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Eamo 
Moderator Group 
Joined: 13-May-2003 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 3450 |
 Posted: 04-August-2005 at 18:06 |
absolutely!! i used to own both cars. the 520 is a pig on juice and the 525 was more economical than the 520 - a good bit more! |
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Hiabboy
Really Senior Member I 
Joined: 05-February-2005 Status: Offline Points: 325 |
Posted: 05-August-2005 at 04:59 |
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Because of the ridiculous road tax situation in Ireland i vote for the 518i, the 94 on m43 (chain driven engine ) is a durable engine and for irish conditions would be more than sufficient. The 520 is a pointless boat anchor, juicey and slow .As stated before the 525 is in a different league and no worse on squirt than a 520 but the tax will hurt !. Drive a decent 518 you will be pleasantly suprised.
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Profit is more reasonable than justice.
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JohnK
Groupie 
Joined: 15-June-2005 Location: Middlesbrough Status: Offline Points: 72 |
Posted: 05-August-2005 at 05:42 |
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http://forum.bmw5.co.uk - specialist 5 series forum should give you some more info
 I drove a 518i last week and really, the performance is less than adequate for day to day driving - put your foot down and theres nothing, a real disappointment. The 520i is no fast car either, but mine is fine for the daily run with enough grunt to pull you out of a sticky situation! |
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PaulS
Really Senior Member II
East Anglia BMWCC Regional Chairman Joined: 03-July-2004 Location: Aylsham, Norfolk Status: Offline Points: 2516 |
Posted: 05-August-2005 at 13:43 |
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I bought an 89 530i for £475 and the car has been as good as gold and has only cost me £30 for brake pads and sensor, and £45 for front lower control arm. Otherwise as pleased as punch!! I was lucky though as the previous owner was in the navy and posted to Australia!! I definately got a bargain! Paul |
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 95 E34 530i V8 Auto Maldives Blue |
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JohnK
Groupie
Joined: 15-June-2005 Location: Middlesbrough Status: Offline Points: 72 |
Posted: 05-August-2005 at 16:19 |
Good price that mate. My 530i cost me £1100 nearly 3 years ago, since then i've replaced the backbox, battery and the brake pipes - otherwise it's been very reliable! My 520i (92 K reg) only cost me £700 though which I felt was a bit of a bargain Edited by JohnK |
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eta.
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 21-October-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 599 |
Posted: 06-August-2005 at 09:43 |
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A very experienced BMW technician told me that the 525 24v E34 is about as good as it gets in an all round BMW.
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denishogan
Really Senior Member II
Whats this title thing about then? Joined: 29-March-2005 Location: Limerick, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 814 |
Posted: 11-August-2005 at 05:44 |
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If you do want to go down the 518i road:
Apparently this one needs a clutch, might be worth a look, it is cheap! Denis |
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eta.
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 21-October-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 599 |
Posted: 11-August-2005 at 06:01 |
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Nothing wrong with a 518i. It uses the M40 16v (318i) engine. It's very torquey. Watch out for cambelt replacement though. Some early engines suffered from oval cylinder wear.
I would have a 518 over a 520 (12v). If money/tax not an issue, 525 24v is the best e34 engine. |
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Fey!
Bavarian-Board Contributor 
Funs over, Scotty; beam down my clothes! Joined: 28-February-2005 Location: Galway Status: Offline Points: 4161 |
Posted: 11-August-2005 at 18:57 |
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What's your budget? One of the members is changing his '99 520, and another friend has his '98 523 up for grabs. Both are black and well kept.
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T.J.
Bavarian-Board Contributor
Joined: 22-September-2003 Location: Cork, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 2332 |
Posted: 12-August-2005 at 03:45 |
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Having ran (all E34s) an 8v 518, 12v 520 (v. briefly), and 24v 525, I'd go 518 or 525 and skip the 520.. although the 24v ones ain't too bad. The performance balance of the 525i really can't be beat. 518i Average consumption over 23,051 miles was 32.77mpg (high 39.07 where I got the furthest out of a tank in an E34 - 538 miles, low 27.89). Average consumption for the 525i over 21,791 miles was 27.38mpg (high 33.88, low 23.89.. that was a trip to & around Mondello; track time worked out around 14mpg!). There was always a small hunting issue with the 525 - turned out it was the idle control valve sticking. Once I sorted this out, the mpg went up on avg 1.5mpg so I think 28-29mpg avg is more realistic. |
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Mazda 6 MPS
S1 Elise 135 Sport Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 
Formerly E39 TDS, E36 M3, E36 328i, E34 525i, E34 518i |
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eta.
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 21-October-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 599 |
Posted: 12-August-2005 at 15:04 |
I thought the 518i E34 M40 engine was 16v? Edited by eta. |
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JohnK
Groupie
Joined: 15-June-2005 Location: Middlesbrough Status: Offline Points: 72 |
Posted: 12-August-2005 at 15:51 |
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Nope - E34 518i and E36 318i used the 8v 1.8 engine. It was the 318iS and the 318ti that used the 16v engine
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b8alk
Banned User 
Andy K Joined: 15-May-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 874 |
Posted: 12-August-2005 at 16:05 |
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The m40 and the m43 are 8v and the m42 and m44 are 16v, TJ you state that you have ran all the e34`s, im sorry mate but i find that very doubtful. We`re talking a range that inc`s Dina/ Alpina/ Ac schnitzer/Hartge/M, and thats to mention just a few, the list of varients of the e34`s that was available to joe public if to also inc engine size is vast, id be surprised if any one could of ran them all Edited by b8alk |
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JohnK
Groupie
Joined: 15-June-2005 Location: Middlesbrough Status: Offline Points: 72 |
Posted: 12-August-2005 at 16:24 |
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I think he's just talking about the more popular ones e.g the 518s,
520s etc as not many people have driven the more "special" E34s...
...but you probs knew that anyway and was just taking the p*ss  |
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b8alk
Banned User
Andy K Joined: 15-May-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 874 |
Posted: 12-August-2005 at 16:37 |
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Edited by b8alk |
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T.J.
Bavarian-Board Contributor
Joined: 22-September-2003 Location: Cork, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 2332 |
Posted: 14-August-2005 at 07:28 |
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Mazda 6 MPS
S1 Elise 135 Sport Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon
Formerly E39 TDS, E36 M3, E36 328i, E34 525i, E34 518i |
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b8alk
Banned User
Andy K Joined: 15-May-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 874 |
Posted: 14-August-2005 at 07:48 |
Just having a chuckle with you TJ |
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Ging
Groupie
Joined: 20-August-2005 Status: Offline Points: 88 |
Posted: 20-August-2005 at 14:17 |
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what is to aviod about a vanos engine? are they not better than the older 24v? |
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fingerman
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 31-May-2005 Location: Stockport Status: Offline Points: 564 |
Posted: 20-August-2005 at 16:47 |
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Nothing to avoid - they are better and faster than the old engines
 It was just a personal opinion - the older ones may sound better (don't know) |
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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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denishogan
Really Senior Member II
Whats this title thing about then? Joined: 29-March-2005 Location: Limerick, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 814 |
Posted: 22-August-2005 at 11:46 |
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As I said I'm biased... the non-vanos M50 is my daily driver!!
The only thing to watch out for is a rattle coming from the early vanos cars... I believe it can be pretty irritating to live with and expensive to fix! |
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Buying 5 series 1990 -1993 1.8 -2.0
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