Shopping for an Older German Executive: Part 3, the E34 5-Series
In parts one and two, we covered the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the Audi A4 from about 25 years ago. Naturally, our series comes at an end with BMW’s offering – the 5-Series (E34).
The E34 is special for a number of reasons. It sits in between the electronics-heavy E39 and rust-prone E28, and is more robust in those categories.
You’ll find it in a few variants. Most, if not ALL, are 4 door sedans. BMW gave it a few updates throughout, but the biggest variations are as follows:
- Turn signals, earlier models were amber, later models tend to be clear
- The BMW kidney grille was widened near the end of production
- There were a few rim types and sizes, but many owners switch them for aftermarket sets
- Base models have fabric seats, black leather others. Some interiors had wood trim pieces.
In terms of powertrain options, even the base model here was a straight-6! The most common displacements are 2-litres (520i) and 2.5-litres (525i). We’ve yet to see any 540i or M5 models being listed, but have seen that 4-litre V8 available for an engine swap.
The straight sixes in the 520i and 525i come in 3 forms. The basic M20 engine was fitted on the early models and can be identified by the ‘crab-like’ metal intake manifold. These engines are easy for mechanics to work on and comes highly recommended.
Later on, BMW replaced it with the M50 engine. These had dual overhead cams for mild fuel economy gains. By the end, the M50 engine received a technical update which added VANOS on the intake side of the engine. It’s like VTEC but more German.
3 transmissions were common. A 5-speed manual, found on some base spec 520i vehicles, a 4-speed automatic (most were made by GM, but there are ZF ones in existence) and a 5-speed automatic from ZF.
While the 5-Series is better looking, better driving and almost as comfortable as the E-Class or A6, there are plenty of reasons why it’s not the best buy in this range.
Firstly, many E34s have been modified. Some examples are very tasteful and bring out the best of that wedge shape, but many modified E34s end up looking tacky. It’s also not uncommon to find major mechanical modifications. These can make for risky purchases, so be warned.
Secondly, the E34’s interior and exterior trim just doesn’t last under the Malaysian sun. Plastic parts break, slide off or crack. Leather parts tear and wrinkle. Metal parts bend and misalign.
Replacement parts are available even on sites like mudah, but it’s the sheer volume of things that need fixing that might have you rethinking this purchase. It also means a lot of these cars are sold in a state of disrepair. As long as there’s no rust and the engine runs smooth, you might still think of using the car’s sorry state as a way to drive the price down further.
Next, there’s the problem of the drivetrain configuration. The 2-litre engines aren’t really powerful enough to really get the most out of that very heavy chassis but they’re the only ones that come factory fitted with the manual gearbox. A majority of the 525i models in Malaysia are fitted with 4-speed automatics. Optimally, a 525i with the M20 engine and a 5-speed manual would be anybody’s first choice, but they just weren’t configured that way for Malaysia.
All said and done, the E34 5-Series presents a very interesting case for itself. For all its faults, it’s still quiet, comfortable, quite reliable, capable of some real driving pleasure, great sounding and great to look at. And parts aren’t quite as expensive as you would think, especially when you compare it to the price of modern parts. There are many new Japanese cars that are more expensive to maintain than this car!
Perhaps this makes the E34 the most interesting option. You can try and take good care of it in original form and be rewarded with a good ride quality and comfort. Or you could take advantage of the car’s excellent layout and weight balance (the car battery is under the rear seat) to build yourself a fun weekend car.
The vehicle itself can be found for between RM7K-RM15K, and the powertrain configuration doesn’t seem to be the deciding factor for the price. If you find one you like, you might still have to change the door and boot rubbers, and find a replacement driver’s side wiper (it’s unique), and get the steering and seats rewrapped. Use these factors to drive the final price down or get the owner to have these things done as part of the purchasing price.
If you haven’t already, read part 1 on the W124 Benz and part 2 on the C4 Audi.
About the Author
Subhash Nair Written work on dsf.my. @subhashtag on instagram. Autophiles Malaysia on Youtube.
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