E34 M5. whose had one
- Thread starter Matt82
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![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
It's not about running 'the best' car you can for the money, it's about running something you have a particular interest/passion for. Buying any car that costs £5k a year to run is never going to be a rational choice.
Soldato
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Not had an M5, had a 6-speed 4.0 V8 though, which isn't a million miles off.
Fantastic bits of kit really, in reality you're just looking for good history, as low as mileage as possible and for evidence that the car has been well looked after.
I've seen 220k examples selling for 2k recently - I went and looked at one and it was in fantastic condition really - they take the miles very well - BUT they are expensive to maintain - they are not your run of the mill 5 series with a fancy engine. The real catch with the M5 is that if something does go wrong, parts prices for specific components can be extortionate, and with the labour requiring specialist attention, one major failure can be enough to undo the car's value completely.
You also can't run the car with a 'I'll get that fixed later' kind of attitude - if it has a fault, it really will need attending to on the spot as otherwise you could be letting yourself in for something worse.
My old 540i 6 speeder:
Great car to drive - and that was the long-standing impression left by mine on me, which was a little rough around the edges and had done 180,000 miles!
You want to buy one with a strong engine that runs without fault - as rebuilds are expensive - but if it's been cared for, it shouldn't be a problem anyway.
Other things:
- Transmission / Clutch - does it run well without any odd noises or judder?
- The classic front end wobble, with the E34's suspension and bushes wearing with age
- Shot water pump
- Oil and water leaks
- Loose steering, as the steering box can wear
- Window operation
- Rust
- Shocks
- Compression & general engine health
- Receipts!
There is a mine of info here:
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e34-m5-discussion/
Fantastic bits of kit really, in reality you're just looking for good history, as low as mileage as possible and for evidence that the car has been well looked after.
I've seen 220k examples selling for 2k recently - I went and looked at one and it was in fantastic condition really - they take the miles very well - BUT they are expensive to maintain - they are not your run of the mill 5 series with a fancy engine. The real catch with the M5 is that if something does go wrong, parts prices for specific components can be extortionate, and with the labour requiring specialist attention, one major failure can be enough to undo the car's value completely.
You also can't run the car with a 'I'll get that fixed later' kind of attitude - if it has a fault, it really will need attending to on the spot as otherwise you could be letting yourself in for something worse.
My old 540i 6 speeder:
Great car to drive - and that was the long-standing impression left by mine on me, which was a little rough around the edges and had done 180,000 miles!
You want to buy one with a strong engine that runs without fault - as rebuilds are expensive - but if it's been cared for, it shouldn't be a problem anyway.
Other things:
- Transmission / Clutch - does it run well without any odd noises or judder?
- The classic front end wobble, with the E34's suspension and bushes wearing with age
- Shot water pump
- Oil and water leaks
- Loose steering, as the steering box can wear
- Window operation
- Rust
- Shocks
- Compression & general engine health
- Receipts!
There is a mine of info here:
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e34-m5-discussion/
Last edited:
Well thats certainly an opinion yes.
Soldato
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Saying that, you could go and buy a low-mileage 540i 6 speed, stick on some throwing star alloys and be done with it. You'd get a mint one for 2-3k and have something a little more usable, that's 85% of the performance, has a bit more mid-range go, and has that great V8 bellow.
per fender, so i assume thats per pair. granted, still not exactly bargain of the century!
knew the suspension was a biggie.
do you know bushes wise what these are like? is it multi link mega complex at each corner and therefore mulitple multiple bushes to sort out?
do they have anything silly like dual mass flywheels?
as for the engines, will they take 140-150k easily?
as a side note, what was the fuel consumption like on the v8?
do you know bushes wise what these are like? is it multi link mega complex at each corner and therefore mulitple multiple bushes to sort out?
do they have anything silly like dual mass flywheels?
as for the engines, will they take 140-150k easily?
as a side note, what was the fuel consumption like on the v8?
[TW]Fox;16906214 said:
Is that for a 3.6 or a 3.8?
From what I understand, the 3.8s require a fair bit more money spending on them for not a lot of gain over the 3.6.
I hope to treat myself to a Daytona Violet E34 M5 sometime in the near(ish) future
.I used to drive a 530i V8 for a short time. Fuel economy was comical on short, city runs. We're BARELY talking Double figures
.Is the 530i a V8? Thought it were straight 6?
It is in the E39, in the E34 though it was a V8, the M60B30.
Soldato
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E34s came in both 6, and 8 cylinder 3.0's flavours
The 6 was the earlier M30 up until 1990 and this was replaced by the 8 - the M60.
The 6 was the earlier M30 up until 1990 and this was replaced by the 8 - the M60.
Just dont see the point in these unless you are a massively anal enthusiast and you spend £10k on a concourse example. Otherwise just dont waste your time, massive running costs to drive around in what when you are sitting in traffic or just going to work is not really any better than a non M powered one yet massively, massively more expensive. The problem is that they are all just so old now.
Why must there be a point?
Because there is a cut off point where being a fan ends and stupidity begins.
Thats why no one wants one of these fossils any more.
Why must there be a point?
I believe I explained my opinion.