BMWCC Magazine Apr 08 - 92 E34 M5 3.8 - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

davidoli · 4th April 2008, 12:10

I have just finished reading a great article written in this month's BMW Car Club Magazine by the car club's M Power Registrar and our own board member , Richard Baxter , entitled ' Frozen in time : 1992 E34 M5 3.8 ' .

What a fantastic piece of writing Richard ......well done !

What with this and last month's E30 M3 article in Total BMW magazine , you are becoming a bit of a face !

D

AfricaOffroad · 4th April 2008, 14:59

For us Southern Hemispherers, any chance of a scan of that article?

davidoli · 4th April 2008, 15:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by AfricaOffroad

For us Southern Hemispherers, any chance of a scan of that article?

It's not a facility that I have access to .

Perhaps somebody else can help ?

legacy260 · 4th April 2008, 17:39

PM me....I will PDF over the piece.

richardbaxter · 5th April 2008, 02:22

David

Thanks for the kind comments and glad you enjoyed it but as they say the car is the star.

In a trade off for use of the race car by none other than Andy Prilaux (in June at Pembury) I have been fortunate to spend the last week behind the wheel of the new M3 saloon.

What an engine and what a car! its taught and flies, as yet I've covered about a 1000 miles. It loves drinking fuel! but what a way to burn it. Theres something however about the modern car that is not quite clicking and have to assimilate what it is. My thinking is that either one needs many more miles to get used to it or that it is too anti social for our dumbed down roads. It's limits are so high.

Perhaps mostly the speed sensation we enjoy in the E34 M5 at around 90 ish one can only feel at higher speeds and this is just not a reality so what is the point in the UK?

One thing that I have really enjoyed is the look of the car - in a colour similar to graphite grey i've become a fan of bangles flame texture. It catches the light in a very pleasing way, also the rear is so much more cohesive than in the Vauxhall calibra -esque rear section of the coupe.

The saloon has a nice tension around the rear haunches (with 19" wheels) but the rear valence is too shy with the result that the exhaust box is overtly exposed.

legacy260 · 5th April 2008, 10:03

The question is Richard will enthuasists be lusting after these cars in 6-8 years time and do you see anybody other than main dealers being able to keep these cars going as they get driven harder by people other than the original owners and businessmen?

richardbaxter · 5th April 2008, 15:35

No I do not think so, whether we like it or not the car/social/green climate has changed. The M3 is out of step on all these issues, the real edge comes from 100mph plus as below that one has to be in a lower gear to counteract vehicles that have good (diesel) torque.

I think the question really is about the cost? I know this is a silly unreal comparison but supposing one had the choice between an e92 M3 saloon and E34 M5 saloon for say £10k - which one would you choose?

I think the interesting time will come this Monday when the M3 is returned and I get behind the wheel of the M5 again...

On the last occasion when I had an E46 M3 coupe for a week, I found the M5 was the better all round drive, the suspension more compliant and the less performance was not that much of a differential in real UK road driving conditions.

It has been nice however to be driving a brand new car, the sounds, smell and appearance are all fresh to the senses...

Baddie · 5th April 2008, 15:48

Please update us on your return to the M5, very interested in your impressions of the contrast

Cheers, Anwar

e34M52b · 5th April 2008, 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by legacy260

The question is Richard will enthuasists be lusting after these cars in 6-8 years time and do you see anybody other than main dealers being able to keep these cars going as they get driven harder by people other than the original owners and businessmen?

As the price creeps down, they become owned by people who may be able to afford the price of entry (the vehicle itself), but not neccessarily able to properly maintain it.

I've seen this happen with our beloved 1992-1995 Audi S6/S6 cars. As the price of them dropped under $10k, they seem to become more and more ragged...

The few that are properly maintained and sorted will become more valuable. When they are deemed "collector's items" (which I already think the E34 M5 fits in that category, but..) the prices for these "pristine" examples are going to skyrocket.

My question is... as they age.. no matter what... Many cars are going to need at least a low level restoration. This will probably entail removal of all glass and motor... Full repaint (as well as in engine bay), new glass, seals and trim fitted, and new interior. What are we looking at for cost of such a project??? And, do we think the cars will be worth enough to justify the more costly expense of restoring a "modern classic" with lots of electrical bits, plastic and vinyl trim, etc... ?

stevie sam · 5th April 2008, 22:17

Really good article Richard, just finished reading it and enjoyed it immensley..........