Ok Gents, like the title says, how does driving an E34 M5 "feel"? What I mean is steering and suspension wise. My daily driver is a 2001 E38 Sport which I absolutely love the way the steering feels and the car rides. I'm looking for an E34 M5 to purchase but do not want to take a step back so to speak in the steering feel/ride dept. I'm looking for a vehicle that will be a willing partner when it comes to having a good time. I want the car to go where I point it, when I point it. Those of you who thoroughly enjoy the driving experience know what I'm talking about. You want to feel like the car is an extension of yourself. I love my E38 Sport. I feel "connected" with that car. I can't say enough about how much I love it. I'm just looking to get something slightly sportier but I do not want to sacrifice the "one-ness" I feel with my Sport. Fellow BMW owners, please help me in my quest!!! I would simply go and test drive one but E34 M5's are quite rare where I'm from. Is the M5 the sports car I suspect it is or is it just an out dated niche automobile????? Thanks in advance, Lee
You are asking a very subjective thing, but I will happily give my opinion.
Having recently driven E34s for the first time I'm simply stunned at how involving and nimble it is, for a 1.6 tonne car. So yes - i'd say it is sporty and certainly not out dated. The fact you can use it as a cruiser also means it truly is "the only car you will ever need"
Edit - I watched an old top gear this weekend where they reviewed it on the Isle of Man. Richard Hammond said it is "a sports car in saloon car clothing".
My M5T is a Jekyll & Hyde character; equally at home running the kids to school and on a shopping trip as it is hurtling along the autobahn en-route to the Alps. Yet you ask an impossible question 'what does it feel like to drive an M5?'
I've driven many cars in my time both on and off track and including several highly rated police pursuit vehicles both on standard duty and in full blues and twos mode yet nothing will prepare you for the feeling of pushing your foot to the floor in an E34 M5 and the sudden push as you exceed 4,000rpm; particularly in 3rd gear. The descriptions above go some way towards it but as each M5 has a slightly different character and each driver has a different style, the only way to truly know the answer is to get yourself out in a properly maintained M5 and have a drive.
I know my fellow enthusiasts will frown.....but the biggest issue I have with my M5 is the steering freeplay - lots of it at the straight ahead position.
Sure once loaded, the steering has good feel (still not the best) and accuracy but I find this characteristic massively distracting.fficeffice" />
My car may well be worse than some, however I drove my friends 65K 3.8 LE, and found this to be fairly similar.
IMHO of course!
The chassis stiffness also shows the age of the design.
However despite the above, it does have surprizingly good dynamics and an engine note to die for with reasonable performance.
I know my fellow enthusiasts will frown.....but the biggest issue I have with my M5 is the steering freeplay - lots of it at the straight ahead position.
Sure once loaded, the steering has good feel (still not the best) and accuracy but I find this characteristic massively distracting.
I too have an 2001 e38 740i and it's like a soft beautiful boat in comparison. It truly compliments the e34 for different dynamics while still taking four passengers and luggage if required. If I have an easy day I take the e34 to make the day that bit better.
Vague steering is one of the main problems of the E34 M5. New EDC's, new suspension arms, new steering linkages including black powerflex allaround AND a completetly revised steeringbox didn't resolve the vagueness problem on my car although it does corner very well when steering box in under load.
I will get to the bottom of this. My new steeringbox is now 4000 km old and I've pursaded the company how did the box to come up with a newone with lesser play.
__________________ E34 M5 Touring, March '95, 100% original, Memory seats, Electric roof, 6-speed, 280.000 km, Fjord Grau. Renewed: Front suspension and disks, Springs and EDC's, Steeringbox and linkages, Crankshaft bearings, bigend bearings, Ignition coils and guides, clutch, rims (m-paralell) and tyres, All vacuum hoses, Waterpump, thermostat, black powerflex front and rear. Buildsheet / Touring registry
I have noticed that too. Sometimes at speed the steering feels lighter than I would like when making the initial turn, particularly on fast 3/4th gear corners. As others have said, when it's loaded up it is fine. I am prepared to accept it as a feature.
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