525 SE touring daily, Machine Polished!

[goosiegander]

Evening all,

Quite liking the idea of an e34 525 or 520 as a daily for the coming winter months.

Any thoughts, driving experiences, or recomended forums, i've been scanning PH AT and ebay but so far only a few have jumped out at me...

Nothing special just something i don't have to swear about if anything dramatic goes wrong or it gets spanked etc...

[Jhonno]

e36 imo.. Jobbed.

[bss325i]

A nice E34 is a great car but finding a nice one is a different matter!

Avoid a 520i as they are just crap but a nice 525iSE or sport with an M50tu is a nice car with reasonable MPG for a daily.

A decent E36 will be easier to find and easier to get parts for though.

[B7]

To me, the 525iSE or sport is a better car than a 36. IMO the 36 was the thin end of the wedge of BMW stopping building cars to maximum quality and switching their focus to maximum profit.

Take a look at the interior of an e34 and the fit and finish of a 36. I've yet to see a 34 with a door panel falling off or a glove box that don't fit.

The 36 is still a good car but in my opinion, the 34 was the last of the better built cars. True quality, classic looks! Win Win!

[goosiegander]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320759292615? ... 1438.l2649

Possible...

Considered an e36 but am feeling the whole barge vibe atm... e36 328 tourings are quite nice with the slushbox,

Any inspiration?

[Jhonno]

No problems with the fit/finish on my turd.. 328i FTW!

[Jhonno]

M52 is so much better than M50 that's reason enough to go e36 imo

[bss325i]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320759292615? ... 1438.l2649

Possible...

Considered an e36 but am feeling the whole barge vibe atm... e36 328 tourings are quite nice with the slushbox,

Any inspiration?

Looks like a decent enough car with reasonable mileage.

[goosiegander]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

Or this perhaps, loose the schnitzer badges, throw the dog in the back and never polish it...

Only problem is that i could get a little too attached...

[DanThe]

E36 is a pleb chariot, differs material just destined for coilovers and cracked bodywork. E34's are executive mobiles AND you can get two M52's in the boot of a touring with the seats up!

[bss325i]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

Or this perhaps, loose the schnitzer badges, throw the dog in the back and never polish it...

Only problem is that i could get a little too attached...

Now that looks like a nice chariot!

[DanThe]

BTW an auto rear wheel drive is major fail if your on snow!

Just fitted an LSD to my auto touring

[Jhonno]

My sister's auto Compact was the only car not to get stuck in the snow in our family..

[Jhonno]

E36 is a pleb chariot, differs material just destined for coilovers and cracked bodywork. E34's are executive mobiles AND you can get two M52's in the boot of a touring with the seats up!

An e34 is just a rusty dated old turd waiting to be turned into a toaster..

[bss325i]

E36 is a pleb chariot, differs material just destined for coilovers and cracked bodywork. E34's are executive mobiles AND you can get two M52's in the boot of a touring with the seats up!

An e34 is just a rusty dated old turd waiting to be turned into a toaster..

So's an E36!

[Jhonno]

An e36 is a rusty turd yes. Looks 10 years younger though.

[spook]

I will be putting my 525 SE touring up for sale very soon,Calypso Red, Black leather,double sunroof etc.

A nice honest example

[Andyboy]

Therev are still some decent E34's around - almost always 518i or 520i's.
525i's are the ones to have but I wouldn't turn down a clean 520i. They aren't the best model in terms of mpg or performance but they're not exactly horrid to drive - lovely smooth engine and they're so reliable. The 518i is alright as well, capable of 30 mpg without much trouble and they're quite torquey to row along. Not fast, but it'll get out of its own way.

It's worth buying a good E34 now, waxoyling it to buggery and putting it away. In 10 years time when E60's are unfixable nightmares, you can add a battery, MOT it and off you go.

The E36 316i/318i is also worth a punt as a cheap to fix, easy to maintain 'banger'.

[goosiegander]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

Or this perhaps, loose the schnitzer badges, throw the dog in the back and never polish it...

Only problem is that i could get a little too attached...

Now that looks like a nice chariot!

Probably has some moody or missing history if its not a total rot box underneath,

Do quite like it though...

[Blitz]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

Or this perhaps, loose the schnitzer badges, throw the dog in the back and never polish it...

Only problem is that i could get a little too attached...

I like alot!

I saw a E36 saloon for sale for £595, My foot manged to remove the whole rear sill. Sills and arches were so rotten you could could take apart the bodywork with a small prod.

[goosiegander]

I will be putting my 525 SE touring up for sale very soon,Calypso Red, Black leather,double sunroof etc.

A nice honest example

Nice,

Care to pm me some details?

[goosiegander]

Probably going for a look around tomorrow,

Anything important to be mindful of?

[spook]

Pm sent

[goosiegander]

No problems with the fit/finish on my turd.. 328i FTW!

Any reflections having driven it for a few months now dude?

LPG doing the business for you?

[pac1982]

E39? cheap as chips at the moment

[capri_rob]

E39? cheap as chips at the moment

Theres a reason for that

[pac1982]

E39? cheap as chips at the moment

Theres a reason for that

E39's a bloody good car only reason they cheap is because they have a bit of a drinking problem

[capri_rob]

I love E39's but a cheap one will be cack - and not just because of the thirst.

[Jhonno]

No problems with the fit/finish on my turd.. 328i FTW!

Any reflections having driven it for a few months now dude?

LPG doing the business for you?

For smoking about in, it's bloody awesome tbh.. Comfy, quick, enough space, handles well when you take it by the scruff, economical, looks great imo.

LPG was doing it, but injectors are failing, so running it on expensive juice right now.

[goosiegander]

Cool, polished it yet?

I really liked the idea of an e39, but a dog of an example thats going to gargle and spit cash into a bottomless pit doesn't do it for me.

Could spend 3-4k on a nice car but again that defeats the object,

E34's are depreciation proof, much like the 36' just a little more sensible and the extra space will make all the differance me-thinks...

[Jhonno]

Had 4 up in the turd, perfectly comfy. I really don't see the e34 as better having driven both. Not polished mine yet, but washed it 3 times! Shocking..

[e30topless]

E39? cheap as chips at the moment

Theres a reason for that

E39's are over complicated sh1tboxes !

a good E34 is a great car well up to the job, don't dismiss the 518i as a daily smoker I was very very suprised by the one I owned for a while,

[DanThe]

Why have a 3 series touring when you can have double the space and comfort with a 5?
But then Jhonno likes AKG engine mounts and coilovers on his daily hack.

E34 rust points are sills especially around the jacking points, wings, rear arches and bootlid where the number plate lights mount. Fuel filler area also if the previous has parkinsons and chucks petrol everywhere once a week...

[DanThe]

Steve, the only thing that surprised me about that 518 was the reasonably low milage, but once id driven it for a mile or two it clicked.

[bss325i]

Fuel filler area also if the previous has parkinsons and chucks petrol everywhere once a week...

Maybe Michael J Fox once owned my Alpina!