E34 520i with engine probs - worth it?? / W124 Part II :D

homer90

Hey guys,
i'm looking out for a nice e34 auto or w124 (inspired by LM's thread), found a 520i on done deal with engine issues, the car had no anti-freeze during the big freeze and the owner reckons it may need a new head.Would this be a money pit to get right?
Tried sourcing an engine on the net, but they seem far and few between. (I reckon this would be the easier option)

On the other hand , I'm gonna have a look at this baby called the dealer and it looks like he's not gonna budge too much price wise @ € 2950 :eek:


Any thoughts ?

unkel

The second link doesn't work

homer90

unkel wrote: »

The second link doesn't work

Links ok on my phone... Will fix it up when I get to a pc.

mike65

Works now a Merc E200, I would sooner pay more for a complete car than chance the BMW. While it might "only" need a new head you could discover other issues. Also the Merc has better seats (IMO), more room and a nicer autobox.

Mean er Main dealer prices eh?

kasper

that bmw shoundnt have that damage on it if it was properly maintained , it sounds like a money pit

homer90

mike65 wrote: »

Works now a Merc E200, I would sooner pay more for a complete car than chance the BMW. While it might "only" need a new head you could discover other issues. Also the Merc has better seats (IMO), more room and a nicer autobox.

Mean er Main dealer prices eh?

yeah the price is a bit out there !! Will have a chat and see what happens...
My thinking was to possibly source an engine for the BM or get a mechanic to check it out - me thinks 1k - 1.2k would sort it out, ur still going to be under the 2k for that car..

But as you say, can of worms and all that !

L-M

You can have the Merc that I bought if you want it (seriously)... I've a load of cars I want to get through before I... get too old or a get an other half with an opinion Although I've a lad that says he's giving me 2k for it in two weeks time LOL...

It's great fun though, knowing your not going to lose thousands! I was going to look at the Merc in the dealer, but I don't think bangernomics applies if you go to a Dealer

homer90

Limerick man wrote: »

You can have the Merc that I bought if you want it (seriously)... I've a load of cars I want to get through before I... get too old or a get an other half with an opinion Although I've a lad that says he's giving me 2k for it in two weeks time LOL...

It's great fun though, knowing your not going to lose thousands! I was going to look at the Merc in the dealer, but I don't think bangernomics applies if you go to a Dealer

GTFO !! Man can't keep up with ya ... :eek:

L-M

homer90 wrote: »

GTFO !! Man can't keep up with ya ... :eek:

LOL, I'm attached to the Golf, I'm trying not to get attached to anything else... I miss the E30 dearly though, E36 M3's seem to be making feck all though

Let me know before I tax it

1948Wolseley

homer90 wrote: »

On the other hand , I'm gonna have a look at this baby called the dealer and it looks like he's not gonna budge too much price wise @ € 2950 :eek:

That W124's been there a looooooooong time, it'd be worth €1500 on a good day...

superfly35

For the BMW, if you do the work yoursef then it should be ok.
But my question will be how come water was but in the circuit on the maintained car.

If the Head is cracked, the easier thing is probably to get one in a scrap yard and change it.

I would say it could be worth but not at that price, offer €300 and that is it.

It is quiet easy at the moment to find a nice car for not much, if you got a bit of time looking.

barochoc

Auto 520i = high fuel cost. They're very heavy on the juice.

Would you not consider a 525i Auto ?

Similar economy but just shy of 200Hp, loves motorways, & doesn't need near as much pedal to get away from the lights!

Plenty of nice ones around for small money, only negative is the Tax but it's well worth it in the end!

I've had plenty of E34's & E32's & they're bullet proof when maintained properly. Stay away from the one on Gumtree I'd say.

homer90

barochoc wrote: »

Auto 520i = high fuel cost. They're very heavy on the juice.

Would you not consider a 525i Auto ?

Similar economy but just shy of 200Hp, loves motorways, & doesn't need near as much pedal to get away from the lights!

Plenty of nice ones around for small money, only negative is the Tax but it's well worth it in the end!

I've had plenty of E34's & E32's & they're bullet proof when maintained properly. Stay away from the one on Gumtree I'd say.

Yeah I would consider a 525i but not looking to go over 2k or so, Have spent the evening trawling the net with not much luck...
(Gave AC Cars a shout today about an engine swap, they reckon it would take 8 - 12 hours labour to swap out the engine + the cost of replacing belts, gaskets, thermostats, oil & fluids etc. etc. soooooooo gonna give that e34 a miss its just too much effort)

However I did view a car this evening :cool: ........ will say no more :D

Watch this space !!

(Thanks for all the input BTW)

mike65

Difference in motor tax between a 2.0 engine and a 2.5 is pretty big for a cheap car.

barochoc

Well €614 per annum for 2L & €935 per annum for 2.5L

€173 & €264 per quarter respectively.

Worth every penny. Your heart would be broke with a 520i auto as it needs to be wound up to go anywhere. A 2.5 is the perfect engine for that car.

mike65 wrote: »

Difference in motor tax between a 2.0 engine and a 2.5 is pretty big for a cheap car.

gn3dr

barochoc wrote: »

Well €614 per annum for 2L & €935 per annum for 2.5L

€173 & €264 per quarter respectively.

Worth every penny..

I don't think so. I've justified it like that to myself before when I was moving from a 2.0 to a 2.2. But at the end of the day you really have to ask is it worth €900 odd to tax a car - not in my book.
It's the biggest bug bear I have with this country as regards motoring taxes - that and VRT. It's an absolute rip off.


As for an Auto 520 - I agree with your sentiments. I don'y generally like autos but whatever about a Merc, a BMW auto is just wrong.....:)

barochoc

homer90 wrote: »

Yeah I would consider a 525i but not looking to go over 2k or so, Have spent the evening trawling the net with not much luck...
(Gave AC Cars a shout today about an engine swap, they reckon it would take 8 - 12 hours labour to swap out the engine + the cost of replacing belts, gaskets, thermostats, oil & fluids etc. etc. soooooooo gonna give that e34 a miss its just too much effort)

However I did view a car this evening :cool: ........ will say no more :D

Watch this space !!

(Thanks for all the input BTW)

If you're looking for a cheap 525i try this one. Not sure if it's auto. Probably get it for €500-600. That'll leave you with plenty of cash to do it up. Plenty of cheap alloys around.

I know someone with a dark blue '95 525i auto. Car has just been serviced & running very well. Needs some tidying up. Interior is good but drivers door handle needs attention, possibly replacement. Ideal project car. I'd say he'd let it go for under a grand if you were interested.

barochoc

gn3dr wrote: »

I don't think so. I've justified it like that to myself before when I was moving from a 2.0 to a 2.2. But at the end of the day you really have to ask is it worth €900 odd to tax a car - not in my book.
It's the biggest bug bear I have with this country as regards motoring taxes - that and VRT. It's an absolute rip off.


As for an Auto 520 - I agree with your sentiments. I don'y generally like autos but whatever about a Merc, a BMW auto is just wrong.....:)

Well that's why they go so cheap. If the tax was half the cars would easily be selling for double.

I've a '93 740i sitting outside the door. Going nowhere because I don't have €1566 to tax it for the year. Even paying by the quarter is painful. I used to tax for 3 months & drive for 3 without. Head to Gardai & get the tax form stamped as off the road then get another 3 months. Basically pay 6 months tax a year.

I'd never do that with my daily runner as it's 2L but only because this government is run by imbeciles I decide they're not getting the full €1566 off me.

We should have no car tax anyway. The tax taken from fuel should be enough to pay for everyones road usage. How fair would that be? The more you drive the more you pay. They love double & triple taxing in this country.

Can't wait to get out

quenching

homer90 wrote: »

Hey guys,
i'm looking out for a nice e34 auto or w124 (inspired by LM's thread), found a 520i on done deal with engine issues, the car had no anti-freeze during the big freeze and the owner reckons it may need a new head.Would this be a money pit to get right?
Tried sourcing an engine on the net, but they seem far and few between. (I reckon this would be the easier option)

On the other hand , I'm gonna have a look at this baby called the dealer and it looks like he's not gonna budge too much price wise @ € 2950 :eek:


Any thoughts ?

I'm fairly certain the Merc in the link has plastic wheel covers rather than alloys as the ad says. I had one with the same covers and while they look fine they can pop off and are about €100 EACH from MB. Could be wrong but wise to check if its part of the attraction.