E34 520i - running costs?

[Captain_Slick]

I've had my Mondeo half a year and I'm already considering my next car. Earliest I'd be getting it would be Feb, so still plenty of time to decide. Just looking at potential options.

I've found a couple E34 520is locally, 1989/1992, FBMWSH, 1 or a couple of owners, etc, from the pictures they look in mint or just less than condition although obviously a good in person inspection would be obligatory. And I've looked at the insurance and it's not much more than my Mondeo would go down to for next year, about £200 difference over the year (thank you inflated young people insurance costs).

Obviously with a car that's as old as myself, or older depending on which I went for, the running costs are probably going to be the killer, no?

Has anyone owned one of these and if so what were the running costs over the year? Average service costs? etc.

I really like the style of these relatively old BMWs. If I can't afford to keep it on the road though, I'll have to look elsewhere.

Also, whilst I'm asking, what are your thoughts generally on the E34?

*awaits the standard "OMG YOU'LL CHANGE YOUR MIND AGAIN IN A WEEK" reponses*

 

[[TW]Fox]

In theory running costs are not huge - they don't take massive tyres, they don't require expensive and complicated servicing or special oil, etc etc.

However they are, as you've identified, very old now so stuff will break. You'll be constantly fixing stuff. If you need to pay someone else do to this its not a good idea. If you are handy with a spanner though, why not?

 

[Clarkey]

I'd go for one with the M50 engine, Can't remember when the swichover was, late 91 I think. M20 is a bit archaic in comparison.

 

[Sone]

i had a 92 520i, i really liked it but there is no point in getting one when the 525i has the same running costs and costs bugger all more to buy.

Engine was very smooth but it did feel underpowered in such a big car, weights pretty much the same as the e39 afaik so was very heavy for its day.

 

[Scania]

I've found a couple E34 520is locally, 1989/1992, FBMWSH, 1 or a couple of owners, etc, from the pictures they look in mint or just less than condition

Wow! I admire you ability to find rocking horses with bowel movements!

Nice & smooth, well built I remember them well (my Dad had 2 e34 530i's from new years back) I would go for a larger engine than the 520 though, a 525i is a much better bet imo - similar running costs to the 520i but better performance.

If you get one, post pics! I love e34's.

 

[Joe T]

Wheres Lashout when you need him!

 

[Joshy]

i had a 92 520i, i really liked it but there is no point in getting one when the 525i has the same running costs and costs bugger all more to buy.

Engine was very smooth but it did feel underpowered in such a big car, weights pretty much the same as the e39 afaik so was very heavy for its day.

This says it all really.

As said earlier, avoid pre 1990 cars with the Single cam M20 engine. If it's dull and slow in an e30 I dread to think that it is like in an e34!

I have no direct experience with M50s, but if it's anything like an M52 it's going to want to be Revved fairly hard to extract any real degree of performance, and even then it's not going to feel particularly quick. I drove a 530i e34 on the weekends for a short while and that wasn't anything really to shout about (at least around town).

Even with most components 165,000miles, the ride quality of ours was utterly fantastic. Very well screwed together too as you'd probably expect. The only compliant I would have is the Steering did feel slightly 'disconnected', which I put it down to having a steering box rather than a conventional rack. Not anything major, just requires a little bit of getting used to.

That all being said, I'd give some serious thought to this before chopping in the Mondeo for an e34. If you get over the 'OMG, it's a BMW!' aspect it is a sideways step at best.

May I ask what insurance company you're with that are offering bearable insurance quotes on a e34 at a young age? I've been willing to undergo the horror of a 518i to get me into an e34, but so far no dice .

 

[Captain_Slick]

Thanks guys.

Are all cars after 1990 going to definitely have the M50 engine? I bet they look different so it shouldn't be hard to spot.

I've just checked the insurance on the 525i and it's another £200 a year dearer than the 520i. I can afford that, but I'm wondering if it's worth £400 more per year than the Mondeo... ?

Also, what are these like compared to similar age Mercs? C240, for example?

The quotes I'm getting are with Directline, Joshy. They're fully comp, as they seem to charge the same for TPFT, with 1 year NCB (which I'll have by the time I get a new car). It's a lot of money, but it will be for anything for me at 18, so I might as well get something special and not run of the mill, is the way I see it. Hey, at least it isn't £3k like it was/is for this year. No experience and a wierd postcode = raped by insurers.

 

[Joshy]

The M50 looks vastly different from the M20. The M50 has a big black plastic cover sitting onto of the engine with along with a conventional looking black inlet manifold on the side. The M20 has a funky inlet arrangement sitting 'on top' on the engine, and is (along with the cam cover) sliver. Post 1990 cars SHOULD have the M50, but as always with model year change overs don't put 100% faith into the registration year.

As for the 520i Vs 525i debate. They are going to use similar amounts of fuel, are going to have very similar running costs and cost similar amounts of money to buy, but one is going to be packing an extra 42bhp under that lovely forward opening bonnet. Not much of a discussion in my opinion .

 

[Lashout_UK]

Any car pre 1991 will most likely have the M20 engine. It is worth avoiding this engine as not only is it less powerful and less durable than the M50, it also has a timing belt which invokes a 200-300 quid bill every 3 or so year when it needs changing. The M50 has a timing chain so, barring coolant, plugs, oil and filters, will require nothing else.

If you intend on keeping it some time, it's worth changing the water pump, thermostat and hoses if there's no evidence of it being done - then doing it every 50,000 miles or so if you feel it necessary.

The earlier M20 looks like this:

......and the M50 like this:

It is worth going for a 525i over a 520 - I am averaging 30.2mpg in my 525i manual at the moment - about 60:40 motorway/town work. Manual boxes are lovely and feel like they're from a much smaller, sportier car than the big 5. Auto boxes are excellent too and sometimes better if you're doing motorway cruising - as the auto versions have much taller gearing (an auto 525i is doing about 2200rpm at 70, a manual nearer 3000).

Worth driving a few examples too so you can recognise a good one from a tired one - they should have sharp, accurate steering, feather light pedals, positive controls and a smooth, effortless drive with no odd noises or ride issues.

I'll be home tomorrow so post up a list of precisely what to look for (only about 6 major points to consider, barring usual purchasing checks), as well as a plethora of other potentially useful information

A lot of it comes down to how well cared for the example you buy has been - buy a good one and it'll need nothing but servicing and reward you with sterling service - buy an uncared for one and it'll still soldier on indefinitely but ride, drive and generally feel much less of a car - and potentially generate a few large bills for replacement bushes or steering boxes, for example. Buy one with lots of options too, as they make the car much more enjoyable to own - pretty much everything on a 5 series was optional (you could get a V8 manual 5 with cloth, no aircon, manual everything and bog standard alloys for example...want more? You'd have to pay for it!).

As an idea of ownership - mine's got FBMWSH, done just over 148,000 miles and been through the past 3 MOTs with no work at all. It drives perfectly, rides fantastically, everything works and there are no creaks, rattles or groans. The only thing I don't like is that it's engine is just too damned quiet! It just gets oil, filters and plugs when required - no doubt it'll need discs and pads at some point but nothing unusual there....Parts are quite cheap too!

Even my 540i, with 180k, drives really very well and has stood the test of time well.

The E34s are rated as the best built and most reliable BMW ever, and that reputation is fully deserved

My 525i's potentially for sale soon as well........ace bit of kit!

 

[Thomas. PLease.]

fancy a swap for a tatty 190e 2.6?