stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,960
Club RR Member Number: 174
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BMW E34 5 Seriesstealthstylz
@stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member 174
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Sept 19, 2008 11:36:33 GMT
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Are these any good? Got a chance to buy a 520i with a LPG conversion for not a lot seems like a lot of car for the money. Recently had a brand new exhaust and cat converters and the suspension rebuilt. I'd probably do it like this photoshop I did. Tucked 18x8s on the front and poked 19x9.5's on the back.  Matt |
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rysz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,558
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Sept 19, 2008 11:44:38 GMT
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Absolutely awesome cars, I had a 518 and while it was woefully underpowered, it was really, really nice to drive! The 2.0 is said not to be fab but on LPG has to be worth it! The best engine according to B&D is the J plated onwards 525 24V jobby but you could always drop this in at a later time! Have a nice M5 pic:  Rysz. |
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Sept 19, 2008 11:56:03 GMT
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I bought a J plate E34 535i Sport and it is brilliant. Go for the big six engines as they are easy to work on. The 24v are a pain but good engines.  |
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Success is the ability to go from one failure to the next with no loss of enthusiasm.
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Sept 19, 2008 12:54:30 GMT
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love them. ish!
the 520 isn't too bad, but you really do want a 525. but on lpg it might be a bit better, but it's still 2 tonnes of metal with an engine size not uncommon in mid-size hatches...
and newer the better on these really
and NO M badges!!
Philj got me new struts and coils for a shade over 200, options were 60/40 or 40/30 and something else. then a set of rims to suit, and both dished and flat face work, and you're laughing all the way down Rockinghard Street.
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Sept 19, 2008 15:06:22 GMT
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My wife drove a 525 5 speed for years. I loved that car. I still regret selling it.
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Sept 19, 2008 15:39:21 GMT
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One of the best cars BMW ever made, sort of their equivalent of the merc W124.
Usual BMW issues, but overall very strong cars, nothing non-obvious to worry about, I would avoid an M20 engined car, the M50s have more power and use less fuel.
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 Help! Save me!! | 88 E28 M5 | 97 740iL | 60 PA Velox | 62 PA Velox | 58 356A |
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BMW E34 5 SeriesBenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
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Sept 19, 2008 17:32:59 GMT
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Yep, great cars. My 525i SE was great, only a 12v but still had plenty of power and felt like some kind of spaceship cruising along at 100+ mph the national speed limit. Recently got a 525TD for my dad. That does extremely well on juice and isn't too much of a sluggard either. The intercooled TDS is more pokey but equally frugal. So yeah, awesome cars. Like Veloxbill says, BMW's W124.  |
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BMW E34 5 Seriesdavemk1gti
@GUEST
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Sept 19, 2008 18:51:16 GMT
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I had a couple of them, admittedly a 535i and an M5. The rear subframe bushes are a common thing on most older cars, they are cheap to buy but a bast@ d to fit (rear subframe out etc) they are built very well and drive exceptionally) I drove one rond europe and after many hours at full throttle I jump out the other end of t he journey fresh as a daisy. I have never owned a E34 520 but the E28 520i that I had was gutless (in comparasion to the above) If the front windows wobble when they go up/down its quite possible that the metal runner has rusted at the base - easy fix if you have a welder though. Gearsticks get a bit floppy - another easy fix with a new plastic bush from BMW for £6.50 look best with a 60mm front drop and 40mm back. go for wheels upto 17" as any bigger makes them handle a bit 'weird'. in short I would have another in an instant. but a 24v 525 sport though |
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Si
Part of things
(OO [][] OO)
Posts: 203
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Sept 19, 2008 19:11:33 GMT
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535i f.t.w.  In fairness they're all great, but personal choice for me would be a 535i Sport, or an M5.. Front suspension bushes are the weak point on these, but not really any worse than any other make's weak points etc   |
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Unseen Jersey---------------- Delica Super Exceed 2.8 Delica Super Exceed 3.0v6 "Project Bully" e36 M3 e36 318iT e36 328iT Always looking for the next project, and somewhere to put it!
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rob0r
East of England
Posts: 2,743
Club RR Member Number: 104
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BMW E34 5 Seriesrob0r
@rob0r
Club Retro Rides Member 104
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Sept 19, 2008 19:55:30 GMT
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Bought this 525i 24v non vanos for £350  It was just about to run out of MOT, and still had tax until October (back in June). No reason why it should of failed the MOT either. It seemed a cracking car, straight as a whistle, but I needed the engine so it's going to the scrap man now. |
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E30 320i 3.5 - E23 730 - E3 3.0si - E21 316 M42 - E32 750i
ETC
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Sept 19, 2008 21:17:54 GMT
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rob,
You seem to break a bunch of old BMWs.. suggest you sell the headlamps off of that car on eBay US..... advertise em as E34 Euro Lights, probably get $100 for em, E28 Euro lights with grilles pull close to $200.
Yep, they expect to pay 30+ quid to ship em over.
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Help! Save me!! | 88 E28 M5 | 97 740iL | 60 PA Velox | 62 PA Velox | 58 356A |
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sooty
Part of things
Posts: 447
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Sept 20, 2008 1:40:32 GMT
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I had a 540i. Was a lovely and quick car, but I'd to have to run it every day.
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2016 Dodge Charger Scat Pack
2008 Jeep Liberty Limited
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Sept 20, 2008 8:14:11 GMT
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I've had two, albeit 518i's. Still, great cars. The second was a face lift on an 'M' and it was 200k into it's life and it still went well. The first one met a staionary Passat at 60mph and I walked away, so they're damn strong too! Here, have a pic of one (535i) which I fell in love with...  |
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Sept 20, 2008 12:10:21 GMT
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rob, You seem to break a bunch of old BMWs.. suggest you sell the headlamps off of that car on eBay US..... advertise em as E34 Euro Lights, probably get $100 for em, E28 Euro lights with grilles pull close to $200. Yep, they expect to pay 30+ quid to ship em over. i tried that with my spare set. $5.00 start... failed miserably  |
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Sept 20, 2008 20:48:35 GMT
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I started a similar thread a couple of weeks ago if you search, had some decent tips of what to look for.
The mate I started it for bought the car he was interested in, and it's stunning. £600 got him a 525i, mint condition body/wheels/interior, hardly any miles for the age and 80% dealer history. Goes really well for the size (like stink when provoked!) and rarely dips below 25mpg around town, plenty more on a motorway cruise.
Highly recommended.
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Never trust a man
Who names himself Trevor.
Or one day you might find
He's not a real drug dealer.
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les509
Part of things
Compulsive collector
Posts: 526
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Sept 21, 2008 1:05:21 GMT
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Had loads of these over the years, 535s, 520s, 525s - sweetest engines are defo the 24 valves , if you want pure grunt then 535 ftw, but as an all rounder i'd plump for a late 525 se or sport with 5 speed auto box
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61 Jaguar Mk 10
67 Austin A60 Countryman
69 Morris 1300GT
77 Triumph 2500S
84 Mk2 Granada Ghia Est
86 BMW 635 CSi
87 BMW 635 CSi
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