What do Cheap (Sub $2500) BMW E34's Look Like In 2023??

[@W-Mode]

Josh is the OG e34 master professor give a good lesson to the new gen z & gen X e34 kids on the block

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Hahahah always teachin lessons😉

[@GalvanizedGreatness]

I’m honestly not a fan of parting out rust free cars although it makes financial sense I’d rather give someone else the opportunity to experience a cheap fixer than make these cars more difficult to find than they already are at least in my area

[@m3nameisjosh464]

I’ve never parted out a rust free car! Both of these cars are fairly rusty underneath, the silver car being exceptionally worse than the blue, though im happy both with live on

[@GalvanizedGreatness]

@@m3nameisjosh464 I’m speaking more on other people than you I don’t think I’ve ever heard you mention no rust and a part out in the same sentence

[@m3nameisjosh464]

@@GalvanizedGreatness haha sorry was just defending myself. Yeah I can’t stand when people part out rust free cars to make a buck

[@qtxcat]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@qtxcat]

😊😊😊

[@MikeBMW]

Great over view, thanks! I bought my first e34 - a 1990 525i - in 1995 for $6500. One owner and 90,00 highway miles at the time. In the interim, I bought a two owner 1990 750iL for $5500 in 2004 with 101,000 miles at the time. Both of those are gone and, in 2019, I bought a one owner 1990 535i for $3500 with 190,00 highway miles at the time - all service records and a nearly perfect car. Still runs like a champ at 200,000 miles!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thats awesome to hear! 90k miles at 5 years old is pretty impressive i must say! Thats cool you got to buy these cars when they were still relatively new!

[@M30b35]

Hi Josh, In my opinion the 525i M20 was mainly developed for the European market. It was a typical BMW for the German Autobahn of the late 1980's. With the 5-speed manual transmission, it was 221 km/h fast, which was 3 km/h less than the Mercedes 300E W124. The 525i M20 was much more economical than a Mercedes 300 and also much sportier to drive. It wasn't really cheap to buy either. Also, a BMW 525i meant much more status in Germany than a BMW 520i. (m20, 129, hp) Also, a 525i was just as fast as a BMW 730i M30, which was significantly more expensive. In Germany, the BMW 530i M30 (188HP) was also offered between 1988 and 1990. It had more torque than the 525i and was intended for customers who previously had a 528i e 28 (185 HP). But it wasn't sold very often and is now considered an exotic vehicle, especially with a manual gearbox. E34 Greetings from Bavaria

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you for all the european insights!! I love hearing about these cars and the markets overseas, we only get half the story over here!

[@Anirossa]

Ive owned a M30B30 E32, it was a intresting car, had double windows and the high fi pack. I remember it had the same differential as the M20B25 E34, making it pretty quick to accelerate. However it also made so it wasn't really much more economical to drive than the 735i. Mine was a 92, imported from Germany to Norway.

[@juancorrea9037]

My 1994 E34 525i has an M50 non vanos too and I love it to death. Other than a little music and 19 in rims on it everything else is factory. It is heavy but it runs great. I took it to the max on the tires running 225/35R/19 front and 265/30R/19 rear an the fitment is perfect. It looks sick but it does need paint which is coming soon. Thanx Josh for all your content like always.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Sounds sweet!! I appreciate you man!

[@qers]

You don't know how good you guys have it in the US. Sincerely, an M43 powered E34 owner.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

😫😭😭😭😭

[@J.F.K.O]

The blue one could be worse they came with 4 cylinder engines in EU and surprisingly they actually also sold some of them.

[@habsom1406]

I believe the 4 cylinder was quite torquey and could hustle along quite nicely and wasn't much slower than the M20 2litre but it was more frugal. But a six is a six and the soundtrack addictive.

[@Juicespec]

Always enjoy watching just got a 86 325e e30 that my friend bought from a junkyard 8 years ago and has had it sitting for 5 years got all engine maintenance parts for it already suspension is next

[@habsom1406]

No BMW should ever die, your friend deserves a merit award or medal of honour for saving the 325e (gotta love the eta engine). She'll be worth a fortune once you've got her fettled.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Good luck on the project man!

[@berwhaletheavenger]

E34 entry level is a 518i. 115 bhp of M40 four cylinder muscle, so hench. Rear drum brakes. No tacho, just a clock with a calendar.

[@lachezarvalentinov8751]

hahaha

[@houseofno]

The US market didn't get a four cylinder E34. We got the M20 six for the early cars, and later got the 24v M50/M52.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

That sounds excruciating 🤣

[@peter-szaboerik4287]

I’ve just bought a 1992 525i, with man5 and m50b25, with lsd. Its a lowered car aswell with some bruises on the outside and some missing panels inside. But its 95% rust free and its a joy to drive. Long term goal is to get it to top shape and keep it for the future. Im watching you from Eu, love ya, peace.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Awesome man! Enjoy it!!

[@PinkGuy120]

Those front fenders are indeed very cool And the M20s redeeming factor is the sound

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Agreed, m20 does actually sound good

[@qers]

I'd go as far as to say that the M20 is by far BMWs greatest sounding non-motorsport engine so far.

[@Arrozconchopsticks]

I have a E90 for my first BMW that i enjoy, if i ever get the chance to scoop a manual e34 I'm doing it. I don't see them in my area. Would be cool if that blue one got saved, the right person could clean that build up.

[@slomosht]

Got my 520 touring for the equivalent of a 1000$, minimal rust all the electrical gremlins, love it to bits.

[@berwhaletheavenger]

When I moved house in 2006 I bought a 1992 520i touring for £350. I did three 300 mile round trips in one very long day. The last of the good fives imo. E39's you can keep.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Awesome!!

[@christopher4368]

In Europe we got the E34 518i. With both the m40 and m43. I would say the m20b25 makes more sense than the four bangers with 105 hp :D

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Definitely hahah

[@TimSlee1]

I don't even know how they sold 5 series with so little power, those engines feel slow in E30's let alone E34's.

[@bosley629]

Luv E34s man! Thanks for your vid! Keeping one now in HD61 trim 85Tkms, Alpine white, in black Nappa ✌️

[@s13zenki]

I bought my manual 1996 e34 525i Touring for 1400 1 month ago. I love it! It’s got rusty doors but the sills are solid, I call that character 😂

[@LoganL17]

I need more people like this guy in my life cause these are fun cars & a guy could learn a thing or two about em

[@m3nameisjosh464]

True that!!

[@jakeshannon5867]

I was lucky. I picked up my 530i with 100k mikes for $2500 about a year ago. Rust free clean asf Oxford green on parchment which I actually like a lot. Everything works perfect the only thing is there’s a tear in the driver seat

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Sounds like a goood deal!

[@szlewi]

poor M20B25 got disrespected af 😂 mind you though, europe had this chassis with an M20B20 as well, and if that wasn't enough, it was also sold with an M4x 1.8liter four banger

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Hahahah i know!!!

[@b1azingopossum799]

M20 e34’s are wonderful…. For cruising

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Cruising slowly😏

[@habsom1406]

M50 non vanos and manual gearbox, "God's Drivetrain..." ha, ha, 😂yes sireeee, so true Josh. I was so hoping you'd start them both and I'm glad you did. The M50 is streets ahead of M20 but even though the M20 didn't appear very rapid, it still sounded nice still being a straight 6 cylinder after all......ah gotta love ❤an e34 in whatever form! Great that the blue one is going back to a former owner who I'm sure will bring it back to its former glory and cherish it.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

I agree! Any inline 6 e34 is a good car! We love them no matter what

[@imtiazahmed2147]

LESSS GOOO E34 VIDEOS thanks for making my day LOL

[@m3nameisjosh464]

🤝🤝🤝🤝

[@MROSEWERKS]

i found an e34 525i (m50b25tu) 4 speed auto for 1700. Runs okay, had a bad battery, vacuum leak, clogged coolant hoses, bad o2, ugly headliner, and still has some other weird issues, still working on it. im afraid it has a bad head gasket or something but i cant complain for that price

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Exactly, can’t complain! They all have their quirks

[@habsom1406]

@@m3nameisjosh464 But when those quirks are fixed....ahh what joy and sure to put a smile on your face!

[@seanscott685]

Thanks for the cool video Josh!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thanks for watching🤝🤝

[@nextphase7481]

Nice video, Josh, thanks! Good to see what these old E34s are bringing in the market these days.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you sir!

[@misophone]

I’m buying a e34 530i this week so I’m binging your vids 🤓

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Good man!

[@DannysGarage]

I've definitely seen this firsthand, as I've never spent more than $1500 on any E34. A few years back I bought a fairly nice but mechanically neglected 1994 525i/5 that was Hellrot, with mostly good paint and a super clean interior, and that was $1500. In late 2022, I bought a 1992 525i/5 that was black with bad paint and a half-missing interior for $1100. Oh and it came with no title, an engine missing a cylinder head, and a fuel tank full of rust. I fixed pretty much everything and have put 17k miles on it since October, but it took a lot of work to get it to be a reliable daily. Us cheapskates just have to get more creative to keep buying cars cheaply, I guess.

[@MROSEWERKS]

those are some really good prices but i guess youd know if it was worth it plus the work. fbmp shows clean e34s for 4k-10k in ny so thats interesting

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Yup sounds about right dude. I paid 2500 for my calypso 525/5 speed, black interior in 2018. 2500 now adays gets you a rusty auto car with a tan interior lol

[@Hama_19]

E34 for life bro❤

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Yessssir!!

[@perc9543]

both of those cars have a lot of potential

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Both will be brought to that potential with their new owners im happy to say!

[@Jordi.McFly.]

It's BMW Silbergrau so Silvergrey Interior. The tobagoblue touring I had that I showed you had it. Great car josh 👍

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you Jordi!!

[@MattyMattsBavarianBuilds]

*M-Tec Bumper not M5 baby!

[@bobsagit10]

Yep m5 bumper has a blank rectangle next to the fog light before it goes to the grill- type trim

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Man i could swear i looked up m5s and bumper was the same. Can you tell i dont dabble with cool rare parts:(

[@e.3-0_m3]

Why you like the no vanos over the vanos? I know the non vanos is a tank but I like vanos with a b30 cam it pull cars a head

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Love them both equally. Non vanos was my first e34 so its fond memories for me

[@e.3-0_m3]

@@m3nameisjosh464 ya I understand I was a jap car person and my first bmw was e36 non vanos and I still have that car over 20 years later and now all I have is Bmws all because of that car

[@5Speedz]

I think the very light grey interior is called silbergrau hell if I’m not mistaken

[@m3nameisjosh464]

I think so too!

[@babylane6028]

20mm spacers in the front on the blue car?

[@christiantakkebos6493]

m20b25 is actually decent if you compare it to m40/m43's, or 2 liter cars

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Oh im sure loll

[@NigelMoore-jw6yk]

Interior is Titan Grey Light

[@enjoythehunt5135]

LSG.. Light silver Gray..... Thats the interior color. The m20/5 has the rare 3.73 diff that'll probably have the m50 very aggressive if swapped compared to the 3.23 diff

[@X3R0D3D]

damn, i have a '94 530 oxford metalic and tan leather 135k miles, it has rust on the doors and sideskirts (canadian vehicle) and a few cosmetic blemishes. however it has a NEW m60b30 pre-vanos with under 20k miles and the 5 speed manual... visually its in rough shape but mechanically everything works as it should, plus has had new springs and shocks, front end bushings etc. I was thinking to sell it to fund a drift-rod build of an old e12 i have. i was hoping to get alot more than $2500 for it though. on account of that new motor.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Its a double edged sword man. Cars with nice bodies get dragged down by bad drivetrains. Cars with great drivertrains get dragged down by bad bodies. Its on of those cars yourself better off enjoying!

[@X3R0D3D]

@@m3nameisjosh464 I think you're right, as much as i want to cash in on that great drivetrain, its worth more to me than pretty much anyone else. i guess i'll just keep up with the extremely gradual restoration its getting and maybe one day ill pick up new doors and get some sheet work done. i doubt anyone would ever pay what i'd want for it. thanks for the reply! great channel, i enjoy your e34 content alot!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

@@X3R0D3D thanks man!!!

[@Anirossa]

The one thing I'd like from the blue one is the M20B25, I've had some M50s, NV and vanos, prefer NV over the vanos for sure, but I don't enjoy driving the M50s. I don't need my classic cars to be fast, just to feel good on a twisty back road, as well as sound good and have minimal amount of plastics getting heat cycled to death under the hood 😅 So all preferanse :)

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Totally understand your point there. Thats why I like m30!

[@Anirossa]

@m3nameisjosh464 If I lived in the U.S. with the big roads, I'd prefer having the M30 too :D

[@davidtrachtenberg7095]

Josh….how do I contact you with an e34 question? I have a 91 e34 525i with an m50.

[@clintonwilliams526]

I got an m20 525i

[@danilotuba4279]

i dont agree m20b25 is slow i own one and its pretty okay for stock 1.5ton 5door car XD

[@clinehearty4917]

The new profile pic 🔥

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Thank you sir🤝

[@cha7269]

thoughts on the e39 chassis? haven't heard you mention or talk about them.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

I had 1. No real desire to own another to be honest

[@onyxxx.1]

@@m3nameisjosh464 after owning one factssss lowkey

[@placeholdername3206]

I've always wondered, why do you prefer the M50 cars over the M60? I'm assuming you don't have the 540 anymore. I have an M50B25 NV in my E36, i love it, im collecting parts to boost it. I want an E34 but i want a 540i, i think they are baller ass cars and can look amazing. But i dont really want or need another M50 car, and definetly no 4 cylinders either.

[@ttt69420]

Prob cause hes broke

[@houseofno]

@@ttt69420 Here's a thought. Instead of taking a dump on someone's car and being a world class troll, why not respect other people's preferences? There's something to be said for both engines without going all jerk on their engine choices.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Aside from TT being right and the real answer being that I am broke, I actually really miss my 540 car. That one itself wasn’t the right car for me, but id like another. I love 540s, just hate the tight engine bay and the non stop leaks and pain in the ass to work on

[@placeholdername3206]

@@m3nameisjosh464 They are definetly not as easy to work on, but the sound alone makes up for it and you don't really feel like they need more power

[@habsom1406]

@@placeholdername3206 I drove a friend's 525i e34 NV M50 and it felt more grown up than my M50 NV 520i and if I didn't have mine to compare it against I wouldn't have noticed that the 525 felt ever so slightly heavier over the front end, but because I had the 520i, I could tell mine felt slightly more nimble and lighter in handling. Still, who cares, all e34's are a joy!

[@mlfhntr69]

Where i live (estonia its in europe) is a e34 for sale for 450€ but its missing the engine and transmission is that a good deal?

[@m3nameisjosh464]

I think so!

[@EinKerl3554]

M20 e34s are m10 e30 slow, at least they can sell the m20 to an e30 owner looking to stay original and put the money towards a better engine.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

True that

[@lachezarvalentinov8751]

I'm waiting for you to buy an E34 518i :)

[@PinkGuy120]

Not sold in the US, like the diesels and 20is

[@lachezarvalentinov8751]

@@PinkGuy120 What a shame.

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Yeah id have to import one, and lets be honest Im not sure id want to do that lol

[@lachezarvalentinov8751]

@@m3nameisjosh464 hahahah, the E34 525 TDS is not a bad diesel version, but the rest are ... yeah... crap

[@habsom1406]

@@lachezarvalentinov8751 A friend had a 525Tds that had been re-mapped and the ever present torque was addictive! 😄

[@lachezarvalentinov8751]

Hey Josh, are you interested in the following rarity: OEM BMW E34 rear window shades. If R22 small fridge pops out, will be posting too :) Heads up!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Honestly im not a huge rare novelty parts collector for e34s. Those are cool pieces but id personally never care to go through the hassle to install!

[@lachezarvalentinov8751]

@@m3nameisjosh464 Okay fella :)

[@payson.wilsonn719]

keep the m20 e34 and turbo it please

[@Dale-TND]

Save every E34! Please!

[@lachezarvalentinov8751]

God bless!

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Trying!

[@e34_us]

Got my 94 530i from a beloved family friend that is very ill im gonna keep it forever and pass it to my kids.. after it gets a 2jz swap 😊

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Niceeeee

[@mrlover4310]

I like them original you can't beat original that's my opinion.

[@Wrapt-up]

I have an e32 740 In Ky if you want lol

[@m3nameisjosh464]

I never want an e32 again hahah

[@Wrapt-up]

@@m3nameisjosh464 my 735 isn’t bad, but man the 740 is a basket case 😂

[@m3nameisjosh464]

@@Wrapt-up hahahahs

[@daviss9260]

m50 e34 is a bargain

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Agreed

[@ginoanthony]

Bro, I bought a running e34 yesterday for 250 dollars 😂

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Lucky man

[@ginoanthony]

@m3nameisjosh464 Not really, that's the prices they go for over here. You can actually get them cheaper than 250, but that will be in a non running condition

[@m3nameisjosh464]

@@ginoanthony where do you live? In some 2012 fantasy land

[@thespencel11]

the only 3 e34s I’ve seen for sale in New England in the past year and a half were $6000+ and not much nicer than any of these lmao I hate it here

[@thespencel11]

Oh wait I forgot about the rattle can special with an overheating m20 that’s up for $3000 rn lol

[@m3nameisjosh464]

Ugh absolute pain bro

[@heeltoeautomotive4962]

RIP E34 and E36 market

[@m3nameisjosh464]

😔😔

[@bluesatmosphere4659]

I have an e34 and It fucks my life 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@m3nameisjosh464]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@RmsOlympic1913]

I bought my first E34 for 500 euros 💀

[@grvyrdgang5672]

Ruuf

[@pagodacloud2241]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@apineda716]

Dud3 nooo way i would ever buy that bluish m20 over that beutiful car with a non vanos m50!!! Thats a no brainer!!!!!

[@DAME_AL]

Josh what’s ur IG?

[@m3nameisjosh464]

@m3nameisjosh

[@NigelSIMS-gw1nl]

Interior is Titan Grey Light