I've been looking more and more at E34s lately to replace the CL. I origanally wanted a 1995 540 6 Speed with the M sport package for my first car, and actually found one for a decent price in NJ, but my parents said no because it was RWD and a stick. But lately I've been getting the itch to get one.

I've been looking, and I kinda figured two different options. One would to be one in good shape with decent miles. already done up like this one http://www.roadfly.com/bmw/classifie...0&sortby=&dir=
Or get a run of the mill 540 6 speed, and sort of totally rebuild it.
http://www.roadfly.com/bmw/classifie..._YEAR&dir=DESC
The third one which I doubt would happen so I really don count it is to get a 525 5- speed and drop in a 3.8L M5 motor from Europe. Maybe even go with a wagon for that one.

I owe nothing on the CL, and I could easily get almost all the money I put into it back out, and hopefully sell it for not a whole lot less than I paid for it. If I went with option 1, I would only need a few grand more, which isn't too bad. With option 2, I would only need roughly 10k or less for the car, the rest can go in the bank, and I would slowly build it up.

And yes I know the older V8s had some problem with the Nikasil engines, I'm aware. I know its a BMW and it may break more and be more expensive to fix.

I doubt I would do anything soon, but I was just curious what you guys thought. If I sound crazy or what. I know Jesal will love this

 

If you can get your hands on the most recent Bimmer magazine, they had a buyers guide for the E34, and a good review of the different models. You certainly dont want that Nikasil, look for the Alusil replacement

 

I'll have to check that out, thanks. I only usually read Roundel, so I never get those. Yea, I already know about the Nikasil issues. Its kinda like our trannies

 

You should have snapped up that M sport, BMW only made 200 of them.

 

OH SHIT!!! Really?!?!?!?!

Like I said, my parents said no and since they helped pay for part of the car, and its in their name, I had to abid by their rules.

And my favorite 540 M-Sport
http://www.kindel.com/bmw/

 

I was thinking of buying one two before I bought the E39. I love the look of the previous BMWs a lot better than the E60s.

This thread/forum might help.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=315119

 

You should also consider this E34 550i V12

http://www.showyourauto.com/am/listings/l0032.html

 

No thanks. I read that they have had heat issues with the swap, or one similar to it. Plus the added weight over the front must hurt the handling some.

 

My father had an E34 525 5spd that we bought from the factory in Munich right when they came out, before we moved back to the states. He shipped it and enjoyed it for 6 years. Then fairfax bmw started trying to rip him off and bmw usa wouldnt back him. So he said fuck it and will never own another bimmer again. Anyway, he loved it while he had it. And I ended up buying a prior gen 528 as my first car. I loved the hell out of it.

I would definitely consider the 540...just for some reason the E34 looks really dated to me. I have seen two M5 models in the last week and

good luck.

 

1995 E34 540's were recalled because of issues within the motor...I wouldn't even risk it.

 

The "issues" was engine failure, due to the deterioration pf the Nikasil cylinder lining. It was caused by the high sulfur content in some fuels. But, BMW did replace many engines with the Alusil lined version. You just have to make sure that it has been repalced. No big deal really. And, to correct you, this also happens on the 530's too.

 

I thought it was only cars that were on the west coast that were affected. I forgot the reason though.

 

Something about those old bimmers with round headlights...

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-M...71870230QQrdZ1
I heart old skool.

 

my friends dad had an M6

 

Here ya go, everything you need to know about the M60 V-8s

http://www.e34v8.org/530i-Test.htm#new-short-block

 

Oh also, what i used to do when shopping at cars on roadfly.... i would get the sellers screen name and search his posts. If that guy has a supercharged 540 then im sure he has a few posts under his belt. So do your homework on the car and owner!

Tough call though. That SC 540 looks though.

 

Well, here is our E34 530i that is for sale.





more pics

Has the V8 with sport shift auto.

Problem is the fan broke into a million pieces and severed a few lines under the hood and almost put a hole right through the hood (just dented very badly). Also during this incident one of the engine mounts broke and now we have a shitstorm on our hands.

Its a shame because this car is in MINT condition besides the recent catastrophe. It was nice rolling around in a limo tinted black E34 with everyone turning their heads.

Good luck trying to find an //M sport

 

530i is equipped with a I6, not a V8.

After months of searching for a 540i (E34 or E39) I ended up with a E39 540i/6 with low miles. Did find a couple E34's but either the body was fvcked up or it had too many miles. For me, E39 was a better choice, updated styling both interior and exterior.

 

False. The 530 E34s were V8s. They were also prone to the same engine problems with the nikasil linings.

 

530 V8s = :ghey: that same year BMW made inline 6s that had 100 more hp.

I say go for the E34 M5. I saw one on the road a couple of months ago and it looked great.

 

It's funny what you can find out about people and there cars from their prior posts. Gotta be careful sometimes what you disclose on a forum. It's funny when people disclose what they paid for a car, and then a year or two later, when they go to sell it for twice what they paid, you can call 'em on it... Seen it happen before. People will forget what they've posted, but the search function doesn't forget.

 

And why are the 530's gay? Just curious as to what makes them this way? And are you comparing the 530's engine to the m5's engine? If so that is not a fair comparison.

 

Well compared to the 540i at least. A 215 hp V8 is nothing impressive these days. You might as well buy an E39 530i with the I6.

And even if I was comparing it to the E34 M5, that M5 had 2 less cylinders, no FI and still made 100 more hp than the V8. I'd rather have a TL-P than the E34 530.

 

Yeah, thats a good comparison, a mass marketed engine compared to a basically race engine.

 

What? An E39 530i has more power than that V8, and it's "mass marketed."

I think he was looking for a 540i for a reason. I know if I wanted to get an older BMW, it would to also get some performance out of it. A 530 won't help much.

 

Think about it, he's coming out of a CL. Do you think he would want to get into something that's slower and less comfortable and less luxurious? Noone "upgrades" from a CL to an old 530i.

 

So when did i ever say he should get a 530? Just curious. I know he was looking for a 540, i can read. You said that 530's were gay, and i was wondering why. I have grown up with BMW's all my life, and dont think any of them are gay. Back in the 70's my dad had a Barvaria, so i have had to hear about BMW's all my life.

 

Unless I was an old man in my 40s or 50s, I wouldn't care for any 5 series that goes to 60 in 2 minutes.

I'd buy a BMW to have fun with it, not to show my status, unlike you.

If he wants a nice ride, going from a CL to an E34 530i is a downgrade...performance wise and luxury wise. That's why they are :ghey: At least the 540i will give him some performance.

 

OK, so the 530 does 0-60 in 7.5 sec, and the 540 does it in 6.5, thats a long ways off of 2 min. And show my status? Where did that comment come from? If i really wanted to show my status would i be driving an Acura? And yeah that 6.5 0-60 time is really fast, crazy fast almost.

 

I think the e34 530 is a great car. Theres nothing gay about it, i would rock one!

 

NOOOO! Its gay, and its a piece of crap compared to anything else, at least thats what someone says.

 

I take it you're talking about the E34. You really have to be on the highway to understand what the car was made for.

Now show me why he should downgrade from a CL to a 530i. You might love your old BMWs, but they are not comparable to the better cars nowdays. To some people the difference between the power of the 530i and 540i is significant, otherwise noone would be driving the Type Ss. Just trying to prove that over 60 hp and who knows how many lb/ft of torque do not matter shows how much you know about cars...magazines. If it was up to you, we would all be driving CL-Ps and TL-Ps and whoever bought the Type S would be stupid.

 

Shutup. Of course you would. Driving a 530i would be a performance upgrade to you.

 

When did i ever say i liked/wanted a 530? Or that i love the old BMW's? Personally i would never trade in my 03 type S for a car from 95 or older. The style of the old BMW's, now i do love that. But not enough to get rid of my car.

 

Exactly. Of course the 530i is great when compared to 95 model cars, but why would anyone trade a CL for a 530i? That was my whole point. Of course back then it would have been a great car. He came on here and asked about the 540. Then someone mentioned the 530i. Compared the the CL, the E34 530i is :ghey: and nothing impressive. The reason why I would think about going from a CL to a E34 540I is not because of those DDR looking knobs and the interior, but because of the performance. Getting a 530i would ruin the whole point.

 

Some people dont like always going straight.


Handling.

530 > CL

 

Oh come on, what more fun is there than driving an auto CL down a straight road.

I agree though, as far as handling goes. But when they tested the 03 CL-S against the 330ci, they weren't far off. I would expect the CL to be close to the E34 530i.

 

I agree. Our E34 530i, without the suspension upgrades on it, still handled well. With the mods it handled extrememly well for such a heavy RWD car.

 

BMW handling > Any Acura handling

I've seen a guy hustle a stock 7-series around the auto-cross quicker than I could get the CL around the track by the end of the day

And the optioned out 5 series is just as luxurious as the CL. May not have in dash 6-cd player or some other nick-nacks, but still has memory seats and all that stuff.