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Andrew Rolland
Moderator Group
Go away rain
Joined: 19-August-2004
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 6579
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Posted: 24-September-2005 at 06:47 |
Peter Fenwick wrote:
As Andy says most of the 540's were autos which IMO doesn't lend itself to being sporty although i'm sure others will disagree. |
Yup.
I disagree
A big enough engine powering a car thru an autobox will still be quick. You will still be able to eat and spit out everything bar an M5.
200+ bhp is more than adequate for being sporty IMO. You have 286bhp and I can assure you that will be plenty even though it is thru an autobox.
My Vauxhall Senator 3.0i 24V was 204bhp and automatic and it would leave my E39 for dead. On the Sennie forum we used to boast about how many BMWs we would leave at the lights as I'm sure Tetleysmooth will agree!
Sennie 0-60 8.2 secs, my E39 0-60 9.7 secs. Woeful in comparison innit!
1.5 seconds of a difference from another 500 cc and 34 bhp, can make all the difference. My E39 is adequate for what I want it to do, not brilliant but o.k. the Sennie was definitely quicker. I do less overtaking in the E39 than I did in the Sennie purely for the reason that it is slower. But it is a better car.
A manual 523i will do 0-60 in 8.something seconds, the auto is much slower in comparison but that is only with 170 horses to play with, you have over 100 more, that's like a Ford Focus engine plus my 6 pot from my E39.
4 litres worth, 286 bhp and the sexy V8 noise would beat a 6 pot 3.5 litre IMO any day.
Andrew
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Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series!
Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto
Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto
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b8alk
Banned User
Andy K
Joined: 15-May-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 874
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Posted: 24-September-2005 at 05:58 |
The m30 3.5 is a in line 6 not a v6 and its a great engine, not as powerfull as the 4.0v8 but not that far behind it either, and if your willing to spend the money the m30 can really be made to perform and as jayson has said its almost bullit proof, whereas the e34/v8`s do have there problems with both the engine and the auto boxs and both will cost you dearly.
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chippeduk
Really Senior Member II
ECU Tech
Joined: 04-June-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 696
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Posted: 24-September-2005 at 05:39 |
i personally love the 535i, the m30 is a sweeeeeet engine and bullit proof.
dangerous100, did you have the car mapped for the nitrous when running a 100 shot ?
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jayson@chippeduk.com
www.chippeduk.com
07815-501867 - 01527-579345
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zeeny99999
Newbie
Joined: 23-September-2005
Location: SE London
Status: Offline
Points: 32
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Posted: 24-September-2005 at 05:32 |
Thanks guys for the input, so what do you reckon would be quicker to 60 then a 540i Auto or a 535i ??? Im just wondering what to do now !
I think they make the 535 as a V8 and V6 or am I getting mixed up, and which one is best !
I read that the 540i when new does 0-60 in a fraction under 7 secs, just wondering what the figures are for the 535i !
Thanks
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b8alk
Banned User
Andy K
Joined: 15-May-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 874
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Posted: 24-September-2005 at 05:04 |
Peter Fenwick wrote:
If you want all out perfromance you could always go for an E34 M5. As Andy says most of the 540's were autos which IMO doesn't lend itself to being sporty although i'm sure others will disagree. There were a few 540 sports with a manual box but they are like rocking horse S**t.
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E34 540i sports were only ever made for the USA 200 in total 65 being auto`s 135 being 6 speed manuals, they were a limited production series created by BMW M GmbH all were left hand drive.
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dangerous100
Groupie
Joined: 25-June-2004
Location: sheffield
Status: Offline
Points: 88
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Posted: 24-September-2005 at 02:12 |
well,mine has a k+n panel filter,the end of the airbox chopped off and a superchip.all this raised the power to 310hp from 286hp.mine has nitrous on top which adds another 100hp but thats usually reserved for the drag strip.
as standard they come with an "open" diff which is extremely long legged and not much kop for sprinting,more for cruising(if it could reach it fifth gear is geared for 195mph! and they hit the speed limiter in fourth!) the way round this is to fit the diff from an m5.i have had a look on the oem parts website and the driveshafts are the same so there shouldn't be any probs fitting one.the 3.6's and five speed 3.8 m5's come with a 3.93:1 diff which would be excellent for acceleration but the top speed would be down to 140ish in fifth.the six speed m5's had a 3.23:1 diff which would give you 170ish top end if deristricted.the other benifit of the m5 diff is it is a limited slip diff.this is the one i am going to try and find over the winter.
they are never going to be quick off the line being an auto.i think standard 0-60 is 7seconds.but they will match a standard cossie or scooby up the drag strip(14.8 seconds for the 1/4)
bryan
Edited by dangerous100
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93 540ia,superchip,k+n panel filter and nitrous.118000miles
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Drew540i
Really Senior Member II
Available from all good newsagents!
Joined: 15-August-2005
Location: The Mansfield Massive
Status: Offline
Points: 632
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Posted: 23-September-2005 at 19:16 |
But you can't buy an M5 for £1500.
540i's are okay as long as they're cheap because
like all old cars, they go wrong and the V8's can
generate some big, big bills. The engine issue is
one thing but the other is the autobox. E34 540i's are
now heading towards banger territory but the running
costs are anything but banger money.
The 535i manual is probably a better bet.
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Peter Fenwick
Bavarian-Board Contributor
Joined: 27-August-2003
Location: Lost somewhere in time...
Status: Offline
Points: 6484
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Posted: 23-September-2005 at 18:02 |
If you want all out perfromance you could always go for an E34 M5. As Andy says most of the 540's were autos which IMO doesn't lend itself to being sporty although i'm sure others will disagree. There were a few 540 sports with a manual box but they are like rocking horse S**t.
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Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel.
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Badger 540
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 23-October-2003
Location: West Midlands
Status: Offline
Points: 451
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Posted: 23-September-2005 at 17:54 |
The 540's were only made between 93 and 96, most were autos.
The engine has an issue with a coating on the bores called Nikasil. Bore wear caused by using fuel with a high sulphur content, and lots of short journeys can contribute.
There is plenty of info regarding Nikasil in M60 V8 engines on this forum and the net.
Andy '93 540i auto
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Badger540 West Midlands
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fingerman
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 31-May-2005
Location: Stockport
Status: Offline
Points: 564
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Posted: 23-September-2005 at 17:12 |
Welcome zeeny999999 to the forum The E number for this model of BM is an E34. Can't really help you with much else as I too am looking to get a 535i (just sold me 525) And would like some more info on the V8 engines.
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Current: E34 1996 525tds 113-125k
Previous: 9xE34s, 5xE30s, 2xE39s, 1xE32, 1xE36.... phew!
My Ebay bits: http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZseany69ukQQhtZ-1
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zeeny99999
Newbie
Joined: 23-September-2005
Location: SE London
Status: Offline
Points: 32
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Posted: 23-September-2005 at 15:51 |
Im pretty new to the whole BMW scene, so go easy fellas !
Im looking at getting a 540i 88-96 model, not sure of the E number!
I'm looking to chip it and change the exhaust, so if you have any recommendations, id like to hear them !
Im looking for all out performance, and have toyed with the idea of the 535i, but would rather go all out and get the 540.
Are there any common problems with these engines ? Do the gear boxes have many problems !
Once again, if you can be of any help, that would be great !
Jon
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