What BMW to choose? Pops wants inexpensive luxury

[NOMAD]

So what car to choose?
My dad is thinking of getting a car in the next year that he can have a comfortable cruiser that looks good and he can add all the fancy stuff he wants to it. The only issue is that the $ is low.

Specs:
Cheap to buy
Available parts
Relatively cheap to maintain
Roomy cabin and comfy seats
Safe
Reliable

So I suggested the E34 as i see them all over the junkyards and on the street. Motor is not so fancy so it's relatively easy to work on. Old enough to be cheap, still looks modern enough but has that classic bimmer look. Seems solid as a tank.

I see them for $5k and with parts available in the 'yard and online it could be upgraded to have all the frills you'd want. Do an overhaul on the suspension and the engine seals/gaskets etc. and be good to go.

Think this is the direction to move? Any other suggestions?

[euroshark]

E34s are great and even cheaper than $5k.

[shiftbmw]

E39 528i's are getting pretty inexpensive as well.

[e30s52]

+1 for the E34. I dailey mine and I love it.

[Edev]

E39 528i's are getting pretty inexpensive as well.

E39s came into mind when I read the OPs post.

[Motorsports]

I would go for a E34 525 manual. Its already a nice car. with little mods it can be a even better car.

[NOMAD]

E39 = How inexpensive and how about parts or any "gremlin" areas?

E34 = What areas should be addressed asap to make it "even better"?

[TDE30]

+1 for an M50-powered E34 525i manual.

Plenty of parts available and still luxurious even by today's standards.

[e34john]

Sounds like he wants an E39. i don't have too much experience in them though. Heres a site with common problems http://www.windigoauto.com/E39CommonProblems.html does not seem too bad buy you can tell its getting more plasticky and that is causing some problems.

E34s are awesome, and feels a lot better built and an E39. A lot of common problems too but more cosmetic and maintenance rather than engine and drivetrain. Except for the common on most BMWs waterpumps and the nikasal V8s, auto trannys are prone to going bad around 125K if not maintained I think all BMWs of that era is the same. http://www.bmwe34.net/Wiki/tiki-inde...hat+will+break is a list of common problems.
Upgrades would be suspension, I'm sure it will be pretty worn on most used E34s and they are prone to shimmys. More power if he wants and that isn't too hard because they share the engine with the huge aftermarket backed E36. Brakes are good just get some nice pads and rotors. If I remember right the early 90s 535i outbraked every other sedan in production.

[kishg]

e34.. e39 prices are dropping sure but you'll run into more expensive repairs with them and a budget priced example will need some work to make it reliable.

[TDE30]

Yeah, E39's have been becoming more affordable by the day, but every low-priced example I see has various electrical issues and paint wearing off of the interior parts. They are neat cars, I was a huge fan of my mom's old E39 528i touring (with the Style 5's too) but after a few years of being in the wrong hands they tend to show their age much moreso than an E34.

To add to my previous post, look for a 1995 525i manual, they had the leather door panels that were much less likely to delaminate than the earlier E34's with the vinyl door panels. Add to that an aluminum thermostat housing ($25), a new water pump with the metal impeller ($60), and perhaps a Dr. VANOS kit ($250) if need be and you are set.

[e30s52]

/\ +1. I have an e34 m50 nv. It has 150,000 on it right now and still runs great! The Vinyl door cards are showing some age but not much. Just lower it and get some nice wheels and your set.