good look around it! thanks for the feedback guys! sounds like an impecccable history file is key

[n1tr0_9]

Check for play in steering too

[bpowell555]

Can't you just swap out the shocks to standard?