The E34 generation BMW 5-series was sold from 1988 to 1996 in the North American market and solidified BMW's reputation as a builder of sport-luxury sedans for the quasi-wealthy. The 5-series was not the ride of Rockefellers or rock stars, but it was the choice for doctors, lawyers, middle managers and folks who wanted a nice sedan with a touch of speed. Today the E34 is cheap enough to be the choice of window clerks at your local burger barn, but that shouldn't dissuade you from experiencing one of Bavaria's better built bombers. Find this 1993 BMW 525I E34 Touring with E36 M3 powerplant offered for $4,500 via craigslist. 
Now, before you go off all half-cocked and call the seller and offer him the full asking price, it is important to point out one little thing...it has a slushbox tranny. We could just leave it at that and go on, but let's play a little hypothetical scenario. Let's say you are currently daily driving a Buick Roadmaster wagon and something like this pops up -- this BMW offers easily the same acceleration (240 horsepower 3.0 liter inline-6) with much better fuel economy and handling in another class. Comfort and reliability should be about a wash; the only thing you might miss from the Roadmaster is the ability to tow large objects and the fact that you could take it to a demolition derby and drive it home afterwards (and maybe the acres of cargo space out back). The best thing about this car is that, while it has had an engine swap, it isn't stanced, stickered, pimped or douched up.
Bottom line, have you ever seen another M3 swapped wagon that could be used as an appliance? Let us know: tips@dailyturismo.com
Hmmm, intriguing, and I agree with the auto presenting a conundrum. I can't see how this would be preferable to an e34 530it with the factory V8 already installed though.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, these sunroofs are hell on Earth. It's as if BMW outsourced the design to the out-of-work quality control engineers from the Maserati Biturbo. There's a reason the seller practically goats about the fact that it still opens.
Is it just me or does the new DT"appliance" badge look like a little man sitting on an enormous mobile toilet after having a large dinner of Indian food with a chaser of ex-lax?
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a lonely housewife sitting on the washing machine. Thanks for killing that one for me.
DeleteWhy waste the engine with a slushbox? Change the tranny
ReplyDeleteNot that rare. Great color combo though and the price is right. I wouldn't sell mine anywhere near that cheap.
ReplyDelete