Picked up a nice 89 535i

[JGood]

you should buy a e39 540 like i did. extreme complication and m5 parts prices

I already did, except it was an AWD e39 540i touring with a lift kit (AKA, e53 X5 4.4, with many more expensive parts than an e39). I put 30k+ miles on it, it actually had more miles on it then this e34 does. It was nowhere near as frustrating as this POS has been during my 10k miles of ownership.

[ArtClassShank]

Only E34 that's worth the trouble is an M5/540i with the 6spd.

Beautiful cars, but kinda annoying to work on.

[JGood]

P.S. Just took my shitbox e34 out for my lunch break, the floor vents are magically working again. So it's going to be an intermittent problem. YAY!

But, my gauge cluster did shut off multiple times on my 1 mile drive.

Luckily, I can get the gauge cluster out again. I couldn't for the past few weeks, because the ingeniously designed airbag screw stripped, leaving me unable to remove my steering wheel. And since my $50k luxury car doesn't have a tilt column, I couldn't get the cluster out with the wheel on. Anyway, after destroying the old airbag to get the wheel off, and installing a new one, I'm now able to properly remove and install my steering wheel, and cluster, as I spend all sorts of time swapping various parts and connectors trying to get it to work properly.

Since BMW used 3 different types of e34 clusters, and I'm blessed with the one that the coding plug info is stored on the chassis wiring, I need to find another early model cluster to use. And since 99 out of 100 early e34 clusters are non-functioning in some way, this leaves we with very few options. So I'll most likely just continue to punch the dash when I need to know how fast I'm going or how much gas I have.

[e30bulldog]

guess i'm glad i got rid of my 91 535 when i did. BTW if you ever consider making it a 5 speed. I will have all the parts for the conversion this week.

[AndrewBird]

It is possible to pull the cluster without removing the wheel. Lay the cluster on top of the steering wheel, unlock the wheel and turn it until the cluster clears the dash. Just make sure your battery is unhooked or you will trip the SRS light with the cluster out.

[Danny]

Every time I open this thread and read a new issue you're having I laugh at the thread title. It makes me feel like a dick.

[e30lov]

Holy shit, I'll never own an e34 again after reading this thread. Mine also had a list of nightmares. My guess is whoever did the front suspension did not load the car properly while tightening down those stupid thrust arms.

[JGood]

I replaced the $60 heater core pipes, and finally had the HVAC system all working properly for a week. Yesterday, the blower motor started squeaking on position 1. Today, it's screaming in every position. I fucking hate this piece of shit car. By far the worst thing I've ever purchased. Even worse then the 79 cent portable ipod speaker that I bought at Ollie's that blew after about 45 seconds of use.

I don't know how you people even remotely enjoy these cars. The build quality is worse then an 89 Ford Taurus. Every plastic connector in the dash area has crumbled to microscopic pieces of plastic dust, just from being gently touched. All that remains is wires with a metal pin at the end, asking to short circuit and fry the whole fucking everything. Nothing electrical works. Actually it does, just long enough for you to leave the driveway, then it stops working, until you pull back in the driveway to start troubleshooting. Then it works again.

[JGood]

I bought a blower motor from another forum member, and it arrived with one of the cages destroyed.

Today, I was driving, with the fan off, because the squeaking with it on is very annoying, and it turned on by itself. It's currently stuck on position 3, and won't turn off.

Seriously? I feel like this is a joke...

[SoopaGhetto]

i feel your pain. been rather cold here lately and had a numerous mornings and nights with no fan blowing. heater works, but im sure the core is leaking. (sweet smell of liquid heat sink) i just got my blk on blk 90 e34 on dec 02. luckily the suspension has been gone through. Also has a turner chip which the po didnt even know about. just waiting to see what else need work...

[JGood]

Good luck! I FINALLY got mine straightened out. It's been running problem free for about 48 hours now.

So far I've replaced:

Speed sensor
Cluster (x3)
Blower motor
Blower motor resistor (x2)
Heater core
Heater core pipes
Hvac temp sensors
Airbag
Brake master cylinder
Intake boot
Probably some more stuff I'm forgetting. However, it is now in perfect running condition with no issues, everything works 100%. The interior is mint, and mechanically everything is solid, so it really is enjoyable to drive when everything electrical is working.

[SoopaGhetto]

:-( was 8 degrees out this morn and no blower...

[getouth]

^^ that blows lol

[Nick_S]

Damn man, that looked like such a great car. Perhaps a perfect example of 'to good to be true'. I was fortunate that the PO took care of the vast majority of nagging issues with mine although I still don't have good functioning floor vents and a few dash bulbs have since gone out.

[JGood]

Damn man, that looked like such a great car. Perhaps a perfect example of 'to good to be true'. I was fortunate that the PO took care of the vast majority of nagging issues with mine although I still don't have good functioning floor vents and a few dash bulbs have since gone out.

Yeah, the thing is, it was 100% perfect when I bought it. The owner was meticulous in maintenance. I just have terrible luck... After I bought it, everything started breaking. But, It's been over a week now, and everything is still working 100%. I guess I just had a bad luck streak.

For your dash bulbs, I had that happen with 2 or three of mine. I just pulled the cluster, removed and reinstalled the bulb, and they worked fine after that. I think the contacts just get worn spots.

For the floor vents, from what I learned, it's either the stepper motors or the HVAC controller unit, mounted up between the heater box and the firewall.