MrDevine

WOW, what a MASSIVE difference that is! Picked up the 40 from Autolign this morning. Quite responsive but waaaayyy better at accepting the bumps. Can see why the Bilsteins are preferred. Rides around corners flat as. Not too low either, sweet drop, but I think it might settle a little bit more over time? Totally recommend this setup (Bilstein Heavy Duty + H&Rs) for an E34, it was $300 more expensive installed incl GST than Monroes, but if you're into your ride, I think totally worth it. Will post a pic soon. Cher for the advice guys. C.

Pick up the 40 tomorrow. Bilstein HD's + H&Rs. HOPE its sweet. Also the Autolign guys gave me the Monroe price originally. I think it will come to $1800 now including new rear mounts. Bit nervous about the ride, but Glenn says it'll be sweet. Post pix laters. Mr D.

Do you have any plastic screw plugs to keep the interior mats in place? I need x 6 (pref 90's navy)

OK, so I've got the H&R's. Fantastic deal from Keith – $369. Now down to Autolign for the Bilsteins. Should be ace.

Alias I hope I heard it right on the phone! I think the difference is – Autolign is an importer of Bilsteins so they don't have to put such a big margin on them. Anyway will find out for sure this week. Called Keith and I'm going to go with H&Rs afterall, do the lot at once. Should be sweet. Ace, C.

Unbelievable build.

Hey sweet ride Alias. Your price is about right. I just paid $5750 for a 1996 540i for the wife. How are the Monroe/H&R Springs set up? I need to upgrade the shocks/springs my other E34 540i, but can't decide whether lowering it is best idea (or what shocks give best value for money) I don't want a harsh ride and have to bother with scraping it as I use the '40 as a daily.. Have had a quote for $1250 for bilsteins installed all around keepiing factory springs. BUT it will look heaps better dropped a bit. How much are H&Rs BTW? Good luck with sale. You should put it on trademe, I competed against 3 other bidders before I won auction the other night. These are cool cars Ace, C.

Yeah I thought so, hope I didn't hear it wrong over the phone. Think I'll book it next week. Think I'll keep ride height standard. If I had the manual 540se I'd drop it. But I just roll the motorway to work and back – I just like to feel the power, not everything else. Will post how it goes. Ace. C.

Would they fit an E34?

I trawled through the old posts and came up with good info about upgrading the suspension on E34s. (It might be a good idea to do a sticky on E34 suspension info?) My shocks are getting a bit dodge. The car dives under braking and it slams over cats eyes, this could have something to do with the BBS 17" rims too I realise. The car does 'boing' if you press down on each corner. Fronts are noticeably worse, which would make sense with that 4.0 engine in the front. So the research says its Bilsteins all around. Plus H&R springs. Thing is I lowered the last E34 I had on B&G springs and it was pretty uncomfortable (however I didn't replace the shocks, so that will probably explain it?). I got a quote from Autolign in Mt Wellington for Bilsteins installed for $1250 which I thought not too bad. Springs on top of that if I want. I wouldn't mind if the car was about 10mm lower, but can't be bothered with a 20-30mm+ drop. So my question is will the Bilsteins be enough to improve the handling and still keep a sweet ride? C.

Cheers Brent, will give you a call. Could I come see you next weekend? In Tauranga this one. C

Thats bangin. Like the stealth look. Its been dechromed around the windows. Wonder if that was an option at the time. Mr D.

Hey Brent, thanks for that – I would think based on web research that this module could be the problem. Is this a DIY change out or do you need an auto electrician? I'll check wires on LH gas strut too. Thanks guys.

Some times when I crank up the v8 I get one or two 'dings' that go 'ding'. Often these check controls come on when you press the brake pedal. Just after I brought it last year, the messages started, I replaced all rear tail lights and front fog lights – all was good for a while. Now I'm getting these messages: 1 Brake Light / Lic Plate Light / Brake Light / Dip Beam. All these lights work. Do I need to go and check for corrosion in the sockets? Or have I got the wrong brake light bulbs? Or do I need a new LKM? Car is a '94 and I'm sure some electrical bits are getting corroded. It appears to be a not uncommon problem on E34s. I did read somewhere that there was a unit or sensor collection underneath the boot strut that can get lazy? Any advice appreciated. Mr D.

The 540i has a handful of paint chips, a number on the roof behind the windscreen, plus a couple on the boot lid. They're pin head size, but they're starting to redden up. Not sure whether its worth getting the front part of the roof reprayed, and the bootlid done. I know touchup paint won't look as smooth, but it'll stop the rust? Ideas? Get it sprayed and be done with it?

Hey yo, thats a clean looking example. I would agree with posters that low km's doesn't mean it won't need any work. These cars are built to be driven. The E34 that sold in CHCH for $16k was a manual motorsport version (540se or is). I would imagine they're WAAYYYY cooler than my 540i auto. The auto is a bit of a slush box. To give you comparison I paid $8k for a 145kms 1994 NZ New 540i. I think that was a rich price, and true value would be somewhere closer to $7k, but to me it was in really good condition and had same owner since 15kms so full service history. BUT! Since then have had to replace radiator and belt pulleys. Plus a service and I've spent about $1800 in 6 months. Yay! But f**k its an awesome car, I love rolling to work in it. SO Yes I think 15k too expensive. $10k cash maybe, but really a bit closer to $9k. Incredible value destruction in these cars, when a good example drives pretty mint.

Thanks Glenn.

Hey Brent – I'm not all that mechanically minded – do you need to bleed the coolant system and adjust? Read on the internet that can be a bit of mucking about. So you think $740 fitted and installed is on the high side for this? It sounds reasonable when you consider I just paid $280 for a service (which based on past experience is pretty good) C.

BM Warehouse say Rad is $490 incl GST. So $250 for labour sounds OK to me. Looks like a complex job. Would have to assume using genuine parts?

Isn't the expensive bit – fitting the radiator, doing all the bleeding of coolants etc?

Hey Simon thanks for that. The water leaking is condensation from the air con unit, so says BM Workshop. But the VTNZ guy was right, the radiator is leaking. Gonna get that replaced next week. $740 installed sound about right?

Yeah I mean the water appears to be coming from behind the engine, not near the radiator at the front of the block. Agree VTNZ not always onto it, but they had a look under the car. Would expect the fluid to smell some if it had antifreeze in it, thats why I suspect its just air con condensation. Thanks for the responses guys, will get mechs to doublecheck on Monday. (I'm going to BM Workshop in Gay Lynn – Albany is too far way for me Glenn) Ace.

Just noticed last couple weeks – small amount of water leaking from what seems to be just before the engine block. Happens after air con has been going full blast. Took it for a VTNZ WOF on Tuesday (it passed) comments was 'appear water leak from the radiator'. Is this a water pump, expansion tank, hose? Liquid is odourless and appears to be water, I'm not sure if it has coolant in it or not. I checked the coolant tank and it looks 3/4 full, but on the 540 its hard to tell where it should be. Temperature has remained steady in the middle of the dial, so no overheating yet. Due for a service on Monday, best not to drive it till then? Anything I can do in the meantime? Ace, C.

Cheers – pretty stoked with the 540 – hopefully will be a good horse. Now learning how to use the fuel economy meter I reckon a set of dark tints would kick it. Mr D.

My new German Muscle Car – all mint (although not sure about the number plate). A 2 owner vehicle I found through trademe in Waipukurau. Was purchased by the previous owner from Jeff Gray BMW in Hastings with 16,000kms on it in 1995. V8 power is epic compared to my disposed Hilux Surf. Paid slightly above average market price at $7500 but in real good nick. Sweet to be rolling an E34 again. Mr D.