BMW 530i V8 reliable car?

nacho!

New member
Hi I’m new to the forum and to BMW's.
I would like to know if anyone could please give me some advice on whether the e34 1995 530i V8 is a good and reliable car?
I have noticed that they go for quite low prices because their parts are very expensive?:dunno:
The car has 200k km on the clock and it looks very good. I wouldn’t want to spend too much on repairs.
Any advice would be appreciated
Thanks
 

rick540

///Member
I have to be honest here

A good and reliable car is a Toyota.

A 95 530 V8 is going to require parts, it's a BMW thing.
 

Sankekur

///Member
I agree with with rick, and unless you take trouble to find places to source the parts cheaply its soon going to become an expensive exercise, but that is what the forum is for :)
That being said if you find a good condition car that the engine has been taken care of and you take of care of there is no reason why the V8 won't last longer than you do.

Also might I add that is might be better to rather look for a 540i V8 as that engine gives pretty much the same fuel consumption but is just so much more fun.

BMW's have a way of smelling when you have money so it is always best to just spend everything you have on the car in anyhow :)
 

nacho!

New member
Our Toyota LCruiser is reliable but damn at 6km/L for a diesel...
Ouch was hoping you guys gave me some good news, but thanks for the honesty. Think I'll have to reconsider buying it. Looks like I'll have to stick to my Citi Golf:)
 

rick540

///Member
@ Sankekur

You are right about BMW's smelling when you have cash.

I swear that car looks in my wallet if I turn my head the other way.
 

zaleonardz

Well-known member
You would have to have the car evaluated. Could be a good buy, good be a serious money pit as well..

Auto or manual box ?
 

nacho!

New member
zaleonardz said:
You would have to have the car evaluated. Could be a good buy, good be a serious money pit as well..

Auto or manual box ?
Auto, any problems from the type auto box? I'm going to take the car for a test drive tomorrow, any places or problematic places on the car I should pay special attention to?
 

Sankekur

///Member
rick540 said:
@ Sankekur

You are right about BMW's smelling when you have cash.

I swear that car looks in my wallet if I turn my head the other way.

Case in point, now just a couple of days before pay-day a stone hits my windscreen on the edge and leaves a small crack, so I will be going to see if it can be fixed tomorrow.




About the auto box, if it has trouble getting into certain gears or has jerky changes you will probably need to look at a gearbox rebuild before too long, or you could go for a auto to manual conversion, the latter would probably be the cheaper option.
 

zaleonardz

Well-known member
Only reason why i asked is because the 530 did ship with a 5 speed manual.

Autoboxes.... meh... luck of the draw there. depends on a host of items and wear and operating temps and and and...

But if it dies, manual conversions are failry easy..
 

fullboost

Member
Hy this is a bmw forum so lets talk bmw the way to go is e30 325. while on the sub. looking for a e30 repair manual please send some links to download one.
 

Raybimmer

New member
@Fullboost e30 325's all used and abused ....Get e30 320i auto from old person ( without Parkinsons disease - tends to stuff up uj's and diff ! ) -it was never abused and put man box in then m20b25 motor with M50/52B28 crank . Play nicely now.....
 
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