Advice please... E34 or not?

[Dr Firefly]

Hi guys,
Long time no see. Sadly 2 children, a real life and a few years of tight finances meant I gave away my beloved E30 325i cabriolet at silly money to someone who I knew would look after it 5 years ago.

Fast forward to now... I'm commuting a long distance - 100miles each way - once a week.

Really tempted by a decent sized car that would be good for holidays around Europe occasionally and that would make for a nice 200mile round trip once a week.

I've always loved E34s. Never driven or owned one. They don't seem to be going for silly money yet like the E30s are nowadays.

Questions:
1. Am I mad?
2. Will an E34 function as a long distance car these days or am I just asking too much of an old car... what's reliability like compared to E30s?
3. Handling and general driving? Comparable to the fun of an E30.
4. Parts availability, resources online etc. With my E30s, E30zone was a major resource for me for maintenance and parts...
5. I'm imagining they're much more practical - my wife hates tourings (sorry guys) but I'd imagine with that big boot and a roofrack you could manage a family camping holiday at a push.
6. What model? Leaning towards a 535i...
7. What should I be paying - I've seen the odd 535i around for £3k - more than an E39, which is making me hesitate. Am I silly for going for something much older?

(I really want to be told that an E34 is nirvana and I'll never regret it...)

Regards and look forwards to hearing from you all again and seeing who's still about. Nice to see the community's still here even if the prices are silly nowadays...
Ian x

[Speedtouch]

I once owned a 1988 E34 535i manual, that had been converted from a 525i Automatic, after owning a succession of four E30s (2x 320i, 2x 325i). It went as well as an E30 325i, in fact, slightly better at the top end (saw an indicated 147 units of speed out of the thing, compared to around 140 from a 325i).

Of course, they are larger and heavier (approx. 1.5 tonnes, compared to 1.25 tonnes for an E30 six-pot), but don't feel overly bulky once you're used to the size. I averaged low 20's mpg, which is reasonable for a big 3.5-litre straight six; you can get up to 30 mpg with these on a long run.

Only real downside I would say is the steering box, which isn't as precise as an E30's rack and pinion.

Common faults are worn front suspension bushes, giving steering shimmy at around 50 mph or so, so ensure you check for that during a test drive.

You may be best off going for the later facelift M50-engined ones, which give better fuel economy than the ealier M20/M30 engine cars. It's advisable to avoid the 2-litre automatics, which are reknowned for being underpowered.

I later owned a 1997 E39 523i (with the M52B25), which to be honest was a better car to drive than the E34, with rack and pinion steering and the 24-valve straight six which was responsive and returned high 20's mpg with average driving. They are, however, more complex cars to maintain.

[Brianmoooore]

Had a M50Tu engined 2.5 E34 manual saloon which served well for several family holidays around Europe after the demise of my red E30 touring at the hands of an airborne Porker.
Never gave any trouble and was a pleasant enough place to be. You're aware that you're throwing around considerably more weight than an E30, but it handles well enough, and the steering was responsive enough, even though it isn't rack and pinion.
The only expense, maintenance wise, was an appetite for suspension bushes.
I eventually replaced it with the current 328i E39, which, although it has more toys, wasn't quite the upgrade I expected. For the actual driving experience, I think I prefer the E34.

[Cloggy Saint]

Do E34s still exist?? Can't remember the last time I saw one.

[Brianmoooore]

There's a very tidy brilliant red one, usually parked up in a lay by in a village I pass through on my way to buy fuel (LPG), but that's the only one I know of.

[Satan]

Was the E34 the one with the odd sized wheels?

[darkchild]

Was the E34 the one with the odd sized wheels?

Late ones often came with metrics that most replace with 15" BBS.

[darkchild]

Do E34s still exist?? Can't remember the last time I saw one.

Still see a few in Norfolk. Mainly 525i or V8 Tourings. I also regularly see a F plate Alpine White 520i that I posted on here a couple of years ago when it was for sale. It was practically mint with only 60K on the clock and I considered purchasing it but the combination of a 12v 129bhp M20 paired to a slushbox put me off. I'm sure it drives lovely though as long as you're not in a rush! It just had that provenance of a well looked after car.

[martauto]

My eldest had an e34 525 se and it was a truley lovey car to drive. I toured Wales in her and the next day he toured Scotland all without misshaps. Try and find one !!!!
He then bought an e39 535 v8 which something else and the fool listened to his wife and bought some van derived shit instead.
Try and find good ones of either !!

Mart.

[Satan]

My eldest had an e34 525 se and it was a truley lovey car to drive. I toured Wales in her and the next day he toured Scotland all without misshaps. Try and find one !!!!
He then bought an e39 535 v8 which something else and the fool listened to his wife and bought some van derived shit instead.
Try and find good ones of either !!

Mart.

Should have instilled in to him from an early age the following mantra "women know bugger all about cars and don't listen to them regarding cars"

[Chimmychanga]

I have a 525i E34 (M50TuB25) as a daily and love it. They do seem to have an appetite for suspension parts, but probably a combination of a heavy car and all the pot holes where I live. I have always used it as my only car and have often traveled 200+ miles a week in it with no worries. The fuel economy is bearable especially when mainly used for motorway cruising. I would imagine it may be slightly better with a manual but they are harder to come across. Rear legroom is not fantastic, especially when factoring in child seats and needing to have the drivers seat all the way back.

It seems like the E39 may be a better bet for parts availability as there seem to be loads around and being broken. E34 bits are getting to move in the direction of E30s.

[Brianmoooore]

I should point out that mine had over 200,000 miles on it when I bought it, and still gave no trouble in my ownership, apart from suspension parts.
I bought it because I needed an E30 replacement, it was cheap, it was relatively local, and was already running on LPG, with a good system fitted.
It was brilliant red in colour, and everyone knows that reds fade, but this car was something else - the entire right hand side was much closer to white than red, but an hour or so of mopping put that right. It had spent much of its life running between the UK and Rome, and had been fitted with two 80 litre cylindrical LPG tanks in the boot, leaving just about enough room for a suitcase at the back, so could easily do the whole journey will no refueling stops.
With the rearmost tank removed, I had plenty of boot space for my needs.

[Brianmoooore]

I should point out that mine had over 200,000 miles on it when I bought it, and still gave no trouble in my ownership, apart from suspension parts.
I bought it because I needed an E30 replacement, it was cheap, it was relatively local, and was already running on LPG, with a good system fitted.
It was brilliant red in colour, and everyone knows that reds fade, but this car was something else - the entire right hand side was much closer to white than red, but an hour or so of mopping put that right. It had spent much of its life running between the UK and Rome, and had been fitted with two 80 litre cylindrical LPG tanks in the boot, leaving just about enough room for a suitcase at the back, so could easily do the whole journey will no refueling stops.
With the rearmost tank removed, I had plenty of boot space for my needs.

[Blitz]

The problem is they are all very old, worn out and rusty. I had difficulty finding a nice one 7 years ago.

[Simon13]

A good E34 is a great car, sadly there are very very few left! I love um, an M5 is a bit like a big E30 on the road with twice the build quality.

A decent 525i touring manual is a good all round tram in terms of power and economy as bar this or a 518i the rest of the e34 doesn't do great mpg. There aren't many e34s left now, scrappage scheme and drift cocks saw a huge amount off a few years back

[Mitchen]

Proud owner of a reliable 518 daily smoker that does 80 miles a day

[flybynite]

I guess I'll be looking after the 535i Sport that I've had parked up for a decade or so. Although it has still got a perfect set of big metrics with good Michelin Tyres I could not go down to 15" wheels, didn't seem right for a 535, so when I get round to it there's some staggered 17" type 32 sitting waiting to go on it.
And to think at one time I was going to frag it and build a 335 out of the 323........what was I thinking

Not as agile as the E30 but for the time I drove it, it handled well and drove really smooth. The thing feels like it is hewn from solid rock compared to the E30, certainly built well.

[Shutthatdoor]

+ 1 for good experience of e34 ownership. Had one alongside e30 Touring for 3 years now, use for long trips which it is perfect for comfort and refinement-wise. Recently toured France & didn't see another! At least three in daily use I know of where I live.