Hi all, I'm now on the hunt for a very clean E34, Manual, 535 or 540, possibly touring. Must have full history and not be suspect in any way, I'd also prefer to keep the mileage sensible.
Anyone who knows of something suitable please let me know, I'm in the south so would prefer around this way but I'm willing to travel for the right car.

Mags

Good luck, I think you'll find the good ones are like gold dust because they are loved so much (like mine!) so you may be looking for a while. Once you do find one though, I'm sure you'll love it!

Regards

Mike

you're not wrong, I've only got one car lined up to view and due to its modifications the insurance on it is making it look unattractive. Its such a long way from me as well It's looking less attractive again :(

Has this car been discussed at any point? it's been around since at least Xmas
http://www.specialistcars.net/revisedcarspages/39.htm - http://www.specialistcars.net/revisedcarspages/39.htm

If you don't mind me asking what's your insurance like, is it garaged, your age :D, normal or classic insurance?
I've got a classic policy with 5 months left to run, they will take on a LHD touring M5 for a very small fee but the modded 540 that I'm interested in is going to jump the policy up by around £300 a year!! and that's on limited mileage!!

I'd be happy with an M5 but its really beyond my budget and it seems crazy to spend basically twice as much as a 540 for an M5.

I hate buying cars, I'm no good at it and I get too excited!!

Mags

that touring cost about 55 grand when new VFM me thinks

Mags wrote: I hate buying cars, I'm no good at it and I get too excited!! Mags

Someone hold him back, quick!!!!

If you see anything and I'm free without the daughter I'll willing cast an eye over anything you want to look at. Did you think any more on the Hartge?

Good news on the M3 as well. must have been THE quickest sale ever.

Yeah, I saw the B10, looks nice and low mileage, but cloth and auto box make it less attractive to me.

Yes the tourer is certainly VFM, (low 90K miles) if the insurance wasn't a big hike for me I'd still be very very interested, the other problem is its a bl**dy long way from me, I'd have to get the train to see it and that's a 3+ hour one-way journey!! (and its not cheap) still undecided on what to do.
Is anyone near the Schnitzer touring that'd be willing to pop by and check it over? its near Wetherby/York.

Hi Trev  The Hartge looks a little tatty in the photo's but I need to call the guy, I've not got much else to look at so its probably worth a look just to get a benchmark if nothing else.

Its fun and games relying on a VW Camper van in this weather with no heating!

Mags

My insurance is ok really. It's insured under my wife because an un-traceable driver pranged mine last year and I had to claim, losing me my 5 years! GRRR

That considerd though, it's £640 for the year, my wife is 25 with 4 years no claims and she uses it for business, I am on there as a second driver with one claim (still GRRRR) and I'm 27, so I think thats a fair price.

Good luck

Mike

Mags wants to go and see an e34 540 tourer this weekend and the chances are I will be going with him. I'd like to think I know my e34's pretty well but one thing I'm not sure of is the nicosil situation.

Were the 4 litre e34 V8's Nicosil? If they were is there any identification marks on the block that will tell us whether it's a nicosil or alusil engine. I know we can contact Bracknell with a chassis number but it would be nice to have some idea on the day.

Cheers in advance

Trevor

I would'nt bother unless its had the Alusil engine fitted.

Some E34 cars had replacement engines but there were actully Nikasil blocks again so no good, if the car has had a new block fitted by BMW I'm sure most owners would keep that receipt locked away securely.

I bought mine & it was fitted with a new block in 1999, the Nikasil blocke were stopped in 1997\8  ,but I still have the original recepit from the last owner, if its been lost then they should be able to rell you which Bmw dealership fitted it, take the reg number & contact trhem to make sure it was a Alusil engine.

If it has not had it fitted ,I personally would walk away, if its a different engine by schintezer I'd like proof, anyway there should be some sort of S\History somwhere .

Hope it turns out to be OK ,Good Luck

Its not actually the Schnitzer car we're looking at although there are no engine mods, the Schnitzer bits were added at the dealer and this makes insurance a bit mailto:cr@p - cr@p

I've read some some stuff on Nikasil and one of the comments was that if it hasn't been affected by now, it should never be in the future as current fuel is lower sulphur.
From what I understand all E34 540's were fitted with Nikasil blocks (M60's) and this didn't change until early into the E39 540's.

I tried mailing the free tech help address at the top of the forum and I've had no response :(

Mags

whitey wrote: Mags wants to go and see an e34 540 tourer this weekend and the chances are I will be going with him. I'd like to think I know my e34's pretty well but one thing I'm not sure of is the nicosil situation. Were the 4 litre e34 V8's Nicosil? If they were is there any identification marks on the block that will tell us whether it's a nicosil or alusil engine. I know we can contact Bracknell with a chassis number but it would be nice to have some idea on the day. Cheers in advance Trevor

No they weren't it wasn't until the E39 came out they addressed the problem. But i have proper documentation proving that mine had the alusil block fitted so you are better off chekcing this to be sure.

Regards

Mike

Well he bought one!!! And very nice it is too. We both went out hunting yesterday afternoon and the Tourer was really too good pass by.

I'll let Mags tell you the details but basically it's Oxford Green with natural leather with AC and the twin roofs, PDC, Criuse etc. etc. The history is impeccable, fully stamped up to nov 05 about 3k ago and 95% is main dealer. The rest of it is BMW specialist. Things like tyres ect. point to a "no expense spared" last owner as well. Apart from the usual minimal chipping around the paintwork, it's nigh on immaculate and looks gorgeous on it's 16" rims. Interior is spot on with NO wear at all. I'll let the new owner disclose the finer points but I reckon it was a very nice buy for the money.

Whats it like to drive, It's fabulous.........and I should know, Mags gave the honours to me to drive it back from Aldershot to near Gatwick and did I have a smile on my face? Not 'arf pop pickers!!! Thanks for that pleasure mags. I don't reckon the M25 achieved 27.2mpg on the OBC will last long though!

P.S. After driving yours, mine now feels like 205 auto we went over there in!!!!!!

Congratulations on the purchase.

It rained all day yesterday  so no pictures yet, I haven't even driven it properly yet as I couldn't phone my insurance co to get the cover done. All done now though so I can drive her tonight

Big big thanks to Trevor though, he really was in his element looking round the car, I was useless, I just stare at the big things (like the gorgeous V8  ) and as he said it was too good to pass by.

The Wife was shocked, she thought it was far too sensible for me (I sold my beloved E30 M3 to get this) until I told her it would leave the M3 behind in a straight line (along with lots of other cars) Shes not quite sold on the colour of the interior but I think it looks great, and its nice and tidy, it just needs a thorough clean to get it sparkling.

I can't really add more to what Trevor said, I have to say I'm keeping a look out for some genuine 17" Alpina's now, I think they would really lift the looks and make it perfect. Graham, is that what you have on yours? do you have a bigger picture? I'm, not too clued up on wheel fitment for the E34 (although I do remember that E30 M3 owners have the same size/hubs) so I need to read up on the forum and have a search about for some wheels, anyone know a decent source? and the right ET etc?

Lastly, I've got a very nice stereo setup I kept from my previous cars, the front part of the tourer is no problem but as the rear speakers are in the roof is it possible to feed bigger cable up to these?
Does anyone with a tourer have a sub fitted and amp? I saw a picture of a car with a sub fitted in the panel that the PDC and CD changer live in, I'm guessing this was a custom build?
I'm not going all Max Power here, I just appreciate a nice sound quality and I have most of the kit (I need to hide the amp as well) but I'm not sure about a sub.

I wasn't really looking to buy an Auto as well, but I was very suprised how the auto hangs onto the gear after you let off the throttle, as the manuals are so rare for these cars I didn't want to wait around for ever and this is such a huge amount of car and engine () for the money I'd have been a fool not to buy it.

Mags

Cheers Graham, the clear indicators make a big difference also, exactly what I need to do on mine.

She looks great! will try to get some pictures tomorrow.

Mags

Mags wrote: Big big thanks to Trevor though, he really was in his element looking round the car, Mags

no probs. it was a pleasure. I only wish buying a bike for my 6 year old was as easy!!