dollywobbler Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Normally, a beemer wouldn't count as shite. I mean, they were well regarded when new. Not what we're used to! However, this very shite E34 was delivered to my house about half an hour ago. I got distracted when talking to one of my colleagues. He was going to have to scrap it, so I made a silly offer - and he accepted! Shitty NI plate, check Not bad inside though, apart from all the wires - and a constant warning tone. No idea what that's for, but it is running on fumes! Haven't got a clue what I'm going to do with this. I might sell as is for not very much, and give some of the 'vast profits' to my colleague, or I might keep it and turn it into a track/rally car. Might be fun! Oh, it's a 525. I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r.welfare Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 The Reverend's your man for the gen on these things, I'd say. Looks OK for £minimal - nice leather! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrad D. Conelrad Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 The tone couldn't be trying to warn you that the filler flap is open / by the side of a motorway, could it?Looks good, that - new enough to impress me at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted May 30, 2009 Author Share Posted May 30, 2009 Gawd knows what it is. Wonder if I've got a manual with it...I've got one white lens indicator. Hope the other is in the back...Thing is - with the Alfa keeping me busy (I'll stop the speedo needle cutting out if it kills me...) I'm not sure exactly when I'll get around to doing something with the Beemer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
155V6 Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Track car sounds a good idea.I saw an E28 today,stripped out,bucket seats,harnesses,no bumpers,roll cage.Looked the business Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogweasel Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Selling it would probably net a negative amount of money tbh as these appear to be worth squit all, either break it for bits (if they break as good as the 3-series you will be well in) or flog the wanky plate and use the proceeds to pay for it to be stored until such time as they are near extinct (won't be long), then whip it out for retro glory. Or just bezz it up and down your road in 2nd gear listening to the exhaust note. Lovely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pillock Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Looks like a nice little thing for not much money, the 525i goes nicely and that leather looks well looked after.Not sure what the warning tone could be, I'd be tempted (if you're keeping it) to hunt down the little buzzer and stab it repeatedly. Alternatively break it for parts, if it's the 24v motor then they usually fetch decent money and I'd imagine the seats and door cards would find a new home in a less well equipped E34. A guy up the road from me has just done the same thing with a black leather equipped one, the seats went first and last weekend someone turned up for the engine/box/axle. Now he just has an upside down shell on his garden, which is better than gnomes in my book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VWPowered Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 sweet car to dfift around in (once you rip all the inteior out and lost suitable weight) i like it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shite_meister Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Ah likin that, I used to dislike the E34 untill I bought one then after selling it I realised that they are really nicely screwed together.Is it metallic black?-love that colour. As mentioned if its the 24v M50 engine then some young cuntstrill will buy it seen as it has a manwell box, said cuntstrill will probably mutter something about putting the engine and box into his E30 although for many its ambition over talent.Keep it, smoke about in it for a bit and enjoy its build quality then sell/frag/fuck it.Beeping noise, has the speed indiator been set on the trip computer? basically you would enter a speed into it then everytime you reached that speed it will chime, is the warning display in the instrument assy working or has it a fault that you don't know about because the bulb/display has been disconnected/damaged/fucked? if all else fails then I seem to remember that the speaker for the buzzer is located in the kick-panel by your knees and its just a multi-plug to disconnect it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter9000uk Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Those fuwl computers get reasonable money as they are a fairly easy upgrade for a lower spec one with a clock. As already said the leather interior will fetch good money too if no rips. had a few of these albeit in estate form and they are a pleasant drive on a long drive. Nice solid feel to them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted May 31, 2009 Author Share Posted May 31, 2009 It's a constant, very loud tone that it keeps making. Only stops when you turn the ignition off again.Has no T&T at the moment and will need some sorting before it has either. Nowt too major, but headlamps might be a good idea!Might well be a good idea to flog the tidy interior and use that to fund the T&T work and then turn it into a stripped out fun machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Station Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 I don't think anyone wants one of these, to drive or for parts. It's the mk6 Escort 'non-desirability' factor I think. Strange how they were more desirable than any other saloon on the road when they were released, I'd really have one if it was cheap.Is that beeping sound the noise of a 'seatbelt alert'? Just short out the wiring under (probably the driver's) seat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashmicro Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 'tis a 525i SE 24v. Nice car, that. Get shot of it to some chavs and buy a ropey old Jag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete-M Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 if it runs well, the E30 boys are rather fond of the 24v motor... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owain-328i Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 If it is the 24v M50 engine in there, its one of BMW finest.The 'Beeping' is the OBC / check control unit. There will be a panel right in the middle of the speedo binacle at the bottom that will show text of what its beeping about.usually bulb faliures, etc, low coolant, etc etc the list is endless. But it should tell u on that display panel what its bonging about.Nice cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted May 31, 2009 Author Share Posted May 31, 2009 Nah, it tells me nothing. Just goes blaaaaaaaaaaaaargh.It's got an M40 engine apparently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
155V6 Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Another option would be to paint it dark matt grey,fit those German-look pressed plates,& drive round listening to Rammstein very loudly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogweasel Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 It's got an M40 engine apparently.I thought the M40 was the 1.8 litre 8-valve 4-banger found in late E30's & early E36 (plus ultra-pov E34 5's)M50 sounds less spurious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vicsmith Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Was there any particular reason he was going to scrap it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted June 1, 2009 Author Share Posted June 1, 2009 Only desperation. We picked up his new project yesterday (a VW Type 3) and space was needed. It's not the best example - needs putting back together at the front as the headlamp was pinched for his other E34, the bonnet laquer is peeling off and it's done quite a few miles - but there's life in the old girl yet, as I'll hopefully prove.Rammstein sounds good. I'll dig my CD out and enjoy some Industrial Metal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted June 1, 2009 Author Share Posted June 1, 2009 It's got an M40 engine apparently.I thought the M40 was the 1.8 litre 8-valve 4-banger found in late E30's & early E36 (plus ultra-pov E34 5's)M50 sounds less spurious.My BMW knowledge (and ability to actually hear people) = FAIL. You're quite right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owain-328i Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 Depending on how old it is its either gona be a m20 12v or an m50 24v. Its difficult to age as its got the early wing mirrors, so if it is a m50 24v, it will be a non-vanos car.If its 88 - 90 it'l be a m20 12v, 91 - onwards m50 24v Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted June 1, 2009 Author Share Posted June 1, 2009 Just asked - it's a 1988 M20. I've only reversed it up a track but it felt plenty nippy enough for me! It did then start cutting out, probably due to no fuel. Could this be what the siren is about? I'll slosh some in and see what happens... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Reverend Bluejeans Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 88 M20 eh? Well the engine has a value - around £150 if it runs nice with no oil/water mixing, overheating etc plus it wants to be nice and quiet at the top end. E34 panels are worth nothing (although absolutely mint front wings have a value) and sadly the trim's not worth a great deal being beige comfort leather. You might get £50-80 for it on t'bay as a complete interior. There is a 5 Series website, www.bmw5 or something. That's one of those cars where you'll easily spend £300 getting it up to MOT standard - shocks, control arms, brake pipes, front shocks....plus you've a cambelt, tensioner and water pump to do. It was a nice tickle for free, but I'd be raping it before putting it across the scales. If you don't fancy pulling the complete donk, at least take the cylinder head off - that's £100 alone if it's good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted June 1, 2009 Author Share Posted June 1, 2009 I said it was cheap, not free! It did have MoT until very recently so once it has headlamps again, I'll lob it in for a test and see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted June 1, 2009 Author Share Posted June 1, 2009 Bloody thing. Still doing the constant, very loud warning tone. The computer shows sod all as does the dashboard display. Does it continuously and very loudly whenever the ignition is on - engine running or otherwise. Switch the ignition off and the noise slowly fades away.I hate modern cars. My 2CV has only beeped at me once, and that was when the horn switch jammed. A few seconds work to pull the wire off the horn. Easy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted June 1, 2009 Author Share Posted June 1, 2009 Right, an evening of listening to Bat for Lashes and perusing the net has at least allowed me to find out that I can easily disconnect the chime and so save my eardrums from rupturing. I may have sold the car to a mate and that's handy as he's quite handy with a soldering iron (hello if you're reading this!) as it sounds like something needs a tickle with one. My only experience of a soldering iron is seeing who could make the biggest solder balls at school...So, I'll get rid of this unreliable German thing and go back to my trusty(ish) Italian car instead (I didn't think I'd ever type those words together!).More seriously, it'd be nice to move it on as realistically, I've not got a cat in hell's chance of fitting it in around other things. The Alfa and 2CV keep me busy enough! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owain-328i Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 Read the manual it'l tell u in there what its bonging about. Maybe seatbelt or such like?Im surprised the computer is giving u any info! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vicsmith Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 Constant buzzing that slowly fades away with the ignition off, hmmm what does that remind me of......a Volvo 480 I once had in, turned out to be something to do with the remnants of a moribund after-market alarm set up, maybe the BMW has the same type, the cars are the same age more or less...I think a pry-bar made the buzzer change it`s buzzing ways in the end, car was fine afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted June 2, 2009 Author Share Posted June 2, 2009 Apparently, a capacitor probably needs some soldering or something. This has reminded me how much I hate cars that are filled with electrickery (I'll just pretend I don't own an Alfa Romeo 164 for a moment...) so I've done the only decent thing, and have arranged to swap it for a Citroen Dyane. Much more like it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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