Eagle

Pelican parts stock Boge oem's for 7 series.

For shocks ive used Shox.com, Turnermotorsport and Pelican parts, all have pretty good prices. It depends if you want stock ride quality or more handling orientated Only really 3 choices them being Boge, koni or bilsteins which range from ~$800-1200 with shipping and gst.

What sort of tyres on them

If you can't wait 'Milland' on trademe had them for around $170 iirc

Well a proper 535is in respectable condition is usually around the 5k mark. To me the car is worth 2k maybe 2.5k max depending on what been done and what is needs.

Assuming its got the rear aircon\fridge setup?

Been on trademe for awhile now, good optioned car including 5spd and LSD but its no m-sport. It looks worn\rugged and overpriced too.

The M62 V8's in the E39 have more torque so in my experience its even easier ASC coming on cutting power or getting a wheel going.

At least with E34 V8's you can add a lsd without too much hassle, can't say the same for E39's which need one even more, probably thank the mofo bean counters for that.

Sounds like you didn't get the greatest example but 1k for manual its a good price regardless, id be wanting to drop a 3.5L in it if i was keeping it long term. E34's are pretty robust, cheap and easy to fix so im sure you will have it sorted in no time esp with a parts car.

I never said i supported it and would never do it myself for reasons you listed but some people are going cover up potentially unsafe aspects in cars regardless, rust comes to mind. Would of thought replacing factory seats in a track car etc is legitimate use for one. Sure its wrong but its just another drop is ocean of things wrong with the world.

I agree its not the smartest idea fitting it without a actual legitimate reason, but at end of the day there are far worst vehicles on the roads to worry about than some bmw with a airbag that may or may not work.

Assuming they BMW locknuts and you want to keep them a new key should be around mid $20 at a dealer.

You said it yourself its really just a gamble, making an internet diagnosis on this sort of thing and with the lack of detailed info is basically guessomg It could be chain tensioner\guides, vanos or something as simple as lifter noise from old\wrong or needed bleed. To me it would come down to price and how tidy the car is as to whether to risk it or not.

To each is own but i dont think i could ever live with the colour.

+1 to what Ron said, they sound like they have no idea what they are doing Did you even get an alignment printout? and how the hell did they break a subframe bolt?, no reason why you would need to touch the subframe

Im running bump steer plates in mine and they do help but like is said above recheck the alignment before doing anything else.

Yep no doubt but i was more referring to adjustment side of things, alot of places i found put way to much front toe in(like 5-6mm total) which feels like crap.

March was along time ago so a proper wheel alignment would be the obvious first choice. I agree with the above up wheel alignments but since you can only adjust front toe in on E34's i just tell them what to set it to(2-3mm total toe in is what i use)

I think poo is bit of overstatement, i mean its not like its a Renault next to it

Guess you got caught slipping literally. Hopefully the trailing arms and\or subframes are ok. Best of luck though

E24's like this one remind me that no modern BMW can ever really come close to the style and presence of a classic like this.

Only real downside to the M30 in the 535i is fuel economy, but for a engine the came out in the early 80's and based off an even older design it still holds up very well against the far newer 528i and 530i 3L engines power wise while imo being more reliable and cheaper to replace\fix. Really comes down to 530i or 540i of which both have their advantages, but at end of the day as much as i like E39's i still prefer my E34, so If anyone's in the market for a 540i manual i will be selling mine shortly.

Just racked up 900km of highway driving on a 540i from Christchurch to Hamilton and used bit less than 2 tanks of fuel(approx 70L per tank). It was mostly cruising at 110kph with the occasional high speed passing maneuver when required, pretty decent i thought.

Auto trans benefits are nothing compared to manual, i know its easy forget the superiority of a bmw manual when you been driving autos for awhile haha.