E34 540i

[Simon13]

I'd like one of these but i'm not buying one, a manual 6 speeder with a stainless system has to be tempting though? v8 must rock. M60's aren' that bad if looked after though are they? You see plenty of high milers.

Anyone had one of these rare beasts?

Really thirsty? or just thirsty?

[Andyboy]

The old M60 was a good engine. Many had the Nikasil drama, some didn't. But I've seen lots of original Nikasil V8's still going strong, some with over 200k.
They're becoming a banger now so they're a car to buy cheap and hoon about until they break. They're getting cheap enough now.....

[Ant]

will do low 20s Si, had one for a week, manual M60 4.0 non vanos wrongness.

good engine, but a minefield as Andy already said.

a good cheap one would make you happy, my old firm sold a PX inter 540 6 spd E34, FSH and 90K for £650 I was not there that day or it'd been mine

[Simon13]

thats what i thought buy one cheap with T&T hoon about for a few months and sell it on, just so i've had one! but we know i'd keep it and spend some money on it!

[Davenotouring]

Yes Si we do! You're addicted!

It'd soon be lavished with Alpenis extras and chrome arches!

[Simon13]

Hmmm would be a nice tank, would be also very good to fit the engine into an E30 too when you want it to go faster! Maybe when the alpina is done this could be the next project!

[Jon_Bmw]

Si, this is something I have considered too. Just to keep 5 or 6 months, not a total keeper. There was a very nice calypso one on ebay not so long ago, manual too. £1850 iirc. The thing is that they usually come specced up, electric leather, nice interior, cruise, electric everything, Not much rust(compared to an e30). BUT the downside:

Not sure about you, but I do a lot of cold starts in bristol rush hour, where MPG is silly in a 2.2 litre car let alone a 4.0litre car. Its down to 17 or 18 in my s4 which weighs about the same as an 540i so i can only imagine worse figures for the 540i. Also there is the nikasil issue which makes me warey, especially doing lots of short runs in it. Maybe in a few years when i'm not in Bristol i'll have one.

A calypso red, touring, non nikasil block and manual would more than tempt me to sell my audi. Not sure if they did a calypso touring though

[Simon13]

i'd prefer a saloon as it will be cheaper, i think leather and cruise were standard on these. I'll have to dig out the copy of total bmw when the did the buying guide on the V8 E34's by everett and have a read

It's not a sensible car by any means! I'm sure one would do 25 on a run with the cruise on. I've been told they go rather well in manual form! Which is what i'd want

[jonb]

Simon

This is a mans car, not some poxy old e30, with a weezing 6 pot. You sure you can handle it.

[Morat]

We sold a 540i from work after a director decided he wanted a damn Prius.

Anyway, it was a 1999 model 4.4l switchable auto, adjustable suspension, sports leather, power seats the whole lot. Silver on BBS deep dish splits.
I went out with the company driver/mechanic in the thing and hooned around the country lanes for 20 minutes - burnt a third of a tank of petrol in that time. Average consumption must have been in single figures.

Its fast, very fast - but more in a "Was I really, officer?" kind of way. It doesn't make you feel like a race hero in the way an E30 does. You look down at the speedo and you're doing 80 instead of 50. I doubt much could keep up from 50-80, once the box has done its "lurch, kickdown, GO" thing. If you're in manual mode its great, fast smooth shifts like a sequential manual. Great fun.

I didn't get the better of the traction control, even booting it in second out of corners. It just gathered itself together and when it straightened up and got more grip it went off like a rocket. If I was going to drive to Italy and back thats the car I'd take.

[320Touring]

Si, you know you wanna join the m60 darksinde. the 3.0 block in my e32 is still pulling well, at 189k

they are weird to drive though, feels like a v8 iS almost- the 32v make it a much more urgent engine than say an m30.

e34 540i's shift, and the e34 is a fun handling car.

GO FOR IT!

[Simon13]

not yet! i'm thinking i'll get one for a laugh. It's money i should spend in the pina but..............if a good manual one comes up with T&T why not! i bet insurance might be a touch high.

My mum had an E34 525i SE 24valver on a J plate back in the day after she sold her 86 318 M10 engined E30, i have fond memories of it as does she!

Could be on the cards i do fancy a different bmw, i mean i've been driving E30's as daily drivers for 6 years now

[Davenotouring]

Could be on the cards i do fancy a different bmw, i mean i've been driving E30's as daily drivers for 6 years now

[Simon13]

what?! i am an E30 gaylord i know, Dave all those faces are making my computor slow

Jonb if you're man enough for a 850Ci then i could handle this old barge!

[Davenotouring]

I thought you'd never have anything other than an E30..........

[Simon13]

Serious?! i've been thinking of what else i could drive instead of the diesel van/pick up i should really have with my occupation but i f**kin hate them.

I like to drive something which is half decent built or fun to drive. Vans
are neither!

Back on topic i've heard 540's are un loved by the motor trade and are difficult to sell, so it could be a buyers market? but i expect manuals are even harder to sell though?

[Davenotouring]

Si, just kidding, but I know you love your E30s!

I would love to have a 540i actually. Have to get a straight through pipe on it!

[Simon13]

yes that would be a must, unleash that V8 warble thats the whole point though a V8 in a BMW and a manual gearbox it's got to be a fun car? Surely these puppies are 3.6 M5 quick? 286bhp to M5's 315 of which not many M5's make stock power! and not far off the pace of a 3.8?

295lbs of torque can't be sniffed at even now?! They must have a much more real world quickness with all the grunt a V8 has from low down compared to an M power E34, not revving up just get up and go in any gear

The job i'm on at work the neighbour has a 645Ci and it sounds superb waffling up the road, just read Mr Everetts guide £600 for a clutch seems they can be expensive to run even petrol aside! Must give up smoking then, easy choice.....

[Davenotouring]

Would be expensive to run, no doubt about that.

It couldn't be far off a 3.6 M5, I'm sure. Not much less power!

Do it do it do it!

[Andy335Touring]

Go for it Si !

[jonb]

I say get one si.

The manuals command a higher premium. And are much harder to find.

I nearly bought one off some old boy(about 80 he was) a few days before christmas. £1500, silver, 114k, black leather, 6 speed, bilsteins etc. Long tax and test. Needed paint down one side due to dents, and rear shocks needed doing. He didnt fancy my offer of £800. I probably could have got it for a grand, really should have bought it. Never mind.

It felt as quick as a 3.6 m5. Not as torquey low down as you think, due to the curb weight and long gearing. But they go very well by the time your at 4000rpm. You can fit the 3.6ratio
diff to these, which makes them even quicker.

Put the welder down and get your money out si.

[snoops]

yep definitly go for it my mate had one of these and it was QUICK!

[Simon13]

it's a patience game with these though, just have to wait for one to come along and then decide!

Jon has the old boy still got it?! I'd keep the touring as back up see if my parents would look after it!

Could you not fit an M5 3.8 LSD to it or are the gearbox ratios different between them anyone?!

I know if they were ordered without traction control or ASC in bmw twang they had an LSD instead

[old_skool]

The V8 could kill you before the fags mate

The 540 is a great tool, no idea what they do/don't suffer with though. If cash wan't a major concern would the E39 be a better car or is the E34 better?

[Simon13]

e34 is alot cheaper,better built car and can be made to work in an E30 too now hardly anyone has done that!

[jonb]

Simian

No it was sold. I rang again a few weeks later.

Keep an eye on ebay dude. About time you drove something without rust, oil leaks, damp etc etc....

[parksie]

Take a look on Ebay e34 parts section

540i touring manual box, a bit damaged but £4oo- £800 will buy it

[Simon13]

it's an auto i'd be down there if it was manual!

looked like a nice car pre crunch and you know thats a difficult repair!

[parksie]

Oh yeah

I never got past the 5 speed bit thought of you , tools in the back, cruising the sites

I've got a 95 540i touring but with the adaptive auto box, £3500 extra when new & it really is brilliant

0-60 6.5secs ,0-100 in 14.5 secs nearly as quick as the M5

You could always give Dent Devils a ring ref the "Dent"

[yamoda]

I was looking for a decent one for ages. Finally found one, 1 owner from new (MD of a brewery who bought it off the company when his new car came), 55k genuine miles and virtually every extra from the options list including traction control, parking sensors, adaptive auto box, lsd, the works. Paid 3.5k for it 3 years ago and it still drives like a new car. Only gives me 15 mpg but goes like shit off a shovel. In the paperwork I got with it was an invoice dated July 1996 for £51,200. I reckon I got a bargain!

[Simon13]

15mpg! most people i know who have had one always manage low 20's, but this is from manuals

[320Touring]

15mpg! most people i know who have had one always manage low 20's, but this is from manuals

if I can live with it si, then you, in all your £1k a week polish glory s, sure can

[Simon13]

look! a manuel!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-540-I-TOURING ... dZViewItem

miles away and.........

[320Touring]

think I'd rather walk mate-thats too much money for a car that needs mega moolah to make it pretty agian...

see you have the touring bug bad now, though

[Simon13]

i'm not fussed with a 540 i like either, that's had a bit too much of a smack for my liking too

Thats it see i like my 325i touring and it cost £350, so i wouldn't sell it. I'd try and leave it at my parents, see if they would use it for the trip to the dump, alotment etc!

So i have a back up if the 540 dream goes a bit wrong....