out of the E34 models which is the best

All this talk has got me reminising (spelling?) so I thought I'd share my old e34 with you:

 

And the two together just before I sold the e34. I'll leave you all to make your own minds up.

Does it show I miss it?????

Edited by whitey

I'll be keeping my 530 as well - love her to bits and only cost me rear discs, control arms and pads at the moment. Needs new front shocks but still loving E34 ownership!!

Paul

As has been said, they are all good.

I've a chipped M20 525i SE, its great.

I've also been suprised by what a nice drive the 518i tourer was, it lacks the grunt of the larger sixes, and the noise, but still a great car to drive.

The E39 seems flimsy to me, although it is more modern, the E34 does look dated now, but mines 18 years old.

BMW also couldn't be bothered to put the windscreen wipers on the correct side for rhd cars with the E39.

Beware though, they are getting old now, so be prepared for the odd gremlin, although the back up from here, and my local dealer is superb.

absolutely Pittsy old chap, wonderful people, they even get bits for those poxy E30's some people insist on driving

Nah, got myself another one off ebay. Went all the way to Brighton to collect, but drove home without fault. Very happy so far, not as tidy as the other one but then I'm going to treat this one as a smoker, not a show car. Needs a service and the timing belt done, but even if it does go bang I have a spare everything in the other car!

Why did they never offer the 2.7 eta engine in the E34? Presumably if someone wanted economy (theoretically) they would go for the tds?

M5 surely has to claim the undisputed title of best E34 model (and possibly best BMW road car ever...). Outside of that, which one is best depends upon preference.

Buying s/h today for a 10yr old car with 100,000 miles (say) I'd recommend the 540i the most - will have depreciated the most (so represents the best value), will have been owned by wealthier people (so alledgedly will have been better maintained / maintained regardless of cost), will have been driven much more gently, more likely by older people (especially if the automatic) and will have been the least stressed (the 540 generally lopes around at not much more than tickover...). Only drawback to the 540i is the slightly vague steering compared to the six cylinder models (due to the steering box as opposed to rack and pinion). When I was looking for my E34 540i Touring there were a few about with 300,000 miles still looking good - hard to say that about the smaller engined models...

I reckon the 3.6 M5 must be the best.  The reliability of the straight 6 engine puts it far above the 540 V8s as a used car proposition.  It also does without the EDC suspension of the 3.8, which is very expensive to repair/replace when it finally goes wrong.

And I'm buying one on Thursday if it matches the description given over the phone 

Sorry to drag this thread up again - must have missed it at the time

Being as I've had a few of these (I'm no mechanic, just love the cars) I would have to say the best all rounder is the 525 - later one with the vanos 192bhp - very smooth, sounds great - when you boot it and not too bad on the old mpg

The best E34 would have to be the M5 - without a doubt - this is one of the only E34's I've never had (apart from 525td/s 525/535 sport, 530v8 540v8 - sorry if I've missed one) - and I would still love one

Although not exactly practical though as I'm doing 3k miles a month in these.

Anyway, just my 2 pennneth worth

fingerman wrote: Being as I've had a few of these (I'm no mechanic, just love the cars) I would have to say the best all rounder is the 525 - later one with the vanos 192bhp - very smooth, sounds great - when you boot it and not too bad on the old mpg The best E34 would have to be the M5

I have to disagree-I had a 96 525 with vanos & Now have a 525 sport non vanos (92) & the difference is HUGE-although maybe its due to being a sport.

Totally agree abt the M5- I am getting one in the next week or so-cant wait

What happened to your 528 ?

I think in general bmw diesels are superb but have never owned one-I think audi's are very good cars but a bit soul less if that makes sense