Do I want to go E39 -> E34? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

topper · 17th July 2008, 23:45

Hi,

I'm a proud E39 owner. I have just seen an E34 going for a decent price, and was wondering, would it make a good second car in the family (my SO currently drives a Peugeot 306), or even a good, lower maintenance replacement for my E39?

I understand that this is the E34 section, so I'm not looking for smug "it's just better" comments

, I'm looking for responses from people who have driven both cars and know the pros and cons of each, in the real world. Feel free to comment on anything from build quality to handling, power, whatever.

One definite advantage I can imagine is fuel consumption - is the E34 much less thirsty?

What about oil consumption?

T

Mmm-Five · 17th July 2008, 23:51

The e34 will probably cost the same to run as the e39.

Rob Plummer · 18th July 2008, 00:04

See a thread I started here: Going over to the dark side????

Most people I've spoken with who have owned, or still own both e34 and e39 say that they e39 is a better everyday proposition.

I agree with Tony that running costs will be comparable.

I'll do you a straight swap if you do decide to change!!!

mottati · 18th July 2008, 00:27

i have both, both are wonderful cars. The e34 is more special, more fun if your in the mood, not as fast as the e39. The e39 is, imho, the better everyday car, faster, safer, more 'disposable' (i.e., i wouldn't feel as bad if someone wiped out my e39 in an accident as i would with my e34).

E34 is more economical, from a fuel economy standpoint. I like having both, and would have a hard time getting rid of either.

Sebring NL · 18th July 2008, 00:32

Mike is very right.

The E39 is a much better daily, but that pretty much sums up the negative aspects of it aswell,

Its a very capable car, but ,( no offense to the owners!!) I have never regarded it as a true M-car . Its simply a 550 imo, as it lacks some basic M components and doesn't have the character of the other M- engines.

But still, I love it for being a very fast , well-built , good looking BMW.

The E34 is much more pure IMO.

Oil consumption of the E39 is much higher on all E39 M5's I know of.

Wout

rick · 18th July 2008, 00:37

What you need to do is to get out and drive one and see what you really think. You will compare the two and then you can make your mind up whether its going to be an addition or a viable alternative.

If you can afford it I would say go for it (as an addition to your E39).

You will already know the main differences between the two models but the following are a few of my own observations:

E34
Better looking (much more exclusive)
Better soundtrack (that straight six)
Hand built (will probably age better)
Becoming more expensive to service (due to age etc)

E39
Newer and more refined
TORQUE
Better tuning capability

Regardless of what many say about the E39 being MUCH quicker it isn't. Granted it is a faster, newer car but it is closer than many think. The E39 has a lot more torque from that V8 and gets the power down quicker, but the E34 can also get supersonic but needs to be driven hard. You have to learn to drive each one in a very different way. In the E34 I think you are expected to be a bit of a hooligan as it is much more raw but that is where a lot of the appeal is (for me anyway).

Comparisons are always hard to draw, as cars evolve they do get better, more powerful etc but they also lose things such as character, individuality etc so these points should be taken into account when making such a decision.

My intent is to lay up my E34 for about 12-18 months to carry out some well overdue work, starting with a respray and I'm looking for a replacement. I don't think I will ever sell her but can definitely see the possibility of E39 ownership in the not too distant future.

Good Luck whatever decision you make

Baddie · 18th July 2008, 00:42

The E39 I owned was a 3 litre Sport. It was quick enough and very quick around corners, just short on fun and feedback and there should be a mass rebellion against electronic throttles

! The older car gives me more confidence and has more progression in the throttle and in loss of adhesion - for my needs ("special"

) it defintely handles better.

Otherwise the E39 clearly represents a generation of improvements, everything on it just works that bit more smoothly. Even build quality seemed better and more weight-efficient in the newer car.

I couldn't get attached to my E39 and I don't miss it at all except sometimes the motorway (M5 may well be different), whereas when I sold my first E34 M5 I mourned it for 2 years

. IMHO the mechanical feel of the older car is unobtainable in anything else this side of a 355/993 - the sense of involvement is impossible to describe and only grows with the miles, it is a deeply fabulous car to hustle.

While some members' cars may be different the two M5's I've owned have had major faults that eat up cash and minor faults that eat up patience - part and parcel of an old but extremely loveable car

.

Fuel is better than mid tweties on a run, around twenty or just under locally. My car seems to use a litre of oil every 3000 miles.

topper · 18th July 2008, 01:22

Great comments, thanks all. I'm tempted but hopefully reality will hit me in the morning - my SO will say that our second car should be a smaller, practical car. BORING!

legacy260 · 18th July 2008, 02:02

E30 M3 Sport Evo....you know it makes sense.

topper · 18th July 2008, 02:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by legacy260

E30 M3 Sport Evo....you know it makes sense.

Obviously I have thought about it, and thank you for confirming my thoughts.

No doubt, it would be such a good compliment to the E39 M5. One is the early raw one, the other is as late as they come before they get too ugly.

But two issues:
1. I don't know if they would be any good as a daily driver, also she would be driving it a bit, not sure if it's a good car for a girl. /Not/ being sexist, but she isn't really into cars as such, if she was obviously she'd enjoy driving it. There is a more general problem here, which is that the kind of cars I like tend to be fastish, oldish, and cheapish, and smaller cars of that type tend to hold their value as they are cheaper to maintain. Maybe I need a(nother) Mk2 Golf GTi.

2. It's hard to find a good /original/ one at a non-ridiculous price.

richardbaxter · 18th July 2008, 02:50

The E39 is more modern and refined in every sense, it is not for nothing that many rate the evoloution of the 5 series in the E39 being the best car ever made...

I'd say the E34 is wooden by comparison and this might be best described as being 5 years behind in technical know how. The E39 is an easier car to live with.

However the E34 has a character that either grabs you or it feels just old!

To me it is down to aspects like no electronic interference, the traction control coming out of a roundabout on the E39 is maddening! but no one can overlook the fabulous torque.

The E34 has a character of its own relying on a proactive driver who can easily explore wonderful depths whereas the E39 is slightly anodine and heavier in comparison.

Both cars should be celebrated for being in existence but for me the E34 has a raw soul that demands more driver input/involvement to extract the juice.

Legacy mentions the E30 M3 Sport Evo, several of which are advertised on www.mobile.de - no. 600 - being the last for 65k euros!. This would have to be my favourite car of all time it has fun and thrills in spade fulls and have run one of these as a daily driver and track day car regularly at the Ring for 8 years (and an Evo 11 for 6 years before that) but whereas the M3 is pure go kart the E34 has such refinement and still each road drive can be an event, not so great on track.

God bless 'Motorsport' for the enjoyment in all the guises they provide us!