E34 525 concerns? Possible sister ride......

[rwh11385]

Alright, so maybe you looked at the thread where I talked about my sister's Integra radiator crapping out and possibly overheating. (Hopefully find out for sure soon) Regardless, we'd probably like to sell it rather than fix it, because 1) my sister isn't a fan of the Acura 2) it doesn't have ABS 3) it would be better off in a Honda ethusiant's hands......

But my sister's friend mentioned "Why didn't you buy my BMW?" after I had gotten mine. This desire to sell her car popped right back into my head today. I asked her at school how much she was thinking, $2500 was the reponse. Green over tan 1993 525 Automatic. 183K miles, father is a service advisor at the dealership, so I am thinking good maintence.

Is there any concerns I should ask about? I can talk to her dad sometime, as soon as word gets back about her Acura. My sister is a little worried about it being boxy but for the money she has, there is no way she can afford a smooth bodied modern car. :P

My uncle advised me against 5ers when I was looking for a BMW because the maintence was a lot. How much would it be compared to my E30? (Obviously more costly than an Acura, but I mean other options are early Blazers, Explorers, or other American cars)

And Hey, I'd have a M50 in the family......perhaps when they are not looking swap our engines. :twisted:

[Ryan Stewart]

If its the latter M50 model then no timing belt. :D Always good.

Since its early in the M50 production just make sure its got all the recall stuff taken care of. The tranny is always the concern though, it could crap out at any moment although it should give you more miles.

I am tempted to track me down an E34 525 as a daily, it would be nice to have extra room.

[EVOIIIM3]

It's a M50TU, very stout engine!!

I must say my 93 E34 525ia has been the LOWEST maintaince car I have ever had! Tune ups are SUPER cheap! They run great!

now the only real down side is the thrust arm bushings like to go out, upgrade with the 750i bushings. The door panels inserts can come unglued. The seat back can sometimes come unsynced. All in all nothing major or expensive.

They handle just like a E30! Really, they are super fin to drive, and awesome on long trips!

[Sean]

I drove my dad's E34 535i until I got my car - including one Minnesota winter.

They do, indeed, handle like E30's. I really don't think you'll have any maintenance problems with a 93 525i. The car itself is a great performer, and the M50 is a real good engine.

[rwh11385]

It's a M50TU, very stout engine!!

I must say my 93 E34 525ia has been the LOWEST maintaince car I have ever had! Tune ups are SUPER cheap! They run great!

now the only real down side is the thrust arm bushings like to go out, upgrade with the 750i bushings. The door panels inserts can come unglued. The seat back can sometimes come unsynced. All in all nothing major or expensive.

They handle just like a E30! Really, they are super fin to drive, and awesome on long trips!

Kick Ass.

I'd say her getting a BMW would be best as that is the marque I'm really involved with, and any problems could easily addressed using resources I have. Not only that, but I'd love to have another BMW in the driveway.

Sweet! Thanks for the info.

Did '93 have any traction control? How hard would they be to control for a young female driver?

Oh yeah, are there any high mileage trouble spots on the car, like the 100-150K black hole of E30s, as Lukas put it on his site?

[Sean]

No traction control - they have oversteer like the E30's - but not nearly as bad. The E34 is VERY predictable. I drove it thru the winter with ease, and that was my first time ever driving with a license then too.

Just be sure to get some nice snow tires for the winter, and take it easy on the throttle, and everything will be dandy!

Again - these are not as tail happy as the E30's - but handle similarly. :)

[EVOIIIM3]

Did '93 have any traction control? How hard would they be to control for a young female driver?

Oh yeah, are there any high mileage trouble spots on the car, like the 100-150K black hole of E30s, as Lukas put it on his site?

Traction was a option, but most do not have it. Most also have open diffs.

The rear suspension is totally different then the E30, it has a coil over rear.

Mine has big rubber so the back end has never come out unless I want it to, it can really be pushed hard! If she has no clue how to drive a RWD car, then if it's wet or snow out there might be a problem, but generally, it's hard to kick the ass out, a LOT harder then on the E30. My E34 has a bunch of "extra" stuff on the motor, and it still take some work to get the ass end out.

Mine just went over 100,000, so I can't really say about the long term, but I have see a bunch of 200,000mi + cars for sale in good running shape. If it was cared for I see not troubles at all for a long time.

[Sean]

My dad's 535i has just over 170,000 miles on it - as was mentioned, the door panels are beginning to fall apart - but that's it.

I can't say much on the M50 though, but I think it's a good engine overall - my dad used to have a 92 325is - and it's still running for the guy that bought it from him around 96 I believe.

[rwh11385]

NVM. At least this one. :? Maybe I misheard her in the lunchroom while we were talking for a sec. But my sister said it's an '89, which isn't that big of a difference. Except I'd really prefer a M50 E34.......

And she was telling my sister is stalls out randomly, and is a big piece of shit. :(
Plus my sister is a wannabe spoiled girl and the Integra wasn't nice enough for her, but she cannot afford much more than $2500 for a car.....so she'll have to compromise somehow.

Damn. And I think E34s are HAWT!

[RedBaron86325]

My 92 525i was also a very low maint car (before it was wrecked). I had a 5 speed so I can't speak about the auto tranny. In three years of ownership of the 525i, the only problem I ever had was one coil pack going bad. I just kept up the regular basic maint. It was a very good, solid car; that is why I purchased another e34 after the accident. As for the back end stepping out, as Mike said, you really have to try. In the dry with an automatic tranny, I would assume that you would have to try pretty hard. My e34s' handling feels very similar to my e30. They are tight, responsive, true, and give you that "I am one with the car" feeling.
I do have traction control in my 95 530i. Getting the back end to step out on that thing has (so far) been impossible. Even with ASC turned off, it still activates on it's own during 'the perfect corner' procedure. Both E34's that I've had have been far less in maint/repairs than my e30. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another if I ever found the need.