been offered a 1988 E34 535i for swops.

[billy_bunter]

Not often I ask but this has tempted me.

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10215597376399318&set=pcb.10215597379919406&type=3&__tn__=HH-R&eid=ARC0fVCaEKgjkvTcJSSYtyvOxTdSho2pdpvFAjKDWOzqEcCjbZsL77gab9BkrmWkdgQX_ytX8MheXwb5

 

Would love your opinions. Common faults what they were like and is the Schnitzer original?

 

MOT history/corrosion say 'run for the hills... along with the glossing over of 8 years with no MOT. 

 

He has offered swops agianst my 2008 subaru wrx value around £4000ish

 

 

[Cavcraft]

Looks ace but can't see it being worth four large.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Not often I ask but this has tempted me.

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10215597376399318&set=pcb.10215597379919406&type=3&__tn__=HH-R&eid=ARC0fVCaEKgjkvTcJSSYtyvOxTdSho2pdpvFAjKDWOzqEcCjbZsL77gab9BkrmWkdgQX_ytX8MheXwb5

 

Would love your opinions. Common faults what they were like and is the Schnitzer original?

 

MOT history/corrosion say 'run for the hills... along with the glossing over of 8 years with no MOT.

 

He has offered swops agianst my 2008 subaru wrx value around £4000ish

M30B35 12v engine very long-lived if oil changed regularly. 211 or 220 theoretical hp. Cylinder head occasionally known to develop hairline crack at roughly 130,000 miles - check for oil in the coolant. 4HP22 EH gearbox quite good, although the switchable function (S/E/3.2.1) sometimes fails.

 

If it's got corrosion history, I'd be expecting more corrosion unless it has been properly dealt with in one hit rather than ad-hoc treatment.

 

Those Schnitzer alloys are not original-spec and look slightly too big for the car and won't help the ride quality. Better to revert to 15 or 16-inch, but note that basket-weave BBS-style / Style 5 alloys will be a challenge to keep clean.

 

Are the dampers and springs on that car the original spec, or are they aftermarket lowered ones?

 

Not worth four grand if messed about with cosmetically. £2500 is fair, IMHO. If your WRX is worth four, then he's taking you for a fool.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

AC Schitzer my arse.

 

It's a 535i SE with the interior, bumpers and sill trims from a later one. Nasty M6 copy wheels. What are 'Omega' rods? 

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Yeah, it's a honey.

 

 

 

 

 

[N Dentressangle]

As others have said, there's no way I'd pay that much of my money for that.

 

With older / classic cars, originality is almost always where the value lies, even if our own taste is different. A modified car is usually worth less than an original one, and that one would be no different for me, especially as the modifications aren't that nice.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

£4000 buys a very decent 525i Sport with the vastly superior M50 2.5 24v engine.

 

The M30 is a boat anchor in comparison. 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Yeah, it's a honey.

 

 

Screen Shot 2018-11-21 at 18.45.25.png

In that case, £500.

[billy_bunter]

Thanks gents. That was what I hoped would be the general consensus. It has stopped me teetering over the edge.

[sierraman]

Four hundred more like.

[Captain Furious]

High cost high liability

 

Avoid

[billy_bunter]

£4000 buys a very decent 525i Sport with the vastly superior M50 2.5 24v engine.

 

The M30 is a boat anchor in comparison. 

^^ This and the V8 itch thread has got me thinking.....

[cort16]

 

 

The M30 is a boat anchor in comparison. 

 

 

And I thought you knew about BMW's

[cort16]

They are worth a bit of coin these days but it's would have to be a really nice one for 4 grand. Baggy ones are horrible to drive.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

And I thought you knew about BMW's

He spent some of his life writing about them.

[Dirk Diggler]

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/bmw-530i-e34-1988-manual-price-reduction/20296512

 

I saw this one for sale a while ago and thought it salty at the price (€5950); but it's apparently* rust free and doesn't it look good in red, standard and manual.

 

I just don't think I could stomach paying the price of an e34 anymore when €1000 buys a very good e39

[Ghosty]

Nah, that's 90s drug dealer spec, the equivalent of a W124 or E-class on massive AMG monoblocks. Avoid.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I like it. The red one I mean.

[John F]

Nah, that's 90s drug dealer spec, the equivalent of a W124 or E-class on massive AMG monoblocks. Avoid.

 

What's wrong with the spec? Should be fine for anyone that's not lazy or weak and has two functional legs.

 

Avoid due to the galloping rot and lack of brakes, though.

[Ghosty]

I'm referring to the colour, wheels etc. Ew.

[John F]

Ah, fair enough.

 

I don't mind the wheels, but I've never been keen on red as a colour.

 

Out of 50+ cars and 70+ motorbikes only one has been red, a 1974 ex-RAF Lightweight Land Rover. And I wish I still had it, judging by the prices they fetch now.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

And I thought you knew about BMW's

 

 

They're very heavy, thirsty and not that powerful. The 3 litre does 190 bhp, same as the 2.5 M50 that is lighter and good for 5 mpg more. Not many 3.5's give the quoted 218 bhp nowadays, closer to 200. The M30 is also a twat to work on. I'm not a fan of them tbh. 

 

The Jaguar AJ6 was a superior unit in every respect and BMW kept the M30 going too long - they should have axed it in the mid eighties. 

[sierraman]

Red, cream leather and BBS alloys, that’s like the perfect spec on one of those.

[Lacquer Peel]

Ah, fair enough.

 

I don't mind the wheels, but I've never been keen on red as a colour.

 

Out of 50+ cars and 70+ motorbikes only one has been red, a 1974 ex-RAF Lightweight Land Rover. And I wish I still had it, judging by the prices they fetch now.

I think Ghosty is referring to the pimped 5 series in the first post, click the Facebook link, the red one is lovely.

[John F]

OK, I didn't realise that. And yes, the wheels on the first one are totally gash, I can't abide spindly wheels on large cars.

[billy_bunter]

the red one is rather nice...

 

I did reply to the bloke with the white one saying no thanks due to the MOT history. No reply yet.......................................