Looking to buy a 5 series, look here

***Gamite*** · 05-04-2010, 01:41 PM

E34: 1989 to 1995

Pre-Facelift 1989-1993
- 1989 -1991 came with US Spec projector headlights
- 1993 gets updated mirror style

Facelift 1994 - 1995
- All years came with US spec projector headlights
- Wider grill, M5 Side skirts
- Available models: 525i (2.5L M50), 530i (4.0L M60), 540i (4.0L M60)
- Interior door panels updated

Special Models
M5 - 1989-1992?
M540 - 1995 - This was a special edition that came to Canada instead of the M5, look for the plaque that will state which number out of 132 cars came.

Available options to look for
- Drop Down seats

Things to look for
- Rust at the bottom of the doors
- Thrust arms rattle, causing vibrations at 55mph (88km/h)
- M60 motors suffer from nikalsil problems, lower quality gas ate away at the sleeves of the cylinders, the engine should go for a compression check before purchasing.
- M60 - power steering leaks, driver's side motor mounts, valley pan gasket (mysterious coolant leaks), timing cover gaskets, valve cover gaskets, rear main seal
- M60 Oil pump bolts/mounting nuts notoriously rattle loose and end up in laying in the pan.

E39: 1996 to 2003

Pre-Facelift 1996 - 2000
- Available models: 528i (2.8L M52), 540i (4.4L M62)

Facelift 2001 - 2003
- Available Models: 525i (2.5L M54), 530i (3.0L M54), 540i (4.4L M62)
- Updated headlights/taillights
- Updated steering wheel

Special Models:
- M5 (Headliner was upgraded from black felt to alacantera for the facelift as well as updated cluster steering and steering wheel.)

Things to look for:
- M62 motor mounts tend to leak and get soft, this causes the rad neck to crack and eventually break off.
- LCD pixels in the lower display in the cluster almost always go, this is a very common occurance in E39's.

E60: 2004 to current

F10: Future

Feel free to add to this list, I will add them as you guys go along.

Nick_V · 05-04-2010, 03:59 PM

E34 M60 - power steering leaks, driver's side motor mounts, valley pan gasket (mysterious coolant leaks), timing cover gaskets, valve cover gaskets, rear main seal, lol etc.... can be expensive and a bitch to fix all that crap so make sure you know what's been done, cause if not, these things WILL leak eventually.

***Gamite*** · 05-04-2010, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick_V

E34 M60 - power steering leaks, driver's side motor mounts, valley pan gasket (mysterious coolant leaks), timing cover gaskets, valve cover gaskets, rear main seal, lol etc.... can be expensive and a bitch to fix all that crap so make sure you know what's been done, cause if not, these things WILL leak eventually.

are these problems specific to you, or do you know for a fact that it will happen to most cars?

Every BMW power steering leaks, so I didn't put that in.

Nick_V · 05-04-2010, 06:31 PM

yes, all of these are well documented as being specific M60 problems.

Nick_V · 05-04-2010, 06:35 PM

I forgot a really important one that's also M60-specific: Oil pump bolts/mounting nuts notoriously rattle loose and end up in laying in the pan. This definitely happens to most cars...

JJJames · 08-15-2011, 09:00 AM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure there were only 32 M540's imported into Canada - not 132, making it one of the rarest out there.

bmwm5lover · 08-15-2011, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJJames

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure there were only 32 M540's imported into Canada - not 132, making it one of the rarest out there.

Correct.

RF535i · 08-21-2011, 03:27 PM

FYI , the latest Bimmer mag has a great article on buying a used E60.

good thing I already read up on most things before buying my CPO 535i

royst · 04-05-2013, 07:06 PM

Hope someone can shed some light on this. I was looking at a E34 and I noticed on the back it said AC Schnitzer. My google search has come up empty.
Thanks

VighJ · 05-07-2013, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJJames

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure there were only 32 M540's imported into Canada - not 132, making it one of the rarest out there.

And only 16 were 6 spd Manual, and I have one of those 16

captain E34 · 08-11-2013, 12:48 PM

no info on the original 5ers? :O

saint217 · 01-15-2014, 12:48 PM

i am considering selling my 1990 bmw 535i for $7500 obo in bc canada, just seeing if theres interest out there, i have $4600 in parts i have put in such as adjustable racing coil overs and slotted racing discs and a bunch of belts, hoses, valves ect, thanks

dkorn · 04-03-2015, 03:36 PM

Royst-
AC Schnitzer is a German tuner who produces quality modified 'performance' parts for BMW's (like Dinan). And as with Dinan, if you make enough mods to your vehicle, you can put the "ACS" badge on the rear (although people can badge car without having made the requisite amount of changes; they try to get away with it by adding ACS air intake and exhaust, and maybe a no-name engine chip). You want owner to provide complete documentation for all upgrades, as well as repair and maintenance records. And if the seller is trying to up the price because of the ACS mods, keep in mind that HE spent the money b/c the mods were important to HIM. Not necessarily important or of value to you. In most cases, mods don't increase the after-market value of the car. I've seen too many ads stating owner spent "over $10,000 in upgrades" (Dinan, ACS, variety). You'll likely face higher repair bills and won't get your money back on future resale.