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So after much reading and sifting through posts I'm starting to get a pretty good handle on what these cars are all about. A quick question about mileage though. A car just popped up by me with 300,000kms on it. It's a 1991 525i with a 5 speed manual in it. This is by far the highest mileage one of these I've seen around me, but it appears to be in nice shape. What sort of mileage are these good for before major components start to fail? Should I be concerned by the mileage at all?
Opinion only. 300K is time the engine is worn out, this does not apply in well maintained synthetic engines. I have seen these in good condition at 600K but were meticulously maintained. All service records are key, changing fluids religiously are a great sign. Look through the maintenance schedule and you will see what I mean. If they dont at least do the schedule the car can be crap.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dude99
My car will go for around 5500 with a torn driver seat and thrust arms needing to get done. You usually get what you pay for when venturing into E34 territory. My project is almost done, I just enjoy restoring these things.
You can get them on Ebay for 1500-2500 needing help. Add about 4K and you should be good.
Mileage is all about maintenance/replacement of worn stuff. I will usually back away from anyone selling that is under 50 years old for personal reasons. A kid can tear one up pretty good in a few months.
Gas mileage varies, your going to be in the ballpark with all E34's within a few MPG. Pick your poison.
Thanks for the info.... Now if I could just find a nice one around me.....
Look up the hot spots where BMWs were unloaded from the boats. Atlanta GA, I think PA, and others but have no clue. In them areas usually you can find decent rides. Don't go for the cheapest as they might be garbage (mostly). Stay away from salt areas IE PA. You will need to travel to find something good, southern US cars are usually decent in regards to rust but go right back to maintenance. You do not ever want anything that has over heating issues, or transmission issues. If the condition looks rough than the drive train is fubarred. If they cant replace a $3.00 wheel cap how can they afford 8 quarts of oil?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dude99
Cosmetics can tell a tale even if previously meticulously cared for. Just take one idiot a couple months to ruin a perfectly great car. I know, bought one for my son, still working on it. Could have spent a couple grand more and be driving instead of wrenching and it still not being done, plus the cost is more than a decent one. What a waste.
I'm up in Canada so none of those are close to me. I've gone to see 3 so far.... none were really worth buying.... the hunt continues...
Canadia eh? The hard part is finding one within distance you can actually inspect. Everything else is a luck of the draw. You can always have one shipped as an option.
Higher mile 4hp30 525i like mine won't quite get 30 on the freeway any longer. Never chipped mine, kinda wish I had. I've got a 180k mile/300k km car and have kept an eye out around the central part of California. While the politics here are a joke, the cars are in really great shape. The SF Bay area cars and the SoCal E34s seem to have really high miles on them while the cars from Sacramento to Bakersfield much less so.
When I was shopping for my E34 back in the late '90's I drove only 525i and 535i cars and noticed on the on board computers that the city/highway cumulative MPG was in the high teens on 525i and about 16 for 535i models. I do think there is a bit of an mpg cost to displacement/hp. My E60 550i gets really great freeway mileage and really poor mileage in town with my foot in it all the time.
I ended up going with a 1992 525i. I looked at several 1995 models as well as a 1993 but they were all crap. So I when I came upon this one I snagged it. Thanks all for your help.
We'll see you around no?