It is with heavy heart that I finally admit that it’s time to sell my “unicorn” E34 540iT/6. Those that know will immediately recognise the lowest production number combination E34 and one of the rarest BMWs ever produced at just 61 “HK32” code models (manual estate 4.0L) and one of just 10 still on the road. Unfortunately COVID has shown me that I just don’t have the time to spare to use it and with a young family, “project house” and demanding job, even with all the time in the world, it doesn’t get used.
Originally spec’d by a wealthy Chelsea resident, this car was ordered to cross continents in luxury and silence, carrying all luggage without compromise whilst still able to shame almost any normal vehicle on the road. The car comes with a ridiculously comprehensive history file for almost all works since new.
Bad points:
- The paintwork is straight and rust free barring a tiny line starting at the base of the drivers door, but is a “10-footer” with noticeable burn in the rear offside. This has never bothered me as I appreciate the honesty but may bother some.
- There is a small leak from the self-levelling suspension somewhere. This flares up occasionally but sometimes goes weeks without leaking. I’ve not really used the car in over a year so have not really noticed it.
Good points:
- I’ve put a lot of money in to it. In the past ~2yrs/5,000 miles it’s had
o A brand new clutch and flywheel at £800;
o New starter motor;
o New shock top mounts at the front and Bilstein front shocks;
o Injectors sent to a specialist for cleaning and flowing at £400;
o Four new top quality tyres;
o A full service every year with quality parts;
o Fuel tank dropped for new hoses;
o Gearbox & diff flush and new fluids;
o Replacement factory-spec exhaust to replace a booming large-bore (droned too much long distance and set off car alarms);
o New struts on tailgate;
o A new thermostat;
o A super-rare period “CD-switcher”/aux-in unit; and
o A Clifford 650 G3 top-of-the-line alarm/immobiliser.
- Before being laid up, it had:
o Complete new front brakes;
o New rear pads;
o Brake fluid flush;
o New toe arms on the front (common E34 issue); and
o A full service.
- It has the rare full leather interior and was specified with the lighter “manual” sports seats, a rare choice;
- Sills were redone (inner and outer) by the previous owner ~4yrs ago;
- Rare double sunroof, that’s still fully operational (even rarer);
- Super-unobtainable dealer-upgrade factory cassette deck with CD-changer
- Rare dealer-option rubber tailgate mat;
- Split tailgate that still functions;
- I will fit a new battery as the old one is not great after seeing so little use over the last few years.
I know the E34 M5 is now a £15k affair and climbing, and the M5 Touring are ~£35k. Grab something even rarer whilst prices are still low!
Originally spec’d by a wealthy Chelsea resident, this car was ordered to cross continents in luxury and silence, carrying all luggage without compromise whilst still able to shame almost any normal vehicle on the road. The car comes with a ridiculously comprehensive history file for almost all works since new.
Bad points:
- The paintwork is straight and rust free barring a tiny line starting at the base of the drivers door, but is a “10-footer” with noticeable burn in the rear offside. This has never bothered me as I appreciate the honesty but may bother some.
- There is a small leak from the self-levelling suspension somewhere. This flares up occasionally but sometimes goes weeks without leaking. I’ve not really used the car in over a year so have not really noticed it.
Good points:
- I’ve put a lot of money in to it. In the past ~2yrs/5,000 miles it’s had
o A brand new clutch and flywheel at £800;
o New starter motor;
o New shock top mounts at the front and Bilstein front shocks;
o Injectors sent to a specialist for cleaning and flowing at £400;
o Four new top quality tyres;
o A full service every year with quality parts;
o Fuel tank dropped for new hoses;
o Gearbox & diff flush and new fluids;
o Replacement factory-spec exhaust to replace a booming large-bore (droned too much long distance and set off car alarms);
o New struts on tailgate;
o A new thermostat;
o A super-rare period “CD-switcher”/aux-in unit; and
o A Clifford 650 G3 top-of-the-line alarm/immobiliser.
- Before being laid up, it had:
o Complete new front brakes;
o New rear pads;
o Brake fluid flush;
o New toe arms on the front (common E34 issue); and
o A full service.
- It has the rare full leather interior and was specified with the lighter “manual” sports seats, a rare choice;
- Sills were redone (inner and outer) by the previous owner ~4yrs ago;
- Rare double sunroof, that’s still fully operational (even rarer);
- Super-unobtainable dealer-upgrade factory cassette deck with CD-changer
- Rare dealer-option rubber tailgate mat;
- Split tailgate that still functions;
- I will fit a new battery as the old one is not great after seeing so little use over the last few years.
I know the E34 M5 is now a £15k affair and climbing, and the M5 Touring are ~£35k. Grab something even rarer whilst prices are still low!
)
