I test drove a 1991 M5 today...

[rmiddendorf]

I test drove a 1991 M5 today. Here's the car:

1991 BMW M5 - PRICE REDUCED!! - $8000 (Hilliard)
Date: 2011-12-27, 1:15PM EST
Reply to: fyrnh-2770879507@sale.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
Rare 1991 BMW M5, 144,000 miles, 3.6L 6cyl, performance chip, 2003 M5 18" alloy wheels, new Goodyear Eagle F1 All-season tires, new headliner, $850 tune up recently, maintenance records included. Too many features to list, please email for complete details or questions. All serious offers considered.

* Location: Hilliard
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests




PostingID: 2770879507

So if you don't drive the car it looks pretty good. The bottoms of the doors have a tiny bit of rust forming and the underside of the car generally looks solid with some surface rust on certain components. Nothing alarming there. And the paint is shiny- it has a few road chips but nothing concerning. I haven't run a history report yet but it was lightly hit on the left front fender which was repaired and shows the original VIN sticker. I was able to locate all the VINs on the hood, fenders, three doors and trunk. I can never find the ones on the rear quarter panels on these cars. The passenger side rear door shows a DOT sticker on the bottom that was apparently replaced by one of the local dealers after some damage that, possibly, they inflicted. No real huge red flags here. The interior is very clean with the exception of the aftermarket stereo which seems to fit in ok.

But the list of things it needs mechanically is a little long. I'm going to call my shop on the big stuff in the morning but would solicit your opinions on this specific car. I'm going to go line item here.

-The engine runs a little rough. It seems about as rough as my M30 in Bandit which seems rougher than I remember other S38s that I've driven. Its claimed to have just had a tune up which I reviewed the invoice but forgot to check and see if it it had a valve adjustment but I'm pretty sure it has not had one.
-After reviewing the stack of service information I cannot see that the timing chain guides have been inspected or replaced.
-And the biggest item- the fourth gear syncro is almost out completely and the second gear one seemed a little iffy at best. As far as I'm concerned this G280 needs an entire rebuild. I'll be looking into the cost of this in the morning.
-SRS light is on. I cannot live with this and it will need to be fixed.
-SLS has been deleted and sometimes lights up on the dash. It was replaced with the BavAuto kit.
-The brake light circuit warning is on in the dash. The lights have been replaced with the partially clear ones which may be contributing to this.
-Apparently one of the backup lights is out an not easily fixed with a bulb.
-The trunk shocks need to be replaced.
-The electric mirrors do not work.
-The aftermarket stereo may not have been installed correctly as its weak in the rear and the balance / fader functions to not appear to work correctly.
-The HVAC doesn't seem to work seamlessly. It may blow cold on one side and warm on the other? It has the dreaded dual zone climate control which I do not like. The A/C has been converted to 134a.

The speedo sensor went out at one point and was replaced quickly however I am concerned about a non-actual mileage branded title. I will run a history report if I get that far.

Anyone want to weigh in on this one? I'm thinking I'm going to pass but I have a very low number in mind. There are other E34 M5s available in Ohio that are priced around $15k which is more than I should swing right now but in a few months it may be realistic. I'm starting to really like the idea of an E34 M5 and after driving this one I see that it did move me, unlike the other E34s that I've driven in the past.

P.S. Sherman- if this somehow manages to come together I'd trade ya for a set of M System II T-Stars...

[John SCB]

Nice looking car. If the engine runs rough after an $850 tune-up, you can bet there's something else going on under the hood. I'd be concerned about all the "little things" that need attention; you know that stuff can add up.

I am partial to E34's but if you're in no hurry to buy, I say keep your eyes open for another one. Spend more and get more value in the long run.

I visited these guys when in Cincinnati...http://enthusiastauto.com/about/
They had a good selection of BMW's worth considering.

[rmiddendorf]

Nice looking car. If the engine runs rough after an $850 tune-up, you can bet there's something else going on under the hood. I'd be concerned about all the "little things" that need attention; you know that stuff can add up.

I am partial to E34's but if you're in no hurry to buy, I say keep your eyes open for another one. Spend more and get more value in the long run.

I visited these guys when in Cincinnati...http://enthusiastauto.com/about/
They had a good selection of BMW's worth considering.

He has a really nice looking Calypso Red M5 down there that's a little more than I should swing right now. That might not stop me though.

Tim Wing also has one up in Cleveland for sale right now too which I would also like to consider in a month or so.

[Rich Euro M5]

You should have pulled the trigger on Tim in N Fl E34 M5. It was priced marginally higher than this example and being a Fla car, NO RUST.

[oldskool]

HEY! You're in E28 M5 territory with that pricing. You're losing focus. . .snap out of it mang!

[rmiddendorf]

You should have pulled the trigger on Tim in N Fl E34 M5. It was priced marginally higher than this example and being a Fla car, NO RUST.

I kicked it around however was unable to basically easily test drive it and since the other E34s I had driven up to today had not moved me it was a difficult move to make. He and I did talk extensively about it though.

[Greg E34]

Looks like a pass to me. And count on anything that Enthusiast has at a 25% or more premium.

[Coldswede]

Rodney, I'd give it pass. Those "little things" will drive you crazy and cost a lot to fix. Besides they should have been fixed when they occurred not left to accumulate. The engine should be buttery smooth. Did the warm up cycle and unloader work properly?

Go see Tim Wings car. Be patient.

[rmiddendorf]

Looks like a pass to me.

That's what I am thinking Greg.

And count on anything that Enthusiast has at a 25% or more premium.

I know but their offerings are usually top notch. I would feel good about buying a car from them. Plus they take pretty sweet photos. I think they do a lot right down there.

I'm probably not going to move on either of these other cars in the next few weeks though but I think either one would make a better car for me.

[rmiddendorf]

Did the warm up cycle and unloader work properly?

Randy- I'm not sure I know of what you are speaking of there. Are you talking about the engine oil temperature gauge running up properly and then maintaining? I'll confess to a lack of knowledge on this. The temp did appear to run normal on both the coolant and oil.

[Coldswede]

No Rodney, when you first start that engine, cold, it should go into a fast idle mode, then in about 2 minutes, depending on temp, it should transition (automatically) into it's normal slow idle. If that is not working properly it can be expensive to repair. It is also a good indicator to how well the car has been maintained.

[rmiddendorf]

No Rodney, when you first start that engine, cold, it should go into a fast idle mode, then in about 2 minutes, depending on temp, it should transition (automatically) into it's normal slow idle. If that is not working properly it can be expensive to repair. It is also a good indicator to how well the car has been maintained.

Yep- that must have been hosed too. I didn't pull it out of the garage though so cannot be positive.

[AT8M5]

FWIW, there is a '91 with 55k miles listed on Autotrader, in SC, listed for $11k. The ad states it's never been in a northern state, but the front plate sure resembles a Wisconsin plate.

Karl

[535is-pa]

Looks like a pass to me. And count on anything that Enthusiast has at a 25% or more premium.

+1 however ive herd of them really working with you on a trade in if you have something up to their standards....

[wkohler]

Sounds like its a badass JFC OMFG ride.

[rmiddendorf]

FWIW, there is a '91 with 55k miles listed on Autotrader, in SC, listed for $11k. The ad states it's never been in a northern state, but the front plate sure resembles a Wisconsin plate.

Karl

That's interesting Karl. Unfortunately taking a day to look at one in state is already going to be difficult enough with my wife so SC is really a push. Although after looking at it in a little more detail online from the photos it doesn't look like it only has 55k miles on it...

[rmiddendorf]

Did the warm up cycle and unloader work properly?

The owner has corrected me in such that the unloader and warm up cycle do work correctly.

[1st 5er]

This was my first thought too.

You should have pulled the trigger on Tim in N Fl E34 M5. It was priced marginally higher than this example and being a Fla car, NO RUST.

Here's my second, from http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?p=97 ... ht=#977389

Hey all, thanks for the inquires.

All that is left at this time is:

rear bumper, rear tail lights, 3 doors (drivers door gone) the driveshaft and the transmission (rebuilt by blanton with >10k on it since the rebuild.)

[Tim in N FL]

You should have pulled the trigger on Tim in N Fl E34 M5. It was priced marginally higher than this example and being a Fla car, NO RUST.

"Roger that" Rich....but as we know...timing is everything, eh?
Rodney,

Definitely proceed with caution...completing all of your due diligence when buying any S38-powered beast. I cannot stress this enough...

Drive as many e34 M5s as you can to determine whether or not you actually want one. They are quick...powerful...somewhat agile...large, heavy vehicles meant for fast cruising. They are NOT as lithe as the e28 ///M5. Don't confuse the two...they are built for different uses, IMHO.


Tim

[rmiddendorf]

You should have pulled the trigger on Tim in N Fl E34 M5. It was priced marginally higher than this example and being a Fla car, NO RUST.

"Roger that" Rich....but as we know...timing is everything, eh?
Rodney,

Definitely proceed with caution...completing all of your due diligence when buying any S38-powered beast. I cannot stress this enough...

Drive as many e34 M5s as you can to determine whether or not you actually want one. They are quick...powerful...somewhat agile...large, heavy vehicles meant for fast cruising. They are NOT as lithe as the e28 ///M5. Don't confuse the two...they are built for different uses, IMHO.


Tim

Thanks for the tips Tim! I might have bought yours if I could have had the opportunity to easily drive it. I think that and the overall distance was my limiting factor. I am glad you were able to sell it.

[Tim in N FL]

Thanks for the tips Tim! I might have bought yours if I could have had the opportunity to easily drive it. I think that and the overall distance was my limiting factor. I am glad you were able to sell it.

Rodney,
Sure...FWIW. I did enjoy my e34 ///M5...after a while. It took several long road trips, auto-xing, a TSD rally, and some DIY projects to bond with the beast. I respected the car for its build qualities, design, appearance, and taut driving experience. It was a very predictable car at the limit. No bad road manners that I could find. I still believe the factory sport seats specific to the M5 are some of the best I've yet to experience. In the end, I just wanted a smaller and more lithe BMW for my daily driver. In retrospect, I never should have sold my '95 e36 M3. Looking back, it offered everything I was wanting in a daily driver except for 4-doors. That said, the e36 M3/4 would probably be an ideal car for me. Enthusiast-owned examples of that model are getting harder to find at what I'd consider to be reasonable prices (i.e., less than $12k), particularly mit 5spd transmission...many of these were autotragics. So, are you ready to sell me your e90 330i6 yet?

Tim

[rmiddendorf]

Are you ready to sell me your e92 330i6 yet?

Tim

Its an E90 4-Door 330i auto (6-Speed) with the sport pkg. I could part with it of you really wanted it though. It is a sweet car.