Looking at a 1993 530 Touring. Need some help.

[terrybpp]

Its got 140k miles on it. Everything runs great. Body is 8/10, interior is 7/10. My question is the reliablity. This will be replacing my Xterra as a daily driver. Is the V8 in these cars a pain in the ass? What about the trannys? At $3500 its hard to pass up. On issue is I have to go get it in fuckin Ohio. Road trip!

[riverdale21]

The early E34 small V8's ran a Nikisil block. These early Nikisil blocks had premature failure problems so make sure it has been replaced otherwise count on doing so.

Read up on these cars before buying one so you know what to expect. Check out http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/troubl...will_break.htm. That website has a lot of useful info

Also I've got some E34 M5 brakes on eBay right now. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=8020012726

[terrybpp]

Thanks for the info.

The more I read about the 4.0 V8 the more I'm think of not getting the car. I'd much rather have the reliabilty of the m50. I can get it for $3k. but it could be a huge headache.

[riverdale21]

The 530 could still be a good car. You could find the same amount of problems in an M50 powered car. Just have to be cautious and make sure the owner has service records for the vehicle.

[terrybpp]

But the M50's are cheap to replace. A knew v8 has to be a few $k. How are the trannys in these things? I had the tranny in my 735i rebuilt twice in a year. They were know to be shit.

[riverdale21]

As far as what I've come across most BMW auto's are crap. As a matter of fact my E30 is getting it's ZF auto tranny replaced this week. A lot of it has to do with the way the car was driven. If you've got a car that was owned by a little old lady chances are it's in better condition than if the car was owned by a teenager. Same with all used cars. Take it for a test drive and ask the owner lots of questions.

[AdamF 88iS]

The trannys are pretty strong, but big $$$ when they go.

Heres the best 'help' you'll ever get: Don't. The V8s have too many issues. Nikasil is no longer a concern, if it hasnt gone by now it won't because gas now isn't as bad as it use to be. They just have too many other issues. Intake gaskets, PVC plates, water pumps and thermostats, the list goes on...

In the word of my boss: 'the V8 is making us rich'

[brodee]

I would stay away from the V8 if I were you. I bought the m50 and love it, not a speed demon, but good enough for a touring, nice and smooth.

As far as the auto's go, the GM trannys usually blow between 70k - 90k miles if they are going to go (and most of them do). I replaced mine in my e36 cabrio, and did a 5-speed swap in another e36 cabrio. My touring has 140k miles on it and the tranny is slow into reverse but other than that fine. If it goes the car will get a 5-speed.

[sbullard878]

Find a 535i you will enjoy it less problems

[brodee]

Find a 535i you will enjoy it less problems

The only tourings brought to the US were the 525i and the 530i.