What year did the 540 6 speed come out

[duby55]

When did sales start in the USA. This is kind of trivia, research and brain spam for me all in one. Anyone know any history websites on the E34?

[timandbim]

don't believe everything you read on wikipedia, but i got this from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E34

A rare 540i M-Sport model was built in 1995. This package included not just a firmer suspension and sport seats, but used many parts from the M5, save for the engine and transmission. 200 "Sport" models were built, 135 of them with a 6-speed manual. Canada also got a special version – the M540i, which was similar to the American 540i Sport but had even more M5 parts, such as 345 mm floating front rotors, 18 inch wheels, and various trim pieces. Only 32 of these cars were built, all with a manual transmission. Australia was the final market that received one of the M5 enhanced 1995 540i 6 speeds. 70 '540i Manual Limited Edition's' were produced, all manual and all individually numbered. They all came with full M5 running gear and interior and the 'throwing star' M-System II wheels, but didn't have the M-tech exterior kit fitted.

[billy in slo]

don't believe everything you read on wikipedia, but i got this from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E34

A rare 540i M-Sport model was built in 1995. This package included not just a firmer suspension and sport seats, but used many parts from the M5, save for the engine and transmission. 200 "Sport" models were built, 135 of them with a 6-speed manual. Canada also got a special version – the M540i, which was similar to the American 540i Sport but had even more M5 parts, such as 345 mm floating front rotors, 18 inch wheels, and various trim pieces. Only 32 of these cars were built, all with a manual transmission. Australia was the final market that received one of the M5 enhanced 1995 540i 6 speeds. 70 '540i Manual Limited Edition's' were produced, all manual and all individually numbered. They all came with full M5 running gear and interior and the 'throwing star' M-System II wheels, but didn't have the M-tech exterior kit fitted.

Good info on the M-Sport
http://www.kindel.com/bmw/
There is also a Yahoo group, best place to find one for sale.

[Paul in NZ]

were there any "normal" 540 six speeds?Were the first 540s sold in 1993?Were any of them six speed manuals?

[Dragunov]

I was wondering about the availability of manual 540s too. The regular manual 6 spd 540i seems to be rare in my part of the world. In fact so rare i can't find one on sale on the internet. There's 2 or 3 up at a time and they're all autos so far.

So my question is, how many manuals were made compared to autos? And if i can't get one from my homeland, what part of the world should i look at to find one?

And what's the adventage with manuals anyways? I'm not much of a car guy so i don't really get how having to push a knob around all the time enhances your driving experience, but i assume the manual tranny allows better performance?

Does it make a significant difference or will an auto satisfy me? When i buy something i always aim for the best i can get my hands on, but if it isn't significantly better than the second best choise i might just stick wit that.

[Macv]

Wasn't it like only 700-800 540i/6's built? Thats just a guess, don't hold me to it.

[repenttokyo]

as far as I know, 6 speed 540's went on sale in north america in 1995.

[nirvana19]

95 model year. I BELIEVE some were delivered in 94, according to my neighbor (bought a 530iM in that time period, considered 540i/6).

[BuckNaked]

1994 was the first year for the 4.0 liter V-8 in the e34.
The 6-speed transmission was not available until the 1995 model year.
There were approximately 1300+ 1995 540i 6-speeds shipped to the USA, approximately 700-800 are believed to still exist.
The expert on the subject would have to be a gentleman from Sweden that currently owns 5 of them. He posts on these forums regularly and goes by the name Stephan735i.
He has some pretty impressive information to go with his amazing stable, like factory production data.

[Stephan735i]

1994 was the first year for the 4.0 liter V-8 in the e34.
The 6-speed transmission was not available until the 1995 model year.
There were approximately 1300+ 1995 540i 6-speeds shipped to the USA, approximately 700-800 are believed to still exist.
The expert on the subject would have to be a gentleman from Sweden that currently owns 5 of them. He posts on these forums regularly and goes by the name Stephan735i.
He has some pretty impressive information to go with his amazing stable, like factory production data.

Thank you

The total built number for all version of 540i/6 is 3203 cars, divided like this;

HE53 North America Limousine LHD 1523 cars (the 135 M Sport and 32 M540i is in this number = 1356 "normal" 540i/6 for the US)

HE51 Europe Limousine LHD 797 cars (there are a very low number of Individual cars with Nürburgring suspension and other M5 parts)

HK31 Europe Touring LHD 499 cars (there are a very low number of Individual cars with Nürburgring suspension and other M5 parts)

HE52 Europe Limousine RHD 249 cars (the 70 AUS 540i LE is in this number)

HE98 South Africa (built there) Limousine RHD 72 cars (all most probably with M Sport Package)

HK32 Europe Touring RHD 62 cars

So hold on to your cars, they don't make them no more

The first North American was built 1994-03-21 a Cosmosschwarz that car probably went to Canada because it has light cleaners and rear head rests, the second car an Arktisgrau was built 1994-03-31 and stry lacked leather in July a big patch of 540i/6 cars were built so maybe in August/September 1994 the first cars came to the public.

In Europe we got them sooner, the very first was built 1993-07-08, but only 7 Limousine and 10 Touring were built in 1993 making January 1994 the first standard production month and sales started soon after.

Dragunov; Your best bet is Germany even if they are losing cars each month, all mine have I bought there, why a manual 6speed in stead of a slush box? I could answer like Ingemar Stenmark Sweden's Alpine pro from the 80: is, can't explain to someone that don't understand but I'm not like that, here some thought of mine;

You become one with the car, in an automatic the car decide for you here YOU decide, you can use all of the power or be in a high gear and just cruise, a perfect Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde car, slow with wife in town than alone on Nürburgring embarrassing sports cars

Stephan