1995 BMW E34 520i
Discussion
Bought an E34 today! (pics will follow) It's in a fetching shade of Dog Knob Red, and looks amazing. The paint and body are brilliant, the engine sounds sweet and pulls well, and although the clutch feels a little high, there is no slippage. The 'box is also good.
Unfortunately, there is a horrible vibration through the steering wheel at 60 odd mph. I'm hoping this is wheel balancing or it needs spigot rings (it's currently on some E39 gangsta hoops and I believe there was always a slight compatibility issue, but I want to put it on period E34 alloys again). Deep down I think I know that it's due a suspension refresh up front... oh well
Apart from that, it's nice to have a 6 pot mill up front driving the rear wheels again as a daily!!
Unfortunately, there is a horrible vibration through the steering wheel at 60 odd mph. I'm hoping this is wheel balancing or it needs spigot rings (it's currently on some E39 gangsta hoops and I believe there was always a slight compatibility issue, but I want to put it on period E34 alloys again). Deep down I think I know that it's due a suspension refresh up front... oh well
Apart from that, it's nice to have a 6 pot mill up front driving the rear wheels again as a daily!!
wolfy1988 said:
Look forward to the photos!
The vibration sounds like front Control Arms and what your experiencing is called 'The Shimmy' if not that then yeah, it probably needs spigots for the e39 wheels
I'm trying to remain positive that it's just the wheels. I doesn't feel like a shimmy, it really feels like it's out of balance. Which is annoying because I really quite like the car already! The vibration sounds like front Control Arms and what your experiencing is called 'The Shimmy' if not that then yeah, it probably needs spigots for the e39 wheels
Edited by wolfy1988 on Friday 5th July 09:58
Yeah will upload pictures soon, I'm unfortunately away all weekend but I was like a kid at Christmas so couldn't resist starting a thread.
If it is the control arms, do you know how much generally the parts would cost? And if I was to get a garage to do it, how long do you reckon it might take them?
I'm a year into E34 ownership and it is now a confirmed keeper. As others have said, such fantastic cars to work on- everything is so over engineered.
I like it so much that I'm considering investing a grand or two in it and keep it for the forseeable, It's hard to imagine a circumstance where I would be unable to keep it.
I like it so much that I'm considering investing a grand or two in it and keep it for the forseeable, It's hard to imagine a circumstance where I would be unable to keep it.
Right guys, back from Devon! Bit of a Baptism of fire for it, I bought it thursday night took it for a weekend away on Friday through heavy stop start traffic in 25 degrees, through to the rolling hills! Apart from the afore mentioned wobble, not a complaint! I hear what everyone's saying about the shimmy and I have a feeling you will be right, but I want to eliminate balance and the prescence (or not) of spigot rings. Then I'll pull apart the front end!
Anyway, pics below as requested. None from Devon unfortunately
But yes, that is a brand spankers radiator!
Anyway, pics below as requested. None from Devon unfortunately
But yes, that is a brand spankers radiator!Six Fiend said:
Great to work on and everything is made from large chunky bits you smack with hammers and tweak with big wrenches 
We like that!One more thing, can anyone recommend a decent workshop manual for it? I looked at Haynes but they only seem to cover the SOHC belt cam engines. in 2.0/2.5 sizes.
ETA again, if I was to be lazy, how much do you reckon a garage would charge for the work to the front control arms?
Edited by Triumph Man on Sunday 7th July 22:07
Edited by Triumph Man on Sunday 7th July 22:10
HustleRussell said:
Funnily enough, my E34 also had a trip to Devon as it's baptism of fire- if I remember rightly less than two weeks after I bought it. Mine, too, made it but the trip highlighted that my car could benefit from a cooling system overhaul!
Oh dear! Overheating or pissing out coolant?Triumph Man said:
Oh dear! Overheating or pissing out coolant?
Well I was advised by seasoned BMW beards that when I bought my car I should check/renew the radiator, water pump, 'stat and pipe work as a matter of course but naturally I thought they were exaggerating and being all anal about it so I opted just to keep an eye on it. When it got to Devon I noticed that it was indeed losing coolant.A combination of issues then came up one after the other with these very bits! It was losing coolant at an increasing rate, when it lost coolant it appeared very hard to bleed again, heater would blow cold etc etc and these issues caused it to boil over a couple of times. My old man was convinced the head gasket had gone or the head cracked but I was sure I'd never allowed it to overheat 'properly'...
Anyway, long story short, the thermostat housing was cracked, the thermostat itself was sluggish, there was a hole in the rad and the expansion tank cap wouldn't seal. Troubleshooting all these issues one at a time took a while but now I have a perfectly functioning cooling system and the car doesn't take a drop of oil or coolant between services.
quiraing said:
For workshop manual - "Bentley Publishers" BMW 5-series 1989-95 service manual ISBN 0-8376-0319-6.
Won't be cheap but it really is a top-quality extremely detailed workshop manual. Has saved me ££££. Makes Haynes manuals look like the Beano.
Thanks for that, will look into it Won't be cheap but it really is a top-quality extremely detailed workshop manual. Has saved me ££££. Makes Haynes manuals look like the Beano.
Edited by quiraing on Sunday 7th July 23:24
Triumph Man said:
quiraing said:
For workshop manual - "Bentley Publishers" BMW 5-series 1989-95 service manual ISBN 0-8376-0319-6.
Won't be cheap but it really is a top-quality extremely detailed workshop manual. Has saved me ££££. Makes Haynes manuals look like the Beano.
Thanks for that, will look into it Won't be cheap but it really is a top-quality extremely detailed workshop manual. Has saved me ££££. Makes Haynes manuals look like the Beano.
Edited by quiraing on Sunday 7th July 23:24
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-e34-5-series-Bentley...
So to drag this topic back up, I've been busy what with buying a house and such that I haven't had time to devote to the car. What with the house being finished and the Triumph sold ( ) I can now fix up the 5!
Got it up in the air to check play in arms, and it seems to be upper control arms at the front on the offside and some droplinks causing play and probably causing the shimmy, so these are first on the list.
Secondly, while I was under it, I checked to see what gear oil I would need for my manual box. I couldnt see a tag or sticker, so unsure what this means :s. It really could do with a change as it seems to be whining a bit.
Also on the list is an oil and cooling system service. The thermostat seems to have stuck open, so while I'm doing that I will do the waterpump etc and flush refill and bleed the system.
The next question is wheels: I currently have Style 49s on there, which to be honest I don't think suit this car. If anyone wants them (along with tyres with plenty of meat) please PM me. I don't know what to replace them with. E60 style 134s (please see attached link)http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/ I'm worried about OEM E34 alloys due to metric tyre sizes (am I correct or being stupid?) The other thought is to go steelies with either E36 or E34 wheel trims. Although I told my neighbour of my idea (sound bloke) and he said I was going "peasant spec" so I am now in two minds! Help me PH!
) I can now fix up the 5!Got it up in the air to check play in arms, and it seems to be upper control arms at the front on the offside and some droplinks causing play and probably causing the shimmy, so these are first on the list.
Secondly, while I was under it, I checked to see what gear oil I would need for my manual box. I couldnt see a tag or sticker, so unsure what this means :s. It really could do with a change as it seems to be whining a bit.
Also on the list is an oil and cooling system service. The thermostat seems to have stuck open, so while I'm doing that I will do the waterpump etc and flush refill and bleed the system.
The next question is wheels: I currently have Style 49s on there, which to be honest I don't think suit this car. If anyone wants them (along with tyres with plenty of meat) please PM me. I don't know what to replace them with. E60 style 134s (please see attached link)http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/ I'm worried about OEM E34 alloys due to metric tyre sizes (am I correct or being stupid?) The other thought is to go steelies with either E36 or E34 wheel trims. Although I told my neighbour of my idea (sound bloke) and he said I was going "peasant spec" so I am now in two minds! Help me PH!
One more thing that needs doing, I took off the chav steering wheel cover to be met with a horrifically ripped wheel. So another thing to do is to change the steering wheel.
While I think about it, any oem mods that people have done to their E34s? This one will hopefully be going a while yet, and as my daily/quasi classic, I would eventually like it as nice as possible.
Oh yeah and I'd better fix the A/C... especially as the inclusion of the that seemed to mean deleting a lovely electric sunroof...
While I think about it, any oem mods that people have done to their E34s? This one will hopefully be going a while yet, and as my daily/quasi classic, I would eventually like it as nice as possible.
Oh yeah and I'd better fix the A/C... especially as the inclusion of the that seemed to mean deleting a lovely electric sunroof...
Edited by Triumph Man on Sunday 22 September 21:10
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