92 M5 - what should I know?

[Pravs21]

Thinking about buying a 1992 M5 2 owner car. Current owner purchased in 92 with 18k miles. Car has 88k miles and is a manual trans. Rear struts we're done in 2016. Owner's mom is a bit older and she just bought a z4 and wants to sell this. What do I need to know before I buy? $33k is what owner wants. I'm currently driving a 2022 X3M comp and was looking for a second car. What's a reasonable price? Current price seems pretty good looking at BaT historicals. Thank you!

[grannyknot]

My E34 was one of the best cars I ever own, true highway car, the one you are looking at will have the S38B38 engine, 3.8L/335hp.
I haven't kept up on prices so can't help you there but have a PPI done good shop to reassure yourself that it is a good car.
Getting more rare every day.

[BMWCCA1]

Well, if that's a picture of the actual car, it has that god-awful rear spoiler that ruins the lines of an E34 and wheels that look like they came off of a Green Olympic Edition 525i. One problem I see on all of these, and all E34s up to 1995, is the ballooning of the door panels. I've seen no fix for these over the years except to replace them with the upgraded leather from a 1995 model. Other than that, this is my favorite M5 and my E34 M50TU 525i stick is the finest of all the Fives I've owned. And, BTW, the E34 M5 never came in anything but a stick!

[SW111]

I had one of those and it was a great car. I very much regret selling it.

[Almuliman]

Test drove a '91 back in the mid-90s. One of my favorite test drives and cars ever. That exhaust note...

My wife (probably wisely, as it turns out) nixed it due to the strict 4 seat layout. To this day, I do wish we'd decided to just deal with it Fairly sure we'd still have it.

Edit: So, yeah, if it's in budget and passes a PPI to your satisfaction, buy it!

[M-technik-3]

Get a PPI done for it to asses overall condition of car. They are more expensive to maintain than a normal 535 or 525.

[Pravs21]

I'm acknowledging that I am a complete idiot and apologizing beforehand but what is a PPI and how do I get one? Again I'm really sorry for the stupid question.

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by Pravs21

I'm acknowledging that I am a complete idiot and apologizing beforehand but what is a PPI and how do I get one? Again I'm really sorry for the stupid question.

Pre Purchase Inspection by a mechanic, preferably one that specializes in BMWs and even more preferably someone who knows older M cars.

E34 M5 is a solid car. That car will have S38, one of the best engines BMW ever produced IMO. Those wheels are god awful. Good luck, based on that one photo it looks like a winner to me.

[TriumphTim]

I am working on my boss' 1991 M5 right, almost perfect balance of handling and power for me. The E60 and F10 M5s he has are powerful but too big, I am coming from an E30 and E90 328xi.

Be wary of parts costs and lots of electronics, like multiple fuse and relay boxes. The older M/S38 stuff isn't getting cheaper, $600+ spark plug wires, $400-500 TPS, $250 crank sensor, $500 brake rotors.

https://fuseandrelay.com/bmw/e34.html

At the same mileage, all the suspension was shot, diff leaks, etc.

I would consider a significant yearly maintenance budget either DIY or indie shop beyond the purchase price.

Any experience with older cars, BMW or otherwise? Maintaining an older car can be difficult if not mentally and financially prepared for their issues.

Do you have a local indie mechanic you trust? The dealer will most likely have no clue what to do with this car, if they do then double the parts prices I listed above plus $180 an hour labor.

Remember is it a 30yo M car, nothing is really going to be cheap or simple on it.

[TriumphTim]

....and the clutch hydraulics just went bad, I think just the slave cylinder.

Of course, the clutch hose is NLA but luckily UCC makes one or I would have been running around to local hydraulic shops.

Just another example of the stuff maintaining an older car.

[Pravs21]

Thanks y'all - I passed. I appreciate the help. I think what fueled my decision was the maintenance of an older car.

[carchrism5]

The maintenance isn't that bad, I owned a 91 M5 with all Dinan parts but stroker and it was great.

The necessary valve adjustment scares people also with shim costs but they are actually the same as some labeled as Volvo shims IIRC so it is not a big deal.

Rear air suspension was an annoyance but replace it one time and you're all set there.

On the surface if you google parts yes, they can be expensive, but if you get into the car and talk to people/shops who love them they know lots of ins and outs to them.

That being said if going for the E34 I think the 91s are more desirable as they have different gear ratios and you can get the 4 seat layout, which I like.

[TriumphTim]

Originally Posted by Pravs21

Thanks y'all - I passed. I appreciate the help. I think what fueled my decision was the maintenance of an older car.

I hope I didn't sound too negative but older cars can really be a hot and cold experience.

My boss and I were literally high fiving each other over the car's performance after fixing an electrical problem/rebuilding front suspension but that same test drive blew out the clutch slave cylinder.

A 30y car most likely has deferred maintenance that reduces the car's enjoyment until updated, you might not get the "magic" until the car is properly sorted. The original reviews were driving a new car and Youtube vids are likely showing the most sorted and cared-for examples out there.

E34 M5s are truly great cars, I would just recommend finding a local indie shop that understands them and budgeting 25% over purchase price, if you don't DIY.

This goes for any older car really, I find that even the nicely presented BaT purchases need significant work to sort out issues.

[Almuliman]

Originally Posted by Robert07

Hello. I'd like to buy used 1998 M5. How can I decode VIN?

Sticky thread: https://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=830094

Good luck.

[Nkc]

https://www.classicgarage.ca/listing/1993-bmw-m5/

If anyone is interested in a Canadian 1993 E34 M5 in Silver, 70k miles. Clean carfax. Easy to import to US since its well over 25 years old.

[IcewaterPete]

Originally Posted by Nkc

https://www.classicgarage.ca/listing/1993-bmw-m5/

If anyone is interested in a Canadian 1993 E34 M5 in Silver, 70k miles. Clean carfax. Easy to import to US since its well over 25 years old.

Why?! Why must you temp us? 😁 That looks like a good one.

[Nkc]

Originally Posted by IcewaterPete

Why?! Why must you temp us? 😁 That looks like a good one.

Price is Canadian in case you are wondering.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Robert07

Hello. I'd like to buy used 1998 M5. How can I decode VIN?

See for example here.

[iminiulot]

My dad had one of those and it was a fantastic vehicle.

[Chappers 71]

I bought a 1991 3.6 in 1997, it was a fantastic car, was so quick in its day & that engine/exhaust sound but I wouldn't want to live with it nowadays. But having said that I loved it for the three & a half years I owned it.
It was (unsurprisingly) very expensive to own & run back in the day. I only used it at weekends & away trips as I had a transit van as my DD & I was young & only had my cock to keep

A couple of big ticket items I particularly remember were renewing the self levelling rear suspension as the wrong fluid had been used by the previous owner & the gearbox had to be replaced, coincidently the next time I'd used it after having taken it to a track day