e34 diesels?

[johnnyturbo2002]

Looking at picking up a used e 34 diesel (I amm in Grmany now) for a second vehicle and I don't know much about the BMW diesel. I had an old Mercedes which was great, anyone have a comment on a 524td or a 525td?
Viele dank!

[Kai@e34.de]

the 524td engine bases on the old M20 engine and has the same problems (timing belt, hairline cracks in the cylinder head), the M51 (525td and 525tds) often has problems with the diesel injection pump (bad idle speed), diesel pump in the fuel tank (engine runs only when the fuel tank is more than half filled), leaky oil leakage pipe and so on... the 525tds is more vulnerable for these damages than the 525td - it's overwrought with 143hp for an old turbulence-chamber diesel engine.

if you really want an unimpeachable diesel, take a Mercedes W124.

[Barney Paull-Edwards]

All the comments are fair but look at the troubles on petrol versions.Also consider running costs on the M-B.I1`me on my second TDS and this one has done 270k with no big troubles,the twin turbo set up will fit given a fabricated manifold and gives good low end torque, add an E39 6 speed box and you have a discrete tool capable of crossing Europe in a day @ 38mpg.Oh and because the engine is relatively old design it will run on anything faintly combustable.Find me a better car and I`ll buy it!

[Paul in NZ]

why a E39 six speed box?

[Barney Paull-Edwards]

why a E39 six speed box?

because despite the final ratio being the same, due to my bad programming the transition between baby and big turbo is abrupt,the extra ratio helps keep it on the boil,