E34 update - and gearbox question

[scooters]

Well, Monday was a hectic day. Got up at 6.00 left Edinburgh at 6.30 and drove to Wetherby for a meeting. That finished at about 1130, then drove to Long Sutton – just west of Kings Lynn for another meeting. Got away at 1630 drove to Harpenden – arrived at 1830 – got the 1850 train to London Bridge – jumped a taxi to Camberwell Green in South London. Collected the BMW and drove back to Harpenden – got in at about 2200.Here’s my feedback on the car, for anyone who is interested.Well, it is a 1990 BMW 535i. It is a SE and comes with a high spec including: climate control, full leather, servotronic steering (speed sensitive), automatic gearbox, M-tech steering wheel, heated windscreen washers, electrically adjustable seats, mirrors, factory electrical sunroof, cruise control, leather adjustable arm rests. Aftermarket additions include a 12 disc multi changer, sony amplifier, subwoofer connection, top of the range Panasonic CD head unit with Bluetooth connectivity. Interestingly enough, ABS was introduced in 1991 so I am not sure this model has it.Moving on to the condition of the car – this vehicle is in exceptional condition for it’s age. There is no rust on the body work, under the car or in the structure – there appears to have been a repair to the off side front wheel arch at one stage and the roof section above the driver’s forehead as well. The red paint work still polishes up but requires frequent attention – a respray should probably be considered but I will try more subtle techniques first and may look at clay and a high quality wax first. The wheels are exceptional. The car has had clear indicator lenses at some point – I may change these back to orange ones to keep it original. The 4 tyres are good with loads of tread left.The interior of the car is immaculate – I have owned several high spec 1990 vintage cars in the past and none come close to the condition of this vehicle – everything works with the exception of the front passenger door solenoid. The only criticism is a slight looseness of the parcel shelf covering.Starting the car - 3.4 lt M30 straight 6 starts on the button and burbles away at around 700 revolutions on idle. The engine had a full top end rebuild 10000 miles ago with a reconditioned head. Indeed, the car has a full service history including the original receipt (£33750). Reverse and drive are engaged with no drama or clonks – handbrake is solid as you like – the driving experience is sedate at low speed – the big lazy 6 is not the fastest off the block – big bore power is what this car is about - hitting national speed limit signs or the start of a motorway is fun – you put your foot down and the car literally takes off – formidable acceleration between 40 – 60 and continuing to 90 – this car is very easy to speed in so the computer function giving you an audible speed warning is welcome. The car handles like you would expect form a 5 series – not as refined as the E39 I had but a lot more fun. At no point do you feel the car is going to let you down – suspension is solid without being harsh and the ride is taught but refined.Fuel consumption isn’t great but it is not as bad as my last 3.2 Daimler and is on a par with my Ovlov 850.Tomorrow I am driving from St Albans to the Wirral for a meeting – after that I will be driving to Edinburgh. I am looking forward to putting the car through it’s paces up the A7 – Carlisle, Hawick, Gala, Edinburgh. On Monday I’ll be driving from Edinburgh to Nottingham and then on to St Albans – A68 from Edinburgh to Darlington at 6.00am will be a lot of fun.All in all I am very happy with my purchase - £700 very well spent indeed – I could have finally found the all round car I need for my high mileage. It has the comfort, power, refinement and legs for the driving I do and is not an unpleasant place to be. IMHO the E34 is the best looking of the 5 series – combining 80’s retro with modern aerodynamics.Only 2 issues: firstly there is a slight rattle from the rear exhaust clamp on idle – secondly the passenger door solenoid.A question for you though:The gearbox has 3 selections – E – which I assume is economy – S - sports mode which switches off the over drive and decreases the changing intervals and M…..What does M stand for? – there is no manual with the carCheersrich

[Mr_Bo11ox]

This sounds great. Lets see a few pics!You say economy is not great - how bad is it?

[scooters]

well - round town you don't want to know - on a run 23-28 ish I guess - probably a bit more at 55 on the motorway on cruise - my one is an auto

 

at work so can't post picks but here's the ebay link

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWNX:IT

[autofive]

M = motorway?

[shite_meister]

You sure its not a W as in Winter? with a snowflake?

[Tayne]

.

[scooters]

def not a snowflakeas the German for 'winter' is DER WINTER -I guess that is a good call......ZER BLUGEN SPLURGEN ENGLANDER SCHWIENHUND DONNER UND BLITZEN TOMMI ACHTUNG SPITFIREis about the extent of my German

[red5]

Is 'M' not for manual selection ? usually by shifting lever from 'D' left or right?

[Dead_E23]

I'm pretty sure mine has the same gearbox and that it's labelled S (sport), E (economy) and 3-2-1. It's a long time since I've driven the car, but istr 3-2-1 acted as a really shonky manual mode - not by moving the stick left to right, but by moving it in the P-R-N-D-3-2-1 axis. I believe it was intended for snow and ice, but as the car slithers around hopelessly in the tiniest bit of snow it's pretty much useless without winter tyres. I think selecting 3, 2 or 1 in S or E mode resulted in the gearbox not upshifting beyond that gear, but once on the move I don't think it made it downshift. Or something. Try it out and report back!

[Tayne]

.

[scooters]

brill - thanks and thank your sister for me...I am a muppet as the selector switch has no winter or snowflake setting - must be going mad - what it has is M E and SE - obviously normal conditionsS - sports mode and no overdriveM is as your sister says and also reflects the autobox settings:linear -P-R-N-D-1-2-3BTW had a long drive in it yesterday - St Albans to the Wirral - scouse land to Edinburgh.very civliised motorway cruiser withbacks of grunt when required but cruises at 75 very well indeed. not so comfortable from 80 - 85 but over 90 is once again - very smooth. autobahn stormer indeed!now - the fun bit - the 100 odd miles of wonderful A road that is the A7 from Carlisle to Edinburgh. I hit it at about 1930hrs - so the road was pretty empty - very quick and responsive in the dry and the sports mode gives serious overtaking grunt - brakes are superb - it does have ABS btw so must be a late 1990 model. - where it show's it's age vs a modern car with computerised traction control is when the rain came down - it demands respect and competance behind the wheel in an unforgiving way not found on the newer versions - ie you have to know what you are doing if you don't want to end up wrapped round a tree!! in the wet driving on the edge is very interesting - so interesting that I had to have a word with myself and slow down a bit. Certainly a beast to handle in slippery conditions.I think I might book myself into a skid pad for a couple of hours to get the feel of what the edge is like in this beastieI have noticed one or two other faults -1/ I sctatched the paintwork on the larboard side of the car avoiding a tranny van on a B road in Herts - t-cut should sort.2/ I have noticed 2 or 3 small bits of paint wear that will need looking at3/ the carneeds polished every week - already some of the panels are a bit dull4/ in the wet the rear light bulb warning comes on when the bulb s still working fine5/ a small bit of rust on the inside corner of the driver's door6/ the door card on the starboard side of the rear passenger seat needs attention and some glueall in all though - remarkably few issues for a 20 year old carMonday will see me going to Glasgow and then to Telford before going on to St Albans afterwardscheers all

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Lets see some pictures!

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

My sister has informed that her '95 e34 had a W for der Winter button but her newer motor, an e621* 3-series, has an M for manual button.

What happened to that in the end? Endless timewasters followed by a one way trip across the weighbridge?

[scooters]

well - 2000 miles later and it is stonking..I have had a chance to look through the history - the service history is complete...interestingly enough - top end rebuild with new cyl head 10000 miles agoeven better is somone in 2003 splashed out £1300 to convert the aircon compressor to modern coolant so the aircon can actually be topped up with modern CFC free gubbins!very happy as it is getting warm!Darlington to Edinburgh last night in just under 3 hours - A68 the whole way - back end is a lot of fun GR8 4 GOIN SIDEWAYZwhat I especially like is if you stick it in sports mode the response from the engine is phenomenal when overtaking - instant brutal power.I have to keep pinching myself that his motor is 20 years old!Next week I am letting my wife use it and taking the Ovlov 850 instead - she needs a run - too much pootling round townanyway