wan520i
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From: Motor Trader Used Car ReviewE34 BMW 525i A (1990)May 15 , 2006. 10:00 PM Author: Danny THE 1988 BMW 5 Series (codenamed E34) arrived in Malaysian showrooms with promises of luxury motoring and on-the-limit driving fun. In Europe it was hailed as the best BMW ever and its build quality was admired by owners as well as the competition. Prior to the E34, the middle child 5 Series was never a desirable car in many markets. The smaller and nimble 3 Series and the five-star 7 Series were the cars admired and sought after most. Sales were disappointing and the engineers at Munich decided that it was time to put more effort in the middle child: thus the remarkable E34 was born. Of course the M5 was not forgotten and desired by many as the best ‘Q’ car and it arrived in Malaysia in very, very, very small numbers for the select few who had huge funds at their disposal. Copies of the M5 were, however, plentiful. The local distributor was quick to select the bread-and-butter engine variants in the 520i and 525i. Both had six-cylinder engines with adequate torque and power. Compared to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class that was the BMW’s main competition at the time, the 5 series was a sportier looking and feeling device in every regard. The E34 was also one of the models that helped made BMW become the dynamic brand it is today. Unlike the current 5 Series, the E34 was originally available with a choice of two in-line six-cylinder engines. These first generation engines were 12-valve units that were rather disappointing in performance once the competition increased its showroom appeal with newer and better models. Later, in 1991, 24-valve engines were introduced promising all round better performance and consumption. The bigger of the two engines was a 2.5-litre unit, which was good for 170bhp and a respectable 222Nm of torque. Having only 12 valves meant the engine had to be pushed hard across the revolution range to make much progress. This lack of spirited short-term performance meant that the five-speed manual gearbox was a much nicer drive than the four-speed automatic that many buyers opted for. The rest of the package was classic BMW, with a supple yet capable suspension that was superbly damped and gave good feedback for the driver who bothered to look for it. Brakes were effective and safety equipment was good for 1990 with ABS brakes but not an airbag. These days this sexy looking sedan of some 15-16 years old still commands respect at hotel lobbies and five-star restaurants. Its smooth lines and stocky package, set off by wide tyres on 17-inch alloys, gives the E34 a current look that’s far from its 15-year age. There are many good examples for sale and most E34s have by now covered more than 180,000km. This means the engines should have been through some major repairs and maintenance has to be recorded in detail. BMW are well-engineered cars. However, this also means that their parts are not cheap. They last longer than some other brands and have a better tolerance level, but this also means that prices are on the expensive side. Here lies the problem. Many owners who own used BMWs are people who are trading up from a cheaper car. When something in the car needs fixing they are taken aback with its high purchase price. Mechanics can also be ruthless when they see a novice BMW owner. The ones that claim to be BMW specialists are the worst. These older BMWs are not a spaceship to repair and fix. A good well-trained mechanic can do the same quality work as these so-called specialists. For a modern five to eight-year old BMW the situation is, however, very different and specialists with the right software will be needed. When shopping for an E34 it is wise to make sure that the car you’re looking at is a good one with full detailed servicing history, since repairs and spare parts can be expensive. Look out for leaking head gaskets, a slow engine fan, which can lead to overheating and gearbox problems like sluggish gear shifting, and hose leaks. Prices vary from year to year and the multivalve versions are of the highest. We found a two-owner 1990 model with full detailed history from the same workshop for sale. On its third paint, with original interior that was slightly worn and well looked after, this car had a sticker price of just RM33,000. Negotiations had not commenced and we reckon a discount of about RM4-6K could be met.Motor Trader: Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy StatementAuto Trader International: UK | Italy | Holland | Norway | Ireland© 2006 MTM Publications Sdn. Bhd.
