Hi there...

First post on here, but here goes! I've been keeping my eyes on the classifieds for a while for a decent condition E34 Touring for not silly money, and had no joy... Today i went to a garage to have a look at another car, and got there and there's a really good conditon 1995 E34 520i SE in Calypso red just sat there... It has done 115,000 miles, but full main dealer service history, last serviced 4,000 miles ago. Oh, and it's a manual not an auto (I hate auto boxes!).

I checked it over, but my knowledge is fairly limited... It has no rust that I can find (got my hands up right inside the arches etc), had new discs and pads at the last service, all the electrics work (apart from one window which they are going to sort out before they let the car go), and they'll put it through the MOT so it has 12 months on it... Oh, and they also said they'd junk the no longer fucntioning tape deck and put a CD player of sorts in (though they won't budge on the price, but then it's not extortionate anyway)...

Anyway... I drove it, and all seemed fine... But what else to look out for? Gears changed fine, car drove straight, it didn't sound any more throaty than any other similar age beemer i've ever heard, the interior is mint...

I've heard problems about whining manual gearboxes though? What happens to cause that? Is it a big problem? I heard a slight whine but wasn't sure what it was, but it wasn't very loud... Is it just a case of changing the gearbox oil regularly and it will be ok?

Engine wise all seemed sweet, but other than giving it the once over, i'm not too sure what i'm looking for... At 115k miles, what is likely to have gone wrong with it?

Anyway, i kind of want the car (as long as it's all alright), and i've seen friends with similar cars with much more miles on and still going very strong with no problems...

So please please please... ANY advice will be greatfully appreciated!

Thanks

P.S. Beemers are in my blood... My Dad has had an E28 528i, an E34 535i and a rare manual 540i, 2 E38 740i's, 2 E39 M5's, and E46 330ci, and E39 530i and he now has a new shape 330D Estate (he's got old!)... My mum had a couple of 3 series in her time too!