What is the best E34? - BMW Forum

TheJackal3006 · 07-15-2006, 03:46 PM

What is the best E34 to buy? Year and trim? Which is the fastest, most reliable, best on fuel economy, etc.?

saltshaker185 · 07-15-2006, 03:50 PM

m5?? or 540??

///M Power · 07-15-2006, 04:05 PM

Reliability: 530
Speed: m5

Inbetween: 540i M Sport

Torque · 07-15-2006, 04:49 PM

Best on fuel: 525i
Reliability: 525i/535i
Performance: M5 or 540i
Best all around: Probably the 535i.

How exactly is the 530i the most reliable e34? It's a V8, some had the whole Nikasil issue, it's not exactly fast ... IMO, worst e34 next to the m20 525i.

Eric S. · 07-15-2006, 04:49 PM

Where does the 535 fit in all of this? I always thought that was a very desireable model. I know it is reliable - a friend with a 1991 535 is at 317K miles and still loving his car since buying it with 42K on it years ago.

Torque · 07-15-2006, 04:51 PM

IMO, it is the best e34 ... with a 5sp, they are becoming rare and very expensive, so getting one now could even make you some money down the road.

///M Power · 07-15-2006, 06:24 PM

Nikasil really doesnt pose a problem as much as you think in the US. Our fuel doesnt have as high sulfur content as other contries, which has been what causes the deterioration of the nikasil lining.

The v8 also has more torque and power than a 525. The 530 also would be newerbecause of the model years they were made in. Also, the v8 fromt he 530 has not been known to have as many problems as you may be suspecting. In fact the more common problems happened in the 525 m50s with ignition coils. The 530 is a solid car.

Eric S. · 07-15-2006, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torque

IMO, it is the best e34 ... with a 5sp, they are becoming rare and very expensive, so getting one now could even make you some money down the road.

Thanks for the insight. BTW, your Subie looks something like a model car in your signature photo. I guess it's the focus in the foreground and blurriness of the background. It looks like a little 1/25-scale model in a diorama. And no, I'm not on any drugs right now. Maybe I've been watching too much "Wallace and Gromit" lately...

Torque · 07-15-2006, 09:21 PM

The US is the only country where the fuel was a problem for nikasil engines ... so you got that backwards. It's a scaled down version of the m60 found in the 540 ... it has the same rough idle issues, same poor fuel economy, same nikasil issues.

As for the torque, yes it has 20 lb.ft more than the 525, but the 535 actually has 10 lb.ft more of torque and only 7 hp less than the 530. I still stick with my "535i is the best e34 overall".

nukeduster · 07-16-2006, 09:25 PM

m30 motor ftw. 535i... because it has rack and pinion steering, the 530/540 does not.

plus TCD turbo kit for 535 = cheap. supercharger for 540 = not

my 533i had 220k miles on it, and ran in 110 degree heat with no radiator fan for a whole year with no side effects that i could see. was pegged out in the red the whole time.