For auction today is my 1995 BMW 540i, in Cosmos black, with black leather and a rare 6-speed manual gearbox – one of only 149 sold in the UK. When released, it was extremely competitive in the high-performance saloon car market, with its excellent handling, rapid performance, high standard of reliability and comfortable, well equipped interior. The 5-series has an MOT until February the 12th, 2010, and 6 month’s tax. Despite having covered 180,077 miles the car runs and drives well, without many of the usual 5-series issues, but could benefit from some work and further improvement – however, it can be used daily without issue and will drive any distance. The mileage may seem high, but it works out as less than 13,000 miles per year – about the average mileage accumulated on any car used for motorway commutes.
This particular E34 boasts the “M60” 4 litre 32-valve V8, making 282BHP and 295ft.lb, propelling the BMW to 60 in 6.2 seconds. Power is transmitted to the road by a 6 speed Getrag Type-D manual gearbox, giving quick acceleration and maximum performance whilst returning a relaxed cruising speed of 70mph at 2250RPM in 6th – allowing the V8 to return up to and over 30mpg on longer runs. Traction is maintained at the rear wheels by BMW’s ASC+T (Active Skid Control + Traction control, a £750 option) making the 540i very easy to drive in poor conditions, with the electronic aids preventing excessive oversteer or wheel spin. It is very unusual to find this option specified, let alone in fully-working order!
This car, barring the factory-fitted optional 6-speed manual gearbox, also benefits from M5 throwing star alloys, Shadow Line trim, clear indicators, dealer-fitted AC Schnitzer sports suspension & anti-roll bars, a BBR Performance Star-chip and a Clifford Concept 600 (Thatcham category 1) alarm/immobiliser with remote central locking, total closure and numerous other features. This is an extremely rare E34 in this specification and well worth considering.
Facts & Figures:
- Price new: Approximately £42,415.00 including options
- Weight: 1650 kg (3638lb)
- Powertrain layout: Front engine, rear-wheel drive
- Engine: 3982cc (4.0 litre) DOHC 32 valve V8
- Transmission: 6-speed manual Getrag Type-D
- Power output: 286 BHP (210 KW) @ 5800.00 RPM
- Torque: 295 ft.lb (400 NM) @ 4000 RPM
- Top speed: 155 mph | 249.4 km/h (factory limited)
- 0-60mph: 6.2 seconds (factory)
- 70-0mph: 161 feet
- Skidpan cornering G: 0.83g (factory)
- Standing ¼ mile: 14.8 seconds at 98.1 mph
- Urban mpg: 17.2mpg
- Motorway (75mph cruise) mpg: 29.4mpg
- Average mpg: 24.6mpg
- Length: 4.72m
- Width: 1.75m
- Height: 1.42m
History:
To accompany the BMW there is an inch-thick wallet of invoices for both routine servicing and maintenance. Unfortunately the service book itself was lost in 1999 but there are many invoices for past servicing, most of which are from BMW dealerships. I approached BMW with regards to finding out further information about the car’s history and they informed me that the car has attended two main dealers (Coopers, in Sevenoaks, and Listers in Kings Lynn) for the most part, and others as required, and been serviced on schedule, as well as having any warranty issues attended to.
I have, as mentioned, numerous invoices and inspections from BMW for servicing from 2000 to 2005 (during 2000 it is mentioned the service book has gone missing) and for private servicing since then (including the major service in February this year).
I also have a printout showing that the car was sold specified with the following options:
- Automatic stability control
- Sports steering wheel with airbag
- Leather seats
- Shadow line trim
- Electric tilt and slide sunroof
- Auto dimming interior mirror
- Myrtle wood trim
- Rear headrests
- Headlamp wash + intensive wash for windscreen
- Air conditioning
- Park ventilation
- Multi function steering wheel + cruise control
- Hi-Fi speaker system – BMW
- M-Sports suspension (now superseded by the AC Schnitzer sports suspension)
- Warning triangle & first-aid kit
The car was fully serviced in February this year, with new plugs, oil, fuel filters, air filters and more. The car also benefits from a pair of recent catalytic convertors, a new front windscreen, new front track rod ends, new lower suspension arms, and two nearly new front Bridgestone tires. The often problematic windscreen wiper rack was replaced late 2005 with a new item direct from BMW, along with new engine mounts at the same time. A new radiator was fitted in 2004.
I have a rolling-road printout from 2004 (prior to the BBR Star chip being fitted) which shows a recorded run of 287BHP at 5200RPM. There is also a HPI check from late 2004, showing the car as clear from damage. Two keys are supplied with the car, along with two alarm/immobiliser fobs – and I have the full V5c in my name, along with all the other paperwork including the owner’s manual, leather binder and 4 past MOT certificates.
Interior:
Overall, the interior is in exceptionally good condition – especially when considering the age and mileage of the car. The leather interior is, barring age-related creasing, free from tears and holes, and is soft and comfortable, with the seats being firm and supportive. The steering wheel, unfortunately, does have a tear in the top that I’ve taped over – where a ring snagged in it – and there is a small hole in the rear parcel shelf. Replacement steering wheels are avaliable for around £30. There are a few minor marks from a previously installed phone kit. The wood trim and dash are in excellent condition, as are the carpets. A full set of generic over mats are supplied with the car.
The sports steering wheel is adjustable, and given the multitude of seat adjustments, it is not difficult to make yourself at home. There is plenty of room and the additional front armrests (which are unworn) make long cruises comfortable – and remarkably don’t interfere with the manual gear change when folded down. There are numerous (another option) map lights, as well as rear headrests, a large glovebox, a driver’s stowage compartment, rear armrest with storage box and cigarette lighters for the front and rear. Both passenger and driver have shielded mirrors in the sunvisors, which illuminate two additional over-lights when opened. The rear seats have two inertial seatbelts and one lap belt.
The boot area is clean and presentable, although there are a few tools missing from the tool kit and the thread for the tool kit screw is partially stripped, so it does not stay up sometimes. This, however, would be relatively inexpensive to fix. The jack and warning triangle are present and the boot also has a storage pocket on the right hand side. The original extensive BMW medical kit is present and complete, along with the leather owner’s binder and manuals.
On the road the interior is a pleasing place to be. Even at speed on the motorway, wind noise is low and the ride is comfortable – although much firmer than a standard saloon – and during fast cornering the seats are supportive, with the sports steering wheel making it easy to maintain control through the corners.
Exterior and underside:
Externally the car is in quite good condition, with a deep shine to the Cosmos metallic black paint. Up close there are some small scratches, stone chips and blemishes, in line with its age and usage, as you’d expect. Underneath the car is in very good order and, as you’d expect, has never been welded nor received any advisories for structural corrosion come MOT time.
There are some minor areas of bubbling to the paint – the passenger side leading edge of the bonnet, the lower front corners of the rocker panels (just behind the front wheels), on the underside edge of the boot (above the number plate) and some very slight bubbling behind the rear arches . None of this, however, is particularly serious and is certainly not structural. A BMW touch-up kit in the correct colour is supplied, along with three unused spray cans – two of Cosmos black metallic paint and one of clear lacquer.
The lower front of the car, as it has been subject to mostly motorway work (hence the mileage), is quite heavily stone chipped - From a distance it is not noticeable but up close you can see numerous marks. I suspect a thorough weekend’s work would be able to correct most of these relatively minor issues, or if so inclined, a bodyshop would not charge much to have the damaged areas resprayed. The lower spoiler has also taken a shunt at some point but these are available second hand and easily replaced. On the whole, however, the car is very presentable and it would certainly not take much work to get it looking excellent.
All the glass is in good order with no scratches or chips. The front windscreen has been replaced this year, and the rear windows have been tinted for privacy. The E34 M5 alloy wheels are in very good condition with minimal damage and only some slight lacquer peel. The spare is a non-matching alloy of the correct size.
Mechanical:
The M60 V8 starts easily, pulls extremely well and there are no leaks, odd noises, smoke, fluid contamination or cooling system issues – even in heavy traffic the temperature gauge sits at the midway mark. All fluids are clear and fresh. The car is fitted with a BBR Starchip, reputedly bringing power up to 318BHP – consequently this 540i has a little more go than others. It burns no oil, has excellent emissions and still returns up to 30mpg without any issue, typically averaging 25-27mpg. Speed builds effortlessly in any of the lower four gears, with a prod of the throttle generating an instant shove, coupled with a pronounced roar as the revs climb – with the engine note settling back to relative silence when cruising. The previous owner informed me this was a later Alusil engine, thus devoid of the issues suffered by the earlier Nikasil blocks. I have no reason to doubt this, especially given how easily this engine starts and runs – and regardless, if the issue has not raised its head by now then it will not appear at all.
The 6 speed gearbox operates smoothly, with no odd noises or selections issues – even fast shifts are easily accomplished. The clutch, although heavy as you’d expect for a performance 6 speed item, does not slip and engages without any judder or issues – and there is no noise from the release bearing. The differential is quiet and I have never heard any clunks from the rear suspension under hard acceleration. The skid and traction control, as mentioned, works perfectly and makes it easy to keep the power in check – or, if so inclined, you can turn it off at the press of a button.
The power steering works, as you’d expect, and turns lock to lock without issue. At the previous MOT the tester advised there was some slight play in the steering box – however the car goes where you point it and does not track oddly. I suspect that maybe the upper front track rod ends or suspension arms could do with replacing to sharpen up the front end and bring it up to the expected level of handling, as the lower ones were replaced at the start of the year. E34s do tend to be a little vague steering wise due to their recirculating ball steering so I am potentially being overly critical here. The brakes are strong and pull the car up without any of the typical juddering, shimmy or pulling. The ABS works perfectly and the handbrake holds the car with ease.
The car was fitted with AC Schnitzer suspension & anti-roll bars in 2000 (by a BMW dealership, at a cost of £1387.91), and it still seems to be in fine fettle. It rides much harder than a standard 540i and corners very flat with plenty of traction and grip, even on rough surfaces. All the dampers function well and there doesn’t seem to be any issues with the suspension.
There were only a few minor advisories on the past MOT – both front brake discs are slightly worn (replacements available for £32 a corner), both front-to-rear brake lines are slightly corroded, and there is, as mentioned, (typically for an E34) slight play in the steering box. The car passed the emissions test with flying colours, with very low readings throughout. There is one green service light illuminated (out of 5, and both the 'low' orange and red service lights are out) and there are no inspection or oil service warnings.
The only item that requires replacement is the air conditioning condenser – In 2002 the entire system was replaced but later the condenser developed a leak, consequently the air conditioning does not work. A new condenser is available for around £90, and is relatively simple to fit – although the system will require re-gassing afterwards.
Electrical:
This 5 series is in very good order electrically, with only three issues I’ve come across. Firstly, the pump for the heated front headlight washer jets has failed. Secondly, the dashboard has been replaced (due to the screen failing) but it is an automatic dash – so consequently shows a ‘trans program’ warning. The dashboard is very easy to replace, however (2 screws and 4 clip cables), and they are available for around £20. Lastly, a warning is displayed for the oil level sensor (although the level is correct) – so it may be the sensor that needs replacing, or the connector that needs cleaning. All of these issues, however, are relatively inexpensive and easily resolved.
Other than that, it is in good order throughout. All electric windows and the sunroof function, opening and closing smoothly, and the total closure feature, both on the key and the fob, works perfectly – allowing you to just walk away from the car with the windows open, pressing the button to both lock and close up the car. This is part of the professionally fitted Clifford Concept 600 Thatcham Type-1 alarm/immobiliser system, which is in excellent working order and makes the car very secure. A Tevion flip-front CD player is fitted, which also accepts USB sticks and memory cards – and there is a line in located in the glovebox for attaching MP3 players. This is in perfect working order and drives BMW’s ‘Hi-Fi’ premium speaker system (including door-mounted tweeters), providing good sound quality.
The onboard computer is in excellent working order (and has recently had new bulbs fitted) – and allows for numerous readouts including temperature, economy, time, date, distance elapsed, ETA, average speed, and more. It also allows control of the (untested, only because it hasn’t been cold enough yet) auxiliary petrol heater – you program in a time and an auto-light petrol heater pre-warms and defrosts the car prior to you using it in the morning (or for leaving work at night). All dash illumination is in good work order and all the readouts are clear and sharp. The car has cruise control, which works perfectly and makes it very relaxed on long motorway drives.
All external illumination functions well as you’d expect and there are none of the typical intermittent warnings for bulbs out. The car has front and rear fog lights, to enable safer driving in poor visibility and a heated rear windscreen is fitted (also working on a timer if required for colder mornings).The genuine BMW battery holds an excellent charge and the alternator functions as you’d expect.
Summary:
This 5 series was, when released, a true super-saloon and still has the power and handling to put many moderns to shame. Being a manual, with a powerful V8, rear-wheel drive and the right options it ticks the correct boxes and with some improvement will be an excellent car for years to come. On the road it rides well (although much harder than a standard E34), corners rapidly with minimal body roll, cruises with ease and refinement and accelerates at a ludicrous speed, belying its weight and size, with a great engine note. To give some idea of potential value, a similar car in slightly better cosmetic condition, but with fewer options, recently sold for £3000 – so with a little improvement, it would be a sound investment, especially when these were only produced in tiny numbers. Their rarity is only going to increase as time goes on.
This car, given its performance and sheer punch, could make the ideal basis for a competitive vehicle if so inclined – maybe even for drifting, with its rear-wheel drive layout, 6 speed manual box, uprated suspension, strong brakes and potent V8 engine. There is a lot of excess weight in a 5 series that could no doubt be trimmed down to make it an even more rapid machine than it is now.
Parts & support for this car, and the E34 in general, are excellent – with online retailers such as ECP and GSF offering all that is required to keep a 5 series on the road. BMW themselves still stock parts for this generation as well (I myself have bought parts over the counter from them at very reasonable prices) and service items are also available from Halfords and local motor factors. It is worth mentioning that maintaining a 5 series like this does not involve taking it to a garage each time; general servicing is easily done at home and most replacement parts are relatively easy to fit – even suspension and braking components.
These cars are only going to increase in value as good examples start to dwindle, with many falling prey to poor maintenance and structural corrosion – and in this rare specification, even more so. They are very under stressed cars and the E34 generation is renowned as one of the best built and most reliable BMWs ever, so this example will no doubt continue to soldier on for years to come. With some work and improvement this could make a great car – but even as is, it never fails to put a smile on your face when you bury the throttle.
I have sold several of my previous cars via eBay and I have been left excellent feedback for each one so bid with confidence and feel free to contact me regarding any questions or enquiries you might have. A low reserve is set (less than the car is worth in parts, although it’d be a shame to break such a reliable example) – and the car is for sale ONLY via eBay, so do not worry about it being sold outside - the auction will run its course.
If you wish to contact me, feel free to do so. Last but not least, viewings are welcome.
