My first ever BMW
Jules
Never been here before.
I got my first ever BMW about 4 weeks ago.
Its a E34? 1991 520i.
I have already done 1400 miles in it.
Im after some links or general advice, i have never had such a modern car, i
have always gone for 70's RWD cars, so i can change a plug etc, pads etc but
PAS and injetion systems are new to me, even leccy windows!!!
I am in the need of a ball joint, and i belive the viscous coupling fan
thing (never had that before) so can tell me where i can source them from in
the UK.
I have a few pics of it here, it had done 170,000 when i got it. I got it
off UK ebay, the guy had only had it 3 months, he said it was too big
compared to his old Golf, i did check with the guy he bought it off(again
off ebay) and he had had it for many years, serviced it himself, i use GTX
Magnatec as he says thats what he used.
The only problem i had was 24 hours after getting it, hitting a huge deep
pothole and daming the wheel and tyre.
It hasnt let me down at all and im off to drive to Berlin in a few months i
hope in it.
Can long time oweners tell me the niggles, and the good points with these
cars please, like i said i have had 70's cars (all Celica's) and the most
modern was a 80's Celica....
http://www.julianhales.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/main.htm
(29th May)
many thanks
E28 Guy©
> HI all
> Never been here before.
I'm sitting here thinking, "I know Jules. He's never been here
before?" So I checked. rec.models.scale! So welcome to a.a.b.
> I got my first ever BMW about 4 weeks ago.
> Its a E34? 1991 520i.
> I have already done 1400 miles in it.
>
> Im after some links or general advice, i have never had such a modern car, i
> have always gone for 70's RWD cars, so i can change a plug etc, pads etc but
> PAS and injetion systems are new to me, even leccy windows!!!
>
> I am in the need of a ball joint, and i belive the viscous coupling fan
> thing (never had that before) so can tell me where i can source them from in
> the UK.
I don't have UK sources, but I do know 5ers of that period fairly well.
It is an E34. If you've got a ball joint out, you probably have other
front end 'issues' as well. I'll suggest that you plan on replacing at
least the two big front control arms (the ball joints are not
replaceable separately) and possibly the other pair as well. Parts run
about $350-400 here for OEM and somewhat more if you get urethane
bushed ams.
Your plug-changing skills will likely atrophy as these cars rarely need
them. The FI system is dead reliable (except for vacuum leaks which
you'll quickly learn to diagnose). Robert Bentley publishes the best
service manuals for these cars and you might want to check into
Roadfly's BMW E34 group (I tend to stick to E28s) for E34-specific
questions unanswered here.
> I have a few pics of it here, it had done 170,000 when i got it.
Just broken in.
> The only problem i had was 24 hours after getting it, hitting a huge deep
> pothole and daming the wheel and tyre.
OWWW! Maybe even more reason to freshen the front suspension. A used
OEM wheel shouldn't run much more than ~$75, but from Wisconsin, I
can't help ya out much. Track down some of the UK posters from here
like John Burns.
> It hasnt let me down at all and im off to drive to Berlin in a few months i
> hope in it.
>
> Can long time oweners tell me the niggles, and the good points with these
> cars please, like i said i have had 70's cars (all Celica's) and the most
> modern was a 80's Celica....
Well, like the Celica, you've gotta get to know it. But it's well
worth it. Good luck.
--
C.R. Krieger
(Been there; done that)
Dave Plowman (News)
Jules <julia...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> I am in the need of a ball joint, and i belive the viscous coupling fan
> thing (never had that before) so can tell me where i can source them
> from in the UK.
Eurocarparts is probably the major independant supplier. They do a free
cat. and mail order (if you've not got a branch near you), and I've found
them great to deal with.
--
*I didn't fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian.
Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
Mike G
"Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote in message
news:4e3a948...@davenoise.co.uk...
> In article <D3amg.204352$8W1.1...@fe1.news.blueyonder.co.uk>,
> Jules <julia...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>> I am in the need of a ball joint, and i belive the viscous coupling fan
>> thing (never had that before) so can tell me where i can source them
>> from in the UK.
>
> Eurocarparts is probably the major independant supplier. They do a free
> cat. and mail order (if you've not got a branch near you), and I've found
> them great to deal with.
>
> http://www.eurocarparts.com/
You could also consider.
I use a branch not too far from me. They carry quite a good range of BMW
parts at competitive prices.
Mike.
Jules
"Mike G" <met...@lycos.co.uk> wrote in message
news:4499adb8$0$956$ed26...@ptn-nntp-reader01.plus.net...
Jules
"Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote in message
news:4e3a948...@davenoise.co.uk...
Jules
"E28 Guy©" <88.5...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1150909108.3...@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
> Jules wrote:
> > HI all
> > Never been here before.
>
> I'm sitting here thinking, "I know Jules. He's never been here
> before?" So I checked. rec.models.scale! So welcome to a.a.b.
thanks, i get around a bit!
>
> > I got my first ever BMW about 4 weeks ago.
> > Its a E34? 1991 520i.
> > I have already done 1400 miles in it.
> >
> > Im after some links or general advice, i have never had such a modern
car, i
> > have always gone for 70's RWD cars, so i can change a plug etc, pads etc
but
> > PAS and injetion systems are new to me, even leccy windows!!!
> >
> > I am in the need of a ball joint, and i belive the viscous coupling fan
> > thing (never had that before) so can tell me where i can source them
from in
> > the UK.
>
> I don't have UK sources, but I do know 5ers of that period fairly well.
> It is an E34. If you've got a ball joint out, you probably have other
> front end 'issues' as well. I'll suggest that you plan on replacing at
> least the two big front control arms (the ball joints are not
> replaceable separately) and possibly the other pair as well. Parts run
> about $350-400 here for OEM and somewhat more if you get urethane
> bushed ams.
>
it pulls and brakes straight, corners well but im getting the underside
looked at later.
> Your plug-changing skills will likely atrophy as these cars rarely need
> them. The FI system is dead reliable (except for vacuum leaks which
> you'll quickly learn to diagnose). Robert Bentley publishes the best
> service manuals for these cars and you might want to check into
> Roadfly's BMW E34 group (I tend to stick to E28s) for E34-specific
> questions unanswered here.
>
ta
> > I have a few pics of it here, it had done 170,000 when i got it.
>
> Just broken in.
only thing of concern i can think of is when the timing chain needs
replacing.
>
> > The only problem i had was 24 hours after getting it, hitting a huge
deep
> > pothole and daming the wheel and tyre.
>
> OWWW! Maybe even more reason to freshen the front suspension. A used
> OEM wheel shouldn't run much more than ~$75, but from Wisconsin, I
> can't help ya out much. Track down some of the UK posters from here
> like John Burns.
>
ta
> > It hasnt let me down at all and im off to drive to Berlin in a few
months i
> > hope in it.
> >
> > Can long time oweners tell me the niggles, and the good points with
these
> > cars please, like i said i have had 70's cars (all Celica's) and the
most
> > modern was a 80's Celica....
>
> Well, like the Celica, you've gotta get to know it. But it's well
> worth it. Good luck.
Never had a German car before, so its all new to me, i know each car has
quirks and good points but im pretty happy with the car, esp as i paid less
than $900.
adde...@yahoo.co.uk
Jules wrote:
>
> Never had a German car before, so its all new to me, i know each car has
> quirks and good points but im pretty happy with the car, esp as i paid less
> than $900.
>
>
I thought you paid ~$1600 for it?
Jules
<adde...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1150972747.0...@u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com...
nope, £600 cash, so thats about $900 i think, or was
adde...@yahoo.co.uk
Jules wrote:
> >
> > I thought you paid ~$1600 for it?
> >
>
> nope, £600 cash, so thats about $900 i think, or was
Ah, I was thinking you paid £800 but I got it wrong. That's about
US$1,100
I see you describe it as "fast" - man you must have had some slow cars
before! :-)
Jules
<adde...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1150985542....@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
Jules wrote:
Well once the speed gets up its ok, its not as quick off the mark as some
other stuff i have had but then they were 70's cars and a lot lighter. Cant
remember saying it was fast.....does what i want tho.