Cheap '95 525i 5sp. Better hurry: Ebay

[John B.]

Like many Ebay purchases it wasn't a great deal once the dust settled.

[BMWCCA1]

I don't know about you, but I consider a $5000 '95 525i 5sp with luxury package and AST cheap....IF (and that's a big if on Ebay) the car is in good shape with all the work done that these cars normally need as they pass 100,000 miles. Of course it could still need $1000 or more in suspension refresh, and it might not look as good in person. I willingly paid $5500 for my '95 with 112,000 miles but direct from the owner with recent shocks, springs, bushings, control arms, and 17" wheels with new tires. Maybe this is a topic for another thread but what does constitute a good deal on an E34 these days, given that you can now buy E39s for well under $10k?

[RallyD]

got the one in my sig for $3800 135K mi (needs nothing)
buying another for $1500 today 190K mi (needs some work)

[John B.]

I just bought a nice 95 525i Touring w/136K, black w/parchment interior, which came with ALL service records from new. The p/o bought the car w/24k as a BMW Certified vehicle & had all service; including oil & filter every 3k, performed by BMW factory techs or the local independant BMW shop.

In the last 3 years(20K) he replaced the complete air conditioning system, all new brakes (calipers included), frt & rear shocks/mounts, water pump/thermostat, belts/pulleys, tierods/links, coolant tank, coil boots and more. The tranny fluid & filter was changed twice in the first 95K & I just did it again. The only issues were a sticking liftgate latch, intermittant heat, & a slow passenger door lock rod. Lube fixed the latch, the heat cleared up with regular use & the inner door seal turned out to be glued to the lock rod.

The car came with Michelin snows mounted on factory steel wheels w/hubcaps & the stock alloys with Michelin summer tires. The Michelin on the spare alloy looks brand new & all tires have several seasons of use left.

The owner was asking $5300 when I looked at it & the price had been reduced a few times. I offered $4k & after he agreed to include the Yakima roof rack we settled at $4200. To me that was a good deal as the car runs beautifully & everything including the sunroof works as it should.

[Ross]

Sounds like you have personal knowledge of it. ??
The purple prose in the description mentions The tires "seem" to have good tread, yet no photo of them. Likewise "rustfree" but bottom of doors conveniently cut off of photos. Also mention of the M50 longevity with "only routine maintenance" yet no offer of documentation of same. Unless tune -up written on the motor qualifies. Back seat looked scruffy too.
A car, especially a BMW, is a mighty complicated item to buy on faith, or the word of the seller.
Like any auction a better place to sell than buy.

[Ross]

My current E34 was found on e-bay, but bought face to face. Had I not seen it in person and instead taken the word of the seller and trusted photos I would have been very disappointed indeed.