kingkarl 136 Report post Posted March 29, 2013 Hi team, It's been a while since I've been on this site - cool to see it still going so well. I'm looking at a cheap e34 and am wanting to know what to look out for. Like any old car I expect it to be pretty loose and need a bit of work which is not a problem. I know m50s are pretty easy to come by... god forbid it shits itself. How about things like boxes and diffs? What could I expect to pay for an m60? Do they come up very often? Bolt in? How about manual box? Similar sort of job as an e30 conversion I assume? Thanks in advance, Karl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted March 30, 2013 Hi team, It's been a while since I've been on this site - cool to see it still going so well. I'm looking at a cheap e34 and am wanting to know what to look out for. Like any old car I expect it to be pretty loose and need a bit of work which is not a problem. I know m50s are pretty easy to come by... god forbid it shits itself. How about things like boxes and diffs? What could I expect to pay for an m60? Do they come up very often? Bolt in? How about manual box? Similar sort of job as an e30 conversion I assume? Thanks in advance, Karl no specific knowledge here aprt from some knowledge of e 34. Th e M50 is a pretty well used engine.It may not be exactly the same ine 325 guise there is that resource.M60 will bolt in,the factory did it,but there are some differences between the two installs.The v8 is a tight fit so the brake system is different,and radiators too i guess,not to mention requiring bigger brakes and suspemsion once you put the v8 in.The only problem with putting in a m60 is that a manual box is even more rare for them Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
qube 3568 Report post Posted March 31, 2013 im selling an e34 535i if ur keen, or someone else is selling another 535i must cheaper than mine, both in the for sale section Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
antil33t 90 Report post Posted March 31, 2013 525i M50 go good, mine's pretty reliable... slow though. Personally if you're wanting to stick an M60 in it just get a 540i, there's enough of them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingkarl 136 Report post Posted March 31, 2013 Thanks guys. I bought the car I was eyeing. What happened to the market for these? I can't believe how cheap I got it, almost felt sorry for the guy. The exterior is in very good condition. The interior is showing its age, and there's a few trim pieces missing/broken. Most annoying thing for now is the fan motor makes this terrible squeaking sound intermittently. The car has been garaged since 2007 so perhaps it'll come right with a bit of use. The left side speakers don't work; the rear one is not even wired up for some strange reason. I think I'll buy a new head unit anyway and overhaul the lot as one job. Mechanically it seems OK. Engine and driveline feel pretty bulletproof and so silky smooth. To my surprise it has a 5 speed auto which I didn't know the 525i ever got. Having only driven manuals I was not looking forward to the slush box but its far better than I expected. The steering has a lot of play... I'll take it in to someone who knows what they're doing to get that looked at. The brakes are far from what they should be. I think they'll need more work then just a fluid change. Again I'll leave that to the experts. Also on my to do list is a full fluid/oil service, replace the filters and give it a good wax. Down the line I'd like to get some new wheels but I'm in no rush as the standard ones I quite like and they have Potenzas with plenty of tread on them which I thought was a good score. The rear shocks are on their way out but I'll replace those when I get new wheels. It's so nice to finally have a car I care about and not a jap shitter to just get from A to B. Even though it's a very old, relatively high mileage and has seen better days this car feels special and I'm very happy with it. It's a jap import with 247,000km Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
qube 3568 Report post Posted March 31, 2013 Looks good. More info more pics! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted March 31, 2013 (edited) Thanks guys. I bought the car I was eyeing. What happened to the market for these? I can't believe how cheap I got it, almost felt sorry for the guy. 5 series are underated.Most seem to choose a 3 series when imho a 5 series most of the time is a far better car.A fact of life.I always though it a little amusing when e30 325 autos with open diffs and no body kit were selling for more than my 535is Edited March 31, 2013 by kiwi535 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
actletpone 43 Report post Posted April 1, 2013 Nice Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingkarl 136 Report post Posted April 1, 2013 ^Ha, hi Ben! I tried to change the oil in it today, but some mong tightened the drain plug up too tight last time the put it in so it came out in two bits. Repco doesn't have the right part unfortunately. Where's my best bet to find a replacement one? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
antil33t 90 Report post Posted April 1, 2013 A generic metric bolt will work... just get a crush washer... (included in your genuine filter kit) I have an M52 oil pan sitting on the floor if you really get stuck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KwS 2377 Report post Posted April 1, 2013 Surely a dealer would stock them for next to nothing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BMRBOI 8 Report post Posted April 2, 2013 Theres a bmw wreaker in Tauranga isn’t there? If you have no luck the missis will be over there in the weekend I can give her a spare one I have to take with. ^Ha, hi Ben! I tried to change the oil in it today, but some mong tightened the drain plug up too tight last time the put it in so it came out in two bits. Repco doesn't have the right part unfortunately. Where's my best bet to find a replacement one? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingkarl 136 Report post Posted April 2, 2013 Thanks, yeah coombes johnston had one for me. For some reason I didn't think they'd carry any 20+ year old parts. Gave the car a wash and wax tonight, looks real nice. Will throw some pictures up tomorrow. Loving driving/looking/thinking about the beast at the moment. I'm headed to wellington this weekend, should be a good test of its reliability. It only came with one key and to get a spare will cost $180~ - so about what I expected. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
actletpone 43 Report post Posted April 2, 2013 Theres a bmw wreaker in Tauranga isn’t there? If you have no luck the missis will be over there in the weekend I can give her a spare one I have to take with.Yea there is, Birch Ave auto spares.$180, is that for a remote locking key? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingkarl 136 Report post Posted April 2, 2013 Yea there is, Birch Ave auto spares. $180, is that for a remote locking key? Nah, it's standard with an immobilizer (i think). Has to come in from Germany Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingkarl 136 Report post Posted April 3, 2013 This is stupid but is there a trick to removing centrecaps? My wheels are like these: I don't want to pry them off in case I break a clip or something. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle 1524 Report post Posted April 3, 2013 Should have the proper tool in the rhs of the boot unless someone removed it, otherwise a screw driver wedged in to pop it works fine. Ive done it more times than i can remember so i doubt you will break anything, BBS alloys are quality. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Allanw 1051 Report post Posted April 4, 2013 Should have the proper tool in the rhs of the boot unless someone removed it, otherwise a screw driver wedged in to pop it works fine. Ive done it more times than i can remember so i doubt you will break anything, BBS alloys are quality. ?You need to turn the big nut a bit - if you don't undo the locking mechanism first, the screwdriver may break the clips on the back and then they fall off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
antil33t 90 Report post Posted April 6, 2013 It's one of those other kind.... pull them directly towards you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kiwi535 538 Report post Posted April 7, 2013 looks very much a turn a bit type to me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
antil33t 90 Report post Posted April 7, 2013 It's got that same little arrow my "honeycomb" set have to line back up when you slap it back down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_ethrty-Andy_ 2122 Report post Posted April 7, 2013 never seen a set like that, you might be right michael! im sure i would have noticed that arrow usually. i have only seen twist type ones Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingkarl 136 Report post Posted April 8, 2013 Hmmm, whatever the case may be they popped off fine with a carefully placed screwdriver. I've chucked a few more pics up in the showroom forum Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
