540 Shopping... How Common Is Body Rust In '95s?

[primarycolorman]

As the topic reads, I'm shopping for a 540. A local dealership turned up a 540, no accident records with all of 67k miles on it.

It's a '95, so my biggest remaining concern is going to be how common is body rust on the late E34s? I've seen some 3 series in the area that have had the paint flake/scrapped off and the body badly rusted below.. So does anyone have input?


I'm in tennessee, so body rust isn't something that is typically seen unless a vechile has been left out or abused. I've yet to put eyes on it, so i'm looking for some idea on how probable rust is...


Thanks for any response guys

[leetman]

I have an e34 and its rusty as shit. Its also a 1990 though...

[primarycolorman]

Your also in WA, so I'm not too surprised by that.


Is the rust just where you've lost paint, or has it spread under the paint?

[Furious]

any car will rust if not taken care of properly, the e34's arent notorious for rusting, but if you rust proof your car, you will notice that rust will never creap in.

[rsn48]

Cars in Washington along the coast shouldn't rust more because they are in the rain or close to the ocean. In Vancouver BC, we get significantly less rust than the rest of Canada, since salt is not used on the roads, which is the real killer of cars.

[d3ity]

no rust on either one of my e34's... one 95, one 93

[primarycolorman]

Thanks gents, it's good to hear. Got the VIN today and gave bmw corporate office a call, turns out it is a nikasil engine. I'm not skeered, I just want to see the results from a compression test and knock the price down some.

Wish me luck!

[ian_m_london]

Originally posted by primarycolorman@Oct 14 2004, 01:51 AM
As the topic reads, I'm shopping for a 540. A local dealership turned up a 540, no accident records with all of 67k miles on it.

It's a '95, so my biggest remaining concern is going to be how common is body rust on the late E34s? I've seen some 3 series in the area that have had the paint flake/scrapped off and the body badly rusted below.. So does anyone have input?


I'm in tennessee, so body rust isn't something that is typically seen unless a vechile has been left out or abused. I've yet to put eyes on it, so i'm looking for some idea on how probable rust is...


Thanks for any response guys

[snapback]210749[/snapback]

I have a '94 525tds touring, it's in England (where roads to get salted) and on 135000 miles. It has no apparent rusting, even on close inspection underneath. Apart from scratches the paint is as shiny as new (and I wash it every six months whether it needs it or not)