Is an e34 worth spending money on?
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Printed Date: 23-September-2024 at 14:32
Topic: Is an e34 worth spending money on?
Posted By: ivanovoitch
Subject: Is an e34 worth spending money on?
Date Posted: 17-February-2007 at 12:51
The e34 didn't just pass the NCT this morning, it stormed it. (Slight
imbalance in rear the suspension means it's not 100% but it's close). So the question is if a 15 YO e34 with 165,000 on the clock is worth spending money on? I'm now thinking about spending a few grand on improving the pauper interior and getting a respray. It has a little rust in the rear passenger side wheel arch and a few little dents but it's structurally sound. What do you think? Spend money on it or just drive it to death? Double Post removed, please reply to this one, thanks. |
Replies:
Posted By: Ben O Brien
Date Posted: 17-February-2007 at 12:58
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Depends on whether you want to keep it forever or not, i love e34's so id be spending money on it but form experience you wont ever get it back so decide carefully! Contrary to popular belief at the mo i find irish cars of this age in much better condition bodywise, my 92 has its fair share of rust underneath and ive seen a lot of similar uk cars (not just bm's) with lots of rusty arches etc from the salt so if you can get an irish car thats been looked after your more likely to have a structurally sound car. Pity i cant say the same for suspensions and general mechanicals!! Congrats on it passing the test, one less e34 in the scrappers can only be a good thing!
------------- 99' 740iL 99' 728i Sport 98' E39 M5 - Avus Blue, Dec Car! 96' M3 Saloon - Estoril Blue 94' M3 3.0 Convertible 91' E34 M5 - 3.6, Macau Blue *E36 M3's Breaking* |
Posted By: IamSpartacus
Date Posted: 17-February-2007 at 14:15
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I'd agree with Ben, it's worth doing if you're going to keep it. You'll be very lucky to get the money you put into it back, it might help someone to buy yours over another if you decided to sell, but that'd be about it. If it's been a good car up to now and you can justify the cost go for it, at least you're dealing with a known quantity. ------------- The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think. |
Posted By: Tom Elliott
Date Posted: 17-February-2007 at 15:10
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I've been having the same considerations about my own 91 E30 same mileage 165K.. No rust even though it's an english car originally, i think it only spent a few years in the UK, 2 max. It really deserves a re-spray.. what to do what to do.. The conclusion i came to is that i'll look after the chassis, steering and suspension as much as possible then when the engine expires (no sign of this happening yet) I'll source a rust bucket from the UK with a nice unabused engine and do a transplant If it costs you 1 to 1.5 K on parts and servicing per year your doing well.. depreciation on a newer beemer would cost you the same... |
Posted By: ivanovoitch
Date Posted: 17-February-2007 at 20:31
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Right... ...given I don't need any car and I can afford to throw a bit of cash at this one and I'm unlikely to find a better one mechanically and structurally and I like it's looks and how it drives... ...it seems the consensus is to keep and restore. Right? ------------- |
Posted By: IamSpartacus
Date Posted: 17-February-2007 at 20:44
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Yup! Good luck with it! ETA: I'm hoping to get all the niggling bits on mine sorted this year - stone chips, carpark dings etc. With that and replacing the rear shocks she'll probably hit me for over 5K this year.... but worth every cent! ------------- The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think. |
Posted By: stephenperry
Date Posted: 17-February-2007 at 23:51
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seems like you're looking for justification... seeds of doubt already sown? since it's you who will have to fork out the cash for restoration and live with the car day to day only you can make the decision, don't expect unbiased opinion from other owners ------------- 2007 Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCI Titanium X Auto 1983 Ford Sierra XR4i 2000 Alpina B10 3.3 #118 1999 BMW 323Ci 1995 BMW 318i SE 1994 Vauxhall Omega 2.0 GLS 1995 Ford Mondeo 1.8 LX 1990 Honda Concerto 1.6 EX 1986 Ford Orion 1.6 GL 1989 Ford Fiesta 1.1 Firefly |
ivanovoitch wrote:
Posted By: Tom Elliott
Date Posted: 18-February-2007 at 22:37
| keep it |
Posted By: nn_dd
Date Posted: 19-February-2007 at 01:26
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Wouldn't spend too much on it, you've already had reservations about doing it - by posting the Q, so it could always be in the back of your mind. That's how I'd be looking at it anyway. But by all means keep it, sounds as if it doesn't owe you a thing. ------------- E39 530d Touring |
Posted By: Curley
Date Posted: 19-February-2007 at 09:27
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Keep it, but don't go nuts on the spending, keep the car mechanically 100% and you will not go far wrong. There's still plenty of good Irish E34s out there and unless you're going to hold it for the next 5 to 10 years I wouldn't bother spraying it... Well done on the pass... |
Posted By: 540 V8
Date Posted: 20-February-2007 at 19:36
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Keep it! I've had 2 e34's and none of them have really ever cost me money outside of the odd wear and tear items. Mine is very sound mechanically and it's done about 153k, no rust but plenty of little dings n scrapes which I'd love to get rid of, but in my shoes, I'd keep so if you are happy with the mechanical and chassis side of things then a little spruce up will make you appreciate your bomb proof bavarian motor that little more. Go for yer life! Mike ------------- 
Current:E34 540i Touring 6 speed manual(Mpower bodykit & suspension)& Chrysler Voyager 3.3 V6 auto Previous:E34 530iSE AC Schnitzer suspension. E28 525e auto-Standard |
Posted By: ivanovoitch
Date Posted: 20-February-2007 at 23:19
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Did you ever have a girlfiriend who you knew was fundamentally fit? You knew from experience how well built she was and you also knew that she'd do pretty much everything you'd ask of her? You knew she was reliable and you got pleasure from the fact that other blokes fancied her? But every time you saw her in the morning light you couldn't help noticing that she wasn't as young as she once was, had a few pock marks here and there and her underware wasn't as fresh as it used to be? If you could afford it wouldn't you want to spend a few bob on a bit of derma ebrasion, a fake tan and some new clobber so that she'd keep looking fit as a butchers or would you rather she stayed on the slippery slope of aging and lost what it was that attracted to you to her in the first place? bty: this is a car were talking about! That's my e34 dilemma! ------------- |
Posted By: Curley
Date Posted: 21-February-2007 at 08:29
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Point taken, however, no matter how good you are to the e34 the ages of time will eventually catch up and then you go for a newer (younger) model. There's a lot of metal on an E34 to spray and it would want to be good, nothing worse than a blotchy tan ?? I guess you have to come up with a happy medium on cost between looks / mechanicals, personally I'd always go for an attractive model who shows her age well, but is still nice and taut underneath... If a big make over is on the cards, you're going to have to keep it to justify the expenditure. Decisions decisions ?? |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 21-February-2007 at 08:52
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If you plan on keeping the car for a good few years and you are sure that the mechanicals are not going to fail in the next year or so then it might be worth it. However you will not get a penny of what you spend back since the milage will be the biggest factor in the cars resale value. Normally I would say don't spend any money on it other than to keep it road worthy. Save your cash and put it towards your next car in a few years time. It is up to you though. If you really expect to keep the car for another 4+ years and mechanically it is still very strong then I don't see why not. ------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: IamSpartacus
Date Posted: 21-February-2007 at 10:37
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Would you prefer divorce? ------------- The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think. |
Posted By: unkel
Date Posted: 23-February-2007 at 17:30
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I'm with Peter Fenwick on that one. Unfortunately this is probably the reason there are noticeably fewer E34s on the road today compared to a few years ago
But by all means keep her going, you love her! ------------- |
Posted By: ivanovoitch
Date Posted: 23-February-2007 at 19:37
Value all the opinions folks! Jury is still out. Going to stick in a new (non-milky) windscreen, get the wiper linkage replaced, stick a new set of discs on the front and go from there. BTW, this girl does about 100miles a week of stop start stuff. Is 20MPG a reasonable return? (Does about 30MPG on a decent run). ------------- |
Posted By: unkel
Date Posted: 25-February-2007 at 00:25
I got 20MPG out of my '94 E34 530iA V8 in mainly commuting Dublin traffic. About the same in my current '96 E38 735iA V8. So, no, that's not a reasonable return imho. Or perhaps your right foot is very heavy :) ------------- |
Posted By: chazzer
Date Posted: 25-February-2007 at 12:05
 but on a serious note and as i have always been told "if its what you want and you can do it go for it" so basically if its sound mechanically and your happy with it then do it, but if you find yourself on autotrader a lot looking at bigger engined/newer models then put it in your new car fund ...Regards Chaz ------------- Current : 1995 BMW E34 540I Auto 98K Fully Loaded, Leather, Sat Nav & Dvd. Previous: 1991 BMW E34 520I Manual(non-vanos) 185K with full leather. 1990 BMW E34 525I Auto 113k in sterling silver & 1993 BMW E34 520I SE in dimond black |
Posted By: Rhys
Date Posted: 25-February-2007 at 12:43
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Think my old E30 320i did about the same mpg, Not the best engine I was led to believe, specially in a bigger car anyway - better economy with a 525 but a lot better than the 1.8 (or so I was told).
------------- V reg Rustbucket Merc C220 Cdi estate J Reg Saab 900i 16v '63 Ford Anglia 105e deluxe R reg Honda PC50 moped.. No BMW as yet... |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 26-February-2007 at 08:48
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I don't think it's possible to make a call on whether mpg is reasonable or not without actually seeing what kind of driving you do. It all depends on how long you are stopped for really ------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: ivanovoitch
Date Posted: 26-February-2007 at 21:53
Drive 4 miles in morn and another two in evo. One or two twenty milers at weekend. No traffic. Lite foot. (Chauffer driven to the office and back in the evo ).Stuck a tenner in it on Sat. Driven 35miles and it's all gone. Petrol €1.00 per ltr. 5.5Ltr to gallon. €10 = just a little under two gallons. 35miles on 1.75ish gallons is 20MPG ish. Car rarely gets the chance to get warm. It gets so little use that there is sludge under the oil cap from condensation in the rocker cover. ------------- |
Posted By: ivanovoitch
Date Posted: 26-February-2007 at 21:58
How you finding reliability and running/servicing costs? ------------- |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 27-February-2007 at 09:14
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In that case i'm not supprosed you are getting 20mpg. Driving 2-4 miles at a time will give real bad economy since the engine will be running rich all of the time due to it being cold. My advice would be to buy a push bike. You'll get fit but also save your poor engine which will not like that kind of driving ------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: unkel
Date Posted: 27-February-2007 at 16:07
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Yeah those short trips with a cold engine aren't good for fuel consumption. Not so good on the engine either
Also you can't really have a reliable fuel consumption calculation based on a tenners worth
It's a '96 with 133k miles. I have it just over 3 years now and only regular servicing yet, apart from the cable in the drivers' door electric window lifting mechanism snapped and today the drivers' door handle broke off 
Tax (€1343) coming up this week though  ------------- |
Posted By: ivanovoitch
Date Posted: 27-February-2007 at 18:41
Be pretty cruel to stick my 3year old on the back of a bike on a cold, wet morning....let alone what it would do to my suits. ------------- |
Posted By: ivanovoitch
Date Posted: 27-February-2007 at 18:52
Thats what put me off the Jags, 320 W124 Mercs and the 7's I looked at before plumping for the e34. Car tax should only last for the first ten years of a cars life. It'd be better for the environment if we all drove big old cars rather than shiny new ones (even the ones with little economical engines). There really should be an government incentive to keep decent old metal on the roads. Apparently anybody who chooses to drive a car over ten years old is effectively carbon neutral, as the main impact on the environment is in the actual manufacture of the car in the first place. ------------- |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 28-February-2007 at 12:16
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It would be good for you child. A bit of rain never hurt anyone The suits though, now that would be a problem... ------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: BeemaBoy
Date Posted: 28-February-2007 at 12:53
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Well... from the replies above, I guess the solution is that you should sell your current E34, go and find one that the previous owner has re-sprayed, rebuilt engine, rebuilt suspension and put new tyres on...then decided to sell it for almost nothing and upgrade to an E39...although he knew from the advice of his friends that he would not get any money back on it, he did it anyway because he loves the car BB ------------- 87 E30 320I 95 E34 525I Auto, Executive Package, Arctic Silver 98 E38 740I Steptronic, Silver |
Posted By: Andyboy
Date Posted: 07-March-2007 at 10:32
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Anyone who spends thousands on an high mileage 16 year old 520i
needs examining. Just run it into the ground - sounds like you're halfway there anyway. ------------- |
Posted By: ivanovoitch
Date Posted: 08-March-2007 at 21:35
Brilliant thinking! I'm sure you'd feel much better if your old mum passed away and you could look at pictures of her instead of actually talking with her everyday. BTY: 1992 - 2007 = 15. ------------- |
Posted By: Andyboy
Date Posted: 08-March-2007 at 22:30
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Why don't you throw the sad old thing away IvaGroinitch? Save all the
money you pay for car mags and buy something worth having! [: beerchug:] Your calculation is incorrect BTW: 1992 520i+165k=£200 Btw I don't appreciate the comments about my Mum, you nasty, bitter little Man. ------------- |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 09-March-2007 at 15:39
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Play nicely Andy I have to say though 'IvaGroinitch' had me laughing for some time (no offence intended Ivanovoitch)
------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: ivanovoitch
Date Posted: 09-March-2007 at 17:12
None taken!  ------------- |
Posted By: ivanovoitch
Date Posted: 09-March-2007 at 18:50
 too!------------- |
Posted By: Andyboy
Date Posted: 09-March-2007 at 23:06
Do you now? Hmmmm, that's not a good thing to say on a forum............. no doubt you're sat in your lovely E34 with a bottle of Blue Nun listing to Dolly Parton. Am I right, or am I right?? ------------- |
Posted By: ivanovoitch
Date Posted: 10-March-2007 at 09:12
 ------------- |
Posted By: PaulS
Date Posted: 10-March-2007 at 11:25
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Whats wrong with spending a bit of money on the e34 anyway - I've just spent a few quid replacing all the bumper trim and replacement grilles and will be having the grille panel re-sprayed to finish the car off! Give it some tlc if you want to Ivanovich! Paul -------------  95 E34 530i V8 Auto Maldives Blue |
Posted By: ivanovoitch
Date Posted: 10-March-2007 at 13:14
We all know that there is nothing wrong with it. It's just AndyPandy trying to wind people up whilst he's struggling to come to terms with his oedpial complex. ------------- |
Posted By: chazzer
Date Posted: 10-March-2007 at 21:08
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I nearly spent a lot on my E34 520I, but the fell in love with my current 95 E34 540I (isnt love fickle) but i would be willing to spend on it and im pricing things for it at the moment having said that i bought for 3k and to date it cost me Autobox service bmw indy with fluids and filters etc £178.09 Subframe mounts, waterpump, thermostat, 3 engine cover brackets £550.75 Oil Service including Brake Fluid and coolant replace £136.00 Clifford G5 Alarm/Immob + remote start £750.00 2 X window washer pumps @ £40.00 (Intense + norm) Aux Fan resistor £15.00 Re-mapped chip £250.00 (hope the mrs doesnt see this  )as for the car she is worth every single penny....... regards Chaz (gona need new tyres soon too much torque  ------------- Current : 1995 BMW E34 540I Auto 98K Fully Loaded, Leather, Sat Nav & Dvd. Previous: 1991 BMW E34 520I Manual(non-vanos) 185K with full leather. 1990 BMW E34 525I Auto 113k in sterling silver & 1993 BMW E34 520I SE in dimond black |
Posted By: fingerman
Date Posted: 10-March-2007 at 21:44
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Do it - Spend the money I have a similar motor at the moment and it needs a bit more work doing, the back near side suspension is knocking and the front near side is dodgy! What I've done so far is (after 6/7 or so weeks of owning) Upgraded interior reading lights - front and back Oil Service + Filter and reset lights (bought reset tool, oil, filter, tools + did it myself) Hand Break had snapped so fitted new one - today 16" Turbines from an E39 fitted, with spigots - tyres now need changing (all 4!) Glove box torch/first aid kit and tool kit fitted Various bulbs replaced + black covers (door cards), trim etc replaced Fitted CD/MP3 player and will be ordering new front and back speakers (few cracked) New NGK Spark plugs just ordered If you like the car and the engine runs sweet then keep it, I have tended to swap mine on occasion but this one I like - until I lay my hands on a nice manual 540 or M5 
------------- Current: E34 1996 525tds 113-125k Previous: 9xE34s, 5xE30s, 2xE39s, 1xE32, 1xE36.... phew! My Ebay bits: http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZseany69ukQQhtZ-1 |
Posted By: chazzer
Date Posted: 10-March-2007 at 22:49
Just updated my earlier post with all my costs to - date she isnt cheap but so what 
------------- Current : 1995 BMW E34 540I Auto 98K Fully Loaded, Leather, Sat Nav & Dvd. Previous: 1991 BMW E34 520I Manual(non-vanos) 185K with full leather. 1990 BMW E34 525I Auto 113k in sterling silver & 1993 BMW E34 520I SE in dimond black |
Posted By: bmw1066
Date Posted: 10-March-2007 at 23:50
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There is nothing at all bad about spending muney on a old car. a 15 year old can be cheeper to fix than say a 04 voxhep corsa we have at work 495 +Vat for ecu 40 +vat Diagnostic 45 for 1 hour to fit and re-program and thats not at the main dealer. and you woud not belive how maney we do.
A car is a very personol thining, If you like the car and plan on keeping it then any muny you spend on it is well spent, I am spending a lot on my very much werthless e23 when finished it will still be onley worth 300 quid but thats not he point I WILL BE HAPPY, Why do people seem to think to be some one you need to have a new car or as Andy boy sems to be obsesed with is your worth nothing if your driving a oldey
Mark ------------- Mark 735 se 1982 RED BARON A E23 is for life not just for x-mas BMW e34 530 v8 Sport kit Spelling always Bad |
Posted By: ivanovoitch
Date Posted: 11-March-2007 at 10:04
  Here's a pic of the old girl! ------------- |
Posted By: Ady530i
Date Posted: 11-March-2007 at 11:23
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i would spend money on her she looks a very tidy old gal on the outside i only wish i had got a five series alot earlier than i did what a lovely car to drive. ady ------------- 
93 (K) E34 530i V8, Granite silver, black leather, a/c, 18" M-Para's, clear indicators, s/s exhaust, angels, black grille |
Posted By: PaulS
Date Posted: 11-March-2007 at 14:47
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There doesn't look a lot wrong with the car Ivanovitch - spend I say! Paul ------------- 95 E34 530i V8 Auto Maldives Blue |
Posted By: bmw1066
Date Posted: 11-March-2007 at 15:55
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She looks great ------------- Mark 735 se 1982 RED BARON A E23 is for life not just for x-mas BMW e34 530 v8 Sport kit Spelling always Bad |
Posted By: chazzer
Date Posted: 11-March-2007 at 17:34
How could you not spend on that......
------------- Current : 1995 BMW E34 540I Auto 98K Fully Loaded, Leather, Sat Nav & Dvd. Previous: 1991 BMW E34 520I Manual(non-vanos) 185K with full leather. 1990 BMW E34 525I Auto 113k in sterling silver & 1993 BMW E34 520I SE in dimond black |
Posted By: ivanovoitch
Date Posted: 11-March-2007 at 17:53
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Got a quote of €250.00 from Autoglass for a replacement of the milky windscreen (You can see it on the second photo). Thought it was a bit steep for a generic bit of glass given I could probably buy a doner car for twice that.
------------- |
Posted By: fingerman
Date Posted: 11-March-2007 at 19:53
She looks good to me! - Spend on her  I got my windscreen replaced by Autoglass (twice as 1st time did it wrong!) for £60! - As I'm fully comp with Direct Line - check it out with your insurance company ------------- Current: E34 1996 525tds 113-125k Previous: 9xE34s, 5xE30s, 2xE39s, 1xE32, 1xE36.... phew! My Ebay bits: http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZseany69ukQQhtZ-1 |
Posted By: Oisin
Date Posted: 13-March-2007 at 12:23
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http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/143327.htm - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/143327.htm
Here is a gorgeous 5..............worth spending on to buy and mind... Tis sweet and orignal........
------------- 2006 VW Passat 1.9tdi 1995 E34 520i(M5)Sold.New classic required Previous: 2004 Santa fee commercial - 2001 Saab 9-5 3.0,Tid - 1997 E39 525tds |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 13-March-2007 at 15:49
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Sold according to the ad. It is a nice car though. ------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: Oisin
Date Posted: 13-March-2007 at 15:56
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that was quick.. ------------- 2006 VW Passat 1.9tdi 1995 E34 520i(M5)Sold.New classic required Previous: 2004 Santa fee commercial - 2001 Saab 9-5 3.0,Tid - 1997 E39 525tds |
Posted By: ivanovoitch
Date Posted: 13-March-2007 at 17:27
nice car....... ------------- |