info about e34s

Post Sun Jul 01, 2007 1:34 am

my old man has just procured a 96 540i auto...just wondering if anyone knows of common problems to watch out for

Post Sun Jul 01, 2007 2:13 am

probably totaly off topic, but im pissed, i had a 530i manual e34 and it was fuckin awsome! get in! whip out that 540 and put it in a 2door E30!

Post Sun Jul 01, 2007 2:16 am

I think maxfields dad has a 540, might be worth giving him a shout

Post Sun Jul 01, 2007 8:54 am

Give BMW customer services a call with the chassis number to see if the original nikasil block has been replaced. E34's eat suspension parts for lunch so check all this out. If it hasn't been done, I'd change the gearbox oil. These are allegedly sealed for life but no oil lasts forever. BMW or a gearbox specialist can change this, but these V8's use the equivalent of liquid gold in the gearbox so it's an expensive job. Other than that, enjoy a superb car

Post Sun Jul 01, 2007 9:12 am

i'd change the suspension rubbers for poly ones did it on mine

Post Sun Jul 01, 2007 11:41 am

Be careful with poly bushes on E34's, they don't last long unless you specify the black material.

Only use on the upper and lower front control arms + anti roll bars. DO NOT USE ON SUBFRAME!

Get a nice exhaust, it's rude not to amplify the noise of a V8.

Evo-S

Post Sun Jul 01, 2007 11:44 am

My dad's is very unreliable only because of some stupid after market immobilizer.

Also has a bad knocking so probably needs new bushes.

And a scratch or dent in every panel, don't you just love spain?

Agree with Sal a nice exhaust will sound awesome on the V8.

Post Sun Jul 01, 2007 11:53 am

Got me a nice '88 535iSE (manual); great car, bags of oomph (as quick/quicker than a 325i) and a lovely exhaust note but the heater's stuck on!

Also I'm getting a rippling/clonking through the steering wheel on rough roads so I'm going to have to take a look at the front suspension soon...

Post Sun Jul 01, 2007 11:53 am

i changed both my front control arms on there

Post Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:11 pm

320iSE wrote: but the heater's stuck on!

Dodgy heater valve or may be some thing behind the heater controls has come adrift ?

Post Sun Jul 01, 2007 8:47 pm

Checked it out today; it's getting 12V to the connector when the heater controls are anticlockwise (cold), dropping to 0V in the clockwise (hot) setting. I took the heater valve apart, the valves looked reasonably clean, but I noticed that the solenoids don't seem to have any effect on them - they just 'hum' a little when power is applied