Porker of Corker - Opinions/Advice required!

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   Firstly guys, thanks for the advice you have given me recently with regard to purchasing a 540i E34.

I'll tell you about the one I just bought, and hopefully it will be a corker rather than a porker !!!!! Hehehehe !

Ok, here we go.

Its a late 94 model on an 'M' plate with 190k on the clock. BIIIG mileage.

Anyway, I checked the following when I had a good look over the car, Im no expert, but just picked up tips from you guys.

a) Idle is very smooth, both from cold and when hot.
Did not get the engine number, so not sure whether the block has been replaced with an Alusil one, or whether it's a Nikasil that has got lucky!

b) No oil in the coolant, coolant is clean, but not freshly replaced.

c) No white furring under the oil cap, or inside the rocker cover.

d) No knocks or rattles from the engine (was started from stone cold) and it sounded the same when warm.  No tappet rattle.

e) Let the engine warm up at idle, no fluctuation in temperature, also test drove car, and then left it idling for 10 mins, no change in temp.

f) Took it for a spin, brakes strong and consistent, stops in a straight line.

g) Engine is smooth and quiet, pulls nicely in 'A' (is that adaptive mode?) and is a monster in 'S' sport ? mode.  Pulls like a train all the way through the rev range, no hesitancy and no dead spots.

h) Exhaust does not appear to be leaking, could not hear any tell tail sounds.

g) The onboard computer works, no missing pixels, as do all the other gauges.  I think the service indicator underneath the speedo/rev counter, this had no lights.  Does it go to no lights when a service is needed, or is this faulty and do I need to look at it before the battery leaks onto the PCB and buggers up the other instruments.

h) The motor has factory BMW alloys (for the 540) these are the 5 spoke design.  Are these 16" and metric, or are they 'normal' sizes.

g) Gear changes are virtually undetectable in normal mode, it just wafts along, changes in 'S' mode are quick and as I would expect, but not juddery.  There is no whine at low/high speed either.

h) I tested all the electrics out and they worked fine, even the sometimes problematic rear windows all worked a treat.

g) There is no rust (or even a sign of rust) on the doors, wings, wheelarches or fuel filler.

h) The engine bay is clean and tidy, I checked the rad and hoses for corrosion or leakage, nothing found.  Also looked at the various pulleys and ancillaries, no oil leaks (other than the rocker).

j) it has traction control and ASC, tried these and the lights go on and off, but forgot to test them out! (not that I would know how with the ASC!)  Any light on ASC would be good!

k) Mot looks legit, the V5 is all in order and matches the vin on the car.

I've probably missed loads, but for a noob I think I did pretty well.

Bad Points
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No service history, zip, zing, nada. 

Passenger side rocker gastket appears to be leaking a little on to the manifold (is this common ?).

Car pulls to the left and a little when left to it's own devices, I suspect this is lower arm bushes and more than 'tracking' that the seller said (hehehe)!

The interior is in reasonable condition for the milage, however, I'd like to swap the seats for black leather.  Will any E34 leather seats fit, or are they different ?

The owner backed into a post and has damaged the rear of the boot lid, this needs sorting, also under the number plate some rust has come through and lifted the paint.  This looks like it may have been scratched and rusted as a result of not being repaired.

I paid �1450 for it, and it has 10 months mot and some tax on it.

CORKER ???? OR PORKER ?????

Your comments would be appreciated.

Im going to get it serviced by an independant, im going to do the following, if you guys have anything you would check, let me know !

Oil
Plugs
Oil filter
Fuel Filter
Power steering fluid
Engine coolant
brake fluid
transmission fluid and feeder clean.

The engine, really does feel or sound, or look as if it has done nearly 200k, thats really weird.  Can I check with BMW what servicing has been done on it, and whether it has had a recall and engine swap ??

Well there you go !

Any advice would be appreciated !

Many thanks.  Jon

Right, now I need to join the club and come to a meet!