Sorry, been busy.
Joshy, that E34 of yours was completely broken though wasn't it, hence the appalling economy
Not exactly a realistic reflection!
In my high mileage 540i, with a six-speed, it'd easily return up to about 30mpg on a run. On average, hacking around MK, I was doing more like 25-26, which wasn't shabby at all.
If you were really on the loud pedal a lot it dropped to around 16-20, but it wasn't hard to strike a good balance between fun and sensible economy
Fantastically built cars too, always felt very solidly put together and long lasting. Don't be put off by one that's hovering around 120-150k, but do have some slush funds put aside in case something like the clutch goes.
They aren't sports cars by any stretch but with a big engine and that great Getrag gearbox they're fun to hoon around, especially if they've got uprated suspension - mine had AC Schnitzer underpinnings and really cornered brilliantly, completely flat and level - which probably made a considerable difference. They make excellent motorway cars too, they just sit there and thunder along - and are very refined. They are big cars though, and an estate is only going to feel bigger, so do test drive one first to make sure it's what you're hoping for
Here's the facts and figures on my old one:
- 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
Mine had been chipped too so it had no limiter and a rather optimistic dyno printout for upwards of 300bhp, wouldn't put much faith in it though
Things to look out for:
- Rust
- Lack of (or inappropriate) maintainence
- Wear to front brakes
- Wear to front suspension (big heavy car), i.e. clunks over bumps
- Vague or loose feeling steering, should be relatively direct
- Check all the electronics
- Usual other car checks.......tyre wear, body gaps, crash damage (get it HPI'd), oil and coolant, make sure the fans come on and off and it doesn't overheat, etc...
Lasty - engines with Nikasil linings can suffer from corrosion which drops compression and causes poor running. This was caused by high sulphur fuels in the 90s and, despite common belief, can still raise its head these days. The symptoms are poor idling, hard starting and lacklustre performance. Most were fixed by having a new engine with Alusil linings that didn't corrode (recorded by BMW, so they'll be able to tell you if you give them the vehicle's details, if it's not in the history) but there are some still drifting around. If it's in fine health and runs well though - don't worry about it.
A good V8 should run silently and smoothly too, which is another good giveaway. The trick is to open the driver's door and start the engine. Watch the top edge of the door - if it remains still (the engine should turn over quickly and start, which may make it rock once), it means the engine's in good health and running fine. If it's vibrating, then the engine's missing a little and either in need of a service or suffering from some other issue (i.e. low compression on a cylinder).
There's about 500 manual V8 estates around, three times more than there is saloons, from memory.
Try and find one with as many options as possible too - as practically everything was a cost option. You want cruise, AC, ASC+T (stability control and traction, believe me you'll need it! - or alternatively an LSD if fitted, as one excludes the other), leather seats, twin electric sunroofs, etc......
If you've got any questions, feel free to ask
My old saloon:
Had done 180,000 miles by this point - so doing pretty well by all means and accounts
Flash makes the leather look a bit odd, but you get the idea!
Put it this way the Soarer feels more nimble and fun on Back roads despite being larger and a touch heavier. Not saying that the E34 chassis is bad by any means but they weren't built for "chucking" 
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