1994 E34 (540i) - can't drive it so what do I do

[larry26 24]

Posting for a friend so excuse the slight lack of technical details.

He brought back a 1994 E34 (540i) 4 door sedan from Hong Kong a few years ago. The car is in great condition, fully loaded, BBS mags, sun roof, leather upholstery and only 44K on the clock which he assures me is genuine since in HK they don't and can't drive much.

But he can get it registered here because it was imported a few months after the frontal collision rules came into play a few years ago and he didn't know and according to BMW NZ, this model does not meet those requirements. He's not sure why but it only has a drivers's air bag so that could be the reason.

So it's been sitting in the garage most of the time and just started and driven a bit to keep it going.

Short of selling it for spare parts, what else can he do? It's a lovely car - it's a shame to turn it to spare parts but he really doesn't know what else he can do.

Thanks for any advice I can forward to him.

[*Glenn* 854]

If it can't be complied, there is probably nothing he can do but sell it for parts or buy another body and get everything swapped over. A few car dealers got caught like this a few years ago.

[Silver Fox 43]

If it can't be complied, there is probably nothing he can do but sell it for parts or buy another body and get everything swapped over. A few car dealers got caught like this a few years ago.

Doubt it would make financial sense Glenn, considering what E34s are worth now?

[Forrest 35]

Has he thought about building a race car

[antil33t 90]

When the car is 20 years old, can he then compile it?

[Driftit 1964]

When the car is 20 years old, can he then compile it?

No.

Car would have had to arrive after it was 20+ years old and after the new laws were introduced.

It all goes by what date the car arrived in NZ.

[*Glenn* 854]

Doubt it would make financial sense Glenn, considering what E34s are worth now?

I know... was just an option.. would be ok if you could do it yourself though.

[Nobimmer 694]

Be ghetto and swap the plates and tags.

I kid I kid.

[oscar90 0]

Ashkan is actually Serious, quietly

I kid I kid!

[antony 0]

No.

Car would have had to arrive after it was 20+ years old and after the new laws were introduced.

It all goes by what date the car arrived in NZ.

In 2014, ship it out, then back into the country???

If you put a cage in it and get a log book etc, then can't you get a wof then under a motorsport exemption???

No matter its age or when it was bought into the country??? I vaguely remember this happening to a few E30 M3's a few years back?

E: I then think you have to be associated with a car club, and compete in 1? or 3? events a year???

Edited June 23, 2010 by antony

[Sick Puppy 1]

Doubt it would make financial sense Glenn, considering what E34s are worth now?

Probably not, but 540 gear in great nick? If the money was right, I'd have a crack at a swap just for a hobby!

Hell, I'll be doing this with a broken 535 soon... [shrugs]