E34 520 vs. 525

[5115]

wish i could get a preferred 24V E34 less than 25k....

come on,who wanna let go his/her ride?

 

[seech]

flash,

Ur ride must be damn 'kau' man. When you dropping M5 engine into it.

Wish I could be like you but I think I'll leave mine stock for once. Maybe buy another to mod. Now married with kids already so need family car.....

 

[seech]

5115,

I think you should check out the used car dealers. You should be able to find early 24v E34 selling less than 25k. 12v much cheaper but I think 24v should be a better buy.

Used car dealers all suffering now. E34 is also not a hot seller so they are usually quite keen to let it go. Should be able to secure one for less than 25k. If they haven't changed radiator ask for additional 1.5k off the price as it will surely kaput.

Good luck in your search. Hope you find a good one.

 

[anaksarawak]

wow 25k??? thats a good price for 24v E34...

Why not get the 735i that is on sale here in the forum??? Go to reregister the car at Kuantan, Kota Bharu as roadtax is only RM720 per year as I heard but not sure.

 

[integramania]

seech how do u determine if the radiator has been changed or not bro...

Also if the mileage of the car is like 400+ already...is the car still worth a buy?

 

[seech]

integramania, just take a look at the black plastic area next to radiator cap. there should be a plastic screw there used to bleed rad. Usually ppl do not use proper coolant so the water is usually rusty. If it is leaking you can see rust colored stains so check that area. If got rust color then it is probably leaking. In any case, if rad has never been changed before I guarantee you will need to change soon. Plastic parts become brittle and start to break off. When I got my car I changed the hoses first. A part of the top plastic bit broke off then my mechanic removed the upper rad hose. Furthermore plastic expansion tank cannot be changed so need new rad. I wouldn't bother with used one as you don't know how old it is and it could be suffering same prob. New rad is from Behr.

Another thing. Make sure you ONLY use BMW coolant which is blue color. If you see green or any other color coolant it would be adviseable to flush it all out and replace with blue BMW coolant. There have been cases of failures associated with other types of coolant. Also, make sure you DO NOT overfill the expansion tank. You should only fill to COLD level indicated at the side of the tank. You will need to fill to max when you first install new rad to get rid of air but after that use cloth or something to remove excess until proper level. Too much water can lead to too much pressure and may cause new leaks.

I bought my car with 340k km. The previous owner changed the engine in 2004 so I thought it would be ok. As long as you are happy with the condition then I say go for it. Worn out parts can be changed. Problems can be fixed. I would definately make sure interior plastic bits are all ok as they can be difficult to find. Air con also expensive to fix if not working. For me, I wanted the car body and interior to be in excellent condition. The other parts not so critical to me as I already decided to replace and fix what is required.

Hope this helps. I oso not expert but learn a lot before buying my E34. Still learning....

 

[peckchoonheng]

... Usually ppl do not use proper coolant so the water is usually rusty. ....

If you were to read the detail on the so called original BMW "coolant" bottle you will realize that the liquid inside is actually anti-freeze agent. Initially I thought that was meant to be anti-freeze in the winter and coolant in the summer but there is no mentioning about coolant property at all.

I found it foolish to go on filling my tank with that anti-freeze but still did it because everybody else does it.

So is adding proper coolant really necessary at all?

 

[chairoger]

If you were to read the detail on the so called original BMW "coolant" bottle you will realize that the liquid inside is actually anti-freeze agent. Initially I thought that was meant to be anti-freeze in the winter and coolant in the summer but there is no mentioning about coolant property at all.

I found it foolish to go on filling my tank with that anti-freeze but still did it because everybody else does it.

So is adding proper coolant really necessary at all?

Definitely....just make sure its a 50/50 mix of water and coolant.

 

[flash]

flash,

Ur ride must be damn 'kau' man. When you dropping M5 engine into it.

Still a loooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggg way to go. M5? Mebbe not... half that... M50B25 the most. Saving funds up now.

 

[5115]

hi all,there is an offer=E34 89/94 M20B25 manual wif price 23k neg.

is tis worth to buy?pls advise?b4 see any pic of it,i would go for ~18k if condition if fair.

 

[seech]

Coolant has anti-freeze properties but also serves function to prevent corrosion to internal parts but chairoger is right, make sure 50/50 mix. Make sure you do not use the green color coolant as I have read that the coolant itself was the cause of the failures.

 

[Zoggee]

Layman’s talk here, the statement below may or may not have any basis.

I have this 1991 E34 24V for years now and whenever I’m behind the wheel I just couldn’t help but try thinking of a way to improve its pick-up.

This car has made me swear that I would never buy a 520i ever!!

I thought it is just the problem with my car, so I went to ask every single mechanic in Penang I came across from Chu Seng to Happy Motor to United Auto about this frustration of mine. I asked them to test drive and all return and replied with “normal.”

About remedy measure to this, Chu Seng and Happy Motor were quick to suggest a change of engine block to that of 525. “It is common procedure, many people have done that and it’s an easy job”. I was and still very tempted but changing engine is too big a JOB for me to stomach.

United Auto just asks me to accept it as what it is. He told me that he is experiencing the same thing driving his E36 318; in fact he says that mine responses a lot better than his. This remark has somehow put this matter to a temporary end.

Another key issue pops up. Why is my 520i guzzling petrol like nobody business when it could not even performs as I have wished? In town driving, I usually achieve less than 400km for a full tank of RM130.

Curious about how these numbers stack up to other versions of the E34, I asked Ban Huat Chan, the BMW parts distributor for northern region. One of the boss drives a 12V version of the 520i. He said that it is not unusual to hit above 500km for a full tank mainly of town driving. I complained to him how bad my 24V was and he told me that many of his customers complain about the bad guzzling habit of the 24V, 520 and 525 alike.

He also told me that the 12V version has better pickup but the 24V has better horse power at high rpm. I don’t appreciate this truth at all since I’m the 110km/hr person.

So what is so attractive about the 2 litre E34 with 24V?

I feel you dude...I feel you..

 

[Zoggee]

forgot to add...I hate GM 4 speed giaboks.

 

[Zoggee]

Now if only I got a spare M50B25 engine lying around...

Still considering whether to stick with my B20 engine or upgrade to B25 engine... hee hee.

Yuo and B25 again ah....by the time your son reach 25 years old...I think ur will be still running on B20 engine la.....

 

[flash]

Yuo and B25 again ah....by the time your son reach 25 years old...I think ur will be still running on B20 engine la.....

Well, what to do? Timing was not right then, financially. Always lidat one, when got the funds, got no good deal. Sigh. And when got good deal, something idiotic crops up.

Hah, by the time my kid is 25 years old, I might not be driving already mar, he will be my driver then. Might not even be a beemer. Perhaps a Toyota????

And SLOTH might have been consigned to the scrap heap by then.

 

[integramania]

Thanks Seech....did u replace the radiator to prevent any overheating or was the car showing some signs of overheating?

Also for beemers....does the piston rings get worn off after the car has run so many ks? Normally it does for most cars.....need to know if its the same for the beemer.....meaning an overhaul is needed....reason am asking is i saw one car nice...but its clocked 400ks on it

 

[5115]

Thanks Seech....did u replace the radiator to prevent any overheating or was the car showing some signs of overheating?

Also for beemers....does the piston rings get worn off after the car has run so many ks? Normally it does for most cars.....need to know if its the same for the beemer.....meaning an overhaul is needed....reason am asking is i saw one car nice...but its clocked 400ks on it

wats the price?issit M20B25 or M50B25?

 

[seech]

Car temp went up a bit. Checked rad and coolant level was down. Closer inspection showed a crack at the bleed screw and leak where the plastic joins the metal. Replaced with new BEHR rad.

If u r worried about piston rings, check if car is smoking when started from cold. If not, shouldn't be an issue.

Test drive the car. If you like it, make an offer and BUY BUY BUY!!!!! No need to think so much. (thinking not required only $$$ required)

 

[integramania]

its a M50B25 lor

No smoke but then again am still worried abt the 400ks

Driven it....only problem is that the wheels are kinda having a funny whobbly feelling .....not a smooth drive

owner sed is due to the rims....but after talking to a few ppl it could be the main shaft....so have not clarified tat yet

 

[seech]

cud be due to worn out suspension bushings. Do search for 'front end shimmy' to check if that's the problem. Not sure how much to fix but heard its expensive.