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1995 BMW E34 540i - SOLD
Ascot Green Metallic
Light Tan Leather Interior
58K miles
Switchable Automatic
M-Sport Suspension
VEHICLE INFORMATION
VIN long WBAHE62060GF22238
Type code HE62
Type 540I (EUR)
Dev. series E34 ()
Line 5
Body type LIM
Steering RL
Door count 4
Engine M60/2
Cubical capacity 4.00
Power 286 BHP
Transmission HECK
Gearbox AUT
Colour ASCOTGRUEN METALLIC (353)
Upholstery LEDER BISON/PERGAMENT (L1PE)
Prod. date 1995-04-21
ORDER OPTIONS
No. Description
255 SPORTS LEATHER STEERING WHEEL
274 BMW LM GUSSRAD/FLACHSTERNSTYLI
339 SATIN CHROME
401 SLIDING/VENT ROOF, ELECTRIC
428 WARNING TRIANGLE
431 INTERIOR RR VW MIRROR W AUT ANTI-D
438 WOOD TRIM
472 CENTER ARMREST FRT DRIVER/PASS
498 HEADRESTS IN REAR, MECHANIC. ADJUSTABLE
500 HEADLIGHT WASHER SYS/INTENSIVE CLEANING
508 PARK DISTANCE CONTROL (PDC)
530 AIR CONDITIONING
540 CRUISE CONTROL
687 RADIO PREPARATION
704 M SPORT SUSPENSION
812 ENGLAND VERSION
850 ADD FUEL TANK FILLING FOR EXPORT
962 MOTORKENNFELD
INTRODUCTION
I purchased this car almost exactly a year ago as a non-running car. It has only 58K miles on the clock (substantiated by all old MOTs, service history and receipts) but had been unused by the previous owner for approximately 4 years.
The body and paintwork was generally still very good with only a few small spots of light, superficial rust and a few scratches and dinks. The leather and the interior in general was however in perfect condition and what really sold the car to me.
So, I decided to 'take a chance' without even hearing the car running and had it transported straight to my independent BMW specialist that same day.
A new battery, a new fuel pump and a fresh tank of fuel saw the big 4.0L V8 fire up straightaway and so the lengthy restoration started!
BRAKE AND FUEL LINES
These were all corroded and actually leaking on to the garage floor. This should be a warning to anyone now considering buying a BMW of this vintage here in the UK. This is quite a late E34 having been made in the last 8 months of production and with very low mileage.
However, even on this car the original brake and fuel lines required complete replacement front to back. To gain access this required dropping the rear subframe completely off the car.
The lines have now been fabricated and replaced with Kunifer lines and so will not corrode in the same way again.
The flexible brake lines have all also been replaced.
BRAKES
All round replacement of brake discs, pads, handbrake shoes, sensors.
SUSPENSION
With the rear subframe off suspension bushes were replaced (subframe bushes, ARB bushes, drop-links and dogbone bushes etc).
The coil springs and shock absorbers of the M-Sport suspension were found to be in good condition (only 58k miles) and not replaced.
At the same time the leaking seals of the rear differential were also replaced.
Steering idler bush replaced.
Steering-box adjusted.
Stuck steering column adjustment fixed.
ENGINE
The engine was flushed with flushing oil and a new oil filter; then drained again and refilled with Castrol Magnetic 10W-40 oil plus a further new oil filter.
At the same time new antifreeze, drive belts, air filter and spark plugs were renewed.
Both inner and outer rocker cover gaskets, on each bank of cylinders, have been replaced. These are commonly leaking on M60/M62 engines.
(Additonally, the awkward to replace cabin micro-filter was renewed).
As stated, with a new battery, fuel pump and fuel the engine had fired up immediately. However, it ran somewhat erractically especially at idle.
Despite logic telling me that if the car was running fine only 4 years ago it would be highly unlikely to be a 'Nikasil issue' it was displaying symptoms that could have been construed as such.
However, following further research, I simply had to replace the PCV at the back of the engine. These have a thin rubber diaphragm inside which is frequently torn and leads to these symptoms. One wonders how many perfectly good whole engines were misdiagnosed in years gone by as having a non-existent Nikasil problem and needlessly replaced because of this? The engine ran perfectly following this!
An awkward to access (requiring front subframe removal!) oil leak has also been cured.
WHEELS AND TYRES
The car retains its original, undamaged E34 V8 specific, 'Flat Star-fish' 16" Alloys.
The tryes are now a BRAND NEW set of Michelin tyres (not cheap budget tyres!).
New wheel badges.
ELECTRICS AND EQUIPMENT
The car initially came with a number of common electrical Gremlins:
Non-functioning Cruise Control - Fixed
Non-functioning Headlamp height adjusters - Fixed
The very common E34 quirk whereby the check control throws up erroneous/spurious warnings on the dash when in fact those items are working perfectly well (e.g. "Dip Beam", "Tail Light" etc.) - Fixed
The original Alarm System was defective and causing and intermittent current drain from the battery. New Alarm System just fitted.
The Air-conditioning works perfectly and is nice and cold!
The car is fitted with its original (rare for the time) BMW factory fitted rear parking system (PDC). This too works! (n.b. It is, for my taste, too sensitive a system and annoying. If I were keeping the car I would probably disconnect it as I don't think I would find it too helpful...just being honest! But it's there and it works.)
Original Pioneer Radio/Cassette head-unit. Sounds really good!
Tool-kit, jack, first-aid kit, hand and service books all present and correct.
INTERIOR
The car has a "Pergament" (Engl: "Parchment" i.e. light tan) leather interior which really contrasts and compliments the body colour, in my opinion.
As stated above, this is what really sold the car to me. It is in stunning unworn, undamaged condition!
There is no wear to the leather including the driver's seat outer side-bolster. This is very rare indeed on a leather interior of nearly 22 years old!
Similarly, the carpets and over-mats are all in lovely condition, as are the dash-board, head-lining and all other interior items.
It has never been smoked in.
(N.B. Most mechanical problems on a car and body/paintwork problems can usually be rectified if enough time and money are spent. In my experience, it's very difficult to satisfactorily retrieve a worn and neglected interior)
All rubber door and window seals are in perfect condition and I have treated them Gummipflege to keep them supple.
BODY AND PAINTWORK
Totally rust free. The sill covers, bumpers, wheel-arch-liners were removed to clean and inspect these areas. The jacking points are all completely solid.
The car has just returned from the body/paint-shop following a COMPLETE respray and is in stunning, totally blemish free condition...no scrtaches; no dents; no dinks...not even a stone-chip!
Ascot Green Metallic is one of the less common E34 colours (being somewhat lighter in shade than Oxford or Boston Green and with a very slight bluish hue) and really is, in my opinion a beautiful colour! (The second E34 I've had in this colour)
The glass is all in perfect condition. Original windscreen still with Running-in sticker.
I have replaced all of the indicator lights (front, side and rear lamp clusters) back to their original amber configuration.
'De-chrome' trim all undamaged.
All door-handle rubber gaskets replaced. (These tend to be cracked and unsightly on BMWs of this age)
New Door-mirror outer casings. (So, no unsightly cracks or scuffs on these)
SUMMARY
After much time, effort...and very considerable expense (!)...to renovate this car, it is now a stunningly good example of an E34 540i.
It looks and drives beautifully smoothly and (if required) is still a fast car even by today's standards. It will be very difficult to find and buy a better
example of what many hold to be the best built of the 5-Series lineage.
If it weren't for the fact that we have now agreed a sale on our house here in the U.K and hence I am losing my garage I would definitely be keeping this one in my collection of BMWs!
Price: £9950
Sorry, this car is now SOLD
Numerous additional photographs here:
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For Preparation photographs: PLEASE CLICK HERE
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