5 Series (E34) BMW 5 Series (E34)

[slicknick]

My uncle had bought one in 1990, and got to drive it for about 12 years... It was tough, reliable and absolutely sublime (even though my favorite 5-Series model was the one that followed it, the legendary E39)

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[Mick Briesgau]

Another fine one I had a poster of a black E34 in my bedroom/studyroom. Whenever studying got tough, I looked at the BMW, thinking: if you want to own that, you'd better study.

 

[Giannis]

Whenever studying got tough, I looked at the BMW, thinking: if you want to own that, you'd better study.

So you cheated all the way to your degree?

 

[Mick Briesgau]

So you cheated all the way to your degree?

Sure, doped by a 5er

 

[klier]

Ultimate legend.

My fam owned three, and I vividly remember them all. We even had one with the exact same hubcaps for the wheels In the times where alloys were not standard on a premium German car

 

[hovabongZA]

I didn't particularly like this BMW when growing up, partly due to the stigma of it being a gangsters car at the time. Only in my later years did I grow to appreciate it and it's aged gracefully, but it's my least favourite 5 series.

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

E32 and E34 laid the foundation for the later success of BMW becoming No1 premium brand. They were more modern than their MB counterparts at the time and had established BMW as the brand of the dynamic people. For me, the darkest period of MB is the late 80s when for a period of 7 years they had not launched a single new car and during this period BMW renewed all of their series. W126 was launched in 1979 and E32 in 1986 but they were competing for 5 years until the new S class was launched in 1991. W124 was launched in 1984/5 and E34 in 1988, but both cars were phased out in 1995. MB190 had also quite a long production run of 12 years. What were Mercedes engineers doing between 1985 and 1991?

 

[slicknick]

I didn't particularly like this BMW when growing up, partly due to the stigma of it being a gangsters car at the time. Only in my later years did I grow to appreciate it and it's aged gracefully, but it's my least favourite 5 series.

Sure, I liked the E39 more, but it surely had a presence of its own, especially by the measly standards of the 1980's it was a gem

 

[m-power]

I have a real soft spot for the e34. I remember in 1994, going over the e34 brochures I had, while looking at the first picture attached below, I was thinking to my self - "how on earth are BMW designers going to come up with a better design than this???"
To an extent, I was disappointed at first with the front of the e39 immediately when it came out, but boy how it grew on me.... especially the FL e39 which is a true masterpiece.
However, when looking again on those photos from the brochure and remembering how nice the e34 looked, I really miss it since it was uncompromising and unapologetic, and had REAL beauty...

\

I practically spent hours looking at every detail of this photo when growing up Oh memories

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

I have a real soft spot for the e34. I remember in 1994, going over the e34 brochures I had, while looking at the first picture attached below, I was thinking to my self - "how on earth are BMW designers going to come up with a better design than this???"
To an extent, I was disappointed at first with the front of the e39 immediately when it came out, but boy how it grew on me.... especially the FL e39 which is a true masterpiece.
However, when looking again on those photos from the brochure and remembering how nice the e34 looked, I really miss it since it was uncompromising and unapologetic, and had REAL beauty...

\

I practically spent hours looking at every detail of this photo when growing up Oh memories

I had the same brochure and I was more fascinated by it than by some playboy magazine at the time.

 

[hovabongZA]

Since we are on the topic, BMW should have built this E34 M5 convertible. BMW could have had a rival to the E coupe and E convertible today .

 

[Rolf]

I remember in 1990 BMW brought out the multivalve engines that totally blew away the Audi and Mercedes engines at the time and that included the brilliant V8 powered 530i and 540i that were sublime. The original 3,5ltr E34 M5 was in my opinion the worst looking M5 as it had ugly uninspiring flat turbine looking half hubcaps/alloys. The Alpina version was even more of a looker and is my favorite E34.

1990 M5:

Alpina version:

 

[Merc1]

Absolutely loved this 5-Series, it still might be my favorite of all time. The M5, 540i and small V8 530i were my favorites.

M

 

[Mick Briesgau]

Wasn't this not one of those BMW's you could order with Buffaloleather?

 

[Matski]

The original 3,5ltr E34 M5 was in my opinion the worst looking M5 as it had ugly uninspiring flat turbine looking half hubcaps/alloys.

They were actually 3 part wheels, behind the hubcap section were vanes that drew are through for cooling purposes, both bits were then bolted to the alloy underneath. I think I'm right in saying they were optional though, even on the 3.6. The M System 2 wheel that was also an option was possibly better looking - but was actually the same alloy, with a simplified single piece bolted to the front to generate the airflow.

 

[picsoubmw]

The e34 will always have a special place in my heart as it was my first car. After years of dreaming on the e36/e39/e38/e31 generation and later model, I finally got my driving licence, sadly I didn't have much money and looked for older generation instead.

I choose a e34 having a family menber and a friend having M5 e34 and liking the car. In early 2008 I ended up with a €700 1988 (built) 535i, 5 speed manuel. Since the car was a French version it was quite loaded with standard equipement, LSD, sport seat, electric seat, power mirror, full OBC, 4 electric windows, 15" style 5 wheels, sport steering wheels, AC, headlamp washer, alarm, servotronic. The car had 4 optional equipement : leather, sunroof, metalic paint and a car-telefon which must have been removed by one of the 3 previous onwer.

The car had more or less 360 000km but odometer had defaut value with 299xxx km on displays on the begin, later it simply died with the fuel gauge. And so did the OBC. I wouldn't have called the car in great shape, having few scratch and dent which even became worst once hailstorm came by and a bit of rust. You might have find water in the passenger side below the glove box thanks to the sunroof after a rainy day. By the end the driver door panel have been removed for being able to open the door when inside.

The M30 engine had torque, power and a reliability BMW might have forget today. The car had the perfect size for a sedan, the car was nimble. Interior was a bit austere being full black plastic, but the quality was mostly there and leather was thick, solid and still nice after 20 years (won't be the case today with base leather I guess). The seat lacked the optional lumbar support and after one hours driving you wished to be somewhere else.

I keep a good memory of this car, I may have few problem with it but it was a old car, which never been garage-kept during the time I own it. It never let me down and isn't to complicate technically. I sold it mid-2012 for 900€. Not sure the next owner took great care of her. I still look regularly classified to found another one.

 

[picsoubmw]

Wasn't this not one of those BMW's you could order with Buffaloleather?

You could have Buffalo leather in the M5 yet early e34 had a single choice for leather. Might be diffrent for later model.

They were actually 3 part wheels, behind the hubcap section were vanes that drew are through for cooling purposes, both bits were then bolted to the alloy underneath. I think I'm right in saying they were optional though, even on the 3.6. The M System 2 wheel that was also an option was possibly better looking - but was actually the same alloy, with a simplified single piece bolted to the front to generate the airflow.

Style 20 wheels (System 1) was standard and only available on early M5 e34, in early 90s style 21 (System 2) became standard. Later model had choice between style 21 and style 37 M parallel depending I guess of market and specification.

Edit:

The E34 M5 was also the only regular production 5 Series to be fitted from the factory with 17-inch M System alloy wheels in either a “turbine” style known as M System I (all 3.6-liter models and North American-spec cars up to 9/92) or a “throwing star” design known as M System II (all 3.8-liter cars up to 5/94 and North American-spec after 9/92). The final six-speed 3.8-liter M5s (from 5/94) use an 18-inch M Parallel Spoke design, also essentially unique to the M5 within the E34 range.

BMW M Registry - FAQ E34 M5

 

[picsoubmw]

Mid 2008, few months after my purchase

 

[Matski]

My old 525i Tourer. Great car - possibly all round the best BMW I've ever owned.

 

[Rolf]

Wasn't this not one of those BMW's you could order with Buffaloleather?

They used to come out with lovely pleated soft leather seats not sure if they were buffalo leather but they looked and felt great to sit in.