UK e34 accident damage to susp, advice for newbie and also a 96 Touring

[cooljules]

There is so many E34's in scrap yards up and down the country, getting a complete strut is easy and cheap if you are going to DIY. Pay a garage to provide a strut and other new bits and it isn't worth it. I bet for £50 you could just go to a scrap yard and unbolt a complete strut with all the arms etc and just bolt this up to replace the damaged part.
Pesronally I'd sell the Touring and take of any good bits from the damaged car and look for a 24v 525, like this http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/127970.htm and add on the bits you want to.

nice looking car, cant say i like the light grey int but nice car, i have seen a couple of non runners on ebay, due to engine/gearbox failures but high milage, so i thought the susp etc wouldnt be perfect, new bushes etc etc.

I would feel mcuh better with a 525 on the autobahn with the weight i carry over a 520.

[cooljules]

Why not throw a chip into the touring and sell the sedan for parts? There are also many 5 speed tourings over there, but you have a nice wagon with black interior, tow package, and the 95-96 2.5 motor which is totally chippable.

I just wasnt too happy with the tourings handling over the other car. Mind you, can a wagon look and handle better without going over the top?

[cooljules]

If I understand your currency... 600 quid is about $1200 dollars... actually a little less. If this is so, you are better off buying another car. The repair cost will cost more than that. I would use this car as a part car... change out what you want out of it into other cars.

From the look of the tires, they were really at the end of life and thus the accident. Don't go cheap on tires... they are very important... especially in autobahn.

Seen many accidents due to bad tyres and wrong inflation. and driving a 1000 miles a day and often at 120+ i dont want weak or overheating tyres!
I guess there is enough of the damaged car to either change over or sell and pick up another, after all its a 520i and nothing special :-)

[RallyD]

i saw this and thought it was you, jules
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALv3oswCEgI
but no spoiler

[cooljules]

i like it, never did that with mine, but i did often with my 77 GT Celica.
I have seen a nice black 525 tds, ok never had a diesel but guess they sound like a diesel. Be better for 3 or 4 drives between England and Germany a year.
Decided its not worth doing up my black 520i...you guys made sense on that

[Tiger]

You would want sport suspension... Mtech springs from BMW dealer... and new struts to make your car handle better. At this age, struts are probably gone too ... which is probably also the reason for your accident on other car.